The bill is in response to several Minnesota municipalities using NDAs to keep data center developments a secret. Residents of several cities have organized in support of NDA bans, saying that secrecy allowed local officials to give unpopular projects a head start before opposition could form.

Big win for mining as Senate votes to remove BWCA moratorium Minnesota Democrat Tina Smith held the Senate floor for hours arguing against the removal of the ban, but GOP senators were unmoved.

U.S. Senators just removed key federal protections against mining near the Boundary Waters, over objections from Sens. Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar. The move clears a hurdle for a Twin Metals mine project in northern Minnesota, but more hurdles remain at state level.
www.minnpost.com/national/was...

MinnPost launches Twin Cities Documenters, civic information hub Twin Cities Documenters, a participatory journalism program, will support newsroom collaborations and community connections.

Big news! MinnPost is thrilled to share that we’re partnering with @citybureau.bsky.social to reimagine its award-winning Documenters program for the Twin Cities. @twincitiesdocs.bsky.social
www.minnpost.com/inside-minnp...

Congrats to all the amazing journalists at @sahanjournal.bsky.social for this recognition. Well deserved! share.google/PVSoruwhFMvQ...

The Public’s Right To Know Join MNSPJ for a vibrant panel discussion about the Data Practices Act and First Amendment rights.

MANKATO: Join MNSPJ for a vibrant panel discussion on April 16 about the Data Practices Act and how the First Amendment protects freedom of speech, assembly and the press.

The event is free and open to the public. RSVP here: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-public...

Greater Minnesota is growing, but demographic challenges remain A new study found population growth in many rural and exurban regions of Greater Minnesota in the 2020s, reversing a downturn trend.

“The old narrative of rural Minnesota dying is simply not true, and we’ve been seeing that for at least six years now."
www.minnpost.com/greater-minn...

Plug-in solar power bill would power up Minnesota homes - MinnPost Advocates say the legislation would make domestic solar energy more accessible. Several states are considering similar laws.

Plug and play: Bill would power up plug-in solar power in Minnesota homes www.minnpost.com/state-govern...

Clock ticking on bill to lift sulfide mining ban near Boundary Waters A massive lobbying effort is targeting GOP senators to reject Rep. Pete Stauber’s resolution that would lift a Biden-era mineral withdrawal.

A massive lobbying effort is targeting GOP senators to reject Rep. Pete Stauber’s resolution that would lift a Biden-era mineral withdrawal protecting the Boundary Waters.
www.minnpost.com/national/was...

MN residents opposed to data centers take their fight to legislators - MinnPost A coalition mostly from Greater Minnesota is lobbying state lawmakers to curb data centers after feeling stonewalled by local officials.

Round-up of Greater Minnesota news on @minnpost.bsky.social this week:

A coalition mostly from Greater Minnesota is lobbying state lawmakers to curb data center developments after feeling stonewalled by local officials.
www.minnpost.com/state-govern...

Last year: Minnesota Rep. Elliot Engen, R-White Bear Township, accused the DFL of being "drunk at the wheel."

Last night: Engen was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.

Quirkiest bill proposed at the Minnesota Legislature this session? I nominate SF 3806, designating the toboggan as the official sled of the state. Sorry, saucer fans. www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/94/202...

Myron Medcalf talks about his start in journalism as a college student at the MSU Reporter. The college paper at Minnesota State University, Mankato marks its 100th anniversary this year.

City and county officials return to legislative session with focus on wastewater facility bonding | WTIP City and county leaders traveled to St. Paul this week to meet lawmakers during the legislative session, aiming to secure funding for crucial local projects. Grand Marais City Administrator Mike Roth,...

Went on WTIP (North Shore Community Radio) earlier this week to talk about the state's vast water infrastructure needs. Check out their story on Grand Marais' needs, featuring my full interview with them linked at bottom. wtip.org/city-and-cou...

Appleton residents weigh value of potential ICE detention center Appleton’s private prison, once the town's biggest employer, has sat unused for 15 years. The Trump administration might have plans for it.

The ICE info from the sheriff came in response to speculation online. ICE and Appleton have been linked for a while now as the agency eyes the city's vacant prison for use as an immigration detention site.

