The big burrito chain announced this week that it'll open at 14701 Armstrong Blvd. NW on Thursday, April 9. 

Like the company's other recent openings, the new Chipotle will have in-restaurant dining, as well as a Chipotlane, its portmanteau-loving drive-thru lane for retrieving digital orders. 

When it celebrates its opening on Thursday, it'll serve all the burrito and bowl offerings that diners are accustomed to finding, as well as its limited-time Chicken al Pastor.

The Ramsey Chipotle will be open daily from 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. Additionally, an announcement says that the location is hiring, with plans to add around 30 jobs in the market. 

Police said Wednesday that they have been unable to find 11-year-old Amina Rice-El and her mother, Amirah Rice-El.

"Hennepin County courts have ordered Amina be placed into the custody of child protection officials in the interest of child safety," police said.

Brooklyn Park PD noted that Amina may also be known as Armena.

"If you know the whereabouts of Amina or Amirah Rice-El, please call 911," police said. "If you have non-emergent information that could assist in locating Amina please call the Brooklyn Park Police at 763-493-8222 and ask for Detective Reid Ellanson."

It’s long been rumored that the prestigous dining guide would make its way to Minnesota, recognizing a culinary scene that has repeatedly been praised for punching above its weight.

"For years, our culinary scene has earned national acclaim," Melvin Tennant, president and CEO of Meet Minneapolis, said during Wednesday announcement. "Yet, we've still been called 'unexpected,' 'underrated,' and 'best kept secret.'"

Now that it's happening, it's left a lot people wondering what exactly is the Michelin Guide and how does it all work.

The guide touts itself as a go-to for travelers looking for consistent, well-vetted restaurant and hotel recommendations, which it has provided for more than a century. It made its first foray into North America in 2005.

"The aim of the michelin Guide is to provide a consistent recommendation of the best places to eat worldwide," Michelin Guide international director Gwendal Poullennec said during a press event in Milwaukee on Wednesday.

"So, boots on the ground, professional inspectors, always looking at the same five universal criteria."

Wednesday's announcement is the result of a three-year agreement with Michelin, which will cost $250,000 per year, senior vice president of destination branding and strategy for Meet Minneapolis, tells Bring Me The News.

It's being paid for through a 2% surcharge on bookings at Minneapolis hotels, known as the Minneapolis Tourism Improvement District (TID), which went into effect in 2025. That funding source is why restaurants included in the guide will be limited to those residing within Minneapolis.

How are restaurants selected?

There's an element of secreecy around the process. Michelin's inspectors are anonymous, dining under assumed names and paying for meals so they get the same service the restaurant would provide to any diner. Between the team of inspectors, restaurants are visited multiple times, as consistency is part of the criteria upon which restaurants are rated.

Additionally, it's not approached as a sort of "best of" Minneapolis. The scores compare restaurants globally, not just to what else is available in the area.

"The inspectors are already out, boots on the ground in the region, exploring your culinary scenes and experiencing the many great delicacies these American Great Lakes cities have to offer," Poullennec said.

All of the inspectors, who are the sole decision-makers on restaurant and hotel ratings, have worked in the hospitality industry and go through years of mentorship at Michelin before they begin dining out hundreds of times a year to score establishments.

During that process, they look at five criteria, including the quality of the product. "It can be not an expensive product," Poullennec explains, "but they have to be high quality and fresh."

They also look at the mastery of cooking techniques, harmony and balance in flavors, consistency over time and throughout the menu, and personality.

Explaining the last point, Poullennec says, "That means that we know that with the same ingredient the chef can really create a very different experience that puts their own personality, heritage, and twist in what they are offering to the guest."

What do Michelin Guide stars mean?

The star system is the most famous aspect of the guide, with restaurants able to get one, two, or three stars, indentifying "establishments serving exceptional cuisine that’s rich in flavor, remarkably executed and infused with the personality of a talented chef," per the company's announcement.

The Bib Gourmand designation recognizes restaurants that did not get a star, but offer good food at a value, "often known as personal favorites among the inspectors when dining on their own time."

There are also green stars for restaurants that display high levels of sustainable practices. Additionally, restaurants that don't receive a star can still be included in the guide as a Recommended restaurant.

There is no set number of three-star restuarants or Bib Gourmands that inspectors are required to give out in a given guide. What kinds of awards might be given out in the first edition of the Great Lakes guide will remain under wraps until it's published in 2027.

Why does it matter?

The heart of the Michelin Guide is tourism, a point Poullennec emphasized during Wednesday's event.

Food is a significant driver of tourism, and the Michelin Guide has a built-in trust with diners and travelers, even influencing some to travel simply for the restaurants that have garnered high praise from the guide.

"We recognize the impact that Michelin has as a kind of culinary heavyweight," Ries tells Bring Me The News.

"Food travel and food tourism is a key part of the tourism ecosystem. People travel for food. It's a highlight. All you have to do is open up Instagram, and you can see how many pictures of fabulous meals are being shown. We know that we've got incredible food, but the world doesn't."

As noted during Wednesday's announcement, a 2025 Ernst & Young survey reported that 74% of travelers say the Michelin Guide influence their choice of travel destination.

While there are many culinary awards in the world — a James Beard recognition can fill a restaurant's reservation slate for months — the Michelin Guide remains one of the most prestigous recognitions in the restaurant world.

Of course, there are many who would say that the guide's process can ignore smaller eateries that have high standards, but don't fall into the fine dining mold, even if the Michelin Guide isn't exclusively focused on fine dining.

It can also exert additional pressure of restaurateurs who are looking to be included in the guide.

Nonetheless, Tennant touted the news on Wednesday by noting that the industry has struggled in 2026 in the face of the Trump administration's Operation Metro Surge.

"Minneapolis and especially our restaurant and hospitality community have faced enormous challenges, as you know, this year," Tennant said. "Through it all, our culinary community has risen to the occasion and is working to overcome those obstacles."

Theah Loudemia Russell, 19, of Savage, also was indicted on assault charges for the abuse of another baby in her care. The indictment was unsealed Wednesday afternoon. 

Russell is accused of intentionally suffocating two infants in her care, killing one. A criminal complaint filed in January alleges that Russell told investigators that she stuck her fingers in the mouths of both babies to choke and suffocate them.

“The death of a small child is always a tragedy, but a premature and premeditated taking of that young life goes beyond tragedy and becomes a heinous crime,” Scott County Attorney Ron Hocevar said in a statement.

“Theah Russell will now face the consequences of her unfathomable actions to deliberately and intentionally cause the death of one of the most vulnerable human beings under her care.”

Police were first called to the Rocking Horse Ranch Childcare facility in Savage on Sept. 19, 2025 when someone reported that a 4-month-old baby girl was not breathing and had blood and foam under her nose and mouth. The infant regained consciousness, and eventually was released from the hospital. At that time, the incident was thought to be medical.

The following Monday morning, the baby returned to the day care healthy and well, but a short time later, she was again found not breathing, taken to the hospital by her mother, and treated and released. A doctor who treated the child the second time expressed concerns about abuse and suffocation. 

Two hours later, police were called to the day care again after 11-month-old Harvey Muklebust was discovered not breathing. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital, and Rocking Horse was immediately closed.

An autopsy later confirmed that Muklebust's manner of death was homicide by suffocation.

Over the course of the investigation, Russell was found to have had last contact with each of the affected children immediately prior to these events. She had been working at the day care for just three weeks.

Through an exhaustive review of her background, police discovered that Russell had a well-documented history of attention-seeking behavior, like making fake 911 calls and setting fires at her church camp, according to the complaint.

When she was interviewed by police, Russell initially denied hurting the children, but eventually admitted to intentionally suffocating the two infants in an “attention-seeking act,” allegedly providing a detailed description of how she carried out both the attempted murder and murder.

According to the Minneapolis Police Department, the teens were in a vehicle that was stolen on the city's south side and later located on the north side, where they crashed into another vehicle during a pursuit.

Police believe the boys, ages 15 to 17, assaulted a man in an apparent attempted carjacking and robbed him of his wallet at gunpoint on the 2600 block of Park Avenue around 5:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Minutes later and less than a block away, MPD says a woman in her 60s and a man in his 50s were sitting in a vehicle on the 600 block of 27th Street East when they were carjacked by at least four individuals dressed in black, one of whom was armed with a gun.

At about 9:30 p.m., an MPD officer located the stolen vehicle in a parking lot near 36th Avenue North and Penn Avenue North, and awaited backup as the vehicle left the lot.

Officers then attempted to conduct a traffic stop near 36th Avenue North and Oliver Avenue North, but the driver fled and ultimately crashed into another occupied vehicle at Humboldt Avenue North and Lowry Avenue North, according to MPD.

The 15-year-old driver fled on foot and was located on the 3100 block of James Avenue North. Witnesses told police that they saw the boy discard a firearm as he ran. He was evaluated at a hospital before being taken to the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center for aggravated robbery, felony fleeing, and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

The three other teens — ages 15, 16, and 17 — were arrested at the scene of the crash and transported to a hospital. They were later booked into the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center for aggravated robbery.

None of their alleged victims required hospitalization, including the driver of the vehicle that was struck.

MPD says each of the teens has had prior contact with law enforcement and has been charged before with auto theft. Other offenses on their records include assault with a dangerous weapon, aggravated robbery, and possession of stolen property.

“We continue to see a small number of juveniles who remain on a path where they are a danger to themselves as well as the community,” MPD Chief Brian O’Hara said in a statement.  “I am grateful for the excellent work of our officers and for the help from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office in making these swift arrests.”

