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.
Related from MinnPost: The Community Voices piece that argued Walz should activate Minnesota National Guard during ICE enforcement
WCCO-TV interviewed the new Minnesota Department of Human Services commissioner, Shireen Gandhi, who said of fraud in state government: “Every dollar counts and we are going after it.” President Donald Trump in his State of the Union address put the fraud total at $19 billion in recent years, but Gandhi said only $300 million has been documented thus far.
Related from MinnPost: D.C. Memo: What to make of Trump’s ‘war on fraud?’
Multiple news reports detailed protests at the Whipple Federal Building on Sunday that resulted in more than three dozen arrests. KSTP-TV’s report says the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office declared the protest unlawful and that demonstrators were throwing objects at law enforcement.
The Minnesota Star Tribune published an in-depth story about a Minnesota teen who is among 50 nationally who have died by suicide following sextortion cases.
The Duluth public schools face a $4 million budget shortfall, reports Northern News Now. Special education, transportation and health care costs are contributing to the shortfall, and officials hope to lobby the Minnesota Legislature for more aid.
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.
And, ICYMI from MinnPost…
A story of surviving Minnesota’s record surge in legal appeals over unconstitutional ICE detentions
St. Paul church protest over ICE draws charges against 30 more
A forecast full of uncertainty. What to make the of the state’s economic outlook in the age of Trump
Threatened Twin Cities rent strike aims to win dollars and protections
