>>Still No Word on Special Session
(St. Paul, MN) — Still no word on when the special session will be called at the Capitol. The Education working group held a public meeting this afternoon to walk through their budget details. Senate DFL Chair Mary Kunesh (KOO-nesh) of New Brighton says many programs are saved in this budget, including investments in English Language Learner aid, universal meals, student support aid, the READ Act, and school infrastructure. The budget has no cuts in the first biennium, but $420 million dollars in cuts for the years 2028-29. Republican Representative Ron Kresha(Kree-shaw) of Little Falls says that’s a concern moving forward that school districts will have to plan for.
>>New Poll Shows Majority of Minnesotans Oppose Free Health Care for Illegal Immigrants
(Minnetonka, MN) – According to a new “Thinking Minnesota” poll, 61 percent of Minnesotans are against the state paying for health care for illegal immigrants, while 37 percent support it. Governor Tim Walz and legislative leaders agreed to a budget plan that would no longer fund health care for undocumented adults, but would cover their children. That agreement remains a sticking point as lawmakers work on the budget details before a special session is called. The poll was conducted through interviews of 500 registered voters across Minnesota. The full results will be released this summer by “Thinking Minnesota” magazine.
>>MDH Reports Two New Cases of Measles
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Health has confirmed two new cases of measles. The cases are unrelated and are Minnesota’s third and fourth confirmed measles cases of the year. The first case is a Washington County adult whose vaccination status is unverified. The person was exposed during domestic air travel outside of Minnesota. The second case is an unvaccinated child from Dakota County who has not traveled outside of Minnesota in the last month and had no known exposures. Both are recovering at home. North Dakota has 28 confirmed cases of measles, with the most recent cases in Burke County, confirmed last Thursday. Other cases are in Williams, Grand Forks, and Cass Counties.
>>Air Quality Alert Extended
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is extending the Air Quality Alert for Minnesota through Wednesday. Wildfire smoke from Canada has prompted the extension. The alert is for the entire state of Minnesota, with the worst of the wildfire smoke in northwestern Minnesota. The MPCA states that a cold front is drawing smoke from wildfires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, with multiple rounds expected over the next several days. Northwestern Minnesota is in a maroon air quality index, indicating hazardous conditions for everyone. The MPCA says the expected showers and storms pushing through the state tonight may not significantly improve the air quality.
>>Feeding Our Future Prosecutor Thompson Named Acting US Attorney for Minnesota
(Minneapolis, MN) — The lead prosecutor in the federal Feeding Our Future fraud trial is the new acting U-S Attorney for the District of Minnesota. The Trump administration appointed Joseph H. Thompson as Minnesota’s top federal prosecutor. Thompson says he looks forward to continuing the office’s work of combating violent crime, the scourge of fentanyl and other drugs, and the shocking and unacceptable levels of fraud in our state government programs. Lisa Kirkpatrick had been serving as acting U-S attorney since Andrew Luger stepped down in late January. Thompson was born and raised in Minnesota, earned his bachelor’s degree at Gustavus Adolphus College, and his law degree from Stanford.
>>Fire Destroys Barn Near Litchfield
(Swede Grove Township, MN) — A barn near Grove City is considered a complete loss after a fire over the weekend. The Meeker County Sheriff’s Office reports that they received a call on Saturday afternoon regarding a structure fire in Swede Grove Township, west of Litchfield. Once on the scene, deputies found a barn owned by 26-year-old Wyatt Renee fully engulfed in flames. The barn was unoccupied at the time of the fire, and no one was injured as a result of the blaze. Authorities believe a nearby brush fire caused the barn fire.
>>Minnesota Twins Open Series Against Oakland A’s in Sacramento
(Sacramento, CA) — The Minnesota Twins open a four-game series against the Oakland A’s tonight (Mon 9pm) in Sacramento, California. The A’s are temporarily playing their home games at the ballpark of their Triple-A affiliate until the team moves to Las Vegas. The Twins are coming off a 2-1 walk-off loss at Seattle on Sunday afternoon. Joe Ryan is the starting pitcher for Minnesota in the opener versus A’s righthander Luis Severino.
