>>Flanagan Agrees to Three US Senate Debates with Craig
(St. Louis Park, MN) – Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan says she has agreed to three Democratic U-S Senate debates with Congresswoman Angie Craig. The first debate is June 19th on T-P-T, the second will be on Minnesota Public Radio July 27th, and third debate is at Farmfest on August 5th. Craig had been accusing Flanagan of dodging debates with her. The Flanagan campaign says Minnesota voters will now have multiple opportunities to hear from the candidates before the August D-F-L primary.
>>Minnesota’s Leisure & Hospitality Industry Loses $71 Million in Wages During Operation Metro Surge
(St. Paul, MN) — A new statewide analysis finds Operation Metro Surge had a major economic impact on Minnesota restaurants, bars, and hotels. Aaron Rosenthal of North Star Policy Action says the hospitality industry lost roughly 46 hundred jobs and saw a reduction of 3.8 million worker hours, which translates into about 71 million dollars in lost wages for workers in the first three months of 2026. Rosenthal says some restaurants closed while many employees feared coming to work during the federal immigration crackdown.
>>Woman Pleads Guilty to Murder in Kittson County Shooting Death
(Hallock, MN) — A northwest Minnesota woman is pleading guilty in the March 2025 fatal shooting of a man in Kittson County. Prosecutors say Jordan Hanson of Kennedy admitted to the second-degree murder of Justin Esparza at his home near Kennedy. The case was prosecuted by the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office following a referral from the Kittson county attorney. Attorney General Keith Ellison credited local law enforcement and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for their work investigating the homicide. Sentencing is scheduled for a later date.
>>Teen From Watkins Drowns While Fishing on Pleasant Lake in Wright County
(Annandale, MN) — Authorities in Wright County are identifying the victim of an apparent drowning on Pleasant Lake near Annandale. Sheriff’s deputies say they discovered an overturned kayak Monday night near a public access and dock where several people were fishing. Witnesses said 18-year-old Cameron Mertens from Watkins fishing when he fell from his kayak into the water. Mertens was later recovered from the lake by dive team members.
>>Minnesota DNR Encourages Adults to Take Swimming Lessons
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is reminding older adults that it’s never too late to learn how to swim. With summer in full swing and more people spending time at lakes and pools, the D-N-R’s Lisa Dugan says adults who aren’t confident in the water should consider taking swimming lessons. Dugan says many people assume lessons are only for children, but improving swimming skills at any age can help prevent drownings and increase water safety. Officials encourage Minnesotans to know their limits and wear a life jacket when appropriate.
>>MDH Expanding Online Resource Map for Non-opioid Pain Treatment Options
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Health is expanding on one of its tools that helps people manage pain without opioids. The “No Pain MN” map, created by M-D-H and Hennepin Healthcare, connects users to more than 17,000 providers statewide offering non-opioid treatments, from physical therapy and counseling to acupuncture, yoga, and massage. Health officials say the goal is to improve quality of life and reduce reliance on prescription painkillers. The effort comes as nearly one in four adults report chronic pain. State data show opioid overdose deaths dropped by about a third from 2023 to 2024.
>>Three Students, Driver Suffer Minor Injuries in Hamline School Bus Crash
(St. Paul, MN) — Police in St. Paul say three students and the driver are recovering from minor injuries suffered in a school bus crash Tuesday on the Hamline University campus. Officers say about a dozen children were onboard when the bus crashed into a wall on the Robbins Science Center building. The three kids and bus driver were taken to the hospital for treatment. The bus was carrying students from Higher Ground Academy charter school. Hamline officials closed the campus Tuesday afternoon following the crash.
>>CHS Doing Away with Three Grain Elevators in Southeastern Minnesota
(Inver Grove Heights, MN) — Inver Grove Heights-based C-H-S says it plans to either close or sell three grain elevators in southeastern Minnesota following this fall’s harvest season. The agriculture cooperative announced that its facilities in Kasson, Ostrander and Wykoff are no longer seeing the same level of grain deliveries as farmers increasingly haul corn and soybeans directly to large processing plants and river terminals. Company officials say changes in the state’s grain transportation and marketing system have reduced the need for some smaller storage locations.
>>Workforce Reduction at Minnesota Star Tribune
(Minneapolis, MN) — The state’s largest newspaper is reducing its workforce by about 15 percent through a combination of voluntary buyouts and layoffs. Company executives at the Minnesota Star Tribune announced the cuts Tuesday, saying the move is necessary to adapt to ongoing changes in the digital media landscape. C-E-O Steve Grove called the decision difficult but expressed confidence in the organization’s future. He also indicated the company may explore a new ownership structure as it works to address industry-wide challenges, including declining advertising revenue and shifting audience habits. The paper traces its roots back to 1867, when the Minneapolis Tribune was founded. It later merged with the Minneapolis Star in 1982 to become the Star Tribune.
>>Rochester Announces Return of Thursdays Downtown
(Rochester, MN) — The Rochester Downtown Alliance is announcing the return of Thursdays Downtown, southern Minnesota’s largest art, food and music street festival. The weekly festival will run every Thursday from June 11th through August 13th, with the exception of July 2nd. Organizers say the annual summer tradition transforms the heart of the city into a vibrant celebration with live entertainment, local foods, vendors, and fun for the whole family. The event takes place from 11 a.m. until 8:30 p.m.
>>Twins Beat White Sox Again, Go for Series Sweep Today
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Twins go for a series sweep of the White Sox this afternoon (Wed) at Target Field. The Twins used a four-run fourth inning to the beat the White Sox 6-4 last night. Luke Keaschall and Tristan Gray drove in a pair of runs each for Minnesota. Twins starter Connor Prielipp allowed four runs over six innings and struck out seven for his second win. Reliever Yoendrys Gomez pitched one-and-a-third inning for the save. Taj Bradley gets the start today in the series finale.
