Here's the latest news from across the state to start your day.
WEATHER
☔ Two rounds of thunderstorms will roll through Minnesota Thursday. A few storms have been severe Thursday morning in southwest Minnesota during the first round.
⛈️ The second round of potential severe weather is focused in eastern Minnesota and Western Wisconsin where an enhanced risk is forecast for severe storms. Storms that develop could produce very large hail, strong winds and even a few possible tornadoes.
🌡️ The storms will be followed by very windy conditions overnight into Friday and cooler temperatures. Winds will blow at 15-30 mph with higher gusts up to 50 mph in southwest Minnesota. Highs will be in the 50s and 40s for most by Saturday.
Reinforcements are arriving to help fight several wildfires burning in northern Minnesota that have scorched about 58 square miles and destroyed dozens of homes. Volunteers are also stepping in to help care for the crews.
Julius Randle scored 29 points on 13-for-18 shooting to send the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Western Conference finals for the second straight time with a 121-110 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 on Wednesday night.
🔥 Watch: Brimson resident describes fleeing from Camp House Fire in northern Minnesota. Mikala Schliep and her boyfriend returned to their home Monday in hopes of retrieving some possessions, but fled when they saw their neighbor’s house was engulfed in flames. Schliep drove through what she describes as walls of fire burning on both sides of the road.
❌ DHS ends Temporary Protected Status for Afghanistan, raising concerns for Minnesota’s Afghan community. Advocates say it’s still unclear what the impact will be. Minnesota’s Afghan community is feeling that uncertainty and wondering how people would survive if forced to go back to their country.
🧠 Minnesota lawmakers push for social media warning labels to protect kids’ mental health. A proposal working through the Legislature would mandate the pop-up warnings for social media users noting the potential mental health harms of the platforms.
🩺 Medtronic lays off employees at Coon Rapids research lab. An employee who works at the lab confirmed the layoffs. He said about 20 people were let go Wednesday morning, and he was laid off later in the day.
🏛️ Live coverage of Supreme Court arguments in challenge to birthright citizenship. The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Thursday in a case challenging President Donald Trump’s order limiting who is entitled to birthright citizenship.
📜 Minnesota Freedom Fund switches focus from cash bail to policy. During the 2024 presidential campaign, the Freedom Fund was the target of attacks from surrogates for President Donald Trump, who pointed to a 2020 tweet in which Vice President Kamala Harris expressed support for the group.
🗣️ Twin Cities conservative and liberal college students try not to stay in their lanes. For the last year, a group of conservative and liberal college students have been meeting monthly to talk politics. The result? New friendships and new perspectives.
🎧 Domestic violence advocates concerned over recent deaths, potential funding cuts. Guadalupe Lopez, executive director of Violence Free Minnesota, joins MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about efforts to prevent the loss of more lives to abuse.
🎧 Art Hounds: Duluth retrospective, musical improv and open mic storytelling. Art Hounds recommend a retrospective show for Duluth painter Oddio Nib, “Sad Songs for Happy People,” and the American School for Storytelling.
🎧 Reset your health habits with highlights from Wellness Wednesday. Angela talks with two cardiologists about the dangers of untreated high blood pressure and the medications and lifestyle changes that can protect your heart. 🎧 Appetites: This year’s crop of ramps will be a delight for spring foragers. It’s a special time of year for urban foragers because it’s time to go hunting for ramps, also known as the wild leek. Cookbook author Beth Dooley said spring foragers will delight in this year’s crop — which won’t last long.
