Trump wages war on Iran his own way: commander-in-chaos
Erratic rhetoric, shifting goals and mixed signals leave allies, foes and voters unsure what the president wants from war
David Smith in Washington
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/14/trump-iran-war-chaos

‘Everything is going up’: Americans struggle with affordability despite Trump’s claims
US workers are finding it difficult to afford basic necessities as the president claims ‘the economy is roaring back’
Michael Sainato
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/mar/14/americans-struggle-affordability-despite-trump-claims ( Read more... )

The woman who pushed the Faribault school district to apply for a $1 million state grant to address substance use disorder later admitted stealing $5 million in the Feeding Our Future scandal, reports KSTP-TV. But a state Department of Human Services spokesperson says the district was “in compliance” with the grant requirements. Via MinnPost
https://kstp.com/5-investigates/newly-released-records-reveal-how-faribault-schools-spent-1-million-grant-from-dhs/

The latest lawsuit filed over immigration enforcement in Minnesota comes after advocates and lawyers say federal officials have blocked access to immigration court hearings and dockets, Sahan Journal reports. Via MinnPost
https://sahanjournal.com/public-safety/advocates-human-rights-sues-doj-immigration-court-access/ ( Read more... )

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has vetoed a measure passed by the City Council that would have temporarily required landlords to wait 60 days — instead of 30 days — to file an eviction notice “outlining an effort to instead focus on rental assistance for residents,” Fox 9 reports. Via MinnPost
https://www.fox9.com/news/minneapolis-eviction-notice-extension-vetoed-march-2026

The Minnesota Senate approved $40 million in state funding for emergency rental assistance for those impacted by the federal immigration surge on Wednesday, Minnesota Reformer reports, although it is unlikely to get out of the deadlocked House. Via MinnPost
https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/03/11/minnesota-senate-approves-rental-assistance-for-people-impacted-by-immigration-surge/ ( Read more... )

Wegovy users have five times greater risk of sudden sight loss than Ozempic users, study finds
‘Eye strokes’ that reduce blood flow to optic nerve likely to be side-effect of active ingredient semaglutide, says author
Anna Bawden Health and social affairs correspondent
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/mar/10/wegovy-sudden-sight-loss-ozempic-study-semaglutide

‘My lovely distraction’: live stream of kākāpō – world’s fattest parrot – and her chicks captivates New Zealand
More than 100,000 people have tuned in to watch ‘kākāpō cam’, which captures a rare flightless bird sleeping, tidying her nest and fighting off intruders
Eva Corlett in Wellington
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/11/kakapo-cam-live-stream-parrot-new-zealand ( Read more... )

Can we expect to see more U.S. citizens denaturalized?
Immigrants with citizenship and other legal status worry about losing the protections they rely on to live in Minnesota.
by Nora Hertel
https://www.minnpost.com/greater-minnesota/2026/03/can-we-expect-to-see-more-u-s-citizens-denaturalized/

Ex-Missouri house speaker sentenced 21 months for misusing Covid relief funds
John Diehl admitted using federal pandemic loans for country club dues, cars and other personal expenses
Associated Press
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/10/covid-fraud-missouri-house-speaker-john-diehl ( Read more... )

Minnesota counties are using outdated software that they say ends up costing taxpayers a lot of money when it comes to correcting errors and finding workarounds, reports MPR News. Legislation is being considered this session to address the problem. Via MinnPost
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/03/09/new-medicaid-snap-requirements-drive-push-from-minnesota-counties-to-upgrade-technology

Minnesota lawmakers are looking at a proposal to legalize psilocybin mushrooms for therapeutic use, reports the Minnesota Star Tribune. Via MinnPost
https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-weighs-legalizing-psilocybin-mushrooms-for-therapeutic-use/601594021 ( Read more... )

‘A very dangerous person’: alarm as Pete Hegseth revels in carnage of Iran war
Critics say brash, bombastic Fox News host out of his depth to guide US military through murky new Middle East conflict
David Smith in Washington
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/08/pete-hegseth-pentagon-trump-iran

White House worries as gas prices jump amid ongoing US-Israel war on Iran
Debbie Carlson
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/08/us-drivers-oil-prices-iran ( Read more... )

