>>Report: 98 percent of community water systems in MN met all federal health standards in 2023
(St. Paul, MN) — State officials are marking the 50th anniversary of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act with a report that about 98 percent of Minnesota’s community water systems, including public systems, met all federal health standards in 2023. But the report notes ongoing threats to the state’s drinking water such as P-FAS chemical contamination. Lawmakers are considering funding in the bonding bill to address chemical contamination, and House Capital Investment Chairman Fue Lee says one example is Hastings, with over a 70-million-dollar water treatment request to address P-FAS. He indicates still up in the air is where any money would end up, if a court orders those responsible to pay compensation
>>Officials predict 2024 summer fire season will be above average, but not as bad as last year
(St. Paul, MN) — “Above average, but not as catastrophic as 2023” — how M-P-C-A officials describe the outlook for the summer fire season at a briefing today (Thurs). Meteorologist Matt Taraldsen says, “At this point last year in 2023, we already had wildfires raging in Canada. Parts of Canada near the Arctic Circle were above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. We’re not seeing that this year, which is [a] good sign….” Taraldsen says last year’s fire season was worsened by an El Niño weather pattern, but “that has now dissipated.”
>>MN A-G Ellison reaches settlement with three wireless carriers over alleged deceptive advertising
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has reached a settlement with AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon over alleged deceptive advertising. Ellison says the three wireless carriers “tricked consumers into believing that they were obtaining better deals than the company was actually offering.” Among other provisions, the companies have agreed to advertise mobile data plans as “unlimited” only when they don’t set limits on data quantity and clearly disclose any restrictions on data speed. Ellison says they agreed to offer to pay for consumers to “switch” carriers only when they clearly disclose exactly what they’ll be paying for. The agreement also requires thorough disclosure on “free” offers for wireless devices, and on leasing arrangements and cost comparisons with competing services.
>>Sen. Klobuchar Proposes Bill to Raise Food Safety, Enforcement Standards for Commercial Baby, Toddler Food
(Washington, D.C.) — Senator Amy Klobuchar has introduced a bill that would raise food safety and enforcement standards for commercial foods for babies and toddlers. She says it would allow the FDA to enforce scientifically-established limits on heavy metals found in these foods — such as lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury — plus increase standards for food manufacturer sampling, and testing for other contaminants in imported and domestic processed foods. This comes after Klobuchar called on the U-S Justice Department in February to investigate potential criminal conduct for certain brands of cinnamon applesauce food pouches that contained high levels of lead, later found in babies’ bloodstreams.
>>Drought Conditions Improving
(Undated) — Drought conditions are improving across the state. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor shows that 39 percent of the state is still Abnormally Dry, an improvement from 59 percent a week ago. Moderate Drought is now at just 11 percent, down from 36 percent last week. No part of the state is in Severe Drought, down from 10 percent last week. The dry areas remain in the northern and southeastern sections of Minnesota.
>New Trial Ordered For Man Convicted Of 1986 Murder Of St. Louis County Woman
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Supreme Court has ordered a new trial for a man convicted of raping and murdering a St. Louis County woman in 1986. Michael Carbo, Jr. was found guilty by a jury in Hibbing in 2022 after DNA evidence tied him to the murder of Nancy Daugherty. Carbo admitted to having sex with the woman from Chisholm but denied killing her. The state’s highest court ruled that he should have been allowed to argue during his first trial that another man was responsible for Daugherty’s death.
>>Minnesota Twins crush Seattle Mariners in series finale at Target Field
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Twins pounded the Seattle Mariners 11-1 in the series finale today (Thurs) at Target Field. Pablo Lopez pitched six-and-a-third innings of one-run ball and struck-out 10 batters for his fourth win of the season. Max Kepler and Ryan Jeffers hit home runs for Minnesota. The Twins open a three-game series Friday in Toronto.
