>>Health Officials Link Alfalfa Sprouts to Multistate Illness Outbreak
(Undated) — Minnesota health officials are warning consumers about alfalfa sprouts linked to a multistate outbreak of E. coli and Salmonella. At least 23 Minnesotans have become sick, including two who were hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. The sprouts were produced by Minnesota-based Everything Sprouts and sold under the Everything Sprouts and Calco brands. Health officials say consumers should not eat the affected sprouts and should throw them away.
>>New Medicaid Work Requirements Could Affect Thousands of Minnesotans
(St. Paul, MN) — Some Minnesotans on Medical Assistance will face new federal work and reporting requirements beginning in 2027. The rules generally apply to adults ages 21 to 64 without dependent children and require qualifying work, education, volunteering, or job-training activities. Minnesota estimates about 140,000 current recipients could potentially lose coverage because of the new requirements and added paperwork. The state has launched an online tool to help recipients determine whether the changes apply to them or if they qualify for an exemption.
>>Back-to-School Purchases Could Bring Tax Savings for Minnesota Families
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota families doing back-to-school shopping could get some of that money back at tax time. The state’s K-12 Education Credit and Subtraction cover qualifying expenses such as notebooks, paper, pens, and textbooks for students in public, private, or home schools. Revenue Commissioner Paul Marquart says about 170,000 families claimed one of the tax benefits last year. The credit has income limits, while the education subtraction does not. Families are encouraged to save receipts for qualifying purchases.
>>Federal Appeals Court Blocks Minnesota Election Speech Law
(Undated) – A federal appeals court has ruled Minnesota cannot criminalize certain political speech about voting eligibility. The Eighth Circuit sided with the Minnesota Voters Alliance, which challenged a state law allowing criminal penalties and civil lawsuits over some statements related to voting rights. The group argued the law threatened its ability to discuss whether felons still under state supervision can vote under the Minnesota Constitution. The court said the group’s speech is likely protected by the First Amendment and ordered a lower court to issue a preliminary injunction while the case moves forward.
>>State Funding Could Boost Duluth’s Bid for F-35 Mission
(Duluth, MN) — Minnesota lawmakers visited the 148th Fighter Wing in Duluth Thursday as the base works to secure a future F-35 mission. Senator Grant Hauschild says $3.5 million in state bonding funds will help replace aging, 70-year-old hangars and improve safety and mission readiness. The Hermantown DFLer says the investment could also help leverage federal funding and strengthen the 148th Fighter Wing’s bid to bring F-35 aircraft to Duluth.
>>Google Scales Back Plans for Hermantown Data Center Campus
(Hermantown, MN) — Google is scaling back its proposed data center campus in Hermantown following community concerns. The company now plans three data center buildings instead of four, reducing the project from about 1.8 million to 1.66 million square feet. Google says the changes will also reduce the amount of land and wetlands disturbed. The Hermantown project would be Google’s second proposed data center in Minnesota, joining another planned for Pine Island near Rochester.
>>State Reaches Agreements to Limit Alleged Gang Activity at Minnesota State Fair
(Falcon Heights, MN) – Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Ramsey County Attorney John Choi say they’ve secured court agreements and injunctions aimed at preventing gang violence at the State Fair. Seven people named in civil lawsuits tied to the gangs known as Muddy and The Ville have agreed not to attend the fair or enter a designated security zone around the fairgrounds. A Ramsey County judge also found three others are members of the Muddy gang and imposed restrictions on their activities at the fair. State officials say the action follows concerns over threats of violence and prior gang-related incidents connected to fair events.
>>Free Mental Health Services for Farmers
(St. Paul, MN) – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture and partners in the Minnesota Farm Suicide Prevention Campaign are offering free mental health and suicide-prevention trainings in communities across Minnesota this fall. The workshops will teach people who live and work in agricultural communities how to recognize the signs when someone may be struggling and help connect them with support. Anyone who needs help or knows someone who does can reach out to the 988 Lifeline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
>>NASA Selects Minnesota State for Aerospace Workforce Hub
(St. Paul, MN) – NASA has selected the Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence as one of seven Aerospace Skilled Technical Workforce State Hubs in the nation. This three-year, $1.5 million initiative is designed to address the growing national need for skilled technical talent as the aerospace economy expands and advances priorities related to human space exploration, advanced manufacturing, propulsion systems, and aerospace innovation. Minnesota State was the only hub chosen in the Midwest.
>>Army Corps Seeks Public Input on Revised NorthMet Mining Proposal
(Undated) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is taking public comments on a new permit application for the proposed NorthMet copper-nickel mine in northeastern Minnesota. NewRange Copper Nickel has submitted updated plans after the project’s federal wetlands permit was revoked in 2023. The company is proposing a new tailings management location and other design changes in St. Louis County. The Army Corps says comments will be accepted through September 12th before it reviews the application and potential impacts to federally regulated waters and wetlands.
>>Wild to Host Training Clinic for New Hockey Referees
(St. Paul, MN) – The Minnesota Wild is teaming up with Minnesota Hockey, the Minnesota Hockey Officials Association, and USA Hockey to host a Level One referee seminar and clinic next month. The event is set for September 19th at the Wild’s executive offices in St. Paul. New officials can complete their USA Hockey Level One certification, skate at TRIA Rink, hear from NHL officials, and attend the Wild’s preseason game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Registration is now open through the Minnesota Wild website.
>>Highway 280 Reopens Ahead of Minnesota State Fair
(St. Paul, MN) — Highway 280 is reopening in time for Minnesota State Fair traffic after being closed since April. The $34 million project included new pavement, bridge repairs, guardrails, and signs. Crews also reconfigured the westbound I-94 ramp to improve safety for drivers merging onto northbound Highway 280. MnDOT says additional bridge and safety improvements are planned for 2028.