‘It means missile defence on datacentres’: drone strikes raise doubts over Gulf as AI superpower
Iran’s targeting of commercial datacentres in the UAE and Bahrain signals a new frontier in asymmetric warfare
Daniel Boffey Chief reporter
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/07/it-means-missile-defence-on-data-centres-drone-strikes-raises-doubts-over-gulf-as-ai-superpower

Trump skirts Congress over Iran war as Republicans simply step aside
Chris Stein in Washington
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/07/trump-congress-republicans-iran-war-powers ( Read more... )

Does private equity deserve to be the scourge of eldercare? Minnesota lawmakers demand more information
DFL legislation would make nursing and assisted living homes disclose their corporate structure.
by Matthew Blake
https://www.minnpost.com/state-government/2026/03/does-private-equity-in-eldercare-deserve-scrutiny-minnesota-lawmakers-demand-more-information-on-nursing-home-ownership-structure/

After failed resolution, Democrats’ last leverage over Iran war may be Pentagon budget
“We have the power of the purse,” said Rep. Betty McCollum, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.
by Ana Radelat
https://www.minnpost.com/dc-memo/2026/03/after-failed-resolution-democrats-last-leverage-over-iran-war-may-be-pentagon-budget/ ( Read more... )

Trump fires homeland security secretary Kristi Noem
Markwayne Mullin, Republican senator and Maga ally, to replace Noem as Democrats cheer departure of ‘disaster’
Chris Stein in Washington
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/05/trump-kristi-noem-homeland-security

Trump administration is failing to address spread of measles, experts say
As number of cases climbs past 1,000, experts say CDC is not taking obvious steps amid funding cuts
Hannah Harris Green
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/05/trump-administration-measles

US judge orders refunds for more than $130bn in illegal Trump tariffs
Trade court directs customs to repay importers with interest after supreme court ruled tariffs unlawful
Associated Press
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/mar/05/trump-tariff-refunds-supreme-court ( Read more... )

Protesters demanded hotels ban ICE agents. Here’s why that didn’t happen.
Despite widespread opposition to Operation Metro Surge, local leaders have so far been stymied in efforts to limit their hotel stays.
by Trevor Mitchell
https://www.minnpost.com/metro/2026/03/protesters-demanded-hotels-ban-ice-agents-heres-why-that-didnt-happen/

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended her characterization of Minnesotans killed during Operation Metro Surge as “agitators” during a nearly five-hour Senate hearing on Tuesday, the AP reports. “It was Noem’s first congressional appearance since the shooting deaths of the two protesters galvanized widespread opposition to how the Trump administration is executing its mass deportation agenda, a centerpiece policy of President Donald Trump’s second term.” Via MinnPost
https://apnews.com/article/noem-testifies-congress-homeland-security-immigration-enforcement-ebb715699e3f4f6dd6fdd22157b4e1a7 ( Read more... )

Minnesota launches investigation that could bring charges against US immigration officers
US county attorney is ‘confident’ her office will be able to pursue charges in cases which led to criticisms of use-of-force policies
Associated Press
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/03/minnesota-investigation-us-immigration-officers

GOP lawmakers introduce impeachment articles against Walz, Ellison
By Howard Thompson
https://www.fox9.com/news/gop-lawmakers-introduce-impeachment-articles-against-walz-ellison ( Read more... )

More than 250 Minnesota National Guard members are currently serving in the Middle East amid the the U.S. and Israel’s attacks on Iran. In response to a KARE 11 inquiry, a guard spokesperson did not release their locations but said the troops are “grateful for the strong support of those back home.” The Minnesota National Guard units hail from Duluth, Marshall and Stillwater.
https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/mn-national-guard-in-iran-attacks-continue/89-d22e34f2-8983-4d17-badb-22b0160c8597

The Pioneer Press reported the beaver expert in the new Pixar movie “Hoppers” is a nod to a University of Minnesota beaver expert who helped the film producers learn about beavers.
https://www.twincities.com/2026/03/01/emily-fairfax-umn-beaver-expert-hoppers-pixar/ ( Read more... )

Trump’s current war on Iran picks up where a longstanding enmity left off
Robert Tait in Washington
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/01/trump-us-iran-war-history

Hundreds of thousands of travellers stranded or diverted by airspace closures in Middle East
Chaos as key transit hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha close, and more than 1,000 flights by major Middle Eastern airlines cancelled
Mark Sweney and agencies
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/01/hundreds-of-thousands-of-travellers-stranded-or-diverted-amid-air-space-closures-in-middle-east ( Read more... )