>>Governor Walz Continues to Push for $900M Bonding Bill
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Legislature’s adjournment deadline is just one week away, and among high-profile issues still up in the air is a roughly 900-million-dollar bonding bill for state public works projects. Governor Tim Walz says, “the bonding bill requires bipartisan support. I think there’s good faith negotiations happening right now on that. I think we’ll get it done.” Senate Republican Minority Leader Mark Johnson says if Democrats work with them, “there’s a great chance of that happening. If they don’t, it makes it very difficult.” Johnson has hinted that to provide necessary votes to pass a bonding bill, Republicans want concessions in some areas of the supplemental state budget. One thing might be more funding for emergency medical services in greater Minnesota.
>>Bloomington Semiconductor Manufacturer to Receive $120M for Expansion
(Bloomington, MN) — Polar Semiconductor is getting 120 million dollars in federal funding through the CHIPS and Science Act to expand its manufacturing facility in Bloomington. Governor Tim Walz, state and federal leaders are announcing the major expansion this morning (Mon 9:45am). Polar produces high-voltage semiconductors for use in automotive, commercial, and industrial applications at its 310-thousand-square-foot facility in Bloomington. Officials says the new funding will allow the company to double its production capacity of 21 thousand wafer semiconductors per month.
>>Canadian Wildfire Smoke Prompts Air Quality Alerts in Minnesota
(St. Paul, MN) — All of Minnesota is under an air quality alert through noon today (Mon12pm) due to smoke from Canadian wildfires. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) says everyone should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion or time spent outdoors. M-P-C-A officials says the smoke is clearing in the northern half of the state and will persist through midday across southern Minnesota. Air quality will gradually improve throughout the day as thee smoke begins to disperse.
>>Canoeist from Duluth Dies on Agnes Lake in BWCA north of Ely
(Ely, MN) — A Duluth man is the victim of an apparent drowning on Lake Agnes in the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA). The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says canoeists reported finding a capsized canoe partially submerged with a body Friday evening about 25 miles north of Ely. Deputies and U-S Forest Service officials later recovered the body of 62-year-old Mark Ham of Duluth. A lifejacket was located at the scene, but he was not wearing it. Ham’s family told authorities that was on a solo camping trip in the B-W-C-A.
>>Mountain Lake Teen Drowns in Mound Creek County Park
(Brown County, MN) — The Brown County Sheriff’s Office says a 15-year-old boy died of an apparent drowning in a south central Minnesota lake. Deputies were called to a report of a possible drowning at Mound Creek County Park Sunday afternoon. They say the boy from Mountain Lake had been swimming off the beach, began to struggle, went underwater and never resurfaced. First responders recovered the victim from the water and provided aid but he did not survive. The boy hasn’t been identified.
>>Authorities Continue to Search for Missing Kayaker in Kandiyohi County
(Spicer, MN) — The search resumes this morning (Mon) for a kayaker who went missing on Nest Lake near Spicer on Saturday night. The Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office says a 39-year-old man from Overland Park, Kansas left his vacation rental on Nest Lake and went kayaking alone at 11:30 pm. Crews located the missing kayak during an open water and shoreline search Sunday afternoon. Deputies say the search efforts were called off last night. Forty-plus fire, E-M-S and law enforcement volunteers assisted with Sunday’s search.
>>Pedestrian Fatally Struck by Train in Downtown Rochester
(Rochester, MN) — Authorities in Rochester are investigating after a man was struck and killed by a train at a railroad crossing Saturday night near downtown. Witnesses told police the train’s engine went the through the crossing when the man got too close and was hit by a boxcar. Officers say the 23-year-old victim died in the hospital. His name hasn’t been released.
>>Motorcyclist from Andover Killed in Crash with Deer in Aitkin County
(Aitkin, MN) — A deer is being blamed for a causing a deadly motorcycle crash early Sunday near Aitkin (AY’-kin). The Minnesota State Patrol says 57-year-old James Childrey of Andover was westbound on Highway 2002 when he hit a deer and laid the bike down. The report says Childrey died at the scene.
>>MDA Seeks Input to Expand Farm to School, Early Care Efforts
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is asking the public what they need in the future for the Farm to School and Early Care efforts to succeed. A public input session will be held on Microsoft Teams May 23rd and May 28th, open to everyone, including -but not limited to- farmers, school nutrition professionals, early care providers, food system partners, and educators. Residents will be asked about expanding initiatives for schools and early care centers to purchase food from producers, agriculture education, school gardens, etc.
>>Nuggets Beat Wolves for 2nd Straight Playoff Game at Target Center
(Minneapolis, MN) — The N-B-A Western Conference semifinals are tied at two games apiece after the Nuggets beat the Timberwolves 115-107 Sunday night at Target Center. Anthony Edwards scored a game-high 44 points but didn’t get any help from his teammates in the Wolves’ second straight home loss. Nikola Jokic led the defending champions with 35 points and Aaron Gordon had 27. The best-of-seven series moves to Denver Tuesday night for Game 5. Minnesota won the first two games at Ball Arena last week.
