Amos Magee, Minnesota United’s head of development, was scouting prospects on Sierra Leone’s Under-20 national team last fall and first identified 18-year-old Alpha Kabia as a potential target for the Loons.

Then Magee’s eyes were drawn on the screen to Kabia’s teammate, attacking midfielder Momoh Kamara, and Magee eagerly contacted MNUFC Chief Soccer Officer Khaled El-Ahmad.

“If only we could get this guy,” Magee recalled sharing with El-Ahmad.

El-Ahmad didn’t think signing the 19-year-old Kamara out of the East Africa country would be possible for MNUFC, yet as the Kabia signing progressed this spring, adding Kamara became more realistic.

In May, MNUFC announced the signing of Kamara on loan from Mattia FC in Sierra Leone through December; the deal includes a purchase option for 2026 and beyond. Kamara is currently with MNUFC2, the Loons’ developmental team, but the 5-foot-7 playmaker has quickly become a top prospect in the club’s system and might play into United’s international friendly against German club Holstein Kiel on Monday at Allianz Field.

“I hope I have a chance to play,” Kamara, now 20, told the Pioneer Press on Saturday. “Because if I have the chance, I know I can do something different. I believe myself, I believe my quality.”

Almost immediately with MNUFC2, Kamara showed his knack for scoring and creating goals. In his second substitute appearance, he scored in a 2-1 win over Colorado Rapids II on June 28. He has played in three total matches at the MLS Next Pro level.

“Remarkably good in tight spaces, good creativity, good imagination,” Magee said of Kamara last week. “Certainly at the lower level, you can organize your team around this attacking prowess.  … He won’t be the finished product yet, but it’ll be, I think, very exciting for our fans.”

Kamara’s stock grew between Magee spotting him in the African Cup of Nations qualifying tournament in Liberia and him eventually joining MNUFC.

In March, he played for Sierra Leone’s senior national team in World Cup qualifiers, including against Egypt and Liverpool FC star Mo Salah. Then in the Africa U20 Cup of Nations in May, he scored a hat trick versus Egypt and had another goal against South Africa to be the tournament’s leading scorer. He had signed with MNUFC by the time he burst onto the scene at AFCON.

“Momoh is different,” Sierra Leone coach Mohamed Lamin Kamara was quoted by cafonline.com. “He has the heart of a lion and the feet of an artist. He doesn’t just play football — he lives it. He makes others better.”

Karama’s transition to the U.S. will be eased by his previous experience in Portugal with the reserve team for Leixoes SC in 2023-24 and with fellow countryman Kabia now a teammate in Minnesota. Magee noted Kamara’s maturity and willingness to put in work defensively on top of attacking.

Magee was integral in the Loons signing South African forward/wingback Bongi Hlongwane in 2022 and he believes Africa can be a place for MNUFC to continue to go for up-and-coming prospects. The enclave of East Africans in the Twin Cities, he feels, can help them adjust to the culture shock of the U.S.

“That kind of synergy, both of us (El-Ahmad and Magee), are utterly committed to based on our experience having traveled there and spent time in the culture, in the countries, and have seen a level of soccer that I think we’re both really excited about trying to make our club a destination spot for talented young African players,” Magee said.

Kamara said he is trying to focus on the present, not his MLS debut or further stages in his career, while Magee noted that Kamara’s potential option price isn’t considered prohibitive for MNUFC.

“I think it’s all very possible; we wouldn’t have set it up if it wasn’t,” Magee said. “Our hope is that we exercise it, but that’s going to be up to him and up to us and how we work together.”

Briefly

The Loons’ new limited-edition alternative kit was leaked online Friday and the retro jersey is a distinct look akin to the 1970s Minnesota Kicks’ bubbly font and color scheme of orange and light blue. MNUFC will first wear the threads at an upcoming match and will also don it for a game in St. Paul when the club welcomes back former Minnesota players. … Loons center back Nico Romero was hit in the calf during the 2-1 win at FC Dallas on Friday and was subbed out in the 80th minute. The injury will make him questionable for the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal against Chicago on Tuesday. … Mexican club Tigres is reportedly making a $3 million bid for MNUFC left wingback Joseph Rosales. The athletic Honduran has been an increasing subject of transfer rumors.

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Three people were shot and injured overnight in St. Paul, including two men who were injured at a party where more than 30 shots were fired, police said.

