Good morning, Minnesota. Happy Monday!

Here's the latest news from across the state to start your day. ☕

WEATHER

🌡️ Temperatures Monday will be very mild with record highs for some. Highs will be in the 60s for most of southern Minnesota to near 70 in parts of western Minnesota.

⛅ Tuesday will be cooler, but near normal with lots of sun through high clouds. Highs will range from the low 40s south to the upper 20s north.

Get the latest weather news on Updraft.

Osterholm predicted a pandemic for years. Then the battle against COVID-19 became personal

In some circles, he's known as Dr. Doom for his dire predictions about diseases. But the initial rumblings in late 2019 about a mysterious respiratory illness circulating in China didn’t worry Osterholm too much at first. But a few weeks into 2020, Osterholm's take on the COVID-19 virus changed. It was clear that this new virus was easily transmissible. What was coming down the pike were more than 7 million COVID-related deaths worldwide.

Minnesota sculptor forges a passion for people who put their lives on the line

Near the small town of Kimball, a Minnesota sculpture studio creates highly detailed statues honoring first responders and the military. They can be found in hundreds of public spaces across the country. For the studio’s owners, the work is more than just a business.

NEWS ROUNDUP

🏛️ Minnesota House seat gets filled as Legislature begins confronting new budget reality. A special election this week offers the latest restart. That along with a fresh economic forecast provide the foundation for lawmakers to get down to the Legislature’s main task: Setting a new state budget.

😷 COVID in Minnesota: Five years in five graphs. The pandemic upended life in Minnesota and across the country in March 2020. Schools buildings closed, businesses were shuttered and hospitals nearly reached their breaking point. These five charts show different ways in which the pandemic shaped us.

🐟 Ukrainian Americans feel love with record turnout at a Lenten dinner in Minneapolis. For years, the Ukrainian American Community Center in Minneapolis has hosted a fish fry on Fridays during Lent. Close to 1,500 people stopped by and volunteers had to turn people away when every dish ran out.

🏞️ Minnesota lawmakers consider allowing heavier ATVs on public trails. Under current Minnesota law, ATVs must weigh less than 2,000 pounds. The bill, authored by state Rep. John Burkel, R-Badger, would raise the maximum to 3,000 pounds — roughly the same as a Honda Civic.

🏫 Department of Defense pulls $1.1 million federal grant from Winona State University. Winona State received the grant last year from the Department of Defense to form a Civic Center. It was a project intended to provide support and resources to the governments of smaller municipalities and counties.

👩‍⚖️ Minnesota among states that sued Trump administration over federal workers' mass firings. Minnesota and 19 other states are suing multiple federal agencies, contending President Donald Trump's administration has illegally fired thousands of federal probationary workers.

⚖️ Feeding Our Future leader Aimee Bock testifies in her own defense. She is expected to answer more questions from her attorney on Wednesday before lead prosecutor Joe Thompson — who’s been working on this case for three years — begins his cross examination.

💖 Love is political? ‘Love is Blind’ Minneapolis season centers politics more than ever. From a breakup at Bryant Lake Bowl and drama at Buck Hill, the Minneapolis season of the reality TV show dared to ask — what if we talked about politics more?

🎭 Indigenous playwright debuts new play on the national stage. Rhiana Yazzie’s “The Other Children of the Sun” is based on the Navajo creation story. During changes at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., Yazzie says it’s a strong statement for Indigenous people and their stories to be seen on stage.

🍎 Lunds & Byerlys announces closure of downtown St. Paul grocery store. The store said the planned March 26 closure is a “difficult, yet necessary” decision. It faced significant staffing and financial challenges during its five years in existence.

🏒 Red River Valley teams dominate at boys hockey tourney. It was a huge day for the Red River Valley at the Minnesota boys hockey state tournament on Saturday . Moorhead won its first state title after eight previous runner-up finishes. And it was the first title for East Grand Forks in 10 years.

MUST LISTEN

🎧 Kids of winning mushers join parents for first Beargrease 120 sled dog race. Jen and Blake Freking have run the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon 29 times and have won or placed highly several times. This year, the couple backed out of the full marathon — so they could compete for the first time as a family of four in the 120-mile race with their daughters Elena, 14, and Nicole, 12.

🎧 As Trump cuts millions from Columbia, University of Minnesota urged to take action. The Trump administration announced Friday it will pull $400 million in federal grants and contracts from Columbia University over antisemitism claims stemming from pro-Palestinian protests on the campus last spring. The University of Minnesota joins Columbia on a list of colleges facing federal investigation over such protests, and now the man who called for that investigation is warning its regents to take action before the university faces similar funding cuts.

🎧 As federal firings stir uncertainty, here's expert advice to prep for a potential job loss. Avery Bardell, workforce development manager with Goodwill Easter Seals, which offers job training and career support, told MPR News preparation is key in this turbulent and anxiety-inducing time.

🎧 MPR President responds to threats to public media. Public media organizations like Minnesota Public Radio are under increased scrutiny in this new Trump administration. MPR News host Tom Crann spoke with MPR President Duchesne Drew.

🎧 Listen to today's headlines on our Minnesota Today podcast.