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  31. <title>D.C. Memo: In wake of Trump’s big win, Minnesota GOPers downplay Medicaid cuts while Dems decry them</title>
  32. <link>http://www.minnpost.com/national/washington/2025/07/d-c-memo-in-wake-of-trumps-big-win-minnesota-gopers-downplay-medicaid-cuts-while-dems-decry-them/</link>
  34. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Ana Radelat]]></dc:creator>
  35. <pubDate>Thu, 03 Jul 2025 22:05:26 +0000</pubDate>
  36. <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  37. <category><![CDATA[Politics & Policy]]></category>
  38. <category><![CDATA[Top Story]]></category>
  39. <category><![CDATA[Washington]]></category>
  40. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.minnpost.com/?p=2203189</guid>
  41.  
  42. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="683" src="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP25184696988286-1024x683.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="a bunch of grinning politicians gather around a smug-looking man sitting at a desk" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP25184696988286-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP25184696988286-190x127.jpg 190w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP25184696988286-640x427.jpg 640w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP25184696988286-768x512.jpg 768w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP25184696988286-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP25184696988286-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP25184696988286-1200x800.jpg 1200w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP25184696988286-2000x1333.jpg 2000w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP25184696988286-780x520.jpg 780w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP25184696988286-400x267.jpg 400w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP25184696988286-scaled-e1751573357711.jpg 940w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  43. <p>The One Big Beautiful Bill Act approved by Congress this week offers rewards first – and pain after the midterms.</p>
  44. <p>The post <a href="http://www.minnpost.com/national/washington/2025/07/d-c-memo-in-wake-of-trumps-big-win-minnesota-gopers-downplay-medicaid-cuts-while-dems-decry-them/">D.C. Memo: In wake of Trump’s big win, Minnesota GOPers downplay Medicaid cuts while Dems decry them</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.minnpost.com">MinnPost</a>.</p>
  45. ]]></description>
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  47. <p>WASHINGTON – The drama and stakes could not have been higher here this week as Republicans in Congress used their political muscle to approve President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda, which would raise the nation’s debt ceiling, cut deeply into poverty programs and make permanent a massive package of tax breaks.</p>
  48.  
  49.  
  50.  
  51. <p>The U.S. House approved the <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr1eas/pdf/BILLS-119hr1eas.pdf">massive budget bill </a>Thursday on a 218-214 vote, with all Minnesota Democrats voting “no” and all Minnesota Republicans voting “yes.” Two Republicans – Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania – voted against the bill, but it would have taken four GOP defections to derail it.</p>
  52.  
  53.  
  54.  
  55. <p>This week’s drama began when Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” was narrowly approved by the U.S. Senate Tuesday during a marathon voting session, with Vice President JD Vance breaking a 50-50 tie after three Republicans joined all Democrats in opposing the legislation.</p>
  56.  
  57.  
  58.  
  59. <p>Democrats, including Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., tried but failed to amend the legislation, which would cut more than $1 trillion from Medicaid, other federal health care programs and food stamps.</p>
  60.  
  61.  
  62.  
  63. <p>Klobuchar tried to derail a provision that would shift some of the cost of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the official name for food stamps, to the states. Currently, the federal government pays 100% of the cost of the benefits.</p>
  64.  
  65.  
  66.  
  67. <p>Klobuchar also fought against an effort by Republican leaders to exempt Alaska from the proposed cost shift in the SNAP program to win the support of Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski – who had had grave reservations about the bill.</p>
  68.  
  69.  
  70.  
  71. <p>Murkowski, who could have killed the massive budget bill, was blasted on social media for her vote and for her long explanation of why she flipped to support the bill. She admitted “while we have worked to improve the present bill for Alaska, it is not good enough for the rest of our nation – and we all know it.”</p>
  72.  
  73.  
  74.  
  75. <p>Then the bill was rushed to the House for final approval in the hopes it could be signed by Trump at a celebratory event on July 4.</p>
  76.  
  77.  
  78.  
  79. <p>House Democrats tried to slow a final vote on the bill, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speaking for hours against it on the House floor.</p>
  80.  
  81.  
  82.  
  83. <p>Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-6<sup>th</sup> District, focused on the benefits of the tax breaks – saying little of the legislation’s cuts to Medicaid and other social programs – in trying to win public support for the budget bill, which polls showed was becoming increasingly unpopular.</p>
  84.  
  85.  
  86.  
  87. <p>“Democrats like @RepJeffries who oppose the One Big Beautiful Bill are opposing the largest tax cut in history for workers and middle-income families,” Emmer posted on X.</p>
  88.  
  89.  
  90.  
  91. <p>The GOP lawmaker also <a href="https://x.com/GOPMajorityWhip/status/1939735283735662652">posted testimonials</a> from Minnesotans who said they would benefit from the tax cuts, including a single mother from Lexington who works as a waitress and said that keeping all of her tips would help her family buy groceries and pay for her daughter’s hockey expenses.</p>
  92.  
  93.  
  94.  
  95. <p>But, under the legislation, tips would still be subject to Social Security taxes and the exemption from federal income taxes would last only three years.</p>
  96.  
  97.  
  98.  
  99. <p>Meanwhile, the tax breaks, which would benefit the wealthiest Americans the most, would be permanent, costing more than $5 trillion over the next 10 years.</p>
  100.  
  101.  
  102.  
  103. <p>And the bill’s savings from the safety net cuts would not be enough to offset the cost of those tax breaks, which are projected to add more than $3 trillion to the federal debt by 2034.</p>
  104.  
  105.  
  106.  
  107. <p>Emmer also said the legislation would “eliminate taxes on Social Security for 88% of America’s seniors.”</p>
  108.  
  109.  
  110.  
  111. <p>“That’s the largest tax break for seniors in American history!” Emmer posted on X.</p>
  112.  
  113.  
  114.  
  115. <p>Although Trump campaigned on a promise of ending federal Social Security taxes, the budget bill does no such thing. But it would provide a new $6,000 deduction for seniors reporting less than $75,000 in income, with the deduction phasing out gradually for those above that income threshold.</p>
  116.  
  117.  
  118.  
  119. <p>While the tax package will benefit upper income and some middle-income earners, the <a href="https://www.cbo.gov/publication/61533">Congressional Budget Office</a> said the legislation will raise taxes on the poorest Americans by up to $1,600 per year.</p>
  120.  
  121.  
  122.  
  123. <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The politics of the ‘big, beautiful bill’</strong></h3>
  124.  
  125.  
  126.  
  127. <p>Rep. Pete Stauber, R-8<sup>th</sup> District, said the “historic legislation” would “deliver a new Golden Age for the American people” in a statement released after Thursday’s vote.</p>
  128.  
  129.  
  130.  
  131. <p><a href="https://x.com/RepPeteStauber/status/1940512252072964327">Stauber praised</a> the legislation’s “largest tax cuts in our nation’s history” and its rollback of regulations on the oil and gas industry, as well as the millions the bill would provide to bolster federal immigration efforts – including the completion of a border wall – and the nation’s military.</p>
  132.  
  133.  
  134.  
  135. <p>Yet the bill’s cuts to Medicaid could endanger the fiscal health of rural hospitals and clinics, including some in his Iron Range-based district.</p>
  136.  
  137.  
  138.  
  139. <p>Democrats have made those cuts to Medicaid and other poverty programs a rallying cry in their opposition to the bill.</p>
  140.  
  141.  
  142.  
  143. <p>“The impact of this bill on the United States is hard to quantify,” said Rep. Kelly Morrison, D-3<sup>rd</sup> District, a practicing OB-GYN before she was elected to Congress. “It will be a national security threat because it will make Americans sicker and poorer.”</p>
  144.  
  145.  
  146.  
  147. <p>Morrison on Wednesday joined <a href="https://x.com/CalltoActivism/status/1940501250615005285">other white lab coat-wearing</a> members of a newly formed Democratic Doctors Caucus to protest the Medicaid cuts outside House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office in the U.S. Capitol.</p>
  148.  
  149.  
  150.  
  151. <p>Morrison said the Medicaid cuts, which would be obtained largely through the imposition of new work requirements and other reporting mandates, would result in the closure of hospitals, clinics and nursing homes that are heavily dependent on Medicaid revenue.</p>
  152.  
  153.  
  154.  
  155. <p>The legislation also shifts more of the cost of the program, which is shared between the federal government and the states, onto states like Minnesota.</p>
  156.  
  157.  
  158.  
  159. <p>In an emailed statement, Gov. Tim Walz accused Emmer and Stauber of “voting to tear away health care from a quarter million Minnesotans so Trump can give tax cuts to billionaires.”</p>
  160.  
  161.  
  162.  
  163. <p>“We will do everything we can to help Minnesotans impacted by their Medicaid cuts, but we’ll never fully reverse the damage they’ve caused,” Walz said.</p>
  164.  
  165.  
  166.  
  167. <p>Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-5<sup>th</sup> District, said the bill represented “the biggest transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich.”</p>
  168.  
  169.  
  170.  
  171. <p>Democrats hope the unpopular measures in the bill will help them win back the U.S. House in next year’s midterm elections.</p>
  172.  
  173.  
  174.  
  175. <p>But many of those unpopular provisions, including the Medicaid work requirements, won’t be effective until after Americans go to the polls in November 2026. The tax breaks, however, will be effective immediately.</p>
  176.  
  177.  
  178.  
  179. <p>One cut to health care that will take effect before the election is the end of enhanced subsidies that benefit those who purchase insurance through an Affordable Care Act exchange.</p>
  180.  
  181.  
  182.  
  183. <p>Enhanced subsidies lowered insurance premiums for policies purchased through MNsure for <a href="https://www.minnpost.com/health/2025/03/key-aca-subsidy-could-end-increasing-mnsure-premiums-and-ranks-of-uninsured/">about 90,000 Minnesotans.&nbsp;</a></p>
  184.  
  185.  
  186.  
  187. <p>The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that about 6 million Americans will lose health insurance coverage because of the end of the enhanced subsidies.</p>
  188.  
  189.  
  190.  
  191. <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>In case you missed it:</strong></h3>
  192.  
  193.  
  194.  
  195. <p>-The assassination of state Rep. Melissa Hortman and the near-fatal shooting of state Sen. John Hoffman has rekindled a debate about political violence. Reporter Shadi Bushra has some<a href="https://www.minnpost.com/public-safety/2025/06/is-there-more-political-violence-heres-what-the-limited-research-shows/"> facts and stats.</a></p>
  196.  
