>>Feds Release $1 Billion for Blatnik Bridge Project in Twin Ports
(Duluth, MN) — Elected officials in Minnesota and Wisconsin are celebrating the release of more than one-billion dollars in federal funds for the Blatnik Bridge project. Governor Walz called it a major win for Minnesota and the Twin Ports. The Blatnik connects Duluth and Superior with vehicles transporting nearly four-billion dollars in goods annually. Minnesota and Wisconsin each committed 400-million dollars in state funding for the new bridge. The project was awarded a billion-dollar grant in January of 2024, but the funding had been on hold.
>>Bill to Regulate Automated License Plate Readers Stalls in House Committee
(St. Paul, MN) — A Minnesota House committee is blocking a bill that would tighten regulations on automated license plate readers. Representative Brad Tabke of Shakopee says the legislation was designed to balance law enforcement access with protecting Minnesotans’ private data. Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association executive director Jeff Potts says the bill’s required audits would be too costly, especially for smaller departments. The bill failed on a 7-7 party-line vote. It would have required detailed tracking of when plate data is accessed, shared, or used.
>>Grants Awarded to Minnesota Schools for Cardiac Health Safety
(St. Paul, MN) — Thirty-one Minnesota school districts are now safer due to the 2025 Education Budget Bill. It included $2 million to provide schools with cardiac emergency response plans and automated external defibrillators (A-E-D’s). The grants will include ongoing training and technical assistance from the Minnesota Department of Education. The author, Senator Bonnie Westlin of Plymouth, is now proposing a bill that would require all school coaches be trained in C-P-R and the use of A-E-D’s. The new legislation is currently in Senate committee.
>>Dairy Assistance Bill for Minnesota Farmers Passes Full Senate
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota’s dairy farmers could soon be getting new relief thanks to a bill that passed the Senate. The Dairy Assistance, Investment, Relief Initiative or DAIRI, passed by a unanimous 66-0 vote. The bill expands the eligibility of the DAIRI program to include more farmers and brings stability when the price of milk goes down and the price of feed goes up. The Department of Agriculture says this will help an additional 30 to 40 more farmers get enrolled in the program. The bill now heads to the House.
>>Services Scheduled for Minnesota Soldier Killed in Kuwait
(White Bear Lake, MN) — Funeral services are scheduled for 39-year-old Master Sergeant Nicole Amor of White Bear Lake. The Minnesota soldier was killed in a drone attack in Kuwait at the start of the conflict in Iran. Amor was just days from returning home to her husband and two children. A public visitation is Thursday from 2–6 p.m. at Mueller Memorial in White Bear Lake. A memorial service will follow on Friday at noon at Eagle Brook Church in White Bear Lake. Amor will be laid to rest privately at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
>>Flags Lowered to Honor Minnetonka Deputy Fire Marshal Johnson
(St. Paul, MN) — Governor Tim Walz is ordering all U-S and Minnesota flags to fly at half-staff through sunset tomorrow (Thurs) to honor Minnetonka Deputy Fire Marshal Shawn Johnson. Johnson passed away March 5th after a two-year battle with cancer. Walz says Johnson dedicated his life to protecting communities and mentoring firefighters across the state. Johnson joined the Minnetonka Fire Department in 2006, serving as a paid-on-call firefighter, lieutenant, training captain, and later as a full-time fire inspector before being promoted to Deputy Fire Marshal in 2023. He also served as vice president of the Minnesota chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators and earned Minnesota Fire Investigator of the Year in 2020.
>>Burnsville Police Schwartz Retiring in May
(Burnsville, MN) — Burnsville Police Chief Tanya Schwartz plans to retire at the end of May after more than three decades with the department. She began her career in 1995 as a community service officer and would later become Burnsville’s first female sergeant, captain, and chief of police in 2019. Schwartz led the department through the fatal shootings of three first responders in February of 2024. Chief Schwartz said serving alongside the women and men of the Burnsville Police Department has been an extraordinary privilege.
>>Authorities I-D Man Fatally Shot by Rochester Police
(Rochester, MN) — The man shot to death by Rochester police last Wednesday is identified as 47-year-old Cleavon White. The Minnesota B-C-A says Officer Josiah Duit fired the fatal shots. Police responded to a domestic-related call and were trying place White on a 72-hour mental health hold. The report says White grabbed an officer’s firearm during a struggle and pulled the trigger. That’s when Officer Duit fired multiple shots at him. White died of his injuries in the hospital. No one else was hurt.
>>California-Based Sutter Health Acquiring Allina of Minnesota
(Minneapolis, MN) — Allina Health, one of Minnesota’s largest health care providers, is being acquired by California-based Sutter Health. Under the deal, Allina would retain its name, board of directors, and Minneapolis regional headquarters. However, the nonprofit health system would ultimately report to Sutter Health President and C-E-O Warner Thomas. Allina has been under financial pressure in recent years. In 2023, the system closed four clinics and shut down its Faribault birth center, consolidating obstetric services in southern Minnesota at Owatonna Hospital.
>>Minnesota Wild Top Blackhawks in Overtime at United Center
(Chicago, IL) — The Minnesota Wild outlasted the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 in overtime Tuesday night at the United Center. Mats Zuccarello netted the game-winner in O-T. Ryan Hartman, Marcus Johansson, and Vladimir Tarasenko also scored for Minnesota and Brock Faber had three assists. The Wild are 3-0 against the Blackhawks this season. The teams play the second game of a home-and-home Thursday at Grand Casino Arena.
>>Minnesotans Shine at 2026 Paralympic Games, Win 2 Gold Medals
(Milan, IT) — Several Minnesota athletes wrapped up strong performances at the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in Italy, with three bringing home medals-including two golds. Lake Elmo’s Sydney Peterson earned gold in the 10-kilometer Classic (Standing – Women) and silver in the 1-kilometer Sprint Classic. Kimball native Mike Schultz captured bronze in the Banked Slalom Snowboarding (Lower Limb 1 Impaired – Men). And Landon Uthke of Albert Lea took gold with Team U-S-A in sled hockey. Other Minnesotans competing included Blake Eaton, Max Nelson with sight guide Gus Schatzlein, Aaron Pike, and Oyuna Uranchimeg.
