>>Flurry of Bills Pass in Last Hour of Legislative Session
(St. Paul, MN) — The 2026 legislative session ended with a flurry of bills in the final hour. State lawmakers were able to agree on a 1.2 billion-dollar bonding bill, and 205 million dollars to keep H-C-M-C running and 500 million for other hospitals statewide. The Health and Human Services package included ten million dollars in emergency food support, and funding for counties to administer SNAP benefits. D-F-L House Leader Zack Stephenson says, “We passed anti-fraud measures. We passed I-T upgrades, we passed property tax cuts, tab fee cuts. We just had an incredibly productive session.” G-O-P Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson said, “We fought for and achieved a quarter-billion-dollar tax cut on vehicle tab fees, strong fraud prevention reforms to protect taxpayer dollars, and responsible infrastructure investments. Minnesotans have been clear they want lower costs and honest government.”
>>House Floor Vote on Gun Violence Prevention Package Denied
(St. Paul, MN) — House Democrats made two final attempts to bring the gun violence prevention package to the floor Sunday, but both times it was blocked by Republican Speaker Lisa Demuth. D-F-L House Floor Leader Jamie Long asked,“Madam Speaker, it being the last day of session, will Senate File 4067 have a chance to go to committee and come to the floor for the vote the public has been demanding?” Demuth responded, “there has been a vote taken through urgencies on this floor many times.” She added, “There weren’t the votes. The votes didn’t exist.” Parents of the Annunciation School and Church shooting victims said Demuth promised them a vote on the bill.
>>Governor Walz Heading to Northeastern Minnesota to Survey Wildfire Damage
(St. Paul, MN) — Governor Tim Walz is heading to northeastern Minnesota today (Mon) to get an update on the Stewart Trail wildfire near Two Harbors. He declared a peacetime emergency and activated the National Guard in responses to all the wildfires. The governor is scheduled to meet with local officials and emergency managers for a briefing on the fire response before surveying damage and visiting with first responders working on the front lines. The visit comes as crews continue battling dangerous fire conditions fueled by dry weather and strong winds across parts of the state.
>>Stewart Trail Wildfire Destroys Dozens of Homes and Structures
(Two Harbors, MN) — A wildfire along Minnesota’s North Shore has destroyed dozens of buildings near Two Harbors. The Stewart Trail Fire has burned about 355 acres and is now roughly 30% contained. Officials say 34 structures are lost, including eight homes, as crews continue working to protect remaining properties. Evacuations are still in place, and part of Highway 61 remains closed due to heavy smoke and firefighting efforts. Firefighters say cooler weather and possible rain are helping, but warn the fire is still active and conditions could change quickly.
>>Flanders Fired in Crow Wing County 20 Percent Contained
(Crosslake, MN) — The Flanders Fire southeast of Crosslake is now considered 20 % contained and has burned more than 15-hundred acres. Crow Wing County Sheriff Eric Klang said Sunday that fire crews got a “good handle” on it, but there were still some smoldering spots. Klang said, “We haven’t had any injuries that have happened to any of our first responders or firefighters. We’re very thankful for that. We also had some very minimal damage to some primary residences.” Some sheds and outbuildings in Crow Wing County have been destroyed. Klang says they were working to get about 30 displaced people back into their homes.
>>Plane Shot While Fighting Wildfires in St. Louis County
(Orr, MN) — St. Louis County authorities say a plane was shot while fighting wildfires. Sheriff Gordon Ramsay reported the aircraft was struck by a bullet on Friday evening while scooping water from a lake near Orr. The pilot landed safely and was not injured. Officials said the damage was discovered after the plane returned to the airport. Investigators are asking the public for help finding whoever fired the shot.
>>Higher Gas Prices Not Only Affecting Drivers
(Little Canada, MN) — Minnesota drivers are not the only ones feeling the sting of higher gas prices. Gas station owners across the state are also struggling with rising wholesale fuel costs and shrinking profit margins. Lance Klatt with the Minnesota Service Station Association says a fuel load that once cost stations around 25-thousand dollars is now topping 33-thousand dollars, creating major cash flow challenges. Klatt says stations are also absorbing steep credit card fees that can eat away much of their profit on every gallon sold. He adds many customers are scaling back purchases inside stores and buying smaller amounts of gas to stretch their budgets.
>>Lake Lillian Man Killed in Motorcycle Crash
(Lake Lillian, MN) — A 48-year-old man from Lake Lillian is dead after a motorcycle crash Saturday evening in Kandiyohi County. The sheriff’s office says the driver went off a curve and the motorcycle entered a ditch and rolled several times, ejecting him. The rider died at the scene. Investigators say he was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. His identity has not been released.
>>State Trooper Faces Sentencing for Criminal Sexual Conduct
(Little Falls, MN) — A Minnesota State Patrol lieutenant who admitted to sexually assaulting a fellow trooper during training at Camp Ripley is scheduled to be sentenced in mid-June. Thirty-year-old Jacob Christopherson pleaded guilty to one count of fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct stemming from an incident last summer near Little Falls. Prosecutors say Christopherson repeatedly touched the woman inappropriately around a fire pit during a training event before another trooper intervened. The incident was investigated by the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office.
>>Part of Former School Building in McIntosh Collapses
(McIntosh, MN) — Part of a former school building in McIntosh collapsed Friday afternoon, prompting safety concerns in northwest Minnesota. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says deputies were called to the scene after reports that a large section of the abandoned school had given way. No injuries were reported. Authorities say crews are working to secure the remaining structure, and the area has been barricaded because the building is considered unsafe. McIntosh is about 20 miles north of Mahnomen.
>>Twins Top Brewers in Series Finale at Target Field
(Minneapolis, MN) – The Minnesota Twins topped the Milwaukee Brewers 5-4 at Target Field Sunday to salvage the series finale. Ryan Jeffers hit the go-ahead solo home run for Minnesota. Starting pitcher Bailey Ober allowed three runs over five innings for his fifth win of the season. All three games with Milwaukee were decided by one run. The Twins open a three-game home series tonight (Mon 6:40pm) against the Houston Astros.