  197.  
  198.  
  199. <p>-Minnesota has been derided as a ‘sanctuary’ state that fails to help federal agents in their quest to deport immigrants, but there is a <a href="https://www.minnpost.com/national/washington/2025/07/minnesota-sheriffs-departments-seek-to-cooperate-with-ice/">growing number of Minnesota sheriffs</a> who have signed agreements to work with ICE.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
  200.  
  201.  
  202.  
  203. <p>-Skateborders rejoice! Brian Arola <a href="https://www.minnpost.com/greater-minnesota/2025/07/the-state-of-skate-how-the-legislative-session-became-a-boon-for-skate-park-projects/">has a story</a> on new grants that will fund new skate parks.</p>
  204.  
  205.  
  206.  
  207. <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Your questions and comments</strong></h3>
  208.  
  209.  
  210.  
  211. <p>Citing the story of a co-worker from Africa whose brother was arrested for dissent – and later executed – a reader decried the hardball tactics of federal immigration agents.</p>
  212.  
  213.  
  214.  
  215. <p>“Fear and intimidation is the MO of an authoritarian regime,” the reader wrote. “This is exactly the playbook of Trump although he is probably oblivious to many of the horrendous actions of his supposed subordinates as his focus is and always will be on himself.”</p>
  216.  
  217.  
  218.  
  219. <p>Please keep your comments, and any questions, coming. I’ll try my best to respond. Please contact me at <em>aradelat@minnpost.com</em>.</p>
  220. <p>The post <a href="http://www.minnpost.com/national/washington/2025/07/d-c-memo-in-wake-of-trumps-big-win-minnesota-gopers-downplay-medicaid-cuts-while-dems-decry-them/">D.C. Memo: In wake of Trump’s big win, Minnesota GOPers downplay Medicaid cuts while Dems decry them</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.minnpost.com">MinnPost</a>.</p>
  221. ]]></content:encoded>
  225. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2203189</post-id> </item>
  226. <item>
  227. <title>More boaters need permits</title>
  228. <link>http://www.minnpost.com/glean/2025/07/more-boaters-need-permits/</link>
  230. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Peter Majerle]]></dc:creator>
  231. <pubDate>Thu, 03 Jul 2025 18:29:47 +0000</pubDate>
  232. <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  233. <category><![CDATA[The Glean]]></category>
  234. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.minnpost.com/?p=2203158</guid>
  235.  
  236. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="600" height="397" src="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="The Glean logo" decoding="async" srcset="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600.png 600w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600-190x126.png 190w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600-130x85.png?crop=1 130w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600-400x265.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  237. <p>Plus: 'Operation Dry Water;' famous dive bar to close; a scorching 4th; and a baseball-hoarding homeowner. </p>
  238. <p>The post <a href="http://www.minnpost.com/glean/2025/07/more-boaters-need-permits/">More boaters need permits</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.minnpost.com">MinnPost</a>.</p>
  239. ]]></description>
  240. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="600" height="397" src="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="The Glean logo" decoding="async" srcset="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600.png 600w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600-190x126.png 190w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600-130x85.png?crop=1 130w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600-400x265.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  241. <p>Young boaters now need permits. “A new law went into effect Tuesday <strong>requiring some Minnesota lake lovers to have a new permit to drive their boat</strong>, with more people joining the ranks over the next couple of years,” according to KAAL. <a href="https://www.kaaltv.com/news/new-minnesota-boating-law-will-require-operator-permits/">The law states that everyone aged 12-21 this year will need a permit to operate a watercraft</a>; by 2028 anyone born after June 30, 1987 will need a permit while on the water.</p>
  242.  
  243.  
  244.  
  245. <p>Regardless of your permit-needing status, <strong>make sure you have a designated driver while plying one of our waterways</strong>. “As part of what’s being billed ‘Operation Dry Water’ <a href="https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/07/03/law-enforcement-warns-boaters-to-drive-sober-this-holiday-weekend">law enforcement officials from various agencies say will be out on the water looking for impaired boaters</a> on Minnesota lakes and rivers this Fourth of July weekend,” MPR News reports.</p>
  246.  
  247.  
  248.  
  249. <p><strong>For tipplers, some bad news</strong>: <a href="https://www.kare11.com/article/entertainment/palmers-bar-to-close-after-serving-beers-for-120-years-on-west-bank/89-0c845523-e6cc-4fed-8be2-82e7540144cc">Palmer’s Bar, on the West Bank of the Mississippi, will close its doors on September 14 after 119 years of massive pours and live music</a>, KARE 11 reports. &nbsp;</p>
  250.  
  251.  
  252.  
  253. <p><strong>The weather this July 4<sup>th</sup> will make you want a cold one</strong>, or at least some icewater. <a href="https://www.startribune.com/dangerous-heat-incoming-this-fourth-of-july/601387285?utm_source=gift">Much of the state will feel oven-like as dangerous heat is expected to bake star-spangled revelers</a>.</p>
  254.  
  255.  
  256.  
  257. <p>An angry homeowner in Blooming Prairie has been <strong>keeping foul balls that youth leagues hit into his yard</strong>. “<a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16XBKfLo61/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">According to a Facebook post with the viral video</a>, <a href="https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/neighbor-wont-give-the-kids-their-baseballs-back-and-a-minnesota-town-is-fuming">the landowners are keeping 10 or more baseballs per game</a>. Each baseball costs about $10, which is leading to rapidly rising expense report,” according to Bring Me The News.</p>
  258.  
  259.  
  260.  
  261. <p></p>
  262. <p>The post <a href="http://www.minnpost.com/glean/2025/07/more-boaters-need-permits/">More boaters need permits</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.minnpost.com">MinnPost</a>.</p>
  263. ]]></content:encoded>
  267. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2203158</post-id> </item>
  268. <item>
  269. <title>Minnesota has stricter fireworks laws than its neighbors, but charges for violations are rare</title>
  270. <link>http://www.minnpost.com/greater-minnesota/2025/07/minnesota-has-stricter-fireworks-laws-than-its-neighbors-but-charges-for-violations-are-rare/</link>
  272. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Brian Arola]]></dc:creator>
  273. <pubDate>Thu, 03 Jul 2025 16:09:13 +0000</pubDate>
  274. <category><![CDATA[Greater Minnesota]]></category>
  275. <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  276. <category><![CDATA[State Government]]></category>
  277. <category><![CDATA[Top Story]]></category>
  278. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.minnpost.com/?p=2203120</guid>
  279.  
  280. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="681" src="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP148983375746-1024x681.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="a roll of black cat firecrackers" decoding="async" srcset="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP148983375746-1024x681.jpg 1024w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP148983375746-190x126.jpg 190w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP148983375746-640x425.jpg 640w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP148983375746-130x85.jpg?crop=1 130w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP148983375746-768x510.jpg 768w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP148983375746-1536x1021.jpg 1536w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP148983375746-2048x1361.jpg 2048w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP148983375746-1200x798.jpg 1200w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP148983375746-2000x1329.jpg 2000w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP148983375746-780x518.jpg 780w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP148983375746-400x266.jpg 400w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP148983375746-scaled-e1751557221116.jpg 940w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  281. <p>Despite the popularity of amateur fireworks, especially on the Fourth of July, large swaths of the state have had no fireworks-related convictions since 2020.</p>
  282. <p>The post <a href="http://www.minnpost.com/greater-minnesota/2025/07/minnesota-has-stricter-fireworks-laws-than-its-neighbors-but-charges-for-violations-are-rare/">Minnesota has stricter fireworks laws than its neighbors, but charges for violations are rare</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.minnpost.com">MinnPost</a>.</p>
  283. ]]></description>
  284. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="681" src="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP148983375746-1024x681.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="a roll of black cat firecrackers" decoding="async" srcset="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP148983375746-1024x681.jpg 1024w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP148983375746-190x126.jpg 190w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP148983375746-640x425.jpg 640w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP148983375746-130x85.jpg?crop=1 130w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP148983375746-768x510.jpg 768w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP148983375746-1536x1021.jpg 1536w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP148983375746-2048x1361.jpg 2048w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP148983375746-1200x798.jpg 1200w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP148983375746-2000x1329.jpg 2000w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP148983375746-780x518.jpg 780w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP148983375746-400x266.jpg 400w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/AP148983375746-scaled-e1751557221116.jpg 940w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  285. <p>Stashed away in trunks and backseats, illicit products cross over Minnesota’s borders from neighboring states. Usage explodes each summer under the dark of night, leaving a trail of smoke behind.&nbsp;</p>
  286.  
  287.  
  288.  
  289. <p>I’m, of course, referring to fireworks, the kinds that require a crane of the neck to admire up high in the Fourth of July sky.</p>
  290.  
  291.  
  292.  
  293. <p>Minnesota’s laws forbid usage of aerial, exploding fireworks, setting it apart from neighboring states Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota. Unless you’re a municipality or fair association with a permit and a licensed operator, that rules out Roman candles, bottle rockets, firecrackers and really anything going boom in the air. Sparklers, fountains and snakes are fair game.</p>
  294.  
  295.  
  296.  
  297. <p>Based purely on my own observations as a lifelong Minnesotan — many of those years spent lounging on a lakeshore or pontoon watching explosions in the sky — this seemed like one of those laws many people are willing to break. Law enforcement agencies warn against this, obviously, due to the injury and fire risks associated with fireworks. But surely they don’t have the resources or will to widely investigate it, right?&nbsp;</p>
  298.  
  299.  
  300.  
  301. <p>Mostly right, according to <a href="https://mncourts.gov/help-topics/court-statistics/publications-and-reports/district-court-criminal-charges-data">district court data</a>, although charges and convictions do happen.</p>
  302.  
  303.  
  304.  
  305. <p>Minnesotans caught exploding, using, possessing, selling or advertising fireworks can be charged under <a href="https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/624.21">state statute 624.21</a>. Statewide, the number of these charges filed in the years between 2020 and 2024 ranged from 44 to 85. Conviction totals ranged from 25 to 55.</p>
  306.  
  307.  
  308.  
  309. <p>Large swaths of the state have had no recorded fireworks-related offenses since 2020, with only 51 of Minnesota’s 87 counties having convictions under the statute. The most populous counties are near the top for convictions. Notable exceptions exist, however, including Sherburne County coming in at No. 1.</p>
  310.  
  311.  
  312.  
