1. A global "ransomware" cyberattack that has created chaos in 150 countries and could wreak even greater havoc as more malicious variations appear.
kstp: As a loose global network of cybersecurity experts fought a rearguard battle against ransomware hackers, officials and experts yesterday urged organizations and companies to update operating systems immediately to ensure they aren't vulnerable to a second, more powerful version of the software — or to future versions that can't be stopped.
The initial attack, known as "WannaCry," paralyzed computers that run Britain's hospital network, Germany's national railway and scores of other companies and government agencies worldwide in what was believed to be the biggest online extortion scheme ever recorded.
At least two variants of the rapidly replicating worm were discovered Sunday and one did not include the so-called kill switch that allowed researchers to interrupt its spread Friday by diverting it to a dead end on the internet.
2. North Korea Tests Ballistics Missile
Kstp: Yesterday, North Korea test-launched a ballistic missile that flew for half an hour and reached an unusually high altitude before landing in the Sea of Japan, the South Korean, Japanese and U.S. militaries said. The launch, which Tokyo said could be of a new type of missile, is a direct challenge to the new South Korean president elected four days ago and comes as U.S., Japanese and European navies gather for joint war games in the Pacific.
3. Minnesota's 'incident team' races to stop measles outbreak
Star Tribune: State Health Department's special unit meets daily to coordinate urgent efforts.
Netsanet Bekele, cq, a clinical lab scientist for the Minnesota Health Department test for measles as he places the tubes into a robot, Thursday, May 11, 2017 at the MHD laboratories in St. Paul, MN.
State health officials got the troubling news last Thursday: A Minneapolis child care center was not cooperating with efforts to stop the spread of measles, and the problem was getting worse.
For nearly four weeks, the Minnesota Department of Health had been battling a measles outbreak that is now the state’s worst since 1990. The Minneapolis day care center was one of 11 where infected children have exposed thousands of others — many unvaccinated — leading to an outbreak that has sickened 54 people and spread to rural parts of the state. And now the center was refusing to cooperate with Health Department instructions.
It was just one item of business on a busy morning for the Health Department’s measles incident command team, which has been convening daily since shortly after the outbreak began to monitor new cases, review infection control efforts and coordinate with local public health officials.
4. A new deal will make Surdyks pay more, but close for fewer days
Star Tribune: Minneapolis liquor store owner Jim Surdyk will pay a larger fine but face a shorter license suspension than previously suggested as punishment for opening his doors on a Sunday in March, nearly four months before the new Sunday liquor sales law takes effect.
Under a new proposed deal with the city, Surdyk will pay a $50,000 fine and Surdyk's Liquor in northeast Minneapolis will be closed on three Sundays — July 2, 9 and 16 — according to Minneapolis City Council documents.
Surdyk served customers all day on Sunday, March 12, despite being asked twice by city licensing officials to shut down. The Legislature in March voted to end a 159-year-old ban on Sunday liquor store sales. The first Sunday of legal sales is set for July 2.
The city's Community Development and Regulatory Services Committee will vote on the revised settlement tomorrow.
A previous tentative settlement included a $6,000 fine and a 10-day suspension, but the committee rejected that plan in April, calling it too lenient.
5. At Como Zoo: Alice the gorilla is expecting
The Associated Press: Officials at Como Zoo in St. Paul say Alice, one of their western lowland gorillas, is expecting and will likely give birth sometime in September or October.
It’s the second pregnancy for Alice. Her first baby died just days after it was born.
Zoo officials say the 14-year-old Alice has been able to watch and learn about mothering from another gorilla in recent years, and they are optimistic.
Baby gorillas weigh between 4 and 5 pounds at birth. This will be the third gorilla birth in Como Zoo’s 57 year history of caring for gorillas.
Alice has been at Como Zoo since 2013.
Western lowland gorillas are considered highly endangered due to loss of habitat, poaching and disease.