>>Minnesota Farm Bureau Points to Positive Outcomes of Legislative Session
(St. Paul, MN) — Leaders of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation say there were number of positive outcomes for agriculture during the 2024 legislative session. President Dan Glessing from Waverly points to grant opportunities for farmers and processors… funding for fertilizer research and education programs… grants for soil health and manure equipment… and support for beginning and emerging farmers, among other pluses. He says, “It goes back to our members and farmers getting to Saint Paul and telling their stories, or seeing their members (of the legislature) out in their districts and sharing what affects ’em, because that does have a big effect on decisions that are made.”
>>Bill Passed by Legislature Creates New Explore Minnesota Film Office
(St. Paul, MN) — A bill passed by the legislature that received little fanfare establishes a new Explore Minnesota Film Office. Minnesota Film and T-V director Melodie Bahan (BAY’-han) says,” this is creating a new office within Explore Minnesota, the tourism department. And then my organization which is a nonprofit will shut down once the new state office is up and running.” Bahan says Minnesota was the only state that had a nonprofit running a film production tax incentive program and marketing the state as a location for the industry. State lawmakers allocated 25 million dollars for the program last year.
>>Minnesota Historical Society to Return ‘Hanging Rope’ to Prairie Island Tribe
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Historical Society says it will be returning a historic artifact, the “Mankato Hanging Rope,” to the Prairie Island Indian Community. This rope was reportedly used during the hanging of more than three dozen Native Americans after the U-S- Dakota War of 1862. The Historical Society will file a notice of intent to return the rope and will give it back to the tribe next month if there are no other claims.
>>IRRRB Moves Forward with Loan to Build Cannabis Facility
(Eveleth, MN) — The Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board is moving ahead with a $2.5 million loan to the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa to help build a cannabis cultivation and manufacturing facility west of Duluth. The decision comes despite an advisory board’s vote recommending against it. Commissioner Ida Rukavina said she plans to move the project forward citing its potential to create jobs and promote economic development in a rural area of St. Louis County. The Board approved a ten-million-dollar loan last fall for the Hwy 35 cannabis manufacturing facility in Grand Rapids.
>>Federal Appeals Court Rules in Favor of Fired Mayo Clinic Employees
(St. Louis, MO) — A federal appeals court is ruling in favor of five Mayo Clinic employees who were fired in 2021 for refusing to get COVID-19 vaccinations. The Eighth U-S Circuit Court of Appeals says a lower court should not have dismissed the employees’ lawsuit last year. The appeals court said the religious freedom issues raised by the lawsuit deserve further examination. The Mayo Clinic terminated hundreds of employees in 2021 for failing to comply with vaccination rules. Mayo Clinic did not say if it plans to appeal this latest ruling.
>>MPLS Federal Reserve President Kashari “No Hurry” to Cut Interest Rates
(London, GB) — Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari (KASH’-car-ee) says he wants to see “many more months of positive inflation data” before the central bank cuts interest rates. Kashkari tells C-N-B-C that the U-S economy has remained remarkably resilient, G-D-P growth has been strong, the housing market has remained resilient, “so I’m not seeing the need to hurry and do rate cuts.” He says we should take our time and get it right. Kashkari says he’s confident the Fed has the tools it needs to bring inflation back down to around two percent.
>>Duluth Man Charged in Alleged Hammer Attack on 81-Year-Old
(Duluth, MN) — A Duluth man is charged with first-degree attempted murder for an alleged hammer attack on an elderly man in a grocery store bathroom. Police say 81-year-old Bradley French suffered serious head injuries and remains hospitalized in stable condition. Court documents say 43-year-old Lance Tolbert attacked French with a hammer in the Mount Royal Market restroom on Friday and fled the scene. He was arrested a short time later. Investigators say French and Tolbert were not known to each other.
>>Wolves Top Mavericks to Force Game 5 of West Finals at Target Center
(Dallas, TX) — The Timberwolves topped the Mavericks 105-100 in Dallas last (Tues) night to force a Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals Thursday at Target Center. Anthony Edwards had 29 points, ten rebounds and nine assists and Karl-Anthony Towns went four-for-five from three-point range and finished with 25. Luka Doncic led Dallas with 28 points, 15 rebounds and ten assists. The Wolves trail the Mavs three games-to-one and a need a home win tomorrow night to extend the best-of-seven series.
>>Minnesota Skates at Boston in Game 5 of PWHL Finals
(Lowell, MA) — Minnesota and Boston play a deciding Game 5 of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (P-W-H-L) Finals tonight (Wed 6pm) in New England. Boston won Game Four 1-0 in double overtime Sunday at the Xcel Energy Center. Minnesota had a goal overturned in the second O-T due to goaltender interference and Boston scored the game-winner a minute later. One of these teams will hoist the inaugural Walter Cup this evening on the campus of U-Mass Lowell.