  313. <p>The central Minnesota county had 14 convictions under the statute since 2020, driven almost entirely by 13 in 2021 alone. No other county had more than 11 combined between 2020 and 2024.</p>
  314.  
  315.  
  316.  
  317. <p><a href="https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/624.25">State statute 625.25</a> details sentences for fireworks violations, using weight as a bar. Getting caught with 35 pounds or more could prompt up to a $3,000 fine, compared to a $1,000 maximum fine for possessing less than 35 pounds. Convictions based on these metrics are even rarer, occurring 26 times statewide since 2020.</p>
  318.  
  319.  
  320.  
  321. <iframe title="Total convictions for fireworks offenses (2020-2024)" aria-label="Map" id="datawrapper-chart-Co7sv" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Co7sv/5/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="814" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
  322. </script>
  323.  
  324.  
  325.  
  326. <p>Fireworks legalization is regularly proposed at the Minnesota Legislature, getting as far as the governor’s desk in 2012 after overcoming hurdles in the House and Senate. <a href="https://www.house.mn.gov/newlaws/story/2012/596">Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed it</a>, citing opposition by the state fire marshal, public safety commissioner and dozens of organizations, including police and fire chiefs associations.</p>
  327.  
  328.  
  329.  
  330. <p>State Sen. Jason Rarick, R-Pine City, has been a supporter of legalization, first as a state representative starting in 2015 and since becoming a senator in 2019. He <a href="https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&amp;f=SF0655&amp;ssn=0&amp;y=2025&amp;view=chrono">most recently authored</a> a bill to that effect in January.&nbsp;</p>
  331.  
  332.  
  333.  
  334. <p>Current laws aren’t stopping Minnesotans from buying and using fireworks, he said, but they do push money out of the state. “Every state around us is now selling them to Minnesota residents, and we are missing out on that sales tax revenue,” he said.&nbsp;</p>
  335.  
  336.  
  337.  
  338. <p>His district borders Wisconsin, where residents can easily cross over and back to satisfy their firecracker needs. Wisconsin’s law is clever in a way, requiring state residents to obtain permits through their county to purchase fireworks, while allowing sales to out-of-state residents, Rarick said.&nbsp;</p>
  339.  
  340.  
  341.  
  342. <p>The rationale against fireworks legalization centers <a href="https://www.minnpost.com/data/2024/07/bombs-bursting-in-hair-the-cost-in-injuries-and-property-damage-of-fireworks-in-minnesota/">around safety and fire risks</a>. Data provided by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety showed Minnesota had 26 known injuries from fireworks in 2024 and 22 in 2023. The running total since 1989 is 866, including three overall deaths reported in 2015, 2021 and 2022.</p>
  343.  
  344.  
  345.  
  346. <p>For fire damage, June and July dollar losses were as steep as about $3.8 million in 2023 from 106 incidents. The concern with illegal fireworks is partly about how far they travel away from the operator, stated Kat Barrett, communications specialist with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, in an email. Embers and sparks are hard to control far away.&nbsp;</p>
  347.  
  348.  
  349.  
  350. <p>Regardless of the fireworks used, she advised people to keep an eye on pets and children around them. Disposal should be done once fireworks are cool to the touch. “We suggest leaving them out overnight and soaking them in water to ensure all hot spots have been extinguished,” Barrett said.&nbsp;</p>
  351.  
  352.  
  353.  
  354. <p>Rarick intends to continue proposing fireworks legalization in future sessions. He doesn’t think injuries would increase if fireworks were allowed, as he suspects most people who want to use them already do.</p>
  355.  
  356.  
  357.  
  358. <p>Education campaigns could coincide with legalization, he said. Timing restrictions would be in place, as well, along with provisions for local control if a county or city still wanted to restrict fireworks.</p>
  359.  
  360.  
  361.  
  362. <p>Rarick expects, as would be usual in rural Minnesota, fireworks lighting up the night sky won’t be hard to find this Fourth of July.</p>
  363. <p>The post <a href="http://www.minnpost.com/greater-minnesota/2025/07/minnesota-has-stricter-fireworks-laws-than-its-neighbors-but-charges-for-violations-are-rare/">Minnesota has stricter fireworks laws than its neighbors, but charges for violations are rare</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.minnpost.com">MinnPost</a>.</p>
  364. ]]></content:encoded>
  368. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2203120</post-id> </item>
  369. <item>
  370. <title>Minnesota Aurora&#8217;s Mariah Nguyen brings Spicy Uno and confidence into playoffs</title>
  371. <link>http://www.minnpost.com/sports/2025/07/minnesota-aurora-mariah-nguyen-brings-spicy-uno-and-confidence-into-playoffs/</link>
  373. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Pat Borzi]]></dc:creator>
  374. <pubDate>Thu, 03 Jul 2025 12:35:09 +0000</pubDate>
  375. <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  376. <category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
  377. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.minnpost.com/?p=2203114</guid>
  378.  
  379. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="683" src="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RP4A6846-1024x683.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="a striker attacks a defender on a soccer pitch" decoding="async" srcset="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RP4A6846-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RP4A6846-190x127.jpg 190w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RP4A6846-640x427.jpg 640w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RP4A6846-768x512.jpg 768w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RP4A6846-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RP4A6846-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RP4A6846-1200x800.jpg 1200w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RP4A6846-2000x1333.jpg 2000w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RP4A6846-780x520.jpg 780w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RP4A6846-400x267.jpg 400w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RP4A6846-scaled-e1751481446857.jpg 940w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  380. <p>The Aurora forward says board games help with team bonding on road trips, including this weekend's trip to the USL W Central Conference playoffs in Pittsburgh.</p>
  381. <p>The post <a href="http://www.minnpost.com/sports/2025/07/minnesota-aurora-mariah-nguyen-brings-spicy-uno-and-confidence-into-playoffs/">Minnesota Aurora&#8217;s Mariah Nguyen brings Spicy Uno and confidence into playoffs</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.minnpost.com">MinnPost</a>.</p>
  382. ]]></description>
  383. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="683" src="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RP4A6846-1024x683.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="a striker attacks a defender on a soccer pitch" decoding="async" srcset="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RP4A6846-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RP4A6846-190x127.jpg 190w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RP4A6846-640x427.jpg 640w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RP4A6846-768x512.jpg 768w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RP4A6846-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RP4A6846-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RP4A6846-1200x800.jpg 1200w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RP4A6846-2000x1333.jpg 2000w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RP4A6846-780x520.jpg 780w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RP4A6846-400x267.jpg 400w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RP4A6846-scaled-e1751481446857.jpg 940w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  384. <p>It’s a ritual. At the beginning of every road trip, after the Minnesota Aurora FC team bus pulls away from its Eagan training site, out come the board games. That’s forward Mariah Nguyen’s doing.&nbsp;</p>
  385.  
  386.  
  387.  
  388. <p>A soon-to-be graduate student at the University of Minnesota, Nguyen loved weekend game nights with her parents and two younger brothers growing up in Andover. So she started borrowing the games to take on the road with Aurora. What better way to bond with your soccer teammates than a spirited round of Chameleon?&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
  389.  
  390.  
  391.  
  392. <p>“(Game nights) really united my family and kept us close, so I wanted to bring that here,” Nguyen said Wednesday after an Aurora training session.</p>
  393.  
  394.  
  395.  
  396. <p>“I think it’s huge, just for chemistry. We’re players, but we’re people first. When we love each other and get to know each other outside of the soccer, it really contributes to how we play on the field.”</p>
  397.  
  398.  
  399.  
  400. <p>Coach Jen Larrick appreciates Nguyen taking that on. “She’s just a really good human who creates a space where everybody can laugh together,” she said. “Five days away in Sioux Falls is a long trip. Being able to laugh over Pictionary is important.”</p>
  401.  
  402.  
  403.  
  404. <p>Nguyen and Larrick spoke on a gorgeous, cloudless morning at TCO Stadium, the Vikings training site that serves as Aurora’s base. Four days earlier, Aurora, the local amateur entry in USL W League, wrapped up its fourth undefeated regular season in four years of existence with a 2-0 victory over Rochester FC.&nbsp;</p>
  405.  
  406.  
  407.  
  408. <p>Aurora (10-0-2) had already clinched its fourth Heartland Division title and a berth in the USL W Central Conference playoffs, which begin Friday in Pittsburgh. Top-seeded Aurora faces the expansion Pittsburgh Riveters (6-1-3), with the winner advancing to Sunday’s final. The conference winner moves on to the league semifinals at a site to be determined.</p>
  409.  
  410.  
  411.  
  412. <p>It’s hard to talk playoffs around Aurora without bringing up its failure the last two years to match the stunning success of the 2022 inaugural season.&nbsp;</p>
  413.  
  414.  
  415.  
  416. <p>Built from scratch with community ownership and a handful of founders doing most of the work behind the scenes, Aurora took South Georgia Tormenta SC to double overtime in the USL W championship match at TCO before losing, 2-1. Aurora was the cool new thing that summer coming out of the COVID pandemic, averaging a league-leading 5,626 attendees per game, better than three of the 12 pro National Women’s Soccer League teams. Aurora attracted a season-high 6,489 for the championship, selling it out in less than 24 hours.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
  417.  
  418.  
  419.  
  420. <p>“Just the environment alone stuck with me,” said Nguyen, one of seven players left from that squad. “To have thousands of people out here cheering for us until a double-overtime, last-minute goal, it was heartbreaking. It was really hard.”</p>
  421.  
  422.  
  423.  
  424. <p>Aurora hasn’t gotten back to the final since, losing in the conference playoffs the last two years.&nbsp; Average attendance slipped a little this year, falling to 4,519 from a club record 5,799 in 2024.&nbsp;</p>
  425.  
  426.  
  427.  
  428. <p>But that 2022 vibe returned last Saturday. A season high 5,727 turned out for Pride Night and the season finale as the unbeaten streak reached 48 matches (43-0-5). The energy, the food trucks, the preteen and adult fans in Aurora gear … it was all there. Afterward, the players high-fived fans while walking the perimeter of the stands to the sound of ABBA’s 1976 hit “Dancing Queen.”</p>
  429.  
  430.  
  431. <div class="wp-block-image">
  432. <figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="640" height="427" src="https://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RP4A7062-640x427.jpg" alt="a soccer team gets congratulations from fans" class="wp-image-2203081"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Fans congratulate Minnesota Aurora forward Mariah Nguyen, second from left, and teammates after a recent home game. <span class="image-credit"><span class="credit-label-wrapper">Credit:</span> Courtesy of Minnesota Aurora</span></figcaption></figure></div>
  433.  