Here's a look at Colorado State University's probabilistic forecasts of severe weather from April 10-15. It's not an official severe weather outlook, but an outlook based on machine-learning models. As you can see, Minnesota has a minimal threat for severe storms on Saturday, before the chance of severe weather increases on Sunday and Monday.

NOAA's Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has also outlined severe weather zones in the days ahead. Let's take a look at Saturday, Sunday, and Monday and what might happen in Minnesota.

Saturday outlook:

In the graphic above, you can see Colorado State's machine learning severe zone (left) is much larger than the isolated area in Texas that is highlighted by the SPC (right). That's because the threat of severe weather is most likely in Texas, while Minnesota looks poised for rain with some thunder, but nothing severe.

There is also an artificial intelligence machine-learning model used by NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), and it's also focused on an area well southwest of Minnesota on Saturday.  

Sunday outlook:

On Sunday, the machine learning models from Colorado State paint a bigger picture (left), while the SPC keeps its target, at least for now, in Texas, Oklahoma and southern Kansas.

However, the NSSL machine-learning model paints a different picture in Minnesota.

Minnesota will be interesting because temperatures will warm into the 60s and 70s, while dew points rise into the 50s and 60s. That'll set the stage for more than enough energy, which is known as CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy). If storms fire, they'll have enough juice to get a little rambunctious.

Monday outlook:

It's still a long way out, but Monday could be a big severe weather day from Minnesota all the way to Texas, and that possibility is reflected in the outlooks above from both the SPC (right) and Colorado State's machines (left).

The NSSL model is also painting a severe threat over southeastern Minnesota.

With temps in southern Minnesota possibly soaring into the mid-70s to near 80 degrees, they'll combine with gulf moisture and provide even more juice for storms, a la CAPE. Again, it's not a slam dunk to happen in Minnesota, but it could.

The European model is laying down a mean cluster of storms in southern Minnesota on Monday evening. It's an indication that the environment could be volatile somewhere in the region.

What the storm chasers, meteorologists are saying

The hype on social media about the annual activation of severe weather in the U.S. is intense, but it very well could be a volatile stretch of severe weather — and some of the most respected storm chasers and meteorologists out there agree.

Matthew Cappucci, a senior meteorologist for MyWeatherRadar, is known for not overhyping storm forecasts. But even he says the stretch from roughly April 12-22 "may be one of the more active stretches of severe weather in recent memory."

Reed Timmer, a meteorologist who is arguably the most well-known storm chaser on the planet, dubbed the upcoming stretch "THE MOST ACTIVE PATTERN FOR TORNADOES SINCE 2011 AHEAD."

"It looks like the severe weather is going to peak Sunday to Monday with this event," Timmer said during a livestream on Wednesday.

"In general, this pattern shift is major coming up into April. This is going to be one of the more active tornado seasons during April that we've chased in many years," Timmer added.

So, to recap, it's going to be an active month of storms in the Central U.S., and Minnesota could get in on the activity.

Shady River Jr., 16, hasn’t been seen since March 8, according to the Moorhead Police Department.

When the teen went missing, he was wearing a pink sweatshirt, gray jeans with holes, and black and white Nike shoes. He is described as 5’8” and 125 pounds.

No additional details regarding the boy's disappearance were immediately available. 

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call Moorhead PD at 701-451-7660.

The board writes a social media post that the final three Minneapolis lakes were declared free of ice cover on March 31.

“Park staff have tracked 'ice off' dates on 15 city lakes for decades,” the post details. “Ice off is declared when a lake is substantially free of ice after being fully frozen.”

The change in language comes as the Twin Cities continue to deal with the ongoing impacts of Operation Metro Surge, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's largest immigration enforcement operation to date.

Beginning last December, more than 3,000 federal immigration agents were deployed across Minnesota, particularly in the Twin Cities.

Throughout the operation, agents were involved in three separate shootings. Two of them were fatal, resulting in the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

“Ice out” became a rallying cry among those opposed to brutal immigration enforcement, adorning signs and buttons, including pins worn by celebrities during awards season.

Bring Me The News reached out to the Park Board for comment, but did not immediately hear back.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources still uses "ice out" language for its online map of conditions on lakes throughout the state.

The map currently shows that dozens of lakes in the southern half of Minnesota have thawed over the past few weeks.

School of Rock, the chain of music education hubs, will open a location at 1420 109th Ave. NE on April 18, bringing performance-based music education to the northern Twin Cities suburbs.

The new outpost is owned by Joe Grieman, who previously co-owned a local music school, per an announcement.

Grieman discovered School of Rock through social media, as he followed along with the opening of its Plymouth location, which was opened by Jora Bart.

"I wanted to bring School of Rock to my community because I saw a chance to give local kids the same excitement and opportunities in music that I’ve always loved," Grieman says. "It’s about creating a place where they can learn, perform, and discover the joy of music in a fun, supportive environment."

School of Rock offers music programs and themed classes and camps for musicians of all ages and levels, with a focus on performance. It currently has locations in Eden Prairie, Plymouth, and St. Paul.

The new rock hub in Blaine will celebrate its grand opening from 1 to 4 p.m. on April 18, offering guided tours, trial lessons, and performances from student bands.

Local Minnesota balloon company, Amazing Balloons MN, posted a picture on Tuesday of a balloon display at what looked like the Lynx practice facility with letters saying "Welcome Nneka."

It's entirely fair to put the pieces together and assume that Minnesota is hosting former WNBA MVP Nneka Ogwumike in Minneapolis. After playing last season with the Seattle Storm, she's currently a free agent, so it wouldn't be a shocking development.

To clarify this: I’m told Nneka Ogwumike is on a free agency visit in Minnesota. This is *not* an official decision/announcement https://t.co/BRlaj78ew5

— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) April 8, 2026

Ogwumike won league MVP in 2016 after averaging 19.7 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists with the Los Angeles Sparks. While that was a decade ago, she's still an incredibly impactful post player at 35 years old. She was a WNBA All-Star in each of the last four seasons.

Ogwumike averaged 18.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game last season in Seattle. She shot 51.9% from the field, 36.7% from three, and 82.2% from the free-throw line. It's clear that she still has plenty left in the tank in the second-half of her career.

With the new WNBA CBA going into place this offseason, it's expected to be a busy free agency period. Superstar forward Napheesa Collier is expected to re-sign with the franchise, while Alanna Smith revealed that she plans to listen to other offers.

Minnesota holds the No. 2 overall pick in next week's WNBA Draft. Adding a veteran like Ogwumike, along with one of the top rookies in the sport, would be a huge offseason haul to build around Collier.

The Associated Press reports that the Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah said it would free Shelly Kittleson on Tuesday on the condition that she “leave the country immediately.” The outlet also notes that Kittleson was freed in exchange for several members of the Iran-backed militia group who were in Iraqi custody.

Kittleson was working as a freelance journalist for AL-Monitor, an independent news outlet covering the Middle East, when she was kidnapped in Baghdad.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the news on social media, writing that the federal government is working to support Kittleson’s safe departure from Iraq.

“The U.S. Department of State extends its appreciation to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of War, U.S. personnel across multiple agencies, and the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council and our Iraqi partners, for their assistance in securing her release,” Rubio continued. 

I am pleased to announce the release of American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was recently kidnapped by members of the foreign terrorist organization Kata’ib Hizballah near Baghdad, Iraq.
 
The U.S. Department of State extends its appreciation to the Federal Bureau of…

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) April 8, 2026

Kittleson's biography on the AL-Monitor's website says she specializes in the Middle East and Afghanistan, and that she is currently reporting in Baghdad on Iraqi politics. 

According to TMJ4, Kittleson grew up in Darlington, Wis., located about five hours southeast of the Twin Cities, and graduated from Darlington High School.

The Milwaukee-based TV outlet spoke with Kittleson’s mother, who shared that her daughter had been living and working across the Middle East for about 20 years.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the incident began around 9:47 p.m. Tuesday in the 1700 block of Oakes Avenue, where a police officer allegedly approached a group of three people, including a "wanted person," when one of them attempted to flee.

"The officer and this subject engaged in a physical altercation. During the altercation, the officer discharged their weapon, striking the subject," the DOJ said in a press release.

The person shot by the cop was pronounced dead at the scene, while the officer "sustained an injury during the incident" and was taken to a local hospital, where they were in stable condition, the DOJ said.

The DOJ says a gun was recovered at the scene of the struggle.

The police officer, who has been placed on standard administrative leave, was wearing an activated body camera.

Neither the officer nor the individual who was fatally shot has been identified.

The state's Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is reviewing evidence and will turn over investigative reports to the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office at a later date.

No further information has been released.

It's the second shooting involving an officer in Superior in the last four months. In early December, a man fired an estimated 20 rounds from an AK-47, striking a Superior officer in her arm and bulletproof vest. That shooter then fled the scene and crashed a vehicle into Superior Middle School, where he was ultimately arrested.

Not long after the Minnesota Wild kick off their 2026-27 season, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey will bring the circus to Grand Casino Arena. It will be the first time in more than 20 years that the most iconic names in the circus world will bring their "big top" to the Twin Cities.

The Greatest Show on Earth will take place from Oct. 22–25, with eight shows spread across that run, including three on Oct. 24 and 10:30 a.m. performances each day after the Oct. 22 debut.

After closing in 2017, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey returned in 2023 with a circus that they say has been "reimagined for a new generation."

Now animal-free, the show centers on aerial performances, acrobats, dance, bike stunts, and trapeze artists, as well as feats like the Double Wheel of Destiny, which features performers jumping rope on giant moving wheels rotating high above the ground.