Appleton, MN is in lockdown right now as law enforcement agencies respond to an "ongoing threat" involving gunshots. The Swift County Sheriff's Office confirmed that ICE is not involved in the situation.

Why Minnesota cities rely on bonding bills to fund water projects - MinnPost The cost of construction is high, especially in Greater Minnesota, and cities can only raise water rates so much.

Part 2 of my water coverage this week looks at why so many Minnesota cities need a bonding bill to fund their infrastructure projects. The alternative is raising user rates, and a flood of angry residents. www.minnpost.com/greater-minn...

Water is a dominant theme in bonding bill process this year - MinnPost Whether local governments want to treat it, filter it, collect it or drill wells to find it, water is a theme in bonding bill requests.

What is the most dominant theme in the Minnesota Legislature's bonding bill discussions this session? I'd argue it's water, and I wrote about why after a visit to Big Lake's treatment plant. www.minnpost.com/greater-minn...

As a Chisholm guy, heartbreaking to see Hibbing/Chisholm get that close and lose. But what a game. Gritty win for Warroad in an all Greater Minnesota championship game.

More funding is needed to replace Minnesota's lead water lines - MinnPost State and federal funding for lead service line replacement will run out in 2027 if no action is taken.

Minnesota's ambitious plan to replace all lead water lines by 2033 could stall if the Legislature doesn't refill a funding pool this session.
www.minnpost.com/greater-minn...

For Somalis in St. Cloud, ICE eroded years of hard-earned trust Aggressive tactics by the agency created ‘fear, uncertainty, and emotional stress’ that will be hard to undo, a local activist says.

Somali leaders in St. Cloud say it’ll take hard work to overcome damage done by ICE. www.minnpost.com/greater-minn...

US judge rejects California law that banned masks for federal officers A federal judge in Los Angeles on Monday preliminarily struck down a California state law that bans federal officers from wearing masks while on duty.

Would Mankato's proposed ban on masks for law enforcement stand up in court? A federal judge just deemed a California mask ban unconstitutional in part because it specifically targeted federal agents. Mankato's ordinance would apply to all law enforcement agents.
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...

ICE presence prompts policy responses in Greater Minnesota cities Uncertainty over how to react to ICE agents operating in Greater Minnesota towns has given way to a push for policy solutions.

Initially unsure of how to curb ICE activity, Duluth and Mankato's city councils are now willing to answer public calls for action with policy. Mankato may ban mask wearing by law enforcement agents. Duluth wants to limit use of city resources by immigration agents. www.minnpost.com/greater-minn...

The Minnesota man who tried to bust Luigi Mangioni out of jail is from Mankato, according to NY Times.

'Sanctuary' tag masks actual level of ICE cooperation in Minnesota State prisons are in full compliance with ICE on inmate transfer requests, recent data shows, while counties provide various levels of help.

My @minnpost.bsky.social colleagues explored this issue this week www.minnpost.com/public-safet...

Walz, speaking at the Minnesota Newspaper Association conference Thursday, said President Trump and Homan are buying into propaganda that Minnesota obstructs ICE from entering jails. Earlier in the day Homan said he wants more ICE agents in jails rather than on the streets.

Gov. Tim Walz pushed back against border czar Tom Homan’s suggestion that Minnesota is obstructing ICE detainers in jails.

“We will honor every single detainer that is in our prisons to turn people over, just like we have for 30 years.”

Man sprays unknown substance on Rep. Ilhan Omar at Minneapolis town hall A man wearing a black jacket has been tackled to the ground after spraying an unknown substance on U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar.

A man wearing a black jacket has been tackled to the ground after spraying an unknown substance on U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar.

As a journalist, I have concerns about how using words could result in "actions and consequences."

Video contradicts Trump’s claim man killed in Minneapolis was a ‘gunman’ Video evidence reviewed by Guardian shows Alex Pretti, killed by agents in Minneapolis, held a phone, not a gun

Guardian does an excellent job detailing the brutality of the murder on Eat Street. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

While I also encourage you to follow (& financially support) local news orgs, I also highly recommend @dailyyonder.bsky.social for their coverage of rural areas that are often bypassed (though shoutout to @brianarola.bsky.social at @minnpost.bsky.social for his wonderful work in greater #Minnesota)