  434.  
  435. <p>For all those wonderful moments, the loss from 2022 still bugs Larrick, an assistant to Nicole Lukic those first two seasons before returning as head coach this year. She said she brought it up before training Wednesday morning.&nbsp;</p>
  436.  
  437.  
  438.  
  439. <p>“In 2022, it was so close we could taste it,” Larrick said. “If I close my eyes, I can see Tormenta celebrating. I know what that felt like. That’s been a big motivation for me ever since. A good chunk of our players were there too. They care a lot about that.”</p>
  440.  
  441.  
  442.  
  443. <h3 class="wp-block-heading has-secondary-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-0694dfd5b705518276b8bcf51c3eef11"><em>Related: <a href="https://www.minnpost.com/sports/2025/02/two-goals-for-the-minnesota-aurora-a-usl-championship-and-getting-into-a-professional-league/">Two goals for Minnesota Aurora: USL championship and getting into a professional league</a> </em></h3>
  444.  
  445.  
  446.  
  447. <p>This figures to be the last shot for most, if not all, of the Original Seven. Nguyen in particular tracks her growth from her Aurora experience.&nbsp;</p>
  448.  
  449.  
  450.  
  451. <p>She arrived that first season from Division II Bemidji State, scared and wondering how she would fit in. She went on to play 46 regular-season matches in four seasons, tied with Cat Rapp for the most in club history, while ranking second to Rapp in goals (19) and points (47).&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
  452.  
  453.  
  454.  
  455. <p>“Coming from a D2 school, I remember my first day of practice,” Nguyen said. “I was just shaking. There are all these huge college players from big schools, and no one’s ever heard of my school. I felt so small.&nbsp;</p>
  456.  
  457.  
  458.  
  459. <p>“But over the four years, my confidence has grown a ton. I came in as a center back and outside back, and now I’m playing left wing and forward. Just to constantly have my coaching staff and my teammates pour into me, you can do this, you belong here, you can take those shots that feel icky that maybe you wouldn’t before … just complete confidence in myself and in my abilities.”</p>
  460.  
  461.  
  462.  
  463. <p>Transferring to St. Thomas after that first summer, Nguyen was a mainstay for three seasons in the Tommies’ transition to Division I, leading the club in goals and points as a sophomore and junior. A concussion limited her to seven matches as a senior. She graduated with a degree in digital media, and moved on to Minnesota to better prepare for a possible pro career.</p>
  464.  
  465.  
  466.  
  467. <p>“I’m so excited for her,” said defender Jelena Zbilic, another four-year Aurora veteran who finished her college career last season with the Gophs.&nbsp;</p>
  468.  
  469.  
  470.  
  471. <p>“She worked so hard. She brings such a positive environment to every team she’s on, and she keeps soccer fun. We all started playing soccer when we were little because it was super fun, and she does a good balance of working hard and keeping it fun.”</p>
  472.  
  473.  
  474.  
  475. <p>That’s where the board games come in. For the flight to Pittsburgh, Nguyen planned to pack <a href="https://crazylittleprojects.com/how-to-play-spicy-uno/">Spicy Uno</a>, similar to Crazy Eights with some funky rules; <a href="https://bigpotato.com/products/the-chameleon?srsltid=AfmBOoqYDGPiKES-rPQQXcDTVP06uKkZWqOx_-MQFutcG9S3vfd9D7j_">Chameleon</a>, which involves guessing who holds the Chameleon card; and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telestrations">Telestrations</a>, where everyone’s artistic skills (or lack thereof) come into play. The latter was a big hit.</p>
  476.  
  477.  
  478.  
  479. <p>“Everyone gets a card,” Nguyen said. “Their card has a word that you have to draw. After you draw it, you pass it to the next person, and you’re guessing what they’re drawing. It’s kind of like Telephone in a way, but drawing and guessing.&nbsp;</p>
  480.  
  481.  
  482.  
  483. <p>“We have some people on our team, some staff members even, whose drawing is a little questionable. But it’s so much fun. We spend more time with each other, take our minds off soccer and just enjoy each other’s presence.”&nbsp;</p>
  484.  
  485.  
  486.  
  487. <p>No better way to pass the time.</p>
  488. <p>The post <a href="http://www.minnpost.com/sports/2025/07/minnesota-aurora-mariah-nguyen-brings-spicy-uno-and-confidence-into-playoffs/">Minnesota Aurora&#8217;s Mariah Nguyen brings Spicy Uno and confidence into playoffs</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.minnpost.com">MinnPost</a>.</p>
  489. ]]></content:encoded>
  493. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2203114</post-id> </item>
  494. <item>
  495. <title>Wisconsin brewer wants to disrupt Fourth of July parades</title>
  496. <link>http://www.minnpost.com/glean/2025/07/wisconsin-brewer-wants-to-disrupt-fourth-of-july-parades/</link>
  498. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Peter Majerle]]></dc:creator>
  499. <pubDate>Thu, 03 Jul 2025 11:01:00 +0000</pubDate>
  500. <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  501. <category><![CDATA[The Glean]]></category>
  502. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.minnpost.com/?p=2203098</guid>
  503.  
  504. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="600" height="397" src="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="The Glean logo" decoding="async" srcset="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600.png 600w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600-190x126.png 190w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600-130x85.png?crop=1 130w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600-400x265.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  505. <p>A Wisconsin brewery owner wants to shut down Fourth of July parades, both in Minocqua, where the brewery is located, and across the nation. Kirk Bangstad “says he ‘will not [&#8230;]</p>
  506. <p>The post <a href="http://www.minnpost.com/glean/2025/07/wisconsin-brewer-wants-to-disrupt-fourth-of-july-parades/">Wisconsin brewer wants to disrupt Fourth of July parades</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.minnpost.com">MinnPost</a>.</p>
  507. ]]></description>
  508. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="600" height="397" src="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="The Glean logo" decoding="async" srcset="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600.png 600w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600-190x126.png 190w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600-130x85.png?crop=1 130w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600-400x265.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  509. <p><strong>A Wisconsin brewery owner wants to shut down Fourth of July parades</strong>, both in Minocqua, where the brewery is located, and across the nation. Kirk Bangstad “says he ‘will not allow this town to comfortably celebrate its most important event of the year&#8217; because <a href="https://bringmethenews.com/wisconsin-news/wisconsin-brewery-owner-plans-to-disrupt-parade-over-feud-with-officials">he believes he&#8217;s been targeted by city officials</a>,” according to Bring Me The News.&nbsp;</p>
  510.  
  511.  
  512.  
  513. <p><strong>How much is too much for a consultant to charge?</strong> Myron Frans get $800 per hour as a health care consultant at the University of Minnesota. “Officials at the U say Frans and other outside advisors have been worth every penny,” the daily reports. Still, “[<a href="https://www.startribune.com/u-of-m-health-care-consulting-fees-adding-up-at-rates-of-800-to-1600-per-hour/601367712?utm_source=gift">s]ome say the pay just looks wrong</a>.”</p>
  514.  
  515.  
  516.  
  517. <p>After a slate of new laws went into effect on July 1, WCCO reports that “<strong>[a] newly filed lawsuit is asking for a temporary injunction </strong>to prevent from going into effect a <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-doc-inmate-prescriptions-lawsuit/">new requirement that jails continue to administer medications to inmates that were prescribed before confinement</a>.”</p>
  518.  
  519.  
  520.  
  521. <p><strong>Second Harvest Northland’s Grand Rapids Food Bank</strong> has shut down KAXE reports. The adjacent food shelf will remain open. And while the organization says there will be no impact on the quality, quantity or variety of food available, “local volunteers with the organization said they are concerned community needs might not be met <a href="https://www.kaxe.org/local-news/2025-07-01/second-harvest-shutters-grand-rapids-warehouse-food-shelf-remains-open">because of the change and that Second Harvest hasn’t been transparent throughout the process</a>.&#8221;</p>
  522. <p>The post <a href="http://www.minnpost.com/glean/2025/07/wisconsin-brewer-wants-to-disrupt-fourth-of-july-parades/">Wisconsin brewer wants to disrupt Fourth of July parades</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.minnpost.com">MinnPost</a>.</p>
  523. ]]></content:encoded>
  527. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2203098</post-id> </item>
  528. <item>
  529. <title>Scary sirens, a lawn mower brigade and that shimmering Lady Liberty</title>
  530. <link>http://www.minnpost.com/community-voices/2025/07/scary-sirens-a-lawn-mower-brigade-and-that-shimmering-lady-liberty/</link>
  532. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dick Schwartz]]></dc:creator>
  533. <pubDate>Thu, 03 Jul 2025 11:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  534. <category><![CDATA[Community Voices]]></category>
  535. <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
  536. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.minnpost.com/?p=2203086</guid>
  537.  
  538. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="940" height="627" src="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Statue-Of-Liberty.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Statue-Of-Liberty.jpg 940w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Statue-Of-Liberty-190x127.jpg 190w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Statue-Of-Liberty-640x427.jpg 640w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Statue-Of-Liberty-768x512.jpg 768w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Statue-Of-Liberty-780x520.jpg 780w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Statue-Of-Liberty-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  539. <p>No matter where I have found myself on the Fourth of July, or what I have seen, it’s all felt comfortably familiar.</p>
  540. <p>The post <a href="http://www.minnpost.com/community-voices/2025/07/scary-sirens-a-lawn-mower-brigade-and-that-shimmering-lady-liberty/">Scary sirens, a lawn mower brigade and that shimmering Lady Liberty</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.minnpost.com">MinnPost</a>.</p>
  541. ]]></description>
  542. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="940" height="627" src="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Statue-Of-Liberty.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Statue-Of-Liberty.jpg 940w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Statue-Of-Liberty-190x127.jpg 190w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Statue-Of-Liberty-640x427.jpg 640w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Statue-Of-Liberty-768x512.jpg 768w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Statue-Of-Liberty-780x520.jpg 780w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Statue-Of-Liberty-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  543. <p>Fourth of July.</p>
  544.  
  545.  
  546.  