Tickets for The Greatest Show on Earth will go on sale to the public on Tuesday, April 14. Kids (2-12) tickets can be purchased for $15 with the purchase of an adult ticket. (Though, an announcement says that pricing "is subject to change based on market demand.")

Omni Maxx Morningstar, 26, was charged with second-degree manslaughter in Blue Earth County. He was taken into custody this week without incident.

According to criminal charges, Morningstar called 911 on the afternoon of Oct. 1, saying there was a “practically dead baby” when asked about the situation. The infant showed no signs of life as first responders arrived and was later pronounced dead at a hospital.

Morningstar reportedly told officers that he put his son, Remington Tristan Morningstar, down for a nap face down on the bed, and covered him with a 20-pound weighted blanket around 11 a.m. He also informed officers that he's autistic.

When he went to check on the baby just before 4 p.m., the 10-month-old was unresponsive, and his temperature was 104.7 degrees.

Morningstar did not go to check on the baby during the five-hour time period, and later said he was working on Discord and talking to friends with headphones on, but “claimed he could still hear everything,” according to criminal charges.

Morningstar also told officers at the scene that the child had a history of getting fevers and was “colicky” and they had a difficult time controlling his temperature. He said had been using a weighted blanket for four to five months to keep the baby’s legs from moving, and that the baby had overheated twice before.

He's quoted in the complaint as saying: “I’m thinking in my head, like, five hours. Huh. I really do wish I would have checked on him. I mean it only happened twice before. It spiked two times and we fixed him two times.”

In one incident, the baby was taken to the hospital, where Morningstar was warned about using the weighed blanket. Morningstar also added that sometimes he would cover the baby’s head to help muffle the child’s scream.

During another incident one month before the baby’s death, the child’s mother said she came home and found her son covered head to toe in a king-sized blanket, with a fever of 104 to 105 degrees. Morningstar allegedly told her that he forgot about the child because he was playing video games.

The Medical Examiner ruled the baby’s cause of death as probable asphyxia due to compression by a weighted blanket.

Access to healthy food and green spaces, among other factors, can aid a healthy lifestyle. WalletHub, the personal finance website, has compiled more than 40 health indicators to rank the healthiest and unhealthiest cities in the country. 

Minneapolis and St. Paul both placed highly among the 182 cities included in the ranking, with Minneapolis at 13th and St. Paul a little further down at 33rd.

The list was assembled with 41 metrics that are lumped together into four parent categories: health care, food, fitness, and green space. Those metrics include the cost of medical visits, family doctors per capita, healthy restaurants per capita, average cost of fitness club memberships, and park quality.

St. Paul's overall score was buoyed by placing 16th overall in green space. Meanwhile, Minneapolis placed 10th in health care and 12th in green space.

Here's a look at the top-10 cities in WalletHub's study. The full list and details on each city's ranking can be found here.

1. San Francisco
2. San Diego
3. Seattle
4. Salt Lake City
5. Portland, Ore.
6. Washington, D.C.
7. Denver
8. Honolulu
9. Austin, Texas
10. Scottsdale, Ariz.

During a Monday meeting, members of the city’s Planning Commission unanimously approved the amendment, recommending that the City Council approve the zoning changes. It’s still unclear when it will go before the full body for a vote.

The amendment is modeled after similar programs in Duluth and Denver, and “is intended to provide a legal, regulated option for people to shelter in their personal passenger vehicles overnight in designated, managed parking lots,” according to a city staff report.

The program would allow those without permanent housing to stay in their vehicles overnight at safe and secure outdoor parking sites. The staff report also claims that the parking sites would make it easier for individuals to be connected with services and outreach programs.

The parking sites would have a 10,000-square-foot minimum lot size, and would be operated by local businesses or organizations, which would need to obtain an interim use permit.

On-site staffing would also be required throughout all hours of operation, and the site would need to be cleared daily. Operators would also be required to have hygiene facilities and security plans in place.

The overnight parking proposal faces opposition from some Minneapolis residents who are concerned about public safety and health issues that are often associated with homeless encampments.

A woman who lives in the Ventura Village neighborhood wrote a letter to the commission, saying the area just south of downtown Minneapolis already has people living out of their cars while legally parked on the street.

“What I can tell you from this experience: These cars, the vast majority of the time, become drug dens that then attract other users from the neighborhood - all hanging out around the car. Trash piles up outside the car - used needles, used toilet paper, etc,” the letter reads

“Don't force the residents of Minneapolis and their families to deal with issues you wouldn't be willing to subject your family to.”

Restaurants across Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Detroit, Cleveland, Indianapolis, and Pittsburgh are already being visited by anonymous Michelin inspectors, who award one to three star ratings based on certain criteria, like product quality, cooking techniques and consistency.

"For years, our culinary scene has earned national acclaim, yet we've still been called unexpected, underrated and even the best kept secret, and we want to change that," Meet Minneapolis CEO Melvin Tennant said during a news conference Wednesday.

"But, in Minneapolis, we've actually known that truth all along. We have the talent and the cultural diversity and the hospitality to stand with any culinary destination in the world."

Inclusion in the Michelin Guide is considered a feather in the cap of not only the featured restaurants but a city's entire tourism industry.

“The Michelin Guide is committed to fostering a culture of travel and dining by helping people discover unforgettable culinary experiences in new destinations,” said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide. “We are excited to finally be putting a stake in the ground in the Great Lakes region, spotlighting the talent and food cultures across these six great cities."

The inaugural “American Great Lakes” guide featuring Minneapolis is expected to debut sometime in 2027.

Most people know to call 911 in an emergency, but what if it’s not safe, or you can’t speak, or a cell phone call won’t go through? In Minnesota, you still have a lifeline: you can text . Quiet, fast, and there for emergencies when calling 911 isn’t an option.

The key takeaway: Call 9-1-1 if you can, text 9-1-1 if you can’t. 

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS), in partnership with Twin Cities PBS, has rolled out a public awareness campaign aimed at letting Minnesotans know that 911 dispatchers can be reached by phone AND text.

Who can call?

If cell signals aren’t strong, you can text 911; or when silence keeps you safer when you’re in an emergency, don’t call text 911. Deaf and hard of hearing individuals also benefit from text to 911. Again, you can text 911 if it’s safer to stay quiet during an emergency rather than calling 911. 

How to call?

• Type 911 in the "To" field.
• Include your location in the text message and specify the type of emergency (medical, crime, etc.)
• Send the message.
• Use simple words.
• Do not use abbreviations, emojis, pictures or slang. (BRB, IDK, THX, 2day and BTW, for example)
• Be ready to answer questions and follow instructions.
• Do not text and drive.
• It is a crime to text 911 with a false report. If you accidentally send a text-to-, send another text or place a call to let the dispatcher know that there is no emergency.

Reasons to use Text-to-911

If you can’t make a call, text 911. Situations may include:

• Caller can’t speak and must remain quiet due to a crime in progress.
• When speaking may cause harm, such as in a home invasion, domestic violence, or human trafficking situation.
• If the caller encounters a suicidal or agitated person.
• If peer pressure not to call 911 is strong (text 911 instead).
• If the reporting party is deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or can’t talk for any reason 

Some limitations to be aware of

• Location features are not as accurate with text as they can be with a call
• If customers are outside of Minnesota or along a neighboring border, texts to  may not be received by a dispatcher.
• Texts to 911 will get a bounce back if a customer is roaming.
• Wireless customers must have mobile phones that can send text messages.
• Usual charges will apply to texts made to 911.
• Texts to 911 have the same 160-character limit as other text messages.
• Texts to 911 can get out of order or may not be received at all.
• There is currently no language translation service for texts-to-911.

The bottom line

Calling 911 is still the fastest, most effective way to get help so dispatchers can gather critical details in real time. But when a call isn’t possible, Minnesota’s Text-to-911 gives you another way to get help when it matters most. Find out more about Text-to-911 in Minnesota. Visit: dps.mn.gov/text-911. (This information available in Spanish, Hmong, Russian, Somali and American Sign Language by visiting www.tpt.org/tptnow)

Countywide systems were disrupted as the cyberattack began Monday and continued into Tuesday, significantly impacting the Winona County's ability to provide emergency and other critical services, according to an announcement from the governor's office.

Walz signed an executive order activating the Guard on Tuesday after Winona County requested support “due to the scale and complexity of the incident.”

“Cyberattacks are an evolving threat that can strike anywhere, at any time,” the governor said in a statement. “Swift coordination between state and local experts matters in these moments. That’s why I am authorizing the National Guard to support Winona County as they work to protect critical systems and maintain essential services.”

Other agencies assisting Winona County include Minnesota Information Technology Services, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the League of Minnesota Cities, the FBI.

Members of the Guard's cyber protection team were also deployed last summer to help St. Paul address a ransomware attack that forced the city to shut down its entire IT system.

According to Willmar Police Department, officers were sent to Willmar Middle School just after 4 p.m. on Monday, after a letter threatening staff and Willmar school buildings was discovered.

Police said an investigation resulted in several interviews and the arrests of the three juveniles, who are now being held at Prairie Lakes Youth Programs in Willmar. Their ages have not been revealed.

Police say there is no further threat to school staff, students, or the public, and Willmar Public Schools are in session per usual on Wednesday.

"The incident began with a note found at the middle school that contained a threatening message referencing specific schools and staff members," Willmar Superintendent Bill Adams wrote in a letter to families.

"At the time the threat was discovered, we had very little information and no immediate way to determine its credibility. We needed time to gather video evidence and other critical pieces of information for law enforcement to conduct their investigation. Because we could not definitively rule out the credibility of the threat at that time, canceling school was the only responsible action to ensure everyone's safety. 

