Jubilant return of Artemis II shadowed by ‘extinction-level’ cuts to Nasa: ‘It’s discordant’
Even as a triumphant moon flyby primes agency for a 2028 landing, Trump’s proposed budget cuts cast pall on US space program
Richard Luscombe
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/apr/11/artemis-ii-nasa-budget-cuts

Awesome interview:
Talking with Lisa Graves
Paul Krugman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jjv8Bu7YkIc ( Read more... )

US inflation soars in March as war on Iran drives economy into uncertainty
Prices were up 3.3% over the year, adding to the unpredictability that first came with Trump tariffs
Lauren Aratani in New York
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/apr/10/march-inflation-soars-iran-war-economy

Trump administration temporarily blocks Minnesota’s historic wage floor for nursing home workers
Federal health officials have reset to day one a three-month window to approve the state’s request for Medicaid dollars.
by Matthew Blake
https://www.minnpost.com/state-government/2026/04/trump-blocks-minnesota-nursing-home-workers-wage/ ( Read more... )

A group of Minnesota restaurant owners appeared at the Capitol Wednesday to plead with lawmakers for short-term relief to severe financial strain hitting the industry, Fox 9 reports. “A State of Hospitality Report shows Minnesota restaurants face economic uncertainty with lower profits, increased costs, rising wages, and reduced traffic, worsened by federal surge impacts in early 2026.” Via MinnPost
https://www.fox9.com/news/minnesota-restaurants-being-pushed-breaking-point-new-report-shows

In dining news of a different kind, Michelin, the international restaurant rating guide, announced it will be coming to six cities in the “American Great Lakes” region, including Minneapolis (sorry St. Paul). Ratings will likely begin in 2027, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune. Via MinnPost
https://www.startribune.com/after-years-of-speculation-michelin-is-finally-coming-to-minneapolis/601663256 ( Read more... )

Medicaid covers treatment for thousands of Minnesotans with substance use disorder. Is that about to change?
In the first of three stories supported by the Pulitzer Center, MinnPost’s mental health and addiction columnist Andy Steiner reports on how the Big Beautiful Bill could disrupt substance use treatment for patients and providers.
by Andy Steiner
https://www.minnpost.com/mental-health-addiction/2026/04/medicaid-substance-use-disorder-treatment/

Why a bill to help Minnesota hospitals may be doomed and why it matters
The Senate easily passed the measure on drug discounts for hospitals. But House Republicans do not want the bill to be enforced.
by Matthew Blake
https://www.minnpost.com/state-government/2026/04/bill-helping-minnesota-hospitals-doomed/ ( Read more... )

Hennepin County officials look for solutions to food stamp shortfalls and other federal funding cuts
In addition to SNAP cuts, the county also expects a $12 million reduction in Housing and Urban Development grants, but commissioners hope to avoid property tax increases.
by Trevor Mitchell
https://www.minnpost.com/metro/2026/04/hennepin-county-snap-shortfalls-federal-cuts/

With HCMC’s survival threatened, staff and leaders call for state action
Hospital employees and county leaders warn of statewide ‘catastrophe’ if lawmakers don’t act to direct more funds to the safety-net hospital.
by Maddie Robinson
https://www.minnpost.com/race-health-equity/2026/04/with-hcmc-survival-threatened-staff-and-leaders-call-for-state-action/ ( Read more... )

US lower court judges are challenging Trump’s ‘war on the rule of law’, experts say
Impact of rulings by these judges has been sizable, slowing or halting some of the president’s most extreme policies
Peter Stone
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/06/trump-lower-court-judges-challenges

‘It started with a tipoff’: how a Guardian investigation exposed child sex trafficking on Facebook and Instagram
Meta has just lost a multimillion-dollar legal battle over its failure to prevent children being sold on its platforms. Here’s how we uncovered evidence that became part of the case against it
Katie McQue
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/apr/06/investigation-exposed-child-sex-trafficking-on-facebook-and-instagram-meta ( Read more... )

Trump’s mass deportation plan has broken the quiet of small US towns: ‘We have to take care of each other’
Immigration agents have spread into rural western Wisconsin, taking dozens of people from towns in more politically conservative areas
Rachel Leingang with photographs by Stephen Garcia
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/apr/05/trump-deportation-rural-towns-wisconsin

US health officials appear to shy away from anti-vaccine talk ahead of midterms
Elections seem top-of-mind for the Maha movement as key polling indicates anti-vaccine views are a liability
Melody Schreiber
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/05/health-officials-anti-vaccine-views-midterms ( Read more... )