  547. <p>Near Moorhead, 1959: Somehow I’ve lost my parents at the county Fourth of July carnival as tornado sirens wail and we’re herded from the field into the nearby high school. Some good people see me wandering alone, crying. They stay with me until the all-clear sounds and we find Mom and Dad. I’m an emotional wreck and want to go home. But Dad insists we stay. He’s like that. I remain miserable until the kids’ parade led by the community band and a firetruck takes shape, and he makes me join in.  It ends with cheers of relief, joy, and  “oooohs” and “ahhhs” from us kids (and the grownups) when night settles in and we watch with wonder the fireworks exploding right over our heads where that green-ugly funnel cloud had passed just an hour or two before. </p>
  548.  
  549.  
  550.  
  551. <p>Ashland, Oregon, 1976: I’ve landed a teaching job in this small town, known for its quirkiness and welcoming the likes of immigrants, drifters, avant-garde types, bible thumpers and the sacrilegious, uppity California transplants, peaceniks, pre-MAGA-ites and folks still searching for something new.</p>
  552.  
  553.  
  554.  
  555. <p>The town’s Fourth of July parade up East Main Street is a compendium of Americana.  Among them: NRA and Queer Thespian Troop members. A snazzy drum and bugle corps, the Married Men’s Lawn Mower Brigade, a synchronized three-man motorcycle cop unit, the high school’s marching band, the Legalize Weed Now! flatbed pulled by mules, a pickup truck hauling the waving mayor and his family.</p>
  556.  
  557.  
  558.  
  559. <p>Rednecks, hippies, Rajneeshee cultists, John Birchers, bikers, professors and farmers clap and cheer curbside, standing shoulder to shoulder, and they don’t mind a hoot. It’s the Fourth of July, after all. I’m next to Frank, a fellow I’d just met earlier that morning, and his wife, Francine, the drug store soda fountain waitress, my godsend. That’s because a few days before, lonely and alone, I’d been nursing cups of coffee at Francine’s counter, bemoaning my temporary home, an isolated, funky-smelling motel off the I-5 exit.</p>
  560.  
  561.  
  562.  
  563. <p>“Don’t worry, honey,” she says. “Let’s get you out of there.”&nbsp;</p>
  564.  
  565.  
  566.  
  567. <p>Francine phones Rex Love, her first husband’s brother-in-law and landlord of three cozy units above Hamlet’s Roost café down the street. <em>Et voila!</em> Within the hour I’m unpacked in my cozy efficiency with a comfy Murphy bed to boot.</p>
  568.  
  569.  
  570.  
  571. <p>At dawn on this Fourth, Frank knocks on my door and says, “I need your help, man.”&nbsp; Frank needs me to remove Sally, as soon as possible, from his living room rug before their twin toddlers awaken. Sally is their very aged, very humongous and, sadly, very dead St. Bernard.</p>
  572.  
  573.  
  574.  
  575. <p>I deliver Sally to the Animal Control shack just off the interstate.&nbsp;</p>
  576.  
  577.  
  578.  
  579. <p>A burly fellow wearing only long johns and a John Deere cap appears. He points at the “Closed for the Forth [<em>sic</em>]” sign duct-taped to the window. I sigh apologetically, pointing at Sally lying in the backseat. He sighs back and gently carries her off. He tells me to “stay put.” Upon returning, he&nbsp; scribbles a receipt for:</p>
  580.  
  581.  
  582.  
  583. <p>“1 ded [<em>sic</em>] dog called Sally<br>120 lbs. give or take @12¢ a lbs.&nbsp;<br>Total &#8211; $14.40<br>Fee waved [<em>sic</em>]”.</p>
  584.  
  585.  
  586.  
  587. <p>“You’re new here.” (A declaration, not a question.) “I’m Merlin. Tell Frank and Francine and the twins I say sorry about Sally. She was a real good girl.”</p>
  588.  
  589.  
  590.  
  591. <p>After the parade, I attend a touching memorial for Sally in the city park. Frank and Francine seem to know everyone, and everyone seems to have known and loved Sally. And then, later in the darkness above the trees, gorgeous fireworks. </p>
  592.  
  593.  
  594.  
  595. <h3 class="wp-block-heading has-secondary-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-33635ae8dd42c7d5083e7f86df20a1a6"><em>From the Community Voices archive: <a href="https://www.minnpost.com/community-voices/2018/07/thoughts-about-america-and-our-4th-july-celebration/">Thoughts about America and our 4th of July celebration</a></em><a href="https://www.minnpost.com/community-voices/2018/07/thoughts-about-america-and-our-4th-july-celebration/"></a></h3>
  596.  
  597.  
  598.  
  599. <p>Brooklyn, New York, 1991: Brooklynites are tougher nuts to crack than small-town folks. One Fourth of July this happened:</p>
  600.  
  601.  
  602.  
  603. <p>Lou Mancini is about my age and who acts and sounds ornery but he’s really not. He’s a Brooklynite, is all. I’m told he was born and raised in the basement apartment below us. He lives there still, alone.&nbsp;</p>
  604.  
  605.  
  606.  
  607. <p>On the stoop, he asks me, “Where’d you come from?”</p>
  608.  
  609.  
  610.  
  611. <p>“Minnesota.”</p>
  612.  
  613.  
  614.  
  615. <p>He stares at me like I’m from Neptune.&nbsp;</p>
  616.  
  617.  
  618.  
  619. <p>Nevertheless, as Lou leaves the stoop he says he’d better see me and “your missus” on the roof tonight.&nbsp;</p>
  620.  
  621.  
  622.  
  623. <p>“Bring beer,” says he.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
  624.  
  625.  
  626.  
  627. <p>But I decline his invitation (edict) because for the last twelve Fourth of Julys I’ve sequestered indoors with Jesse, our retriever, who’s petrified of firecracker blasts.</p>
  628.  
  629.  
  630.  
  631. <p>For the next half hour he storytells about growing up with “Dodger,” his beloved, now long-gone, mutt. “Quit worrying, for god’s sake. Yours’ll be all right” he says. (He’s right.&nbsp; On this, Jesse’s final Fourth of July, the old girl finally sleeps fine, insulated for once by thick, soundproof pre-war brownstone walls.)</p>
  632.  
  633.  
  634.  
  635. <p>I fondly recall that night on the brownstone rooftop watching with my new neighbors as fireworks explode gorgeously over the jaw-dropping Manhattan skyline. With each intermittent burst, the pitch-blackness of Upper New York Bay lights up and suddenly she’s there — the ghostly, imposing and beyond beautiful silhouette of the Statue of Liberty.</p>
  636.  
  637.  
  638.  
  639. <p>“I’ve watched her from up here my whole life,” Lou says. “It never gets old.” It’s magical.</p>
  640.  
  641.  
  642.  
  643. <p>Lou says he bets I don’t know that Emma Lazarus called her “the mother of exiles.” Then — honest to God — with a full voice he recites her sonnet, “The New Colossus,” the one he says “… they made us memorize when I was 11”:&nbsp;</p>
  644.  
  645.  
  646.  
  647. <p><em>Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,</em><br><em>With conquering limbs astride from land to land;</em><br><em>Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand</em><br><em>A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame</em><br><em>Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name</em><br><em>Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand</em><br><em>Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command</em><br><em>The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.</em><br><em>“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she</em><br><em>With silent lips.</em><strong><em> </em></strong><em>“Give me your tired, your poor,</em><br><em>Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,</em><br><em>The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.</em><br><em>Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,</em><br><em>I lift my lamp beside the golden door!</em></p>
  648.  
  649.  
  650. <div class="wp-block-image">
  651. <figure class="alignleft size-full"><img decoding="async" width="173" height="261" src="https://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/richard-schwartz_head.jpg" alt="Dick Schwartz" class="wp-image-660276"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dick Schwartz</figcaption></figure></div>
  652.  
  653.  
  654. <p>I’m told that Louie recites this sonnet every Fourth of July here on the roof as she glows like she’s doing now against the night sky.</p>
  655.  
  656.  
  657.  
  658. <p>From a sprawling open field in Minnesota to a small town main street in the Pacific Northwest to a rooftop in Brooklyn — Fourth of Julys may look different, but they feel the same.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
  659.  
  660.  
  661.  
  662. <p>Happy birthday, America.</p>
  663.  
  664.  
  665.  
  666. <p><em>Dick Schwartz, of Minneapolis, is a retired teacher.</em></p>
  667. <p>The post <a href="http://www.minnpost.com/community-voices/2025/07/scary-sirens-a-lawn-mower-brigade-and-that-shimmering-lady-liberty/">Scary sirens, a lawn mower brigade and that shimmering Lady Liberty</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.minnpost.com">MinnPost</a>.</p>
  668. ]]></content:encoded>
  672. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2203086</post-id> </item>
  673. <item>
  674. <title>Is it unsafe to drill holes into walls that have asbestos?</title>
  675. <link>http://www.minnpost.com/fact-briefs/2025/07/is-it-unsafe-to-drill-holes-into-walls-that-have-asbestos/</link>
  677. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Deanna Pistono]]></dc:creator>
  678. <pubDate>Wed, 02 Jul 2025 18:40:04 +0000</pubDate>
  679. <category><![CDATA[Fact Briefs]]></category>
  680. <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  681. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.minnpost.com/?p=2203056</guid>
  682.  
  683. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="400" height="208" src="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/FactBriefthumb-1.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  684. <p>Actions that interfere with asbestos, like pounding nails into walls to hang pictures, release the material into the air.</p>
  685. <p>The post <a href="http://www.minnpost.com/fact-briefs/2025/07/is-it-unsafe-to-drill-holes-into-walls-that-have-asbestos/">Is it unsafe to drill holes into walls that have asbestos?</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.minnpost.com">MinnPost</a>.</p>
  686. ]]></description>
  687. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="400" height="208" src="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/FactBriefthumb-1.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  688.  
  689. <div class="wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0dfbf163 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex">
  690.  
  691. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Yes.</h2>
  692.  
  693.  
  694.  
  695.  
  696. <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized wp-container-content-88a6062c"><img decoding="async" src="https://gigafact-app-images.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/factBriefImage.jpeg" alt="" style="width:150px"/></figure>
  697. </div>
  698.  
  699.  
  700.  
  701.  
  702. <p>According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, asbestos “that is in good condition and left undisturbed” doesn’t pose a health risk. However, actions that interfere with asbestos, like drilling holes to hang a picture or a shelving unit on a wall, release the material into the air. </p>
  703.  
  704.  
  705.  
  706. <p>Asbestos comprises six minerals that have been used in home construction since the 1800s, with popcorn ceilings installed before 1980 being made of asbestos, according to the Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com. </p>
  707.  
