>>Governor Walz Signs Five Bills into Law
(St. Paul, MN) — Governor Walz signed another five bills into law on Tuesday. The legislation supports veterans and their families, updates the state’s energy permitting process, and clarifies policies related to liquor licenses and mortgage foreclosures. The veterans’ laws will expand educational aid for spouses and their children, which includes tuition and financial assistance. Another law now clarifies the process for postponing mortgage foreclosure sales, while another allows ‘happy hours’ for seniors living in nursing home facilities.
>>Walz Continues Push for Passage of Office of Inspector General Bill
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota House lawmakers say a bill to establish an independent Office of the Inspector General could cost around 15 million dollars. Governor Walz says you can’t go cheap when creating an office like this. The governor told reporters, “All’s I care about is everything we do if it reduces fraud and smooths legitimate payments to people who need it because I will never back off of we’re not stopping these programs that improves people’s lives but we have to strike that proper balance.” House leaders are confident the O-I-G bill will pass this session and be signed by the governor. It’s already cleared he Minnesota Senate.
>>Walz Scheduled to Appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live”
(St. Paul, MN) – Governor Tim Walz is hitting the bright lights of late-night television again. The governor’s office says Walz will appear on tonight’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” When Walz was announced as the Democratic vice presidential candidate in 2024, he made his first late-night T-V appearance with Kimmel. The show airs tonight at 10:35 on A-B-C.
>>Friends of the Boundary Waters Earth Day Rally at State Capitol
(St. Paul, MN) — Friends of the Boundary Waters is hosting an Earth Day rally today (Wed) at the State Capitol. Organizers say they will be celebrating the movement to protect Minnesota’s water, wilderness, and wild places. Advocates and community leaders are scheduled to speak. The group is calling on the Minnesota D-N-R to cancel state mineral leases for a proposed copper-nickel mine near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. The U-S Senate voted to lift a 20-year ban on mining near the B-W-C-A last week.
>>OCM Officials Applaud Senate Bill Allowing States to Regulate Hemp Products
(St. Paul, MN) — Officials with the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management are encouraged by a bipartisan bill in the U-S Senate that would allow states and tribes to regulate hemp products. O-C-M executive director Eric Taubel says, “This proposed approach that kind of gives states like Minnesota who have made smart regulatory choices the opportunity to continue to have these markets and regulate these markets.” He says it certainly would be welcome news to the operators in Minnesota who are currently making and selling these products. A federal funding bill passed last fall would ban most hemp-derived products this November.
>>Red Flag Warning and Fire Weather Watch Issued
(Chanhassen, MN) — The National Weather Service is issuing a Red Flag Warning for 27 counties in southwest Minnesota from noon to 8 p.m. today (Wed) due to extreme fire danger. A Fire Weather Watch is also in effect across southern, central, western, and northern Minnesota. Forecasters warn that strong winds and very low humidity will create conditions where fires can ignite easily and spread rapidly. Residents are urged to avoid any activities that could produce sparks and to thoroughly check recent burns to ensure all embers are completely out.
>>MnDOT Asks Drivers and Farm Equipment Operators to Share Roads during Spring Planting
(Undated) — The Minnesota Department of Transportation is reminding drivers to share the roads with tractors and farm vehicles during spring planting season. MnDOT officials say motorists should slow down and prepare to encounter slow-moving farm vehicles, especially on rural, two-lane roads. State data show that there were 392 crashes involving farm equipment in Minnesota from 2023 to 2025, resulting in 12 deaths and 167 injuries. Farm operators should use lights as required to make equipment more visible and have slow-moving vehicle emblems on equipment traveling less than 30 miles an hour.
>>Body of Missing Rochester Man Recovered from River in Northeast Iowa
(New Albin, IA) — Authorities in northeast Iowa say they have found the body of the missing Rochester man. The Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office reports the body of 34-year-old Don Allen Watson was recovered from the Upper Iowa River Monday, just south of the Minnesota border. Deputies say Watson’s vehicle was located early Sunday at Wild Landing, and he was reported missing last Thursday. Someone reported finding a body Monday while law enforcement was searching along the river. Watson’s death is under investigation, but foul play is not suspected.
>>Duluth Man Pleads Guilty to Second-Degree Murder in July 2024 Stabbing
(Duluth, MN) — A Duluth man is admitting to the July 2024 stabbing death of a man who was found dead in an apartment fire. St. Louis County prosecutors say 26-year-old Tyler Edwards pleaded guilty Tuesday to the unintentional second-degree murder of 25-year-old Maxton Gudowski. Edwards told the court that he and Gudowski got into a heated argument before he stabbed him multiple times. Court records allege Edwards lit the victim’s body on fire after he was dead. His sentencing hearing is set for June 15th.
>>Minnesota’s 2025 Deer Harvest Climbs
(St. Paul, MN) — A new D-N-R report finds Minnesota hunters saw a strong season in 2025, harvesting 186,368 deer. That marks a notable increase from 2024, continuing an upward trend driven by favorable conditions and steady hunter participation. The report breaks down harvest data by season, permit area, weapon type, and special hunts, and also includes license sales and success rates. For hunters and wildlife managers alike, the D-N-R says the 2025 report offers one of the most detailed looks yet at the state’s deer population and hunting activity. The full report can be found on the D-N-R website.
>>Minnesota Twins Rally Past Mets in New York
(Flushing, NY) — The Minnesota Twins scored twice in the ninth inning to beat the New York Mets 5-3 last night at Citi Field. Luke Keaschall drove in the go-ahead run before Matt Wallner drew a bases-loaded walk. Byron Buxton hit a two-run homer, and Cole Sands got the win in relief. Minnesota snapped a four-game losing streak while handing New York its 12th straight loss. The 12-11 Twins and 7-16 Mets play game two of the interleague series tonight (Wed 6:10pm)
