| The Trump Administration’s $9 billion rescission package would force funding cuts at more than a dozen public media organizations in our state. The move is a major step toward winding down nearly six decades of federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. In Minnesota, funding from CPB totals $17 million across 16 organizations , from small stations including KMOJ in Minneapolis to MPR’s statewide network. American Public Media President Chandra Kavati talked with MPR’s Morning Edition Thursday about what the cuts could mean for MPR News and its parent company, American Public Media Group. Morning Edition also spoke with Shari Lamke, the general manager of Pioneer PBS. The Granite Falls-based broadcasting station serves more than 1 million people in southwestern and west-central Minnesota, northwestern Iowa, southwestern North Dakota and eastern South Dakota. It stands to lose one-third of its budget. The four Republicans in Minnesota's delegation voted for the measure and the four Democrats voted against it.
State Sen. Nicole Mitchell spent hours on the stand Thursday testifying at her criminal trial. The Woodbury DFLer acknowledged she’d entered into her stepmother’s Detroit Lakes home last year without her permission, but defended herself against felony burglary charges saying, "I understand that I did the wrong thing. To me, it felt different because it was my parents’ house and I had a key and I’d been in and out of there for years.” The testimony came after Mitchell laid out a worsening relationship with Carol Mitchell, her stepmother, that stemmed from symptoms of memory loss and paranoia in Carol that Nicole said could be attributed to Alzheimer’s disease. The prosecution pushed back on Nicole Mitchell during cross examination, asking whether she was aware that traumatic situations could heighten symptoms of the disease. “Fully aware of Carol Mitchell’s Alzheimer’s, you still made a decision to break into her house that morning,” Becker County Attorney Brian McDonald asked. Nicole Mitchell responded, “Yes.” The defense may rest its case Friday with closing arguments to follow.
Former state Sen. Scott Jensen announced Thursday that he’ll take another run for governor after an unsuccessful bid in 2022. The Republican and family physician said he’s running again to “restore the values, safety, and opportunity that once made Minnesota a national model for prosperity and fairness,” according to a news release announcing his candidacy. He cited concerns about public safety, education outcomes and economic development. “Minnesotans want their state back,” Jensen said. “We remember the days when our communities were safe, our schools were strong, and our leaders put people — not politics — first. That’s the Minnesota we’re going to fight to bring back.” Jensen won the Minnesota Republican Party endorsement in 2022 but lost to Gov. Tim Walz by more than 7 percentage points. He said he learned from the experience and plans to turn down the political rhetoric in the next run. Democratic groups responded to the announcement saying Jensen was out of step with the state.
State economic development officials report that unemployment stayed steady in Minnesota last month at 3.3 percent. Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Matt Varilek said the state’s monthly report showed above average job growth in the last year, but flat job gains in the last month. “It was a steady month with low unemployment and a growing labor force. We continue monitoring for changes in the picture due to uncertainty coming out of Washington, but for now, in Minnesota, we still see a strong picture,” he said. Officials say they plan to watch employment numbers in sectors seeing budget cuts from the federal government, like health care. Minnesota's unemployment rate remains lower than the national rate, which sits at 4.1 percent.
U.S. Sen. Tina Smith was discharged from the hospital on Thursday after becoming ill Wednesday. The Democratic senator was discharged from George Washington Hospital in D.C. in the afternoon after being given a clean bill of health from a doctor. Her staff said that out of an abundance of caution, she stayed overnight in the hospital on Wednesday for observation. According to a statement, “she is looking forward to getting back to work today and wants to thank everyone for their well wishes.” | 
