>>Minnesotan Exposed to Hantavirus
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Health says it is monitoring a person in Minnesota who may have been briefly exposed overseas to someone infected with the Andes strain of hantavirus. Health officials stress the risk to the public remains very low, and the person being monitored is not showing symptoms. The exposure is connected to a passenger aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship who tested positive for the virus. Hantaviruses are typically spread by rodents, but the Andes strain is the only type known to spread between people through close contact with someone showing symptoms. MDH says it is working closely with the CDC, local public health agencies, and healthcare partners while continuing to monitor the situation.
>>Two Arrests Made in Fridley Drive-by Shooting
(Fridley, MN) — Two people are under arrest in connection with a drive-by shooting in Fridley that seriously injured the female driver of an S-U-V. The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office says 38-year-old Cordaryle Frost and 37-year-old Cynthia Frost of Columbia Heights are jailed pending charges. Deputies say the victim was driving on University Avenue near Interstate 694 Saturday night when she was shot in the neck by someone in another vehicle. She was taken to the hospital in critical and stable condition and remains hospitalized
>>Crash Involving Box-Truck and Pick-Up Sends Two to the Hospital
(Canosia Township, MN) — Two drivers were injured in a crash this morning in Canosia Township. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says a large box truck rear-ended a pickup that was stopped in a turn lane at a red light just before 10:30 a.m. Authorities say both vehicles suffered major damage in the collision. The drivers were taken by ambulance for treatment of what appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the box truck was cited following the investigation.
>>ER Doctors Demonstrate What it Takes to Treat a Child Gunshot Victim
(St. Paul, MN) — Emergency room doctors and trauma specialists gathered at the Minnesota Capitol today(Tues) to urge House Republicans to take up a gun violence prevention package already passed by the Senate. During the demonstration, healthcare workers showed that it can take nearly 50 hospital staff members to treat a single child suffering from a gunshot wound. Dr. Trish Valusek, a pediatric trauma surgeon at Children’s Minnesota, says the emotional toll on medical workers lasts long after the violence ends. Valusek treated victims following the Annunciation Church shooting and says the tragedy still wakes her up at night. The proposed legislation includes a ban on assault-style weapons, but House Republicans have so far declined to bring the bill up for a vote.
>>Rural Hospital Push For State Protections
(St. Paul, MN) — Rural hospital leaders are urging Minnesota House lawmakers to pass legislation protecting the state’s 340B contract pharmacy program, saying it is critical for keeping healthcare accessible and affordable in Greater Minnesota. The bill has already passed the Senate but remains stalled in a House committee. North Shore Health CEO Kimber Wraalstad of Grand Marais says losing the program could threaten emergency care, ambulance service, nursing homes, and pharmacy access in Cook County. She says if the hospital were forced to close, the nearest hospital is about 80 miles away. United Hospital District CEO Richard Ash warned lawmakers that waiting for more rural hospitals to fail would be “a moral failure.” Several rural hospitals say they are currently operating with negative cash flow while awaiting legislative action.
>>”Choose Minnesota” Campaign
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development(DEED)Commissioner Matt Varilek launched the new “Choose Minnesota” initiative in St. Cloud on Monday, encouraging residents to support local businesses during challenging economic times. Varilek met with business owners and community leaders to discuss workforce shortages, economic pressures, and ways the state can help small businesses grow. He says the initiative is designed to remind Minnesotans that shopping local remains important year-round. The program is part of DEED’s broader effort to support entrepreneurs through workforce centers, higher education partnerships, and Small Business Development Centers. Additional roundtable sessions are planned later this summer in Rochester, Bemidji, and Duluth.
>> MDA Urges Extra Caution When Transporting Agricultural Goods
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is urging farmers, ag retailers, and commercial carriers to use extra caution when transporting agricultural goods this spring as fieldwork ramps up across the state. Officials say one-third of reported spills and accidents involving products like fertilizer, milk, and livestock happen during transport or transfer operations. The warning comes after a recent accident that resulted in a fatality, highlighting the dangers tied to unsecured loads, overturned tanks, and roadway spills. Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen says taking extra time to secure equipment, inspect loads, and slow down on the road can help prevent serious injuries, environmental damage, and economic losses.
