>>Governor Walz Won’t Accept Recommended Pay Raise
(St. Paul, MN) — Once again Governor Tim Walz says he will not take a pay raise for the work he’s doing for the state of Minnesota. The State Compensation Council recommends that the Minnesota governor should be paid up to $175,000 for 2025 and $200,000 for 2026. The governor said, “I don’t want this to be an issue that the governor is trying to pay himself. I think I’m compensated fairly by the state of Minnesota for the work I do.” Walz has turned down raises twice in the past and makes an annual salary of just over $127,000.
>>Minnesota Health Officials Respond to $226 Million in Federal Funding Cuts
(St. Paul, MN) — State health officials are speaking out against the federal government’s decision to terminate 226 million dollars in grant funding. Minnesota Health Commissioner Brooke Cunningham called the cut to pandemic funds a “tremendous” loss. Cunningham says the termination is effective immediately and impacts ongoing work and contracts. She added in a statement, “In the past we could count on the federal government to uphold its commitments and obligations.” The Trump administration is cutting more than 11 billion dollars in COVID-related funding to state and local health departments.
>>Minnesota Nurses to Testify at Senate Hearing
(St. Paul, MN) — Members of the Minnesota Nurses Association will testify in support of the Quality Patient Care Act today (Thurs 12:30pm) before the Senate Labor Committee. The bill would prevent what supporters call “unsafe” nurse-to-patient ratios, reduce moral injury, and improve nurse retention. Nurses will testify about the unsafe conditions for both them and patients. A similar bill failed to pass the legislature in 2023.
>>Former Senator Eichorn Allowed to Stay in Halfway House Until Trial
(St. Paul, MN) — A federal judge is allowing ex-state Senator Justin Eichorn of Grand Rapids to stay in a halfway house until his criminal trial. Eichorn was arrested last week in Bloomington and charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. Prosecutors argued that Eichorn should remain in custody because he lied about having a handgun and arranged for his wife to remove a laptop from his apartment. F-B-I agents also found a cell phone that had data wiped from it. Eichorn’s release requires that he’s on home detention at the halfway house, submits G-P-S monitoring, cannot possess a gun, or leave Minnesota.
>>AG Ellison Warns About 23andMe’s Bankruptcy
(St. Paul, MN) — Attorney General Keith Ellison is alerting consumers regarding 23andMe’s recent bankruptcy filing. 23andMe is a direct-to-consumer genetic testing company. After a breach of sensitive genetic data in October 2023 that affected seven million Americans, the A-G’s Office has been investigating the company. Ellison says Sunday’s file for bankruptcy raises reasonable questions about the future of 23andMe’s data and how it’ll be safeguarded. The company’s website says users can still delete their data and account.
>>Blaine Man Pleads Guilty to Sending Powders to FBI Office
(St. Paul, MN) — Federal prosecutors say a Blaine man is pleading guilty to sending envelopes containing suspicious powders to the F-B-I Field Office in Brooklyn Center. Forty-five-year-old Oleg Petrashov mailed brown and tan powders to the F-B-I in November 2020 and another envelope with white powders in November 2022. Investigators say both envelopes were examined for explosive and biological agents, wasting time and F-B-I Resources. Petrashov said he sent the letters signed with a family member’s name following a dispute. He pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of false information and hoax.
>>Body of Missing International Falls Man Recovered from Rainy River
(International Falls, MN) — Authorities in far northern Minnesota report finding the body of a missing International Falls man in the Rainy River. The Koochiching County Sheriff’s Office says deputies recovered the remains of 64-year-old Roger Tupper Tuesday afternoon near Nelson Landing in Birchdale. Tupper was reported missing in November after he tried to enter Canada by kayak but never made it to his destination. An extensive search was conducted at that time and Tupper’s kayak and deceased dog were located along the Canadian shoreline.
>>Rochester Man Found Guilty of Forcing Woman for Ride at Gunpoint
(St. Paul, MN) — A Rochester man faces five to ten years in federal prison after being convicted of illegally possessing a firearm as felon. Prosecutors say 24-year-old Divaunte Young pressured an acquaintance for a ride to the Twin Cities in March of 2023 and brandished a handgun when she refused. The alleged victim locked herself in a gas station bathroom and called 9-1-1. Officers found Young sleeping in the car with a bag containing a nine-millimeter handgun. He’s prohibited from having a gun due to multiple felony convictions.
>>Amtrak Cancels the Borealis Line from St. Paul to Chicago
(St. Paul, MN) — Amtrak is cancelling several routes, including the Borealis passenger line which connects St. Paul to Chicago. The cancellation is due to safety concerns identified during a routine maintenance check. In a statement, Amtrak explained that corrosion was found in several Horizon railcars. After learning of additional areas of concern from extensive inspections of multiple cars, they decided to remove the affected equipment from service while working with the manufacturer. Amtrak is developing a long-term plan and expects to release more information in the coming days.
>>U of M Men’s Hockey Plays UMass in NCAA Tournament Opener in Fargo
(Fargo, ND) — The University of Minnesota men’s hockey team faces off against U-Mass tonight (Thurs 7:30pm) in the N-C-A-A Regional in Fargo. The Golden Gophers went 25-10-and-4 this season and shared the Big Ten championship with Michigan State. Minnesota topped U-Mass 4-3 in overtime in the 2022 N-C-A-A tournament. Minnesota State-Mankato and Western Michigan play the first game at 4 pm today at Scheels Arena. The winners will meet Saturday for the regional championship and a trip to the 2025 Frozen Four in St. Louis.
>>Minnesota Twins Open Regular Season at St. Louis Cardinals
(St. Louis, MO) — The Minnesota Twins play the St. Louis Cardinals this afternoon (Thurs 3:15pm) on Opening Day at Busch Stadium. Pablo Lopez is the starting pitcher for Minnesota and former Twins right-hander Sonny Gray is on the mound for St. Louis. The Twins look to rebound from a fourth place finish in the American League Central last season. The Cardinals finished second in the N-L Central in 2024 but missed the playoffs for second straight season. The Twins home opener is next Thursday against the Houston Astros.
>>Twins to Debut Hands Free Ticketing Entry System
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Twins are introducing a new way for fans to enter Target Field during the 2025 season. To take part in the new ticketing system called Go-Ahead Entry, fans will need to download the M-L-B app and register by uploading a screenshot of their face. Once their tickets are linked to their account, all they need to do is walk through security and proceed through the new facial recognition gate. This will be the first year the Twins implement the Go-Ahead Entry system.