  708.  
  709.  
  710. <p>Once they are disturbed, asbestos fibers can get into the human body and irritate the lining around various internal organs (the mesothelium). This can lead to the development of mesothelioma, a cancer affecting this lining. According to the National Cancer Institute, most cases of mesothelioma are the result of exposure to asbestos. Asbestos exposure can also lead to lung cancer, laryngeal cancer and ovarian cancer.&nbsp;</p>
  711.  
  712.  
  713.  
  714. <p><em>This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/saintpaul/comments/1ke1e6e/plaster_tested_for_asbestos/">this one</a>.</em></p>
  715.  
  716.  
  717. <p><em>MinnPost partners with <a href="https://gigafact.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gigafact</a> to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our <a href="#">methodology</a> to learn how we check claims.</em></p>
  718.  
  719.  
  720.  
  721. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sources</h2>
  722.  
  723.  
  724. <ul><li>Environmental Protection Agency <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/documents/asbestosfaqs_0.pdf" target="_blank">Asbestos Frequently Asked Questions</a></li><li>Environmental Protection Agency <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/asbestos/asbestos-fact-sheet" target="_blank">Asbestos Exposure and Cancer Risk</a></li><li>The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com <a href="https://www.asbestos.com/exposure/home/" target="_blank">Guide to Asbestos in the Home</a></li><li>The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com <a href="https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/" target="_blank">Mesothelioma</a></li><li>The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com <a href="https://www.asbestos.com/cancer/" target="_blank">Asbestos Cancer</a></li><li>The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com <a href="https://www.asbestos.com/products/" target="_blank">Asbestos Products</a></li><li>The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com <a href="https://www.asbestos.com/asbestos/types/" target="_blank">Types of Asbestos</a></li></ul>
  725. <p>The post <a href="http://www.minnpost.com/fact-briefs/2025/07/is-it-unsafe-to-drill-holes-into-walls-that-have-asbestos/">Is it unsafe to drill holes into walls that have asbestos?</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.minnpost.com">MinnPost</a>.</p>
  726. ]]></content:encoded>
  730. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2203056</post-id> </item>
  731. <item>
  732. <title>A Gold Medal discovery</title>
  733. <link>http://www.minnpost.com/glean/2025/07/a-gold-medal-discovery-in-south-minneapolis/</link>
  735. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Peter Majerle]]></dc:creator>
  736. <pubDate>Wed, 02 Jul 2025 17:45:34 +0000</pubDate>
  737. <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  738. <category><![CDATA[The Glean]]></category>
  739. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.minnpost.com/?p=2203074</guid>
  740.  
  741. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="600" height="397" src="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="The Glean logo" decoding="async" srcset="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600.png 600w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600-190x126.png 190w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600-130x85.png?crop=1 130w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600-400x265.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  742. <p>Plus: Minimum wage increases in St. Paul; Wisconsin lifts abortion ban; Minnesotans at risk of losing SNAP benefits; and more. </p>
  743. <p>The post <a href="http://www.minnpost.com/glean/2025/07/a-gold-medal-discovery-in-south-minneapolis/">A Gold Medal discovery</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.minnpost.com">MinnPost</a>.</p>
  744. ]]></description>
  745. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="600" height="397" src="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600.png" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="The Glean logo" decoding="async" srcset="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600.png 600w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600-190x126.png 190w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600-130x85.png?crop=1 130w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TheGleanLogo600-400x265.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  746. <p>A couple living in south Minneapolis was treated to quite a surprise when they started the process of replacing the siding on their house. George Johnson “<strong>discovered a giant advertisement for Gold Medal Flour</strong> covering an entire wall on the south side of the house, <a href="https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/07/01/minneapolis-renovation-uncovers-centuryold-gold-medal-flour-advertisement">hidden beneath what appeared to be the original lap siding</a>,” MPR News reports.</p>
  747.  
  748.  
  749.  
  750. <p><strong>Minimum wage went up in St. Paul yesterday</strong>. Employees at small businesses, with between six and 100 employees, will make $15 an hour. <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=st+paul+minimum+wage+2025&amp;rlz=1C1GCCA_en&amp;oq=st+paul+minimum+wage+2025&amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqEAgAEAAYgwEYiwMYsQMYgAQyEAgAEAAYgwEYiwMYsQMYgAQyEwgBEAAYgwEYiwMYsQMYgAQY-AUyCggCEAAYiwMYgAQyCQgDEAAYAxiLAzILCAQQABgWGB4YiwMyCwgFEAAYFhgeGIsDMgsIBhAAGBYYHhiLAzIGCAcQRRg80gEIMjcyNmoxajeoAgCwAgA&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8">Micro businesses will see an increase to $13.25, WCCO reports</a>. Larger businesses will continue to pay $15.97 as a minimum wage.</p>
  751.  
  752.  
  753.  
  754. <p>KSTP reports that the “Wisconsin Supreme Court’s liberal majority <strong>struck down the state’s 176-year-old abortion ban </strong>on Wednesday, ruling 4-3 that it was superseded by newer state laws regulating the procedure, <a href="https://kstp.com/ap-top-news/ap-top-news-us-headlines/wisconsin-supreme-courts-liberal-majority-strikes-down-176-year-old-abortion-ban/">including statutes that criminalize abortions only after a fetus can survive outside the womb</a>.”</p>
  755.  
  756.  
  757.  
  758. <p>Sahan Journal reports that <strong>45,000 Minnesotans are at risk of losing SNAP benefits</strong> as the “budget bill passed by Congress on Tuesday with billions in cuts to federal nutrition programs <a href="https://sahanjournal.com/health/congress-tax-bill-food-snap-benefits-cuts-minnesota-impact/">will strain the ability of Minnesota agencies and local food banks to help families in need</a>.”</p>
  759.  
  760.  
  761.  
  762. <p>“A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling <strong>allowing parents to pull their child out of class</strong> during lessons that conflict with their religious beliefs has school leaders across the country <a href="https://www.startribune.com/supreme-court-lgbtq-school-books/601384230?utm_source=gift">worried about a potential flurry of ‘opt-out’ requests</a>,” including in our state, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.</p>
  763. <p>The post <a href="http://www.minnpost.com/glean/2025/07/a-gold-medal-discovery-in-south-minneapolis/">A Gold Medal discovery</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.minnpost.com">MinnPost</a>.</p>
  764. ]]></content:encoded>
  768. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2203074</post-id> </item>
  769. <item>
  770. <title>Minnesota sheriff&#8217;s departments seek to cooperate with ICE</title>
  771. <link>http://www.minnpost.com/national/washington/2025/07/minnesota-sheriffs-departments-seek-to-cooperate-with-ice/</link>
  773. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Ana Radelat]]></dc:creator>
  774. <pubDate>Wed, 02 Jul 2025 16:06:07 +0000</pubDate>
  775. <category><![CDATA[Greater Minnesota]]></category>
  776. <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  777. <category><![CDATA[Politics & Policy]]></category>
  778. <category><![CDATA[Top Story]]></category>
  779. <category><![CDATA[Washington]]></category>
  780. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.minnpost.com/?p=2203032</guid>
  781.  
  782. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="940" height="529" src="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1751469596420-333998d0-4d7a-45ab-8c7e-f7868052289e_1-e1751469652459.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  783. <p>While Minnesota has been derided as a ‘sanctuary’ by the Trump administration, seven counties have agreed to help implement federal immigration law.  </p>
  784. <p>The post <a href="http://www.minnpost.com/national/washington/2025/07/minnesota-sheriffs-departments-seek-to-cooperate-with-ice/">Minnesota sheriff&#8217;s departments seek to cooperate with ICE</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.minnpost.com">MinnPost</a>.</p>
  785. ]]></description>
  786. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="940" height="529" src="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1751469596420-333998d0-4d7a-45ab-8c7e-f7868052289e_1-e1751469652459.jpg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  787. <p>WASHINGTON – After President Donald Trump threatened “sanctuary” cities and towns with a cutoff of federal funding – among other things – seven rural Minnesota counties signed agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to help implement federal immigration law.</p>
  788.  
  789.  
  790.  
  791. <p>Cass, Crow Wing, Itasca, Freeborn, Jackson, Kandiyohi and Mille Lacs county sheriffs have signed memorandums of understanding (MOU) with ICE to cooperate one way or another with that agency in its efforts to round up and deport undocumented aliens.&nbsp;</p>
  792.  
  793.  
  794.  
  795. <p>Trump won all of those counties in a landslide in last November’s election, although the president failed to win the state.</p>
  796.  
  797.  
  798.  
  799. <p>Most of the agreements were entered into in February and March, although the Kandiyohi County sheriff’s department signed its agreement with ICE in May and the Mille Lacs County sheriff’s department signed its MOU just last week.</p>
  800.  
  801.  
  802.  
  803. <p>Although all the sheriff’s departments have agreed to cooperate with ICE, none of them are ready to implement their plans, which include 40 hours of training for the officers who would enforce federal immigration law. And the degree of cooperation that has been agreed to varies from county to county.</p>
  804.  
  805.  
  806.  
  807. <p>The Crow Wing County sheriff’s department, for instance, has agreed to help ICE round up undocumented immigrants it comes in contact with in the course of its police work. “But we’re not going on raids or anything like that,” said Crow Wing County Sheriff Eric Klang.</p>
  808.  
  809.  
  810.  
  811. <p>He also said the crimes that would prompt cooperation with ICE “would have to be serious.”&nbsp;</p>
  812.  
  813.  
  814.  
  815. <p>“We’re not talking about shoplifting,” Klang said.</p>
  816.  
  817.  
  818.  
  819. <p>Klang also agreed to serve civil detainers for ICE, meaning it would serve warrants on undocumented aliens who would be picked up for deportation proceedings by ICE.</p>
  820.  
  821.  
  822.  
  823. <p>Under federal law, local and state police are not required to enforce federal immigration law.&nbsp;</p>
  824.  
  825.  
  826.  
  827. <p>And there are plenty of legal opinions, including one issued this year by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, that have determined that local law enforcement does not have to comply with an ICE detainer request – unless it is accompanied by a court order.</p>
  828.  
  829.  
  830.  
  831. <p>And the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which has <a href="https://www.aclu.org/news/topic/stop-ice-from-empowering-racist-sheriffs-end-287g-agreements">forcefully opposed the program</a>, says it has led to civil rights violations and deportations of people who have been detained for lesser violations, like a broken tail light.</p>
  832.  