"Even though the school has determined there was no actual intent or ability to carry out this threat, we do not take these situations lightly. District disciplinary policies will be strictly enforced. Threats of violence are never a joke and will always carry serious consequences. We encourage all parents and guardians to have additional conversations with your children tonight about the severe nature of these actions."

School counselors and mental health professionals will be available to students.

Facing a Seattle Kraken team that is no longer in the playoff race, the Wild started slow but wound up cruising to a victory on Tuesday in St. Paul. They trailed 2-1 after the opening period, then rattled off four unanswered goals in a 5-2 win.

Matt Boldy scored his 42nd goal of the season in the first period and picked up a gorgeous assist on Marcus Johansson's 200th career goal in the third. Joel Eriksson Ek assisted on both of those goals and finished the game with an empty-netter for a three-point night. Marcus Foligno and Vladimir Tarasenko scored in the second period for the Wild, who got 25 saves from Jesper Wallstedt. Captain Jared Spurgeon had three shots on goal, three blocks, and an assist in a plus-3 night.

WHAT A FEED BY BOLDS FOR JOJO'S 200TH pic.twitter.com/iFVbMtdwWo

— x - Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) April 8, 2026

With the win, the Wild (45-21-12) briefly tied the Stars at 102 points. But Dallas (46-20-12) rallied from a 3-1 deficit against the lowly Calgary Flames and picked up a 4-3 win in overtime, so they're still two points ahead of Minnesota.

Thursday's game, which starts at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN+ and Hulu, is a big one. If the Stars win and go three or four points clear of the Wild, they'll almost certainly wind up with the home-ice advantage in their upcoming best-of-seven series. A Colorado Avalanche win on Tuesday made it official that the Wild and Stars will be meeting in the first round.

If the Wild win in regulation, the two teams will be tied at 104 points with three games remaining. That would be three wins in four regular season meetings for the Wild over the Stars, but the tiebreaker in the NHL is regulation wins, not head-to-head results. And because Dallas is five ahead in that category, the Wild will have to finish ahead of them on points in order to host the first two games (and a possible seventh game) of the series.

Thursday night should be fun.

The Minneapolis City Council is expected to vote Thursday on whether or not to direct city staff to research ordinances that would allow businesses that facilitate sexual activity between consenting adults to operate within the city.

The move would be a major a win for the Safer Sex Spaces Coalition, which formed to urge Minneapolis officials to repeal the 1988 bathhouse ban it says is no longer needed to promote public health.

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"Social science research tells us that commercial sex spaces, like gay saunas, are important for promoting safer sex practices, enhancing HIV prevention, and increasing access to testing and treatment," the group writes. "These spaces also enhance feelings of identity, camaraderie, authenticity, and belonging."

According to the Star Tribune, bathhouses and sex clubs operated in Minneapolis until a city ordinance adopted during the height of the AIDS crisis banned businesses that facilitate "high-risk sexual contact."

The city council on Tuesday was set to advance the development of new ordinances, which would "remove stigmatizing language" and amend "regulations applicable to adult entertainment, where sexual activity between consenting adults may be facilitated, and updating language to be inclusive of new definitions."

The item was taken off the consent agenda and moved forward, without recommendation, to Thursday's regular meeting for discussion.

A Hennepin County judge vacated the first-degree murder conviction of Jerrell Michael Brown, 38, after advancements in 3D microscopy technology recently allowed two experts to examine ballistics evidence in the 2008 shooting outside a nightclub that killed Darius Ormond Miller.

The Hennepin County Attorney's Office (HCAO) said both experts found that Brown could not have fired the bullet that killed Miller. New blood spatter analysis from an independent expert further supported that conclusion.

Additionally, according to HCAO, an episode of "The First 48" featuring the case aired before Brown's trial and may have impacted the integrity of his criminal process. This is the second time HCAO has recommended vacating a conviction in a case featured on the TV show.

“My thoughts are with Mr. Brown as he is released from prison after serving nearly 18 years for a crime he did not commit, and especially with Darius Miller’s loved ones," Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty stated.

She continued: "For nearly two decades, there appeared to be closure and, while freeing Mr. Brown is the only acceptable course of action, I want to acknowledge how difficult this may be for them.”

AAA reports the average price of regular gas in the Twin Cities has climbed to $3.62/gallon as of Tuesday afternoon, up from $3.32/gallon one month ago.

Tuesday's average diesel price in the Twin Cities metro is at $5.13/gallon and Patrick De Hann, a petroleum analyst with GasBuddy, predicts diesel will be above $5/gallon in every U.S. state soon.

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In a post on X on Tuesday, De Hann warned of "hefty hefty increases" to wholesale diesel and gasoline prices coming for the nation's interior states in the days ahead.

Wow- some hefty hefty increases to wholesale diesel and gasoline prices again for the nation's interior states- watch out OK, MO, KS, IA, NE, MN, SD, ND in the days ahead- we'll likely soon see no states with diesel below $5/gal.

— Patrick De Haan (@GasBuddyGuy) April 7, 2026

"If you're in OK, MO, KS, IA, NE, MN, SD, ND and USE DIESEL- you may want to fill up soon," he wrote. "Diesel prices in these states could ramp up, and by next week could be noticeably higher than they are now."

The average price of diesel as of Tuesday in Minnesota stood at $5.09 per gallon. The average price of regular unleaded statewide was $3.58.

Spot oil prices soared to $145 per barrel during trading on Tuesday, but there may be some respite on the horizon after it was announced in the evening that a two-week ceasefire had been agreed regarding U.S. and Israel military action in Iran.

This sent oil contracts for May tumbling by around 10%, even though they remain around 50% higher than before the Iran conflict was started.

And De Haan isn't convinced that the temporary reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20% of the world's oil supplies pass, will bring any immediate relief.

Another two week "ceasefire" from Trump- but Iran is highly unlikely to simply "reopen the Strait". Another two weeks of status quo and barely anything getting through the Strait, which is likely to continue to push oil, gasoline, diesel and jet fuel prices higher yet

— Patrick De Haan (@GasBuddyGuy) April 7, 2026

A new Pew Research Center survey finds gas prices are Americans' top concern related to the war in Iran, with 69% of respondents expressing they're very or extremely concerned about higher prices.

The survey, conducted March 23-27, also found 64% of respondents were not confident in President Donald Trump's policymaking when it comes to Iran.

The Northeast Minneapolis restaurant, led by chef Diane Moua, has announced details of its planned expansion, which will open at some point early this summer. 

The expansion, which has the restaurant moving into the Alemar Cheese space, includes a remodeled dining room extension, two private dining rooms, a grab-and-go café space, and a renovated patio that seats 100. Its current dining area won't be altered.

"Our restaurant is all about community, and this expansion allows us to welcome more guests and create new memories together," Moua says.

"Every corner of this space has been designed with our guests in mind. We want to ensure everyone can enjoy the flavors they love in a setting that feels both comfortable and fresh — whether for a quiet dinner, a special celebration, or a quick bite at our outdoor café."

All told, the Studio Grey-led renovation roughly doubles the restaurant's space, adding 6,000 square feet, according to an announcement. It'll drastically increase capacity — almost doubling the number of seats available — while also providing staff with more prep space, a walk-in cooler, and a walk-in freezer. 

On the patio, diners will be able to order from the full menu through the grab-and-go café, or snag pastries and to-go coffees, as well as meats from Lowry Hill Provisions, bread from Baker's Field Flour & Bread, and fermented drinks from 3Leche.

Details on the opening will be revealed in the coming weeks, according to the restaurant's announcement.

The expansion comes as Diane's Place has continued to accumulate accolades, with honors like the New York Times' Restaurant List and being named Food & Wine's Restaurant of the Year in 2025.

The private liberal arts college in St. Paul announced Monday that the couple will deliver the keynote address at the Class of 2026’s Commencement ceremony, and will also receive honorary degrees from Macalester.

"Drs. Fauci and Grady are giants in their fields and both of them have devoted their careers to improving human health around the globe,” Macalester College President Suzanne M. Rivera said in a statement.

“We are honored to welcome them to our campus as our 2026 Commencement speakers and delighted to celebrate their many contributions to science by awarding them honorary degrees.”

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Fauci served as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases from 1984 to 2022, advising seven U.S. presidents and the Department of Health and Human Services.

He was director of NIAID during the outbreak of COVID-19, during which he endured an increasingly fraught working relationship with then-President Donald Trump, sometimes contradicting the president over some of the claims he made about the pandemic. This in turn made him a popular target for attacks from the right-wing and anti-vaccine communuty.

Fauci went on to become the chief medical advisor to former President Joe Biden for two years, retiring at the end of 2022.

Grady, a nurse, philosopher, and ethicist, worked for many years as chief of the Department of Bioethics at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. Her work has focused on the ethics of clinical research, and ethical issues faced by nurses and other health care providers.

The Class of 2026’s Commencement ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. in the Leonard Center Field House.

Smith was in Australia supporting her sister, who was signing a developmental deal with the WNBL's Tasmania Jewels. The Lynx forward chatted with media at the event about the upcoming WNBA free agency period. A designated negotiation period opens on Wednesday, with signings allowed to become official starting on Saturday.

When asked about the upcoming shortened free agency window, Smith admitted it's going to be a "bit of a whirlwind," adding that she thinks the WNBA is going to be "looking very different" in 2026.

Now that the league and its players' union have agreed to a new CBA, over 100 WNBA players are hitting the free agent market this spring. Due to the time it took the sides to agree to a new deal, free agency and the offseason as a whole are happening in a much shorter window in order for the WNBA to start its 30th season on time.

Smith said she'll be "heavily" involved over the next week in deciding where she will play next season.

