>>Legislature Adjourns Before Passing State Budget, Special Session Looms
(St. Paul, MN) — The 2025 legislative session came to an end late Monday night with a lot of work still on the table for Minnesota lawmakers. The House and Senate passed the $1.35 billion State and Local Government and Elections Budget bill. It funds the legislature, other government agencies and the costs to run elections. The House unanimously approved legislation giving laid-off mine workers from the Iron Range an extra 26 weeks of unemployment benefits. It’s now up to Governor Tim Walz to call a special session. Walz says the budget agreement announced last week is still intact. The deadline to avoid a state government shutdown is June 30th.
>>Cannabis Operators Upset About 5 % Tax Increase in Budget Agreement
(Morgan, MN) — A lot of folks are upset that the budget deal at the State Capitol would raise the tax on cannabis products from 10 to 15 percent. Shawn Weber of the Minnesota Cannabis Growers Cooperative & Industry Council disagrees with House Speaker Lisa Demuth’s statement that our cannabis tax was “very” low. Weber says, “Minnesota’s ten percent excise tax is lower than some states, but it was done intentionally to accomplish the legislative mandate. And that was to support small businesses, dismantle the illicit market, and ensure price parity with street prices.” He notes the additional five percent tax on cannabis is on top of the state’s standard sales tax of 6.875 percent.
>>Red Flag Warning Issued in Northeastern Minnesota
(Duluth, MN) — Strong winds and dry conditions prompted the National Weather Service in Duluth to issue a Red Flag Warning for critical fire weather from noon to 9 p-m today (Tues). The warning includes Koochiching, northern and central St. Louis, Lake, northern Cook, and Itasca counties. Three wildfires in northeast Minnesota that began last week have burned over 30 thousand acres and destroyed more than 150 structures. The largest, the Jenkins Creek fire is just 6 percent contained, the Camp House fire is now 40 percent contained, and the Munger Shaw fire is 95 percent contained. The St. Louis County Board is holding a special meeting this morning to start the process of requesting state public disaster assistance for wildfire response and recovery activities.
>>Fatal Farm Accident Under Investigation in Blue Earth County
(Amboy, MN) — A fatal farm accident in Blue Earth County is being investigated. Deputies called to a rural Amboy farm Sunday afternoon found a man unresponsive under a large agricultural tire. Investigators believe the victim, 68-year-old Douglas Sanders, tried to move the several-hundred-pound sprayer tire inside his shed when he became pinned between the tire and a planter. Sanders died at the scene.
>>Body Found in Bemidji Apartment as Gas Leak is Reported
(Bemidji, MN) — Bemidji police are investigating a suspicious death at an apartment building. Authorities responded to Courtyard Apartments Monday on the discovery of a man’s body. Officers smelled a strong odor from the apartment, finding the body and a woman and a young child inside. The woman and child were brought to a hospital for treatment. Firefighters were also called to the same area on reports of a gas leak. Everyone was evacuated, but no gas leak was found. Anyone with information about these incidents should contact Crime Stoppers.
>>2 Kids Injured After Bus Crashes into Minneapolis Playground
(Minneapolis, MN) — Two kids are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries after a school bus crashed into a playground Monday in south Minneapolis. Police say it happened outside Creative Early Learning Center. The bus driver told officers the bus left the street and struck the playground equipment. Two of the three children on the playground were hurt, and the third child and two kids on the bus were uninjured. Minneapolis Public Schools confirmed that it had contracted the bus company. Investigators say they do not suspect the driver was impaired.
>>Twins and Guardians to Resume Monday’s Suspended Game Tonight
(Minneapolis, MN) — The series opener between the Twins and Guardians was suspended due to rain and lightning and is set to resume at 5:10 tonight (Tues) at Target Field. Minnesota had a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning when play was stopped Monday evening. Tonight’s originally scheduled 6:40 game will start 30 minutes after the conclusion of the suspended game. Fans with tickets tonight will receive admission to both games. Twins starting pitcher Bailey Ober allowed one run and had three strikeouts over three innings before play was suspended.
>>Wolves Tip Off Game 1 of Western Conference Finals in Oklahoma City
(Oklahoma City, OK) — The Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder tip off the Western Conference Finals tonight (Tues 7:30pm) at Paycom Center. The Wolves should be well-rested after having six days off. The Thunder knocked off the Denver Nuggets in Game 7 of the semifinals on Sunday. Minnesota and O-K-C split four games during the regular season. The top-seeded Thunder have homecourt advantage for the best-of-seven series.