  833.  
  834.  
  835. <p>State laws in California, Illinois, Washington state, Connecticut, Oregon and New Jersey prohibit such cooperation – but Minnesota has no such law.&nbsp;</p>
  836.  
  837.  
  838.  
  839. <p>Klang is also seeking to sign an agreement with the U.S. Marshals Service, offering up empty space in the county jail to hold immigrants detained by ICE.</p>
  840.  
  841.  
  842. <div class="wp-block-image">
  843. <figure class="alignright size-full"><img decoding="async" width="240" height="267" src="https://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Eric-Klang.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2203037" srcset="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Eric-Klang.png 240w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Eric-Klang-190x211.png 190w" sizes="(max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Eric Klang <span class="image-credit"><span class="credit-label-wrapper">Credit:</span> Submitted photo</span></figcaption></figure></div>
  844.  
  845.  
  846. <p>He said the 287-bed jail has only been holding 70 to 80 individuals, and there’s plenty of room for ICE to use.</p>
  847.  
  848.  
  849.  
  850. <p>But Klang said he needed permission from the county board and said he has been going back and forth between the U.S. Marshals Service and the board about his proposal.</p>
  851.  
  852.  
  853.  
  854. <p>“It would basically require very little of us,” Klang said. “And it would bring us more than $100 a day per inmate. It would be a money maker for the county and the state.”</p>
  855.  
  856.  
  857.  
  858. <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>‘Not a great idea’&nbsp;</strong></h3>
  859.  
  860.  
  861.  
  862. <p>The partnership between ICE and local law enforcement was established in 1996 by Congress when the program was included as section 287(g) of the&nbsp; Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1996.</p>
  863.  
  864.  
  865.  
  866. <p>In the past, few counties signed up for the 287(g) program, which allowed the Department of Homeland Security to delegate specified, expanded immigration enforcement powers to local deputized police officers.</p>
  867.  
  868.  
  869.  
  870. <p>But hundreds of law enforcement agencies across the country, including the seven in Minnesota, agreed to join the 287(g) program after Trump won his second term in office and expanded the program’s reach.</p>
  871.  
  872.  
  873.  
  874. <p>“The 287(g) program allows ICE — through the delegation of specified immigration officer duties — to enhance collaboration with state and local law enforcement partners to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of aliens who undermine the safety of our nation’s communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws,” ICE says on a website that tracks the agreements.</p>
  875.  
  876.  
  877.  
  878. <p>Last month, the Department of Homeland Security posted <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20250531234232/https://www.dhs.gov/sanctuary-jurisdictions">a list of jurisdictions</a> it called “sanctuaries” because they were deemed to have “immigrant friendly” policies that hindered Trump’s massive deportation efforts.</p>
  879.  
  880.  
  881.  
  882. <p>The list, which included the Twin Cities and <a href="https://www.minnpost.com/greater-minnesota/2025/06/arbitrary-and-stupid-immigrant-advocates-in-southwestern-minnesota-press-on-despite-confusion-over-sanctuary-designations/">20 Minnesota counties</a> (but not those that have applied to join the 287(g) program) was aimed at identifying jurisdictions that would be under threat of losing federal funding.</p>
  883.  
  884.  
  885.  
  886. <p>But the list was replete with errors and taken down from the DHS website after being posted for less than 24 hours.</p>
  887.  
  888.  
  889.  
  890. <p>Unlike his counterpart in Crow Wing County, Mille Lacs County Sheriff Kyle Burton said he has agreed to a very limited partnership with ICE.</p>
  891.  
  892.  
  893.  
  894. <p>He said he will allow ICE to deputize a small percentage of his 80-member force, which included personnel at the county jail and dispatchers, as well as law enforcement officers.</p>
  895.  
  896.  
  897.  
  898. <p>Burton said there are few immigrants — both legal residents and undocumented — in Mille Lacs County. But he’s concerned about the fentanyl and methamphetamine that has poured into the county from Mexico and wants to be able to use every tool at his disposal to combat that scourge.</p>
  899.  
  900.  
  901.  
  902. <p>“We rarely see anybody cooking meth here,” he said. “It’s all coming across the border.”</p>
  903.  
  904.  
  905.  
  906. <p>Trump’s hardline campaign against immigration also seems to have resonated in the very “red” rural county. “A lot of my constituents have expressed concern about this, even before the election,” he said.</p>
  907.  
  908.  
  909.  
  910. <p>Freeborn County Sheriff Ryan Shea said he wants ICE to deputize nine or so of the 40 employees at the county jail – which is already an ICE detention center – to be able to serve detainers.</p>
  911.  
  912.  
  913.  
  914. <p>And Itasca County Sheriff Joe Dasovich said he was motivated to join the 287(g) program after two undocumented immigrants, posing as plainclothes police, went door-to-door threatening elderly residents and strong-armed them into giving over a total of about $40,000.</p>
  915.  
  916.  
  917.  
  918. <p>When implemented, a yet undetermined number of Itasca County law enforcement officers will be able to enforce limited federal immigration laws during their routine police duties.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
  919.  
  920.  
  921.  
  922. <p>Like other sheriffs, Dasovich said he considered partnering with DHS a boon to his department’s efforts to enforce the law and increase its crime-fighting “arsenal.”</p>
  923.  
  924.  
  925.  
  926. <p>Meanwhile, Jackson County has signed two agreements. One would allow it to serve detainers and the other would allow its deputized officers to interrogate people in its custody about their immigration status and send those who are undocumented to ICE for deportation proceedings.</p>
  927.  
  928.  
  929.  
  930. <p>Julio Zelaya, policy and advocacy director at the <a href="https://www.aclu-mn.org/">ACLU of Minnesota</a>, said “it’s a cautionary situation to be working with ICE.”</p>
  931.  
  932.  
  933.  
  934. <p>“They put themselves in the crosshairs of community mistrust,” said Zelaya of the counties that have signed 287(g) agreements. “It’s just not a great idea.”</p>
  935. <p>The post <a href="http://www.minnpost.com/national/washington/2025/07/minnesota-sheriffs-departments-seek-to-cooperate-with-ice/">Minnesota sheriff&#8217;s departments seek to cooperate with ICE</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.minnpost.com">MinnPost</a>.</p>
  936. ]]></content:encoded>
  940. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2203032</post-id> </item>
  941. <item>
  942. <title>Bring your own chair: Shakespeare’s &#8216;All’s Well that Ends Well&#8217; is touring Twin Cities parks</title>
  943. <link>http://www.minnpost.com/artscape/2025/07/bring-your-own-chair-shakespeare-alls-well-that-ends-well-is-touring-twin-cities-parks/</link>
  945. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Sheila Regan]]></dc:creator>
  946. <pubDate>Wed, 02 Jul 2025 15:48:26 +0000</pubDate>
  947. <category><![CDATA[Arts & Culture]]></category>
  948. <category><![CDATA[Artscape]]></category>
  949. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.minnpost.com/?p=2203029</guid>
  950.  
  951. <description><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="714" src="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5716-1024x714.jpeg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5716-1024x714.jpeg 1024w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5716-190x133.jpeg 190w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5716-640x446.jpeg 640w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5716-768x536.jpeg 768w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5716-1536x1071.jpeg 1536w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5716-2048x1429.jpeg 2048w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5716-1200x837.jpeg 1200w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5716-2000x1395.jpeg 2000w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5716-780x544.jpeg 780w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5716-400x279.jpeg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  952. <p>The plot of the ‘problem play’ may be a bit disjointed, but there’s humor and just enough poetic touches to make the outdoor theater experience memorable.</p>
  953. <p>The post <a href="http://www.minnpost.com/artscape/2025/07/bring-your-own-chair-shakespeare-alls-well-that-ends-well-is-touring-twin-cities-parks/">Bring your own chair: Shakespeare’s &#8216;All’s Well that Ends Well&#8217; is touring Twin Cities parks</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.minnpost.com">MinnPost</a>.</p>
  954. ]]></description>
  955. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img width="1024" height="714" src="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5716-1024x714.jpeg" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5716-1024x714.jpeg 1024w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5716-190x133.jpeg 190w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5716-640x446.jpeg 640w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5716-768x536.jpeg 768w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5716-1536x1071.jpeg 1536w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5716-2048x1429.jpeg 2048w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5716-1200x837.jpeg 1200w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5716-2000x1395.jpeg 2000w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5716-780x544.jpeg 780w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5716-400x279.jpeg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" /></figure>
  956. <p>One of the first Shakespeare plays I ever saw was at the Rose Garden in Minneapolis with my family. We spread out our blanket on the grass and watched local actors bring one of Shakespeare’s history plays to life. I was at an age where I didn’t fully understand the plot, but the broad acting style and emotional energy pulled me right into the experience.&nbsp;</p>
  957.  
  958.  
  959.  
  960. <p>The actors passed the hat at the end, and one joked, &#8220;Please give because then we can buy brand new costumes.” For some reason, I thought it was hilarious because their costumes were indeed a bit shabby, but they fit the world of the play. I’ve been a fan of Shakespeare (and other sorts of theater) in the park ever since.</p>
  961.  
  962.  
  963.  
  964. <p>Minnesota’s brutal winters make outdoor theater especially wonderful. We have such precious little time in these glorious months, and I sort of hate to be inside on a warm summer night with a breeze. Thus I found myself feeling the wind in my hair recently as my partner and I biked along Minneapolis’ Grand Rounds toward Lake of the Isles, where Classical Actors Ensemble held a performance of their touring production of “All’s Well That Ends Well,” directed by Joseph Papke, with World War II-esque costumes by Molly Smith.&nbsp;</p>
  965.  
  966.  
  967.  
  968. <p>My brother had lawn chairs already set up for us, and we nestled in to see the show with him and my theater-loving niece and nephew. The recent rains made for quite a few puddles, but the troupe managed to find a large enough patch of dry land for the audience to settle into their Shakespearean performance amid the trees.</p>
  969.  
  970.  
  971.  
  972. <h3 class="wp-block-heading has-secondary-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6a675bd738af725445fb46ab6f5d4618"><em>From the MinnPost archives: <a href="https://www.minnpost.com/artscape/2024/04/shakespeare-history-plays-richard-ii-henry-v-henry-iv-guthrie-theater/">Shakespeare history plays at the Guthrie in 2024</a> </em></h3>
  973.  
  974.  
  975.  
