>>Gov. Walz Urges DHS to Restore Public Safety Funding
(St. Paul, MN) — Governor Tim Walz is urging Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to restore a $700,000 federal grant that supported Minnesota’s violence prevention efforts. The Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention grant was abruptly canceled in July, cutting key positions within the Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management team at the state’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). Walz says recent tragedies, like the murder of Emerita House Speaker Melissa and Mark Hortman and the fatal shooting at Annunciation Catholic School, “highlight the devastating cost of failing to act.”
>> Medical Debt Lawsuits Hit Five-Year High in Minnesota
(Undated) – Medical debt lawsuits in Minnesota have reached a five-year high, according to Pew Research. The rise mirrors national trends in consumer debt cases, including auto loans and credit cards. Minnesota’s Debt Fairness Act offers some protection, stating that medical debt can’t be reported to credit bureaus and wage garnishment is limited. Patients facing lawsuits may be able to negotiate lower payments.
>>Mayo Clinic Health System Closing 6 Clinics in Southern Minnesota
(Rochester, MN) — Mayo Clinic Health Systems is shutting down six clinics in southern Minnesota by the end of the year. The locations set to close are Belle Plaine, Caledonia, Montgomery, Northridge, St. Peter, and Wells. Officials say rural and community healthcare across the country is facing significant challenges, including staffing shortages and declining patient volumes. These closures will leave the Mayo system with 19 locations in the state.
>>Rep. Finstad Pushes for SNAP Reforms
(Washington, D.C.) – Republican Congressman Brad Finstad is calling out Governor Tim Walz over how Minnesota handles food assistance. Finstad and fellow lawmakers sent a letter to Walz, criticizing the state’s management of the SNAP program. They say poor decisions have hurt program integrity, strained counties, and wasted taxpayer dollars. Finstad says recent federal reforms give Minnesota a chance to improve, but “Walz must step up and make the right choices for the people of our state.” 450,000 Minnesotans rely on SNAP benefits to put food on the table.
>>Fargo Man Seriously Injured in Motorcycle Crash Near Barnesville
(Barnesville, MN) — A Fargo man suffered life-threatening injuries in a motorcycle crash near Barnesville, Monday afternoon in Clay County. The State Patrol says 60-year-old Ronald Ellis was westbound on Interstate 94 when he lost control of the bike. The motorcycle went into the ditch. Ellis was taken to a Fargo hospital. He was not wearing a helmet.
>>Mold Issue Resolved at Plainview-Elgin-Millville Schools
(Plainview, MN) — The Plainview-Elgin-Millville School District students are back in class after mold found in some classrooms has been cleaned up. Mold was first found in the Pre-K through 3rd-grade building. Superintendent Courtney Frie says post-cleaning air tests show levels are back to normal, and cleaning began on Monday in the high school. The district is still moving forward with HVAC system cleaning.
>>Minnesota Lynx Play Final Road Game at Indiana
(Indianapolis, IN) — The Minnesota Lynx play their final road game of the regular season tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the Indiana Fever. The Lynx won at Golden State on Saturday night to improve to 33-9. Tonight’s meeting with Minnesota is the final regular-season game for the 23-20 Fever. The Lynx host the Valkyries in the season finale on Thursday for Fan Appreciation Night at Target Center.