"Just talking to teams, negotiating, figuring out what's the best fit and where home will be for the foreseeable future," added Smith.

On if that "best fit" is a return to Minnesota or any of the other WNBA teams she's played for in her career, Smith said she's "open to any opportunity."

"I think, like I said, I think it's about best fit," continued Smith. "You know, I loved Minnesota, but a lot of teams are looking different this year. So, I think I'd be doing a disservice to myself if I wasn't exploring other opportunities."

Alanna Smith on resigning somewhere she has been before or looking for a new start (full video from Reddit)

“(Laughing) I mean I’m open to any opportunity, like I said I think it’s about best fit, and you know, I loved Minnesota, but a lot of teams are looking different this… pic.twitter.com/LV83HmsiiV

— Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) April 7, 2026

Smith starred for two seasons in Minnesota, averaging 9.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.7 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game. She shot 47% from the field and 35% from three. Her rise in Minnesota culminated in being named co-defensive player of the year in 2025, alongside Aces star A'ja Wilson. Smith's 2.9 defensive win shares were second-best in the league in 2025, only behind Wilson's 3.3 DWS.

"I think I'm really lucky in that I'm at a certain point where I do have the luxury of choice, and it's a privileged position to be in because I have not always been in this position," Smith said when talking about the opportunity to pick her next team. "So, I'm just really trying to take it in because I know that I've put in a lot of hard work to get to this point in being able to choose and have a selection of teams. I think it's pretty cool, and I'm excited for this period of time."

The league's board of directors met on Tuesday to further discuss the three categories, and an official vote is expected to occur at a board meeting in June.

Girls' flag football has exploded in the past two years behind support from the Minnesota Vikings and the Minnesota High School Girls Flag Football Coaches Advisory. Fifty-one Minnesota schools had a girls' flag football team in 2025, and there are 106 teams registered ahead of the 2026 school year.

If accepted, girls' flag football would be labeled an "emerging" sport, possibly being fully sanctioned by the MSHSL in future years. The same goes for girls' dual wrestling. To date, girls wrestle with boys in league-sanctioned events, though schools are allowed to schedule up to eight girls-only events, while the MSHSL has a girls division in the individual state tournament.

The 2026 flag football seasons gets started later this month.

• Sunday, April 26 – Week 1
• Sunday, May 3 – Week 2
• Sunday, May 10 – Week 3
• Sunday, May 17 – Week 4
• Sunday, May 31 – Playoffs
• Monday, June 8 – State Championship at TCO Stadium in Eagan

There are already roughly 100 schools in Minnesota that participate in Esports over the course of a 10-week season, followed by a regional playoff and then a state championship. Esports is aiming to be accepted into a partnership model, similar to high school robotics and clay target shooting.

"If all three proposed emerging activities continue their current course, the Board of Directors could act toward approval at its final scheduled meeting of the school year on Tuesday,  June 2," the MSHSL said.

Meanwhile, the MSHSL and 45TV agreed to an exclusive broadcast and streaming extension through the 2030-31 school year. That means the state tournaments for football, hockey, and basketball will be streamed and televised on KSTC-TV, Channel 45, for the next five years.

St. Cloud Police Department provided an update Tuesday to the blaze at Westwood Elementary School just before 9 a.m. on March 31, confirming the fire "was started by a juvenile suspect who is a student of Westwood Elementary."

The fire, it continues, was "started and contained in a bathroom" at the school, but forced the evacuation of the building and the temporary closure of the school, with students still learning virtually as of this week.

In the wake of the fire, school district officials said the building required "extensive deep cleaning and air quality restoration."

Police have previously confirmed that the blaze was being investigated as an arson.

"There is no further information available at this time and the investigation is ongoing by the St. Cloud Police Department," the police statement concludes.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcement’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.

David Delong, 40, of Watkins is charged with murder in the Nov. 11, 2025 death of Amber Czech, who was brutally killed with a sledgehammer at Advanced Process Technologies in Cokato.

According to charges, Delong admitted to the killing, telling police that he did not like Czech and had been planning to kill her for some time.

A licensed psychologist recently determined that Delong lacks the capacity to stand trial due to mental illness, but Wright County Attorney Brian Lutes still intends to seek a life sentence without the possibility of parole for Delong, who remains in custody.

"Delong's finding of incompetence is not the end of this case. I fully intend to prosecute Delong for the murder of Amber Czech," Lutes said.

The Wright County Attorney’s Office has filed a petition to have Delong committed as mentally ill and dangerous so he can be treated, then reassessed and ideally put on trial.

Surveillance video from the facility shows Delong leave his workstation and going to Czech’s, where he appears to grab a sledgehammer and swing it at Czech, who is out of view of the camera.

A criminal complaint says Delong struck Czech five times with the hammer, one time while she was standing and four times as she lay on the ground.

As he was being arrested by deputies, Delong allegedly said he had been planning to kill Czech for some time, and admitted to not liking her.

Nearly $130,000 was raised for Czech's family through a GoFundMe following her death.

“Amber was a hardworking welder who took great pride in her craft and dreamed of building a bright future through her work,” organizers wrote in the GoFundMe. “Her witty personality, positive attitude, and beautiful smile touched everyone who knew her.”

Czech graduated from Hutchinson High School, where she played basketball, and completed a 10-month welding technology program at Alexandria Technical & Community College in 2024.

Trump posted on Truth Social early Tuesday that "a whole civilization will die tonight" unless Iran agrees to a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the closure of which is causing energy prices to spike globally.

It follows earlier threats from the president to bomb the country "back to the Stone Ages" by taking out civilian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges, and came after an Easter Sunday post in which Trump said: "Open the Fuckin' Strait, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah."

International policy experts are describing the president's escalating threats as potentially "genocidal," saying it is indicative of his intent to commit war crimes.

Along with many other Democrats, Rep. Ilhan Omar is calling for Trump to be impeached and removed from office, slamming his comments as "sickeningly evil."

Sickeningly evil. Donald Trump must be impeached. 

When will it be enough for my Republican colleagues to grow spines and remove him from office? https://t.co/h0IGa39m0o

— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) April 7, 2026

Sen. Amy Klobuchar described Trump's comments as "insane," claiming that he's "openly threatening massive escalation in Iran."

Gov Tim Walz agrees, saying "the president has lost his mind."

Sen. Tina Smith said Trump's threat "undermines our nation’s leadership in the world and opens U.S. servicemembers and civilians to reprisals and worse, both at home and abroad."

"President Trump is putting the lives of U.S. servicemembers at risk, distracting the nation from taking on other imminent threats to our national security like China and Russia, and leaving the U.S. military engaged in the Middle East for potentially years to come," she added.

"Further, the President’s escalation of this war will continue to raise the already skyrocketing cost of gas and food here at home, making life even more unaffordable for Americans. The President must refrain from a dangerous, massive attack on Iran that will harm innocent civilians and instead bring this war to an end now.”

Trump said today that “a whole civilization will die tonight.”
This is insane. 
He is openly threatening massive escalation in Iran. Congress needs to immediately vote to put a stop to this. It is a constitutional duty to vote on war powers and both sides should demand this.

— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) April 7, 2026

Meanwhile, Republican Reps. Tom Emmer, Pete Stauber, Michelle Fischbach and Brad Finstad have not publicly shared their thoughts, nor have they responded to requests for comment from Bring Me The News on Tuesday.

Emmer, the House's majority whip, hasn't posted on social media since he shared that his mother died on Sunday. A few days earlier, he praised Trump for "finally putting an END to the Iranian aggression of the past 47 years."

Fischbach's communications team issued a press release announcing that the 7th District representative and Rep. Stauber have introduced the Preventing the Repatriation of American Benefits Act "in response to the fraud and national security threats exposed across Minnesota's social service programs."

Stauber meanwhile posted on Monday in praise of the U.S. military operation to rescue the pilot of an aircraft downed in Iran, but has not made public comment on Trump's "a civilization will die tonight" or "Open the Fuckin' Strait" statements.

Trump did not get approval from Congress before the U.S. and Israel launched initial strikes against Iran in late February

The Minneapolis theater's just-announced 2026-27 season includes multiple world premieres, a Broadway hit, and the return of the Mean One. It also features the premiere of a musical that takes inspiration from the state fair, "Princess Kay of the Milky Way."

The season also features the launch of the CTC's new Discovery Series, a three-show run of limited engagement performances that ask "audiences to experience the world through fresh eyes."

“This season at Children’s Theatre Company is about becoming — about the moment when a young person realizes they have agency in shaping who they are and how they move through the world,” artistic director Rick Dildine says.

“Across beloved stories, bold new work, and music-driven theatrical events, we’re inviting audiences to experience joy, grapple with big emotions, and see themselves reflected onstage. As a company, we’re proud to be part of a national conversation about what theatre for young people can be, and this season reflects our ongoing commitment to developing new work while honoring the stories that have shaped generations.”

"Princess Kay of the Milky Way" will arrive mid-season, with a musical that revels in the Minnesota State Fair, butterheads, 4H contests, and space exploration. (Presumably because the "Milky Way" portion of the name will refer to milk and the Milky Way.)

“I am absolutely over-the-galaxy to have the 'Princess Kay' world premiere at Children's Theatre Company,” director Addie Gorlin-Han says in a statement. “As a theatre kid growing up in the Twin Cities, CTC undoubtedly shaped who I am today. I'm thrilled to channel my love for all things Minnesota and bring together audiences of all ages to celebrate what unifies us and makes this great state unique.”

Before that premiere arrives, the season will open with a unique retelling of "Pinocchio," featuring five painters staging a "spontaneous retelling" of the classic fairy tale using paint brushes, wallpaper rolls, and scaffolding to build a story in front of the audience.