  976. <p>As one of Shakespeare’s “problem plays,” “All’s Well That Ends Well” is a bit of a head scratcher of a story with some fairly creepy elements. Like in “Measure for Measure,” another “problem play,” there’s an important plot point where two women switch places just before sexual intercourse, so that the man they are entangling is bedding a different person than he intends.&nbsp;</p>
  977.  
  978.  
  979.  
  980. <p>Some of Shakespeare’s tragedies are as relevant today as when they were written. &#8220;Hamlet,&#8221; with its probing investigation into grief and despair, is timeless, and who can watch &#8220;Romeo and Juliet&#8221; without being swept away by its tragic romance? Some of Shakespeare’s comedies — with all of their goofy mistaken identities, gender-bending revelry, and strong female characters — can soar for contemporary audiences with the right director.</p>
  981.  
  982.  
  983. <div class="wp-block-image">
  984. <figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="640" height="480" src="https://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Courtesy-CAE-Henry-Zavos-as-Bertram-John-Goodrich-as-King-of-France-and-Catherine-Podlesak-as-Helena.--640x480.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2203022" srcset="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Courtesy-CAE-Henry-Zavos-as-Bertram-John-Goodrich-as-King-of-France-and-Catherine-Podlesak-as-Helena.--640x480.jpg 640w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Courtesy-CAE-Henry-Zavos-as-Bertram-John-Goodrich-as-King-of-France-and-Catherine-Podlesak-as-Helena.--190x143.jpg 190w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Courtesy-CAE-Henry-Zavos-as-Bertram-John-Goodrich-as-King-of-France-and-Catherine-Podlesak-as-Helena.--768x576.jpg 768w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Courtesy-CAE-Henry-Zavos-as-Bertram-John-Goodrich-as-King-of-France-and-Catherine-Podlesak-as-Helena.--1536x1152.jpg 1536w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Courtesy-CAE-Henry-Zavos-as-Bertram-John-Goodrich-as-King-of-France-and-Catherine-Podlesak-as-Helena.--2048x1536.jpg 2048w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Courtesy-CAE-Henry-Zavos-as-Bertram-John-Goodrich-as-King-of-France-and-Catherine-Podlesak-as-Helena.--1200x900.jpg?crop=1 1200w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Courtesy-CAE-Henry-Zavos-as-Bertram-John-Goodrich-as-King-of-France-and-Catherine-Podlesak-as-Helena.--800x600.jpg?crop=1 800w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Courtesy-CAE-Henry-Zavos-as-Bertram-John-Goodrich-as-King-of-France-and-Catherine-Podlesak-as-Helena.--600x450.jpg?crop=1 600w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Courtesy-CAE-Henry-Zavos-as-Bertram-John-Goodrich-as-King-of-France-and-Catherine-Podlesak-as-Helena.--400x300.jpg?crop=1 400w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Courtesy-CAE-Henry-Zavos-as-Bertram-John-Goodrich-as-King-of-France-and-Catherine-Podlesak-as-Helena.--200x150.jpg?crop=1 200w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Courtesy-CAE-Henry-Zavos-as-Bertram-John-Goodrich-as-King-of-France-and-Catherine-Podlesak-as-Helena.--1024x768.jpg 1024w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Courtesy-CAE-Henry-Zavos-as-Bertram-John-Goodrich-as-King-of-France-and-Catherine-Podlesak-as-Helena.--2000x1500.jpg 2000w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Courtesy-CAE-Henry-Zavos-as-Bertram-John-Goodrich-as-King-of-France-and-Catherine-Podlesak-as-Helena.--780x585.jpg 780w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Shakespeare&#8217;s &#8220;All&#8217;s Well That Ends Well&#8221; features Henry Zavos as Bertram, John Goodrich as King of France and Catherine Podlesak as Helena. <span class="image-credit"><span class="credit-label-wrapper">Credit:</span> Classical Actors Ensemble</span></figcaption></figure></div>
  985.  
  986.  
  987. <p>&#8220;All’s Well That Ends Well&#8221; has Helena, whose soliloquies rival those of Rosalind in &#8220;As You Like It&#8221; and Viola in &#8220;Twelfth Night.” In the central role in CAE’s production, Catherine Podlesak handled the monologues well and brought an sly innocence to the role, even when her character does things that make her quite unlikeable. To borrow a phrase from recent times, she’s a bit of a sex pest.&nbsp;</p>
  988.  
  989.  
  990.  
  991. <p>Low-born but extremely intelligent, Helena falls in love with Bertram (Henry Zavos), the son of her surrogate mother, the Countess (played warmly by Tinne Rosenmeier). After her father dies, Helena grows up in the Countess’ household and lusts after her adopted brother (ew!). For his part, he’s just really not that into her.&nbsp;</p>
  992.  
  993.  
  994.  
  995. <p>As the daughter of a doctor, Helena uses her keen knowledge of medicine to cure the King of France (played with the measured presence of John Goodrich) of a mysterious illness. As her reward, she gets to choose anyone to marry — and she picks Bertram, who escapes her by running off to war. Helena follows him and connives a way to entrap him — involving swapping with the lovely Diana (Maya Pantanowitz, performing with no-nonsense zest) in the dead of night and messing about with two pairs of rings that prove to be evidence of her scheme later.</p>
  996.  
  997.  
  998. <div class="wp-block-image">
  999. <figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="640" height="444" src="https://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5712-640x444.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-2203026" srcset="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5712-640x444.jpeg 640w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5712-190x132.jpeg 190w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5712-768x533.jpeg 768w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5712-1536x1066.jpeg 1536w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5712-2048x1421.jpeg 2048w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5712-1200x833.jpeg 1200w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5712-1024x711.jpeg 1024w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5712-2000x1388.jpeg 2000w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5712-780x541.jpeg 780w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5712-400x278.jpeg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Catherine Podlesak as Helena and John Goodrich as the King of France in &#8220;All&#8217;s Well That Ends Well.&#8221; <span class="image-credit"><span class="credit-label-wrapper">Credit:</span> Sheila Regan</span></figcaption></figure></div>
  1000.  
  1001.  
  1002. <p>Bertram is a bit of a sex pest himself, with all his false promises to Diana. In the end, Helena’s manipulations somehow win over Bertram, and everybody seems to be happy. I guess I’m inclined to root for the villain/buffoon of the story, Parolles. He’s a lecherous coward and two-faced, but at least I didn’t feel I was supposed to believe he was one of the “good” characters. He reveled in his villainy, and did so humorously — which made me like him more.</p>
  1003.  
  1004.  
  1005.  
  1006. <p>Tom Burr’s Parolles steals many scenes with his swaggering cowardice and sharp wit. Burr seemed to add an ad-lib or two, reminding me of the not-too-serious tone I’ve always loved in the outdoor Shakespeare genre.&nbsp;</p>
  1007.  
  1008.  
  1009.  
  1010. <p>As Bertram, Zavos gets one of the best lines of the plays after he finds out Parolles’ true character. &#8220;I could endure anything before but a cat, and now he’s a cat to me.&#8221; The line’s weirdly specific disdain made me laugh out loud.&nbsp;</p>
  1011.  
  1012.  
  1013.  
  1014. <p>Justin Hooper’s set is made up of an assortment of panels with brightly colored geometric shapes. They reminded me of Dutch painter Piet Mondrian, with a bit looser, less clean, style. They seemed to offer a commentary about the hastily strung together order of the play with its vague adherence to morality.&nbsp;</p>
  1015.  
  1016.  
  1017. <div class="wp-block-image">
  1018. <figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="640" height="465" src="https://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5708-640x465.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-2203028" srcset="http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5708-640x465.jpeg 640w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5708-190x138.jpeg 190w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5708-768x558.jpeg 768w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5708-1536x1116.jpeg 1536w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5708-2048x1489.jpeg 2048w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5708-1200x872.jpeg 1200w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5708-1024x744.jpeg 1024w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5708-2000x1454.jpeg 2000w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5708-780x567.jpeg 780w, http://www.minnpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_5708-400x291.jpeg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tom Burr as Parolles and Catherine Podlesak as Helena in &#8220;All&#8217;s Well That Ends Well.&#8221;</figcaption></figure></div>
  1019.  
  1020.  
  1021. <p>&#8220;All’s Well That Ends Well&#8221; may be messy, but it’s also got funny moments and poetic meditations.&nbsp;</p>
  1022.  
  1023.  
  1024.  
  1025. <p>The production tours Twin Cities parks through July 13. Bring a blanket and/or chair, pack a picnic, and take in Shakespeare under the open sky.</p>
  1026.  
  1027.  
  1028.  
  1029. <p>The next performances take place at the following locations/times:&nbsp;</p>
  1030.  
  1031.  
  1032.  
  1033. <p>Thursday, July 3, at 7 p.m., North Loop Green, 350 North 5th St., Minneapolis;&nbsp;</p>
  1034.  
  1035.  
  1036.  
  1037. <p>Friday, July 4, at&nbsp; 7 p.m., Highland Bridge Civic Plaza, 2219 Bohland Ave., St. Paul;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
  1038.  
  1039.  
  1040.  
  1041. <p>Saturday, July 5, at 7p.m., Lake of the Isles, Newton Ave. S. &amp; W. Lake of the Isles Pkwy, Minneapolis, Sunday, July 6, at 4 p.m., Normandale Lake Bandshell, 5901 W. 84th St., Bloomington; Thursday, July 10, at 7 p.m., St. Clement&#8217;s Church, 901 Portland Ave., St. Paul; Friday, July 11, at 7 p.m., Wolfe Park Amphitheater, 3700 Monterey Dr., St. Louis Park; Saturday, July 12, at 7 p.m.: Lake of the Isles, Newton Ave. S. &amp;&nbsp; W., Lake of the Isles Pkwy., Minneapolis, Sunday, July 13, at 7 p.m., MN Humanities Center, 987 Ivy Ave. E., St. Paul.&nbsp;</p>
  1042.  
  1043.  
  1044.  
  1045. <p>(Free, reservations/donations encouraged.) <a href="https://classicalactorsensemble.org/productions/">More information here</a>.&nbsp;</p>
  1046. <p>The post <a href="http://www.minnpost.com/artscape/2025/07/bring-your-own-chair-shakespeare-alls-well-that-ends-well-is-touring-twin-cities-parks/">Bring your own chair: Shakespeare’s &#8216;All’s Well that Ends Well&#8217; is touring Twin Cities parks</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.minnpost.com">MinnPost</a>.</p>
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