Two men arrived at Regions Hospital shortly after midnight Saturday with non-life threatening gunshot wounds, said Alyssa Arcand, a St. Paul police spokeswoman.

St. Paul police investigating said the men had been shot at a party on Central Avenue and Avon Street.

The hospital was temporarily put on lockdown after the men arrived because of the number of people who arrived in connection with the gunshot victims.

No arrests had been made as of Saturday morning.

Another man also arrived at the hospital around the same time with a non-life threatening gunshot wound to his torso, according to Arcand.

Police say the third man was shot in the 800 block of Euclid Street about 11:30 p.m. Friday. That shooting was not connected to the other ones, authorities said.

The investigations into all three shootings were continuing Saturday morning.

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Bruce Helmer and Peg Webb

On Friday, Americans across the country celebrated Independence Day — a moment to reflect on the cherished freedoms we hold dear. But in addition to the parades and fireworks, there’s another kind of independence worth thinking about: financial independence.

While the Declaration of Independence famously enshrines the rights to “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness,” the original language that Thomas Jefferson drew from — the Virginia Declaration of Rights — offered something even more tangible: the “means of acquiring and possessing property.” In the 18th century, property ownership was directly tied to freedom. And in many ways, it still is.

In today’s world, financial independence means something a little different for each person. For some, it’s the ability to retire comfortably — or even early — and live off savings and investment income. For others, it’s about not becoming a financial burden to children later in life. And for many, it’s the freedom to make meaningful life decisions without money being the controlling factor.

Regardless of how it’s defined, financial independence boils down to one thing: choice.

When you’re financially independent, you get to decide how you spend your time — whether that means continuing to work, launching a passion project, helping family or traveling the world. You also gain the power to say “no” to jobs, situations, or relationships that no longer serve you.

The good news? Achieving financial independence isn’t about luck or extreme sacrifice. It comes down to a few key principles, applied consistently over time.

1. Save more than you spend

This may sound obvious, but it’s the foundation of all wealth-building. High earners who spend every dollar rarely build real freedom. On the flip side, a strong savings habit (ideally, 15–20% of your income) allows you to accumulate the assets that provide flexibility later in life.

Even small adjustments can help: increasing retirement contributions by 1% a year; eliminating lifestyle “creep” or automating savings into a separate account.

2. Spend in line with your values

Every financial decision reflects what you value. For example, if you earn $50 an hour and buy a $50,000 boat, that purchase cost you 1,000 work hours — nearly half a year of effort.

Now ask yourself: Was it worth it? Or could that money have gone toward something that matters more, such as spending more time with your kids, giving back or working towards future time freedom?

Intentional spending helps align your money with your priorities and speeds your path to independence.

3. Plan for the unexpected

Financial independence doesn’t mean you’re invincible. Life inevitably throws curveballs to us all: job losses, illness, major repairs. That’s why having an emergency fund of three to six months’ expenses is essential.

Start with what you can and build it over time. This safety net ensures that an unexpected event doesn’t derail years of progress toward financial independence.

4. Know your ‘independence number’

How much do you need to be financially independent? A common rule of thumb is to save 25 to 33 times your annual expenses. So, if you spend $100,000 a year, your financial independence target may be $2.5 to 3.3 million.

That might sound daunting, but keep in mind: this includes your investments, retirement accounts, real estate and other income sources. More important than the number is understanding how to turn those assets into reliable income over time.

5. Invest with intention

Your investments should support your goals over the short-, mid- and long-term. Your comprehensive plan needs to consider your cash needs, tax strategy, market volatility and diversification.

Working with a financial adviser can help build a “money matrix,” a planning tool that we regularly use to map income, expenses and investment vehicles to each client’s unique timeline and values.

True independence isn’t just about celebrating history. It’s about building a future on your own terms. Financial independence offers the freedom to choose your work, your lifestyle and your legacy.

Start by saving a little more, spending a little less and making decisions that reflect your highest values. Because in the end, the pursuit of happiness isn’t just a founding ideal — it’s a financial goal we can all work toward.

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The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

Bruce Helmer and Peg Webb are financial advisers at Wealth Enhancement Group and co-hosts of “Your Money” on WCCO 830 AM on Sunday mornings. Email Bruce and Peg at yourmoney@wealthenhancement.com. Advisory services offered through Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC, a registered investment adviser and affiliate of Wealth Enhancement Group.