It's followed by the world premiere musical "Twelve Kinds of Ice" on the theater's Cargill Stage, as well as the return of its annual production of "Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas!"

Then, look, it's LMNOP. The new year will start with a puppet-centric adaptation of a familiar children's book in "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom: The Musical."

 The season ends with "School of Rock The Musical," a Broadway hit based on the movie starring Jack Black as a struggling musician who poses as a substitute teacher and transforms his class into a rock band.

Meanwhile, the Discovery Series will feature limited-run presentations of "Havana Hop," where a young girl with stage fright wants to be a star; "Mr. Messado's School of Magic for the Young and Young at Heart," an interactive performance with comedy and magic; and "Joseph Kekuku and the Voice of the Steel Guitar," the true story of a young Hawaiian student who crafts the "Hawaiian sound" through the invention of the steel guitar.

Full season subscriptions are on sale now, as are ticket packages. Individual show tickets will be released at a later date. 

Here's the full calendar for the Children's Theatre Company's 2026-27 season. 

• Oct. 13–Nov. 22: "Twelve Kinds of Ice"
• Nov. 3–Jan. 3: "Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas!"
• Jan. 12–Feb. 7: "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom: The Musical"
• Jan. 22–31: "Havana Hop"
• Feb. 23–April 4: "Princess Kay of the Milky Way"
• March 12–31: "Mr. Messado's School of Magic for the Young and Young at Heart"
• May 4–June 27: "School of Rock The Musical"
• May 14–23: "Joseph Kekuku and the Voice of the Steel Guitar"

Janel Kay Dierkhising, 53, is charged with two counts of second-degree manslaughter and one count of running a childcare program without a license in connection with the infant's death on Nov. 11.

According to the criminal complaint, Stearns County deputies responded to a call about a three-month-old not breathing and arrived to find Dierkhising performing CPR on the child.

Dierkhising said she went to check on the infant, who was sleeping in a pack-and-play in another room, and found him on his side with his face in a blanket. The baby made a wheezing sound after she picked him up and his lips had turned blue, she allegedly told responders.

The infant was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His cause of death was determined to be suffocation due to an unsafe sleep environment.

Charges state the room where the pack-and-play was located was "extremely cluttered" and had no monitoring devices.

Dierkhising told investigators she'd propped the infant up on a pillow and covered him with the blanket inside the pack-and-play to go down for a nap. Both the pack-and-play and pillow had detailed suffocation hazard labels, warning against usage for sleep.

According to the complaint, investigators spoke to parents whom Dierkhising had provided daycare services for in the past and several expressed concern about unsafe sleep practices under Dierkhising's care.

One mother said she showed up one day and discovered her three-month-old sleeping on top of comforters on a regular bed.

According to charges, Dierkhising told investigators she'd been providing daycare for approximately ten years and did not have a license.

In 2019, Stearns County Human Services sent Dierkhising a letter outlining licensing requirements after Dierkhising made a Facebook post announcing she had an infant spot available for paid childcare.

"[Dierkhising] responded to the letter indicating she was disabled and not running an unlicensed day-care," the charges state.

House Speaker Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) plans to strip Engen and Hudson of their assignments on the public safety, judiciary and education finance committees, as lawmakers return to the Capitol from spring break Tuesday, according to multiple outlets, including the Minnesota Reformer.

Engen (R-Lino Lakes) was pulled over for speeding and other infractions in White Bear Lake around 2 a.m. on March 27, then arrested and charged with a DWI.

Hudson (R-Albertville) was armed with a concealed handgun and allegedly appeared intoxicated, but officers did not screen him for alcohol consumption so he cannot be charged with carrying while impaired, which is a misdemeanor in Minnesota.

Both issued public apologies, saying they regret their decisions. Engen, who's running for Minnesota state auditor, pledged to "never allow a single sip of alcohol to touch my lips again" during an interview with the Star Tribune.

House DFL Leader Zack Stephenson claims that removing Engen and Hudson from committees "isn’t even a slap on the wrist" since there are only a handful of committee meetings before the end of this legislative session, which both of them voted to end early in late March, "effectively saying they don’t want anything to get done this year."

"Reps. Engen and Hudson didn’t want to be in committee in the first place; they wanted to go to the bar," Stephenson said in a statement.

"They wanted to pack it up and go home. They’re clearly not interested in doing their jobs. Removing them from committees effectively gives them what they want."

Democrats allege that Engen and Hudson skipped a committee hearing to drink at a bar about 12 hours before the DWI incident.

They were spotted eating and drinking beer at Burger Moe’s in St. Paul at 2:30 p.m. on March 26, roughly an hour before they returned to the House, where the floor session ran until 9:30 p.m.

Sometime after that, the pair went to White Bear Bar, about a mile from the intersection where Engen was arrested on suspicion on DWI, with Hudson and another passenger in his truck.

Two DFLers on the education finance committee filed ethics complaints against Engen and Hudson on Tuesday.

"They left committee halfway through to go drink, choosing to let down their colleagues and constituents by not doing the job they were hired for on an important committee overseeing funding for Minnesota schools," House DFL Floor Leader Jamie Long said in a statement.

Hudson called the ethics complaints a "dumb move" in a series of social media posts Monday.

“I've taken the lumps I'm due. I'm certainly not going to take what folks on the other side of the aisle have never faced,” he said.

Hearing the Democrats have filed an ethics compliant against me.

Dumb move.

You'd think they'd have learned by now.

Never give me a platform.

— Walter Hudson (@WalterHudson) April 7, 2026

The iconic songwriter hasn't brought tours to Minnesota in back-to-back years in more than a decade. He's doing more than that now, with a Mankato concert and Farm Aid appearance last year, and a show in Rochester just a few weeks back.

Now, he's announced a new slate of shows, which includes a date at the new Mystic Lake Amphitheater in Shakopee. Notably, it's not billed as the "Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour," which started in 2021 and continued into this spring.

Dylan will alight Live Nation's new outdoor concert space on July 6 with Lucinda Williams and the John Doe Folk Trio in the opening slots. Hopefully, the show will have fewer technical issues than his recent Rochester gig, which was somewhat marred by a finicky microphone. 

Williams is a big draw in her own right, and Doe is best known as the frontman of X. (He's playing a pair of acoustic shows in August at The Parkway Theater, accompanied by fellow X member Exene Cervenka.)

Tickets for Dylan's Mystic Lake Amphitheater gig will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 10.

While Live Nation has not yet announced when it'll host the opening night for its new 20,000-capacity venue, Dylan is currently among the first shows on the schedule. Only concerts with MGK (fka Machine Gun Kelly), the Dave Matthews Band, and The Guess Who are on the calendar for June at the moment. 

The church on Summit Avenue was the site of a demonstration in January after activists learned David Easterwood, a pastor at the church, led ICE’s field office in St. Paul. That incident led to federal charges against nearly 40 people, including journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort.

On Sunday morning, St. Paul police arrested 33-year-old Emily Heather Phillips during a protest outside the church. Phillips spent the night in jail and was released Monday after the case was dismissed.

Trisha Pohland, her defense attorney, told the Star Tribune that Ramsey County District Judge Maria Mitchel said "she couldn't find any probable cause" in the case filed by the city's attorney's office, which included four misdemeanor counts.

Pohland also told the newspaper that Phillips had put away her blow horn and speaker and "it was purely her unamplified voice that she was using" on public property across the street from the church when she was arrested.

A short video posted to Phillips' Instagram account appears to show the moment before she was arrested. In the clip, Phillips is one of roughly a dozen protestors standing on the grass and she's only shown speaking when a group of officers quickly approach.

View this post on Instagram

In an email Tuesday, St. Paul police spokesperson Alyssa Arcand said the case was dismissed "because of a procedural error that was made where the 'probable cause' notes were not included on the citation. A police report detailing the facts of the case was written."

"Our investigators are continuing to work on the case with the City Attorney’s Office," she wrote. "It is not uncommon for cases to be charged out of custody."

In a previous statement, the police department said protesters were "using a blow-horn and yelling loudly, disrupting the church services."

Protesters were given “numerous” announcements by officers to stop, or face a citation or arrest, the department claim. Police alleged Phillips "did not comply and was arrested by officers for interference with religious observance, and Saint Paul City Ordinances 293.02 and 293.07."

Jonathan Parnell, the church's lead pastor, wrote on X that protesters "held signs with obscenities and yelled harassing comments at families and individual worshippers. Among them was a speaker blasting music and amplified sound, and at least one protester who used a voice-amplifying device to harass people."

"After the St. Paul Police Department issued several warnings related to the noise, they arrested one individual," he wrote.

Parnell said Sunday's protest is the latest impacting Cities Church in recent weeks and he's "disheartened" that the charges against Phillips were dropped, writing: "State law protects the right of people of faith to worship in peace, and I call on state and local officials to enforce the law."

MPR News spoke with one of the protesters, Gaz Mulvaney, who said the group was peacefully protesting and followed police’s orders to keep the noise down by immediately shutting their speakers off.

“There was no need for this to happen,” Mulvaney told MPR.

Note: Some of the details provided in this story are based on law enforcement’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.

Walker Farms, located just outside of River Falls, Wisconsin, announced with "absolute gut-wrenching sorrow" that a fire had destroyed one of its barns, killing all-but-one of the animals that were inside.

This included their two great Pyrenees dogs and their corgi, as well as their children's pony, Cookie, and "countless chickens and ducks."

The lone survivor was a Pyrenees puppy, Winnie, who required treatment at an emergency vet clinic.

The 5th and 6th generation family farm has announced that its farm store, which sells a selection of meat and eggs, will be closed for the next several days "as we navigate this time and tragedy."

