>>HCAO, MN BCA, AG’s Office Sue Federal Gov. for Evidence in 3 Shootings
(Minneapolis, MN) –The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office (HCAO), the Minnesota BCA (Bureau of Criminal Apprehension), and the Attorney General’s Office are suing the federal government for evidence in three shootings: Renee Good, Julio Sosa-Celis, and Alex Pretti. This comes after two Touhy requests for information that went ignored. County Attorney Mary Moriarty says they would like to work with the feds and routinely do, but the order to keep evidence from local authorities is directly from Washington, D.C. The U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has said they are not investigating Good’s homicide and “their focus is elsewhere.” Attorney General Keith Ellison stresses how unique and rare it is for federal authorities not to cooperate with state officials. He says that an investigation is necessary to give people answers, regardless of the outcome. Good and Sosa-Celis’s shooting started as joint BCA and FBI investigations that were later revoked. BCA agents were physically blocked from entering Pretti’s crime scene, despite having a warrant. The three groups are still conducting an independent state investigation.
>>OIG Bill Passes 1st House Committee
(St. Paul, MN) – There is progress when it comes to the Office of Inspector General bill that has been hung up in the House. Today, the bill to create this independent watchdog for fraud passed its first House committee vote, but DFL Representative Larry Kraft of St. Louis Park still has concerns about fraud, believing that “the money we’re allocating to this can be better spent elsewhere.” Republican Duane Quam of Byron is concerned this bill duplicates the work of the Office of Legislative Auditor (OLA), when it should instead be on the enforcement, “because we already have all these other functions within the OLA.” The bill already passed the Senate last year.
>>MN Senate Will Vote on Allowing Children on Chamber Floor
(St. Paul, MN) – Still to this day, the Minnesota Senate does not allow children on the chamber floor. This has caused difficulties for lawmakers who are also mothers who run into childcare issues. The Senate will vote on a resolution to change this rule tomorrow at 11 a.m. Senator Julia Coleman of Waconia says at best, the Senate is a hostile work environment for mothers, and at worst, “it is intentionally designed to keep people like us out.” Coleman says this affected her as a mother when her children were younger, having lost the ability to breastfeed her premature infants, and she still lives with it today. Recently, a new mother, Senator Clare Oumou Verbeten, was escorted out of the chamber when she attended a session with her infant. The Minnesota House does allow children in its chamber.
>>Cesar Chavez Day Elimination Bill Moves to Full Senate Vote
(St. Paul, MN) – The Cesar Chavez Day elimination bill is one step closer to becoming a fast-tracked law before the March 31st celebration. Today, the Senate State and Local Government Committee passed the bill onto the Senate floor with no objections, only supportive comments. This comes after the bill was introduced and passed unanimously on the House floor on Monday. Recent allegations of sexual abuse of women and girls during Chavez’s time leading the United Farm Workers have created mass accountability efforts nationwide. The full Senate will vote on the bill tomorrow.
>>Representative Craig Announces “Feeding Families Not Fear Act”
(Washington, D.C.) – Minnesota Congresswoman Angie Craig announced legislation that would turn President Trump’s spending on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) into putting food on the table for more Americans. The “Feeding Families Not Fear Act” would rescind the $75 billion allocated for ICE in the One Big Beautiful Bill and use the money to reverse the cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Craig is the Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee and is working to protect SNAP benefits for the millions who rely on this food assistance.
>>Funding for Rochester Schools’ Mental Health Program Introduced
(St. Paul, MN) – A $1 million proposal to fund a mental health initiative in Rochester Public Schools was introduced in the Senate Education Finance Committee. The legislation authored by Senator Liz Boldon (DFL- Rochester) would help fund the district’s School-Based Mental Health Scholars program. The program, awarded in 2023 but discontinued by the Trump administration last year, covers tuition costs for Rochester Public Schools faculty and staff to earn degrees in social work through Winona State University. The bill was laid over by the committee for possible inclusion in an education omnibus bill later this session.
>>Former Minnesota State Mankato Baseball Player Charged with Assault
(Mankato, MN) – A former Minnesota State–Mankato baseball player is facing seven charges after an alleged bar fight and struggle with police in downtown Mankato. Police say 19-year-old Braden Grimm refused to show ID when approached by an officer Friday night. When the officer tried to detain him, investigators say Grimm tensed up, pushed past her, and continued to resist even after a second officer stepped in. During the struggle, police say Grimm tried to get up and run, and the officer holding onto his legs was pulled down, causing her head to hit the pavement. Grimm pitched for the Mavericks baseball team last season. He also previously played for the Mankato MoonDogs.
>>Trailer Home Destroyed in Sandy Township Fire
(Sandy Township, MN) – A trailer home in rural Sandy Township near Virginia is a total loss after a fire this morning. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says deputies arrived shortly after 9:00 to find half the trailer engulfed in flames. The homeowner confirmed the renters weren’t home when the fire started. The Red Cross is assisting the displaced family. Investigators say the fire does not appear suspicious, and the cause remains under investigation.
>>Spring Arrives on the Upper Mississippi
(St. Paul, MN) – Spring is here, and so is the start of the 2026 navigation season on the Upper Mississippi River. The first tows of the year reached St. Paul on Monday, after the Motor Vessel Crockett locked through Lock and Dam 2 in Hastings with two barges, followed by four more tows. Ice on Lake Pepin usually holds traffic back until mid-March, but this year’s arrival lines up with the typical timeline. With the river open, the Corps of Engineers is once again supporting safe, reliable shipping, vital to the economy, since a 15-barge tow can move as much cargo as 1,050 semis or 200 rail cars.
>>Brett Larson Named University of Minnesota Men’s Hockey Coach
(Minneapolis, MN) – The University of Minnesota is introducing Brett Larson today as the new men’s hockey coach. Larson coached the past eight seasons at St. Cloud State University (SCSU) and replaces former Gopher men’s coach Bob Motzko. The U of M and Larson agreed to a five-year contract that needs to be approved by the Board of Regents. Larson led the Huskies to four NCAA tournaments, two conference championships, and SCSU’s first-ever Frozen Four final. Motzko also came to Minnesota from St. Cloud State.