‘Home away from home’: Korean artist Bo Young An finds community in the Twin Cities
Also this weekend: a rooftop DJ party in Minneapolis and a group art show at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
by Myah Goff
https://sahanjournal.com/arts-culture/twin-cities-things-to-do-korean-art-dj-party-arboretum-show/

New Covid variant BA.3.2 detected across US, but experts urge vigilance over alarm
Strain found in 29 states and Puerto Rico carries spike mutations, but no data shows increased severity
Hannah Harris Green
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/04/covid-19-variant-ba32 ( Read more... )

D.C. Memo: Trump suggests states should cover Medicare, other programs to free up funds for military
Plus: The president insults Somalis – again; Dems to pushback on war funds request; Bondi still to face Epstein questions; Blaha wants restitution to consumers over tariffs; and more.
by Ana Radelat
https://www.minnpost.com/dc-memo/2026/04/d-c-memo-trump-suggests-states-should-cover-medicare-other-programs-to-free-up-funds-for-military/

Trump threatens 100% tariff on drug makers that don’t strike deals to lower US prices
New tax will hit branded drugs and active ingredients while exempting generics for at least one year
Lauren Aratani and Reuters
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/02/trump-100-tariff-us-pharmaceutical-drug-makers ( Read more... )

Minneapolis chef Shigeyuki Furukawa of Kado no Mise was named a 2026 James Beard finalist, making him the sole Minnesotan on the Best Chef: Midwest short list, Bring Me The News reports. Via MinnPost
https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-lifestyle/one-minnesota-chef-named-2026-james-beard-finalist

Oil price jumps and markets slide after Trump warning to Iran
Brent crude rises 8% as US president vows to hit Iran ‘extremely hard’ over coming weeks
Kalyeena Makortoff and Graeme Wearden
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/apr/02/oil-price-rises-markets-slide-following-trump-iran-war-address ( Read more... )

Good reviews from the Pioneer Press for Bruce Springsteen, who performed at Target Center just days after singing “Streets of Minneapolis” at a massive “No Kings” protest at the State Capitol. Via MinnPost
https://www.twincities.com/2026/03/31/concert-review-bruce-springsteen-praised-righteous-rock-and-roll-at-target-center/

More details are emerging on who was arrested during Operation Metro Surge, and MPR News reports three-quarters of those arrested had no criminal record. Via MinnPost
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/03/31/ice-arrests-in-minnesota-three-quarters-of-arrestees-had-no-criminal-record-data-shows ( Read more... )

Minnesota needs independent oversight of forensic labs
Taxpayers fund forensic labs because their work is essential to the justice system. When errors occur, the public deserves to know about them quickly and transparently.
by Aaron Olson and Daniel Koewler
https://www.minnpost.com/community-voices/2026/03/minnesota-needs-independent-oversight-of-forensic-labs/

Iran war hurts Minnesota farmers as fertilizer, fuel prices soar ahead of planting season
Trump, Congress try to address the anger in farm country over Iran’s Strait of Hormuz chokehold.
by Brian Arola and Ana Radelat
https://www.minnpost.com/greater-minnesota/2026/03/iran-war-hurts-minnesota-farmers-as-fertilizer-fuel-prices-soar-ahead-of-planting-season/ ( Read more... )

A GOP state lawmaker from Lino Lakes who is also running for state auditor was arrested on suspicion of DWI late last week, reports WCCO-TV. One of Elliot Engen’s X posts came back to bite him after the news broke. Via MinnPost
https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/elliott-engen-minnesota-house-gop-dwi-state-auditor/

Forty-two train cars, including two with hazardous materials, derailed near Warroad over the weekend, reports FOX 9. An evacuation order was in place, but it’s unclear how many people were temporarily displaced. Via MinnPost
https://www.fox9.com/news/train-derailment-warroad-area-evacuation-order-march-29 ( Read more... )

Whistles, monarch butterflies and other anti-ICE symbols join thousands at ‘No Kings’ Minnesota rally
Minnesotans clearly embraced having the nation’s attention at the “No Kings” rally on Saturday as thousands of them stood unified in opposition to President Donald Trump.
by Cleo Krejci and Ellen Schmidt
https://www.minnpost.com/news/2026/03/whistles-monarch-butterflies-and-other-anti-ice-symbols-join-thousands-at-no-kings-minnesota-rally/

Third No Kings protest draws 8 million worldwide to push back on Trump administration
Anti-authoritarian rallies, in all 50 states plus more than a dozen countries, were the largest number of protests in a single day in US history
Lex McMenamin, Fabiola Cineas, Rachel Leingang and Amy Qin
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/28/no-kings-protests-trump ( Read more... )