"We can’t begin to say thank you to our courageous neighbors who saved our one dog as well as River Falls Fire Department, Ellsworth Fire Department, Hudson Fire Department, and Allina EMS," the farm said.

Co-owner Steffanie Walker said that on the same night, the farmhouse also suffered from a small fire "caused by a package of scissors and a burner that somehow got turned on before we left the house."

"The house has smoke and soot damage and is currently not fit for our kids to be in… so we were at a relative's house with the kids last night when the barn tragedy occurred," Walker posted.

Here is what's in Sven's video forecast today:

• One last cooler day today
• Temps surge Wednesday to near 60-degrees with an incoming clipper system
• Few light rain showers tonight and perhaps midday Wednesday with cold front passage:
  More precipitation north where it will fall as rain and snow showers tonight / Wednesday
• Cooler behind the clipper for Thursday/Friday but brighter again
• Warmer, more humid air moves in for later in the weekend/early next week with upper low:
  Significant rainfall, thunderstorms likely Sunday and Monday

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BMTN Note: Weather events in isolation can't always be pinned on climate change, but the broader trend of increasingly severe weather and record-breaking extremes seen in Minnesota and across the globe can be attributed directly to the rapidly warming climate caused by human activity. The IPCC has warned that Earth is "firmly on track toward an unlivable world," and says greenhouse gas emissions must be halved by 2030 in order to limit warming to 1.5C, which would prevent the most catastrophic effects on humankind. You can read more here.

A hometown kid in a Wild sweater just feels right

We have signed forward Charlie Stramel to a three-year, entry-level contract starting the 2026-27 season

Full details » https://t.co/pyAN6L1nOE pic.twitter.com/wtYAclyNFA

— x - Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) April 7, 2026

Hailing from Rosemount, Minnesota, Stramel was an NCAA veteran with four years of college hockey under his belt. He began his career at Wisconsin for two seasons before transferring to Michigan State. He was an assistant captain for the Spartans in 2025-26, and he finished with 44 points (19 goals and 25 assists) in 37 games.

The Wild selected Stramel with the 21st overall selection in the 2023 NHL Draft. At 21 years old, he's a right-handed winger who could contribute right away when he's healthy next season.

He suffered a broken ankle in Michigan State's regional final loss to Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament. Had he not suffered the injury, he might've already been in the Wild's lineup.

Stramel gives Minnesota a young offensive threat to throw into the mix next season, and he'll surely be a name to monitor if any Wild trade rumors over the summer.

Following the lead of United Airlines and JetBlue, Delta Air Lines will increase baggage fees by at least $10 per bag across the board, in what experts have characterized as a response to rapidly rising fuel prices driven by the U.S.'s war in Iran.

For flights booked starting on April 8, standard baggage fees will be $45 each way for the first bag, $55 for the second bag, and $200 for a third bag, with the latter being an increase of $50. 

"These updates are part of Delta’s ongoing review of pricing across its business and reflect the impact of evolving global conditions and industry dynamics," a representative tells Bring Me The News.

Delta is by far the largest carrier from MSP, operating more than 70% of the flights to and from the Twin Cities airport.

The new fee structure applies to domestic flights, as well as select short-haul international routes. Fees on longer flights to Europe, Asia, Australia, and some other international locations are staying the same. Typically, those longer flights include a free checked bag. 

However, baggage fees will continue to be waived for travelers with a SkyMiles credit card, Medallion status, or who are traveling in first class, Delta Premium Select, or Delta One.

As of April 7, a gallon of jet fuel is at $4.69, according to the Argus Jet Fuel Index. That's an increase from $2.10 on Jan. 7 and $2.42 on Feb. 26. 

Airfares have already risen, but increasing fees has tax advantages for airlines, which only pay an excise tax on fares and not fees.

Additionally, as noted by Thrifty Traveler, fee increases tend to stick around even when fuel prices come down, and it has the added allure of making co-branded credit cards more appealing to travelers, as they frequently have perks like free checked bags. 

When JetBlue first announced its baggage fee increase, industry experts projected that the move would give other airlines cover to follow suit. So, this might not be the last airline to announce fee increases in the face of skyrocketing fuel prices. 

Delta's fee increase is similar to that of United, which last week it was increasing fees by $10 on the first and second bags.

St. Thomas-Minnesota redshirt freshman Nick Janowski has entered the transfer portal, source told ESPN. Big name from the mid-major ranks. Averaged 16.1 points and 5.1 rebounds this season, named first-team All-Summit. Janowski redshirted at Nebraska as a freshman.

— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) April 7, 2026

Janowski transferred to St. Thomas last offseason after a redshirt year at Nebraska. He averaged 16.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game in 2025-26 with the Tommies. He shot 49.5% from the field, 33.9% from three-point range and 64.1% from the free-throw line.

At 6-foot-4, Janowski is a native of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, and he'll now look for his third college program in three years. After leading St. Thomas to a second-place finish in the Summit League and the conference tournament semifinals, there's a good chance he'll get an opportunity in a better conference.

Janowski joins forward Isaiah Johnson-Arigu as the second St. Thomas player to already enter the transfer portal, which means the Tommies will lose their second and third leading scorer from last season's team.

St. Thomas has experienced first-hand how challenging it is to retain a roster at the mid-major level in the modern era of college basketball. They brought in Janowski, Johnson-Arigu and Austin Hero last season. Longtime head coach Johnny Tauer will look to have another successful offseason of roster building.

St. Thomas finished the 2025-26 season with a 24-10 record, and its season ended in the first round of the NIT against Seattle. The Tommies will look for their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearence at the Division I level next season, but the roster will likely look a lot different than last season.

The district made the announcement on Monday evening, though no details have been provided regarding the nature of the threat.

"At this time, the school district and local law enforcement need more time to fully investigate and determine the credibility of the threat," Superintendent Bill Adams said.

All schools are closed, with no e-learning or after-school activities. Nobody is allowed to enter school sites, either.

"The safety and well-being of our students and staff are our highest priority," said Adams.

"We apologize for the inconvenience this sudden closure causes and deeply appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we prioritize the safety of our school community."

It's the third instance of a Minnesota school district being forced to close due to threats in the past month. In March, threats forced closures at South St. Paul Public Schools and Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Schools.

The "Whiskey Lullaby" singer will perform on Thursday, Sept. 3 at the Grandstand, with special guest Avery Anna, one of a dozen concerts happening on the fair's biggest stage.

Tickets for Paisley's show go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 10, with prices ranging from $52 to $114.

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Other Grandstand concerts set to take place throughout the 12-day event include TLC and Salt-N-Pepa with En Vogue, Bonnie Raitt, Sierra Farrell, “Weird Al” Yankovic, and Rod Stewart. Several are yet to be announced.

The 2026 State Fair begins Thursday, Aug, 27 and runs through Labor Day, Sept. 7.

Discounted tickets to the fair are available for $17 until Aug. 26, then they increase to $20 apiece for people between the ages of 12 and 64. Seniors and children ages 5 to 12 pay $18.

Minneapolis Police Department has provided more details to Bring Me The News regarding the incident reported at 8:11 a.m., which culminated with a Chevy Silverado crashing through the window of Stanley's Northeast Bar Room at University Avenue Northeast and Lowry Avenue North.

MPD says that prior to hitting Stanley's, the man driving the pickup was headed westbound on Lowry Avenue when he entered the intersection with University "against a solid red light."

The driver then struck "multiple vehicles in or near the intersection," with four vehicles damaged in addition to the pickup truck. After hitting the vehicles, the driver "veered from the roadway" before hitting Stanley's.

The pickup driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center. All others involved declined medical attention at the scene.

The incident remains under investigation.

The crash forced the temporary closure of Stanley's, which said it would shut down at least until mid-afternoon on Monday as it cleaned up the damage.

The University and Lowry intersection has been the subject of proposals for safety improvements to reduce the rate of crashes.

The initial proposal would have seen MnDOT acquire the Stanley’s building via eminent domain to complete the work, but that proposal was scrapped after an outpouring of public support.

The construction plans shifting the redesign for the intersection further south, to allow the Stanley’s building to remain where it is.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcement’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.

Rodriguez, 34, was listed as 'out' on the team's Matchday 6 status report due to illness. The Colombian Soccer Federation said that last Thursday, following Rodriguez's return to Minnesota from international play, he was hospitalized after suffering from severe dehydration.

Rodriguez had started and played 62 minutes in each of Colombia's losses to Croatia and France over the international break. Since signing with the Loons in February, Rodriguez has appeared in just two matches, playing a total of 41 minutes.

Over the weekend, rumors and speculation on social media started circulating that Rodriguez was suffering from rhabdomyolysis.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, rhabdomyolysis is a rare, potentially life-threatening muscle injury where the muscles break down after an injury or excessive exercise without rest.

Minnesota United released a statement on Monday "unequivocally" denying those rumors, saying that "there has been no clinical or laboratory evidence of rhabdomyolysis."

"On Sunday, March 29, James participated in Colombia's international friendly against France, during which and upon its conclusion, he began experiencing symptoms of dehydration that worsened in the hours that followed," the club said in its official statement.

"The following day, Monday, March 30, and after an additional medical evaluation, he was examined and diagnosed with severe dehydration. Given the severity of the clinical presentation, he was admitted to a hospital facility on the morning of Tuesday, March 31, for continued monitoring and IV fluid therapy. James was discharged and has since been recovering at home under continued medical supervision."

The Loons stated that Rodriguez reported to the team's training facilities in Blaine on Monday and participated in a "supervised return-to-activity session." The club says Rodriguez's reintegration will be guided by his clinical progress and follow protocols set up by the club's medical department.

