>>Ellison Cheers Judge’s Decision Temporarily Blocking $11 Billion in Cuts to Public Health Agencies
(St. Paul, MN) — Attorney General Keith Ellison is applauding a federal judge’s decision to restore 11 billion dollars in federal cuts to state and local public health agencies, including 250 million in Minnesota. The U-S District Court in Rhode Island granted a temporary restraining order Thursday afternoon saying the states were facing irreparable harm because of these cuts. Ellison said in a statement, “the funds Trump tried to pull go towards mental health and substance abuse services, emergency preparedness, disease management, and so many other important purposes that benefit Minnesotans.” The Minnesota Department of Health announced at least 170 job layoffs in response to the loss of federal funding.
>>House DFL Bill Would Create a Program Supporting Black Veterans
(St. Paul, MN) — A D-F-L bill in the Minnesota House would create a new program benefitting the state’s Black veterans. Colonel Stephen Kent is a 25-year Army veteran and says where minority vets come from, they face segregation, unequal benefits, and fewer opportunities. Republicans said if there are gaps in coverage those need to be addressed, but weren’t sure how the program would be different from what is provided to veterans now. The bill authored by Representative Mary Frances Clardy of Inver Grove Heights would allocate $5 million in fiscal year 2026 for the program.
>>Minnesota House Passes Brady Aune & Joseph Anderson Safety Act
(St. Paul, MN) — A bipartisan bill passed by the Minnesota House aims to protect workers engaged in commercial diving for aquatic plant removal. It is named in memory of Brady Aune and Joseph Anderson. The two young men lost their lives while working under dangerous and unregulated conditions. Representative Dave Baker from Willmar says these deaths should never have happened, and with this bill, future workers will be ensured of having the property safety training, equipment and supervision. The mothers of the two men were present for the House vote, which was unanimous 127-0.
>>St. Cloud State Seeks State Funding for Brooks Center Chiller Replacement
(St. Cloud, MN) — St. Cloud State University officials hope a new refrigeration system for the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center will be included in a bonding bill at the Capitol this year. S-C-S-U interim President Larry Dietz says they’ve been lobbying for this project for quite some time. Dietz says the current chiller in the Huskies’ ice arena has outlived its usefulness by nearly 20 years. The project is estimated at 13-million dollars.
>>No Charges Against Bloomington Woman for Damaging Tesla
(Bloomington, MN) — Police in Bloomington say they will not pursue charges against a woman accused of vandalizing a Tesla. Officers say the woman did 32-hundred dollars in damage to the electric car with a key outside in grocery store parking lot, but the owner doesn’t want to file a criminal case. The woman has paid for the damages. Cars made by Elon Musk’s company have been vandalized across the nation. A man in Fargo is facing a felony criminal mischief charge for damaging a Tesla Cybertruck.
>>DNR Reminds Visitors to Know Trail Status Before Going to State Forest
(Undated) — The Department of Natural Resources is reminding Minnesotans to do their research before they head out to a state forest this spring. The D-N-R’s Genna Soufflé says the spring season can be a bit of a weather rollercoaster, so they’ll sometimes have to close trails or roads. She says the spring freeze/thaw cycle creates muddy, unstable conditions and it’s important to stay up to date. You can visit the D-N-R’s trail closure website for more information.
>>Minnesota Twins Fall to Houstin Astros in Opener at Target Field
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Houston Astros topped the Minnesota Twins 5-2 in the home opener at a packed Target Field Thursday and both teams are off today (Fri). Twins starter Joe Ryan gave up four runs over five innings to fall to 0-and-2. Matt Wallner led off the first inning with a triple and scored on groundout by Carlos Correa before Byron Buxton had an infield single and came home on hit by Trevor Larnach. Houston’s Hunter Brown pitched six innings of two-run ball for the win. Bailey Ober is scheduled to start Saturday afternoon in the second game of the series.
>>Minnesota Timberwolves Cruise Past the Nets in Brooklyn
(Brooklyn, NY) — The Minnesota Timberwolves are on a four-game win streak following a 105-90 victory over the Nets Thursday night in Brooklyn. Anthony Edwards left the game in the second quarter after rolling an ankle but returned in the second half and finished with 28 points. Rudy Gobert had 21 points and 18 rebounds and Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker both scored 13. The Wolves play the Sixers Saturday night in Philadelphia. Minnesota is 45-and-32 and in seventh place in the Western Conference standings with five games remaining.
