>>Governor Walz Encourages President Trump to Return Tariff Revenue
(St. Paul, MN) — Governor Tim Walz is urging President Donald Trump to return tariff revenue that federal courts have ruled unlawful. The request comes as Minnesota marks Agriculture Day and as financial pressure on farmers continues to grow. State data shows 866 Minnesota farmers entered debt mediation early this year, and Midwest farm bankruptcies jumped 70% in 2025. Many producers are operating at a loss as global markets shrink. The Trump administration recently announced a $12 billion “Farmer Bridge Assistance” program, but state officials estimate it will cover only about 30% of this year’s losses. In a statement, Walz said rising grocery costs, mounting farm bankruptcies, and ongoing job losses in small businesses and manufacturing are hitting Minnesotans.
>>AG Ellison Sues Federal Government Over USDA Funding Conditions
(St. Paul, MN) – Attorney General Keith Ellison and 21 other attorneys general are challenging new federal rules tied to U-S-D-A (U.S. Department of Agriculture) funding. The lawsuit argues the U-S-D-A is imposing “vague” and “coercive” conditions related to immigration, diversity, equity, inclusion, and gender identity that are unrelated to food assistance programs. This includes programs such as SNAP, WIC, the school lunch program, and the Emergency Food Assistance Program. SNAP alone provides about 70–75 million dollars in monthly benefits to roughly 440,000 Minnesotans.
>>Senator Koran Introduces Bill to Expand Mental Health Access
(St. Paul, MN) — Republican Senator Mark Koran of North Branch is pushing new legislation to expand access to mental health care in Minnesota. His bill would make it easier for licensed marriage and family therapists from other states to obtain a Minnesota license. Koran says the state is facing a shortage of therapists, and that current licensing rules often block qualified providers who want to move here. The bill would eliminate the five-year waiting period and remove a requirement that applicants have “equivalent” experience, a standard many say is too restrictive.
>>Representative Fischbach Named “Small Business Deduction Champion”
(Washington, D.C.) — Republican Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach has been named a “Small Business Deduction Champion” by the National Federation of Independent Business. The NFIB says Fischbach helped secure the now-permanent 20-percent Small Business Deduction, which protects more than 33 million small business owners from a major tax increase and gives them long-term stability. Fischbach says small businesses are the backbone of rural communities, and that letting owners keep more of what they earn helps them hire, grow, and reinvest locally.
>>Minneapolis Hit-and-Run Kills Young Woman
(Minneapolis, MN) – Minneapolis Police are investigating a hit-and-run that killed a woman in her 20s early Sunday morning. Officers responded just after 3:10 a.m. to reports of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. They found the woman with life-threatening injuries. She was taken to the hospital, where she died on Monday. Investigators believe she was crossing the street while carrying a bag of food when a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed hit her and continued without stopping. No arrests have been made.
>>Prep now to avoid bear conflicts this spring
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesotans are being reminded to start bear-proofing their yards as bears begin emerging from their dens. The Department of Natural Resources says now is the time to remove bird feeders, secure garbage, and keep pet food and grills locked up. Bear project leader Andi Tri says activity will increase in the coming weeks, with most bears fully out by mid-April. More information is available at the DNR’s website and BearWise.org.
>>Minnesota Power Planning New Service Center in Rice Lake
(Duluth, MN) — Minnesota Power is looking to build a new service center in Rice Lake. The utility is considering a 40-acre site near Duluth International Airport as the future home for its operations. The new facility would replace Minnesota Power’s aging service center in Duluth, a building company leaders say they’ve outgrown. Rice Lake city officials hope the project will kickstart development of a new industrial park, with the service center as its first tenant.
>>Bob Dylan Playing Mayo Civic Center in Rochester Tuesday Night
(Rochester, MN) — Minnesota music legend Bob Dylan is playing the Mayo Civic Center Arena tonight (Tues) in Rochester. There are still tickets available for the show. Eighty-four-year-old Dylan performed last April in Mankato and made an appearance at Farm Aid at the U of M in September. The Hibbing native has a concert on Wednesday in Iowa City and Friday night in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
>>Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival Coming to Shakopee in August
(Shakopee, MN) — The Outlaw Music Festival starring Willie Nelson and Family is coming to the new Mystic Lake Amphitheatre this summer. The August 19th show in Shakopee features Willie, Lukas Nelson, the Avett Brothers, Sierra Hull, and Don Was (WAHS) & the Pan-Detroit Ensemble. They’re playing Alpine Valley in Wisconsin on August 21st. Public ticket sales begin at 10 a.m. Friday through Ticketmaster.