An update regarding the health of James Rodríguez pic.twitter.com/A3RKWE21AN

— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) April 6, 2026

Rodriguez's contract goes through the end of June, with a club option to extend through the end of the season. Minnesota United have just nine league games, and at least one U.S. Open Cup match, left before MLS breaks for the World Cup.

The Loons have gotten off to a 2-2-2 start to the season, most recently beating the Galaxy in Los Angeles on Saturday 2-1. Minnesota United now sit in ninth place in the Western Conference on eight points. They are next in action on Saturday at San Diego FC, with kickoff slated for 9:30 p.m. CT.

"Our last day of service will be April 11, and we'd truly love to see you before then," Coastal Seafoods announced on Facebook. "Thank you for being part of this chapter with us."

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Founded in south Minneapolis 1985 and purchased by specialty food distributor Fortune Fish in 2016, Coastal Seafoods traded its original Minneapolis location for a much larger space across the street in 2020.

A similar expansion followed in St. Paul, where Coastal Seafoods moved a short distance down Snelling Avenue and reopened in late 2023.

The St. Paul shop's hidden gem restaurant, called The Dive, serves lobster rolls, oysters, fish tacos, soft shell crab sandwiches, heaps of Old Bay-seasoned fries and smash burgers named one of the best in the Twin Cities by Eater.

Coastal Seafood's Minneapolis location will remain open.

Gabryella Liebgott was charged Monday with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide in the death of Hassen, 22, who died in the hospital after being struck along the1600 block of Marshall Avenue Northeast in the early hours of Sunday, March 22.

The criminal complaint against Liebgott says that Hassen was "struck with such force that remnants of her clothing were torn from her body and were scattered in the street."

Two women who were in the car with Liebgott allegedly told police that they had all been drinking at the Minneapolis VFW prior to the hit-and-run, while the Star Tribune reports that Liebgott also had a suspended license for failing to pay a traffic fine dating back to 2023.

Video footage from nearby businesses and a parked Tesla showed Hassen and two other women exiting a vehicle parked on Marshall shortly after 3 a.m., with the driver crossing the street while Hassen and another woman – both wearing white dresses – stood near the fog line on the street.

The other woman crossed Marshall "quickly," but Hassen "appeared to turn away from the road" as a vehicle entered the frame, "veering toward the shoulder where [Hassen] was standing."

The complaint says Hassen tried to get out of the way of the car "but didn't have time." The vehicle struck her and then "abruptly maneuvered back into the driving lane of the street.

The impact was "violent," throwing Hassen onto the windshield before she fell beneath the car. The driver then proceeded to speed away southbound on Marshall.

Efforts to identify the vehicle proved unsuccessful initially despite efforts to recreate the driver's route that night and despite a public appeal for information.

But on March 30, investigators were called by the Washington County Sheriff's Office, which said it believes it had found the suspect vehicle – an Infiniti G35 sedan – at an auto shop "that specializes in applying vinyl exterior wraps."

Pictures of the vehicle appeared consistent with the damage likely sustained in the collision with Hassen. Forensic examination of the vehicle turned up traces of blood and white fibers consistent with Hassen's dress.

The auto shop owner says he was contacted on March 23 by a potential customer who wanted to bring her vehicle in for a vinyl wrap but also wanted it to be stored for a period of time, saying the vehicle was damaged but she was ordering parts for repairs at a later date.

The vehicle was dropped off by a woman named "Gabby" sometime on March 24-25. She left the shop with a phone number but never called back to check its status.

Investigators were able to trace the vehicle to a relative of Liebgott's, while the phone number she provided the auto shop was found within cell tower data from the area where Hassen was struck on March 22.

From this information, they were able to trace Liebgott's whereabouts on the night of March 21-22, finding the vehicle parked near the Minneapolis VFW on Lyndale Avenue South between 1:23 a.m. and 2:25 a.m., with Liebgott found to have swiped her ID to enter the premises with two other women that evening.

At 2:03 a.m., Liebgott was seen driving the Infiniti and parking in front of the VFW, at one point standing up through the open sunroof before sitting back down and parking. At 2:25 a.m. she allegedly got behind the wheel and pulled away, with cameras showing the vehicle "speeding recklessly down Lyndale Avenue and swerving into the oncoming lane of traffic."

Numerous cameras followed the car's path into north Minneapolis and then onto southbound Marshall Street Northeast, where it struck Hassen before fleeing onto Hennepin Avenue and Hwy. 280 into St. Paul, where it was lost from camera view.

The two women with Liebgott at the VFW reported that the three of them had been drinking alcohol, but Liebgott was the only one driving that night. Both reported that they were in the car with her when she struck Hassen.

One of the women claimed she was drunk and slipping in and out of sleep on the back seat when she was "startled awake by a powerful collision." She said she asked Liebgott if she had hit something, and she admitted she did and that her mirror was gone, but she continued to speed away.

Both women told police that Liebgott knew she had struck someone that night, and multiple people had urged her to turn herself in. She did not, and instead was arrested on Friday, Apr. 3.

The criminal complaint says she has prior convictions for speeding, driving without a driver's license, and driving with open intoxicants in her vehicle."

"The decision follows a federal court ruling that vacated a federal declaration attempting to restrict gender-affirming care," a hospital spokesperson said in a statement.

"Offering science- and research-based health care to transgender and gender diverse youth is part of Children’s Minnesota’s vision of being every family's essential partner in raising healthier children," the statement continued.

Children's Minnesota is now contacting patient families that were affected by the temporary pause, which began impacting some services Feb. 27.

The pause took effect amid threats from the Trump administration to withdraw federal funding from hospitals that offer certain gender health services to minors, such as puberty-suppressing medications.

A coalition of 21 states, including Minnesota, sued to block the administration from limiting certain health services after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. issued a "declaration" on Dec. 18 regarding the treatment of pediatric gender dysphoria.

In a statement last month, Attorney General Keith Ellison said states are responsible for licensing and regulating medical providers and professional associations used evidence-based research to establish care standards.

"The federal government should not be part of that equation, and there’s no room in Minnesota doctor’s offices for Donald Trump, RFK Jr., and other politicians that want to dictate what healthcare we can and cannot receive," Ellison said.

He continued: "I am pleased to have prevailed in my lawsuit to protect essential healthcare services that allows transgender individuals to be themselves and live with the same dignity that we all deserve."

The American Medical Association (AMA) says gender-affirming care "has been linked to dramatically reduced rates of suicide attempts, decreased rates of depression and anxiety, decreased substance use" and other key benefits.

The AMA has strongly opposed bans on certain types of gender-affirming care, writing in 2021 that it's "inappropriate and harmful for any state to legislatively dictate that certain transition-related services are never appropriate and limit the range of options physicians and families may consider when making decisions for pediatric patients.”

Dijon Jacquez Davis, 19, of Las Vegas, Nevada, is charged with second-degree murder in connection with the killing of Justin "Juice" Marshall in south Minneapolis on July 25.

Marshall, a well-known local DJ and longtime Kowalski's employee who was recognized nationally as one of the country's best grocery baggers, was killed on his 37th birthday when he was shot six times around 2:30 a.m. in front of a bus stop next to Mortimer's Bar.

According to the criminal complaint, Davis admitted that he'd had a verbal altercation with Marshall and "acted like he was driving away, then stopped, got out of the car, and chased [Marshall] around the bus shelter" before shooting him.

Under a pending plea deal, Davis will be sentenced to nearly 22 years in prison for Marshall's murder.

"My thoughts are with Justin's family as they finally have some answers from today's guilty plea," said Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty. "This came together over the last few days, but Mr. Davis has taken responsibility and will now be serving his time for Justin's murder. Numerous people were victimized by Mr. Davis during this period in 2025, but none more so than Justin, his family, and the community that loved him and we wanted to ensure they had their own day in court."

Davis is also charged with two counts of first-degree attempted murder in connection with a June 10 shooting at a Minneapolis apartment building.

He's facing other felony charges for a series of robberies and carjackings he's accused of carrying out during a two-week crime spree that included Marshall's murder.

In one case, he's accused of carjacking a Domino's Pizza delivery driver at gunpoint behind the restaurant on Hiawatha Avenue.

According to CBS News, those cases are expected to be resolved after his May 7 sentencing in the murder case.

In a statement Monday, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara called Marshall's murder a "heartbreaking and senseless act of violence that took a beloved member of our community."

He continued: “Justin Marshall’s life mattered. While news of charges will not alleviate the pain of the loss his family and friends have endured, it does bring some soothing for the longing for justice they have demanded."

Brian Stewart Gay, 36, of Hastings, was charged last week with seven counts with soliciting a child through electronic communications, which followed an undercover operation last month by the Carver County Sheriff's Office.

A detective used social media platforms and online chats using photographs of a young female, and received a message on March 4 from Gay via Reddit, the charges allege.

Gay, a paraprofessional at Burnsville STEP Academy, sent a message to the "female" asking whether she was open to new friends.

The undercover officer responded, and identified as being 15-years-old. Gay continued to message her despite being told the age, and suggested taking a night drive together and "see if we wanna get close or explore some kink."

He then told the undercover officer when they met, he would "start teaching" the female about his sexual preferences, which include "fetishes that range from as simple as spanking to as intense as sexual slavery."

Further messages continued in later March, with Gay making further suggestions of sexual contact, as well as asking whether the "girl" was on birth control.

Gay allegedly arranged to meet the undercover officer in Chanhassen on April 2. He was met by police and arrested. After being read his rights, Gay allegedly admitted to "engaging in text and Reddit conversations" with the undercover officer.