>>Gov. Walz Announces DHS Overhaul Plan
(St. Paul, MN) – Governor Tim Walz announced he plans to overhaul the state’s Department of Human Services to update technology and streamline Medicaid services into one centralized plan. Walz says the fraud took place in places that are “more downstream,” and that “counties are telling us what the problems are.” He says that they are taking more accountability for it, and that “getting the services to improve quality of life for Minnesotans is a priority.” Republicans were quick to answer, saying the governor’s plan is taking too long to address the problem. Senator Jordan Rasmusson of Fergus Falls said, “DHS is years behind in performing site visits, decades behind in technology, and is barely able to meet legislative deadlines.” Walz is even getting kickback from his own party. DFL Senate Chair of the Human Services Committee John Hoffman said, ‘Major structural changes to a system that serves hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans require thoughtful collaboration between the executive branch and the legislature. The governor says he’s willing to work with lawmakers to update our systems.
>>House Republicans’ Debut Bill Opting Into Federal Tax Credit for Scholarship-Granting Orgs
(St. Paul, MN) – A new federal tax credit, part of the One Big Beautiful Bill, allows taxpayers to claim a dollar-for-dollar credit up to $1,700 for donations to Scholarship Granting Organizations starting in 2027. House MN Republicans want to pass a bill solidifying this change. Speaker Lisa Demuth of Cold Spring asked the media to ask Governor Tim Walz if he supports this bill, and if not, why not. She says this would support private and public students. Republicans say the donations can be used for tutoring, extracurriculars, and services for special needs students. Demuth says this is a fix to the Democrats’ $420 million general education funding cut last session that will affect the 2028-2029 biennium. The upcoming debt follows the funding of $25.73 billion for the 2026-2027 period. The Center of the American Experiment, a conservative Minnesota “Think Tank,” delivered a petition to Walz’s office today, signed by over 4,600 Minnesotans, urging him to opt in to the subsidy soon. Governors must opt in to the program for it to be available.
>>MN Senate Speech, Moment of Silence for Sgt. Amor
(St. Paul, MN) – The Minnesota Senate honored 1st class Sergeant Nicole Amor of White Bear Lake on Monday with a moment of silence. Amor and five others were killed last week in Kuwait due to the initial drone strike on Iran by the U.S. and Israel. DFL Senator Heather Gustafson of Vadnais Heights says in a town like White Bear Lake, news travels fast, and she heard from many people who knew her. Gustafson says, “Sergeant Amor had served our nation for many years. She was a mother of two, and like so many in the reserve, she balanced family life at home with a commitment to serve something greater than herself…And as her husband Joey shared recently, she was almost home.” So far, seven U.S. soldiers have died in this conflict.
>>Essentia Health Releases New Community Benefit Report
(Undated) – Essentia Health says it provided more than $539 million in community contributions over the past fiscal year. As a nonprofit, Essentia says those contributions include charity care, discounted care for uninsured patients, and services that aren’t fully reimbursed by Medicare or Medicaid, which is more than half of its patients. The report shows $180 million in community benefits and $358 million in other uncompensated care. Essentia says it will also invest in facilities, with new emergency departments planned in Virginia and Fosston and a new musculoskeletal center in the Brainerd Lakes area in 2026.
>>Eagan Man Charged in Hit and Run Crash
(Eagan, MN) – A Dakota County man is charged in a deadly hit-and-run in Eagan. Prosecutors say 58-year-old Rolando Martinez hit a pedestrian early Saturday morning and kept driving. Officers found 40-year-old Leslie Youngberg of Bloomington unresponsive; she later died at the hospital. Police say car parts left at the scene and camera footage led them to Martinez’s SUV. Investigators say he admitted that he “hit something” on his way home from a bar. Results of a blood draw and phone search are still pending.
>>Train Derailment at Maynard Elevator in Chippewa County
(Maynard, MN) – BNSF Railway crews are at the scene of a train derailment early this morning at 4 a.m. in Maynard. Chippewa County Sheriff Derek Olson says his office was notified by the BNSF Police Department of the derailment of four to six cars at the Maynard Elevator. Olson says there were no reports of injuries, no roads blocked, and no spillage. Authorities are awaiting further details from BNSF.
>>Weekly MDA Recall
(St. Paul, MN) – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s weekly recall only features one product this week. Ajinomoto Foods North America, Inc., is expanding a February 19th recall of frozen, not ready-to-eat chicken products due to potential glass contamination. The recall includes over 33.6 million additional pounds of various products, for a total of almost 37 million pounds of recalled product. The expansion adds 16 products produced between October 21st, 2024, and February 26th, 2026, with best-by dates ranging from February 28th, 2026, to August 19th, 2027.
