>>Three Wildfires Continue to Burn in St. Louis County
(Duluth, MN) — Three wildfires are actively burning and expanding across St. Louis County, north of Duluth, destroying over 80 structures, including 40 homes. The Camp House fire has spread across 11,780 acres, the Jensen Creek fire covers 6,800 acres, and the Munger Shaw fire has reached 1,400 acres. According to the DNR, this year alone, there have already been 37,000 acres affected by wildfires. In a typical year, the total area burned usually averages around 12,000 acres, which means we are currently experiencing fire activity that is three times higher than normal, and it is only May. All three fires are sitting at 0% containment.
>>Minnesota Sues Trump Administration Over Immigration Grant Efforts
(St. Paul, MN) –Minnesota’s Attorney General Keith Ellison is one of twenty state attorneys suing to challenge President Donald Trump’s efforts to tie federal grants to immigration enforcement. Two lawsuits have been filed to block these attempts to compel states to cooperate with ICE enforcement to receive funding. The grants in question cover disaster relief, cybersecurity, and transportation.
>>House Tables Tax Bill
(St. Paul, MN) – The Minnesota House has tabled the 2025 House Tax Bill. It’s no surprise. The Minnesota Constitution requires that tax bills originate in the House, and it is common for the House to refrain from passing a tax bill until other budget agreements are reached. The legislation enhances the Child Tax Credit by adding a $100 baby bonus for growing families. It also allows Minnesotans to file their income taxes with the Minnesota Department of Revenue for free. As for the budget deal, the governor and legislative leaders continue to meet behind closed doors with the Monday deadline just days away.
>>State Library Construction Grants in Honor of Late Rep. Mary Murphy
(St. Paul, MN) — Another honor for the late state Representative Mary Murphy. Following the House’s lead, the Senate passed a bill naming the state’s library construction grants program after Murphy. DFL Senator Mary Kunesh (koo-nesh) of New Brighton says this is the perfect honor for the legislator who was also a dedicated teacher. Murphy was the second-longest-serving legislator in Minnesota history at 46 years. She passed away on Christmas Day, 2024.
>>UnitedHealth Group CEO Steps Down
(Minnetonka, MN) — There has been a change in leadership at UnitedHealth Group, based in Minnetonka. In a statement released today the company announced that Andrew Witty is stepping down as CEO for personal reasons. Witty, who joined UnitedHealth Group in 2018, served as CEO for just over four years. He will be succeeded by former CEO Stephen J. Hemsley, who has been appointed to take over immediately. Hemsley, who will also continue to serve as chair of UnitedHealth Group’s Board of Directors, held the CEO position from 2006 to 2017. Witty will remain with the company in the role of senior adviser.
>>LPN Strike at North Shore Estates in Duluth
(Duluth, MN) — Three Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) at North Shore Estates in Duluth walked off the job this morning at 7 a.m. for a 24-hour strike as they advocate for inclusion in the same union contracts as their coworkers. Tara Schendel said they have been negotiating with Monarch Healthcare Management for the past year. SEIU MN & IA reported that this strike coincides with Minnesota nursing home workers’ efforts to support the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board, which was established in 2023, amid lawsuits from nursing home associations seeking to abolish it and roll back the time-and-a-half holiday pay that has already been issued.
>>BPD Search for Missing Woman with No Known Relatives
(Brooklyn Park, MN) — Brooklyn Park police are asking for the public’s help finding a missing woman. 25-year-old Madea Geezay was last seen on April 10th. She’s described as Black, 4 feet 11 inches tall, 247 pounds, with short black hair, brown eyes, and a black beard. Geezay has no known relatives or contact information.
>>Twins Series Opener in Baltimore Postponed by Rain
(Baltimore, MD) — Due to rainy weather, tonight’s series opener between the Minnesota Twins and the Orioles (Tues) in Baltimore is postponed. The game will be part of a traditional double-header tomorrow (Wed) at Camden Yards. The first game is scheduled for 11:05 am, and the second game will be played 30 minutes after game one concludes. The Twins have won eight in a row and swept a three-game series with the Orioles last week at Target Field.
