>>Rep. Kelly Morrison Calls for Removal of Anti-Vaccine Appointees from CDC Panel
(Washington, D.C.) – Minnesota Congresswoman Kelly Morrison is urging federal health officials to remove two recently appointed O-B-G-Y-Ns from the C-D-C’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Morrison, who has worked as an OB-GYN for more than 20 years, says the two appointees, Dr. Adam Urato and Dr. Kimberly Biss, have publicly questioned vaccine safety and are unsuitable for the nation’s top vaccine advisory panel. The appointments were made in January after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. replaced all 17 previous A-C-I-P members last year. Morrison says reinstating the prior experts is essential to maintaining public trust in the vaccine system. Nearly 50 lawmakers have signed Morrison’s letter seeking their removal.
>>Majority Leader Erin Murphy Appointed to DLCC Board of Directors
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy is joining the Board of Directors for the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC). The Board says Murphy will help shape national strategy aimed at building Democratic strength in state legislatures across the country. Murphy says Minnesota’s recent legislative work shows how state governments can address rising costs and protect residents’ rights. Murphy, a former nurse and union leader, has served in public office since 2006. She spent 12 years in the Minnesota House before being elected to the Senate in 2020 and becoming Majority Leader in 2024.
>>Gov. Walz Issues Order to Speed Up Environmental Permitting
(St. Paul, MN) — Governor Tim Walz aims to improve the speed and transparency of environmental permitting in Minnesota with a new executive order. The E-O directs the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to reduce turnaround times for certain air permits and to update its overall permitting goals as part of a new strategic plan. The M-P-C-A currently oversees more than 28,000 air, water, and land permits at over 22,000 sites statewide. The order also instructs DEED (Department of Employment and Economic Development) to work with the M-P-C-A to identify gaps and improve efficiency and customer service for projects requiring environmental review.
>>Gun Violence Prevention Rally Today at State Capitol
(St. Paul, MN) – This morning, Minnesotans will gather outside the state capitol for the “No More Broken Hearts Across the Twin Cities Rally to End Gun Violence.” Hosted by the gun violence prevention organization, Protect Minnesota, the rally will include elected leaders, community members and advocates to honor the lives lost to gun violence, and demand the legislature take up gun laws reform. Attendees will hold up large paper hearts representing the number of people killed by gun violence each year in Minnesota. The rally begins at 10 a.m.
>>Republican Rarick Announces Re-election Bid
(Pine City, MN) – Republican Senator Jason Rarick announced he will seek re-election in District 11. Rarick lives on a family farm in Pine City and is a champion for education, labor and working families. Rarick was first elected to the House in 2014, and then switched over to the Senate in 2019. District 11 includes Carlton, Kanabec, Pine, Chisago and St. Louis counties.
>>U.S. Women’s Hockey Team Earns Spot in Olympic Semifinals
(Milan, Italy) – Minnesota Frost forward Kendall Coyne Schofield scored two goals in Team USA’s 6-0 win over Italy at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan, Italy. The U.S. dominated the game outshooting the Italians 51-6. With the win, Team USA now moves on to the semifinals and will find out its next opponent after play tomorrow. The Americans next game will be played Monday.
>>Truck Falls Through Ice on Lake Crystal in Southern Minnesota
(Lake Crystal, MN) — Another reminder that ice conditions can vary significantly in Minnesota. The Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office reported that a truck went through the ice Thursday night on Lake Crystal. Deputies say the vehicle was fully submerged in about eight feet of water, but the 25-year-old man driving wasn’t hurt. Authorities say frozen lakes can be dangerous especially with high temperatures in the 40s and 50s this weekend.
>>Prosecutors Seek $7.8 Million in Restitution from Feeding Our Future Accomplice
(Minneapolis, MN) — The U-S Attorney’s Office in Minnesota wants Feeding Our Future fraud scheme accomplice Salim Said (SAH’-leem sah-EED’) to pay 7.8 million dollars in restitution. Said and Feeding Our Future founder Aimee Bock were both convicted of federal wire fraud, conspiracy and bribery charges last year. Prosecutors say Said used some of the money to buy property in Minneapolis, Plymouth, and Columbus, Ohio; and two cars. A judge recently approved more than five million dollars in forfeitures from Bock.