 

“Jurassic Park” is literally about clones — dinosaurs brought back to life by DNA extracted from mosquitoes preserved in amber — and the many sequels in the franchise are the same thing: iterations upon iterations of the same ideas, genetic mutations either monstrous or awe-inspiring or both, as different filmmakers have tried to capture the magic that Steven Spielberg brought forth with the 1993 original.

None have successfully achieved that nearly impossible task, and the “Jurassic World” films especially have seen diminishing returns. But along comes “Jurassic World Rebirth,” which hones in on some of the key characteristics that made the original work.

Director Gareth Edwards now steps into the lab, bringing his own pedigree, which includes epic sci-fi films featuring skyscraper-scale creatures, “Monsters” and “Godzilla,” and an emotional, dystopian family story in “The Creator.” He also has a not-so-secret weapon in screenwriter David Koepp, who wrote the first two “Jurassic Park” movies, and brings “Rebirth” back to the basics, while weaving in DNA strands from such classic monster movies as “Aliens” and “The Island of Doctor Moreau.” Coupled with Edwards’ excellent cinematic craft, and a complete cast overhaul, “Rebirth” turns out to be one of the best “Jurassic Park” sequels.

It still has its issues, as any genetically modified clone might. The first act is a rocky one, as the world and new cast of characters is hastily introduced. It’s been 32 years since “Jurassic Park” in our world, and in their world, too. Dinosaurs have become mundane to the viewing public, and due to climate change, can only survive near the Earth’s equator, where travel is expressly forbidden.

Our tough mercenary heroine, Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson) is contracted by a slimy corporate pharma type, Martin Krebs (Rupert Friend), for a dangerous retrieval and extraction mission to obtain blood and tissue samples from the most colossal dinosaurs living in the wild, in order to develop a drug to combat heart disease. Krebs wants to rake in trillions of dollars, Zora wants to make enough to get her out of this line of work and have a personal life again, while their third recruit, Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey), who did his post-doc under Dr. Alan Grant, just wants to see a dinosaur.

They assemble their crew, including captain Duncan Kincaid (Mahershala Ali) and a few obviously disposable soldiers for hire (Ed Skrein, Phillipine Velge, Bechir Sylvain), and set out to get that dino blood. The establishment of this setup is a tonal mess. Johansson’s performance is strange, swinging from oddly perky to grief-stricken by both the loss of her mother and a colleague in a car bombing. The whole thing feels ungrounded, the world-building thin.

But the film locks into place with the introduction of the Delgado family, who happen to be on a long-distance sailing trip when they run into an underwater mosasaur and have to call for help. They’re picked up by Kincaid’s boat and soon find themselves under attack from more aquatic monsters, then stranded on the abandoned island where genetic experiments with dino DNA once took place. The family embarks on a journey to find rescue, in a parallel but intersecting story with the professionals who remain hellbent on gathering their specimens, despite their dwindling numbers.

The Delgado family — dad Reuben (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), teen daughter Teresa (Luna Blaise), her boyfriend Xavier (David Iacono), and little sister Isabella (Audrina Miranda) are an immediate correcting force on the story, because their motivation is clear and palpable. They want to survive together. It also introduces that awe and wonder element that is best seen through the eyes of children in these films.

Much in the way that composer Alexandre Desplat interpolates John Williams’ “Jurassic Park” theme, “Jurassic World Rebirth” interpolates many of the iconic moments and scenes from the original. Dr. Loomis (side note: using the name of one of the most memorable characters from the “Halloween” franchise should not be allowed) is moved to tears seeing dinosaurs in the wild for the first time the way his mentor Dr. Grant was. There are intense suspense sequences involving the Delgado children escaping dinosaurs that call to mind the glass of water vibrating with each T. rex stomp in the first film. In these moments, we see that “Rebirth” really can be a second coming of what made us fall in love with “Jurassic Park” in the first place.

“Park” purists may nitpick, but fundamentally, “Rebirth” is a gorgeously rendered all-ages adventure film. Edwards and cinematographer John Mathieson shot on 35mm on location in Thailand, and the extra effort to shoot on film makes for a stunning spectacle, the perfect kind of summer escapism. If there are moments that don’t quite hit right, the ones that do are impossible to forget. Remember, this is about having fun, and “Rebirth” is a blast.

‘Jurassic World Rebirth’

3 stars (out of 4)

MPA rating: PG-13 (for intense sequences of violence/action, bloody images, some suggestive references, language and a drug reference)

Running time: 2:14

How to watch: In theaters July 2

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