>>Higher Minimum Wages Take Effect for Minnesota Nursing Home Workers
(St. Paul, MN) — Thousands of Minnesota nursing home workers are getting a pay increase under new minimum wage standards taking effect today. The new hourly minimums range from $19 for general nursing home workers to $27 for licensed practical nurses. Certified nursing assistants must now receive at least $22.50 an hour. The Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board approved the increases to address low pay and staffing shortages, especially in rural areas. Workers are scheduled to receive another $1.50-an-hour increase in January.
>>New Vets Museum’s welcome hall named after former General John Vessey
(Little Falls, MN) – A new home for Minnesota’s military history is now open in Little Falls. The 40-thousand-square-foot Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum is eight times larger than its previous location and houses more than 25-thousand artifacts. The museum’s welcome hall is named for Minnesota native and former Army General John Vessey Junior. Family members and military leaders honored Vessey’s legacy during the opening celebration. Museum events continue through Sunday, recognizing Minnesota veterans and marking the anniversary of the September 11th attacks.
>>Ellison Reaches Settlement With Minnesota Utility Cooperative
(Undated) – Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has reached a settlement with Minnesota Valley Cooperative Light and Power over alleged consumer protection violations. The agreement follows a lawsuit involving a customer whose electricity was disconnected despite relying on a life-sustaining medical device. Under the settlement, the cooperative must provide additional notices before shutting off service, offer clearer payment plan options, and improve customer information about legal protections. The cooperative also agreed to forgive the customer’s outstanding balance and take steps to comply with state law going forward.
>>Children’s Minnesota Receives Historic $35 Million Gift
(Minneapolis, MN) — Children’s Minnesota is receiving a historic $35 million gift aimed at expanding advanced pediatric care. The donation comes from Paychex founder and philanthropist Tom Golisano, who has made improving children’s health care a major focus of his charitable giving. Golisano says his experiences as a father and grandfather have shown him the importance of families having access to high-quality pediatric care close to home. The gift will support a 10-year initiative at Children’s Minnesota focused on precision medicine, including gene and cell therapies. The health system will also rename its Minneapolis hospital the Children’s Minnesota Golisano Campus and join Golisano’s national alliance of children’s hospitals.
>>University of Minnesota Awarded Up to $6 Million for Mental Health Research
(Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN) – Researchers at the University of Minnesota have been awarded up to six million dollars in federal funding to develop new treatments for severe mental illness and suicidal thoughts. The project will study ways to improve what’s known as cognitive flexibility, or a person’s ability to adapt to changing situations. Researchers plan to use computerized brain training and low-intensity focused ultrasound to test new approaches to treatment. The study is funded by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, and enrollment is expected to begin this fall.
>>Lindell Says He’ll Take Recount Fight to U.S. Supreme Court
(St. Paul, MN) — Mike Lindell says he’s taking his fight over a Minnesota Republican gubernatorial primary recount to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Minnesota Supreme Court rejected Lindell’s challenge last month after he disputed the state’s proposed recount process and did not submit the required $825,000 payment by the deadline. Lindell wanted a broader review of ballots than the recount plan approved by state election officials. The MyPillow founder lost the August primary to Lisa Demuth by more than 45,000 votes. Lindell says he will continue seeking election records from all 87 Minnesota counties as part of his effort to challenge the use of voting machines.
>>Violent Crime Drops Across Minnesota in 2025
(St. Paul, MN) — Violent crime declined across Minnesota in 2025, according to the latest statewide crime report. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says violent crime fell 14 percent in the seven-county Twin Cities metro and nine percent in Greater Minnesota. The state recorded 130 murders last year, down from 172 in 2024. Aggravated assaults dropped 11 percent, while motor vehicle thefts fell more than 22 percent and carjackings declined 31 percent. The BCA also reports that the number of larceny incidents fell to its lowest level in 57 years.
