>>House Speaker Demuth Tops GOP Gubernatorial Straw Poll
(Edina, MN) — Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth appears to the winner of G-O-P gubernatorial straw poll at Tuesday’s precinct caucuses. With 71 percent reporting, Demuth had 4,255 votes, Kendall Qualls had 3,552, Mike Lindell 2,357, Scott Jensen 846, and Kristin Robbins got 626. There were 826 undecided votes. The first place finish gives the Demuth campaign for governor some momentum heading into the Republican state convention in late May. The D-F-L Party reports at least 30 thousand voters attended in-person precinct caucuses. Democrats are now focused on their state convention in Rochester.
>>Representative Robbins Testifies in Front of US Senate Subcommittee
(Washington, DC) — The Republican chair of the Minnesota House Fraud Prevention Committee is back in Washington, D-C today (Wed) to testify about fraud in Minnesota. Representative Kristin Robbins of Maple Grove will appear before a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee for a hearing titled, “Somali Scammers: Fighting Fraud in Minnesota and Beyond.” Robbins testified before the U-S House Oversight Committee last month. Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison are expected to testify before the House Committee in early March.
>>Omar Calls for Resignation of DHS Secretary Noem
(Washington, DC) — Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is among those in Washington calling for the resignation of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The Minneapolis Democrat says her city is under occupation and two residents were fatally shot by federal agents as cameras recorded. Omar said at a news conference outside ICE headquarters, ” When we say it is time for Kristi Noem to go, we mean it now.” Noem is now calling for body worn cameras for all ICE agents in Minnesota.
>>Congresswoman Craig Introduces ICE Custody Standards of Care Bill
(Washington, DC) — Legislation introduce by U-S Representative Angie Craig would establish standards of care for people taken into custody by ICE and Customs and Border Protection agents. The bill would require ICE and C-B-P to conduct timely, in-person medical screenings and ensure basic humanitarian standards for people detained. Craig’s statement says 53 people died in ICE and C-B-P custody in 2025. She also joined colleagues outside the ICE headquarters demanding Kristi Noem step down as secretary of Homeland Security.
>>Second Harvest Officials say ICE Operations Causing Rise in Food Insecurity
(Brooklyn Park, MN) — Federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota is causing food insecurity to increase rapidly. Second Harvest Heartland C-E-O Sarah Moberg says people need to reach out to their personal connections right now, because hunger is easy to hide. Moberg says, “if kids are home from school, then they are missing school meals. If people are not feeling safe going to grocery stores or to food shelves, then all of a sudden, those access points for food are no longer an option.” She says volunteers are packing over 5,000 emergency food boxes weekly to help families in this situation.
>>Man from South Metro Killed in Northeastern Minnesota Snowmobile Crash
(Orr, MN) — Authorities in northeastern Minnesota are investigating a deadly snowmobile crash on the Arrowhead Trail near Orr. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office received a report Tuesday afternoon that two snowmobiles collided and one of the drivers was thrown from the machine and unresponsive. Deputies say first responders tried to save him, but the 57-year-old man from the south metro died at the scene. The driver of the other snowmobile wasn’t hurt.
>>Stevens County Woman Gets 180 Days in Jail for Role in Infant’s Severe Brain Injury
(Morris, MN) — A Stevens County woman is sentenced to 180 days in jail and five years of probation after an infant in her care suffered a severe brain injury. Crystal Rose Searle pleaded guilty in December to felony child endangerment for the March 2022 incident. Prosecutors said Searle waited 45 minutes to seek help when a two-month-old child needed emergency care. The infant was later taken to the hospital with a subdural hematoma and underwent brain surgery.
>>Tim McGraw Announces Target Field Show
(Minneapolis, MN) — Country superstar Tim McGraw is bringing his 2026 Pawn Shop Guitar Tour to Target Field this summer. The Minneapolis stop on August 23rd is one of only three stadium shows on the tour. McGraw will be joined by The Chicks and Lady A, with 49 Winchester and Timothy Wayne also appearing. An artist presale opens at 10 a-m today (Wed), with general tickets on sale Friday at timmcgraw.com. McGraw says he’s excited to return to the road with what he calls a night packed with “incredible songs and musicianship.”
>>Minnesota Vikings Fullback and Duluth Native CJ Ham Retires
(Eagan, MN) — Minnesota Vikings fullback C-J Ham is officially retiring from the N-F-L. The 32-year-old from Duluth played nine seasons for the Purple and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2019 and 2023. He gave an emotional farewell following the Vikings’ win over the Packers in the regular season finale. Ham scored a touchdown in his last game.
