Good morning, Minnesota. Happy Friday!

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

WEATHER

☀️ Friday will bring more sunshine and temperatures mainly in the 30s again.

⛅ The weekend brings warmer temperatures and still plenty of sunshine. Highs by Sunday will push into the 60s in western Minnesota and 50s in the Twin Cities.

Get the latest weather news on Updraft.

New fines and awareness help reduce litter on Minnesota lakes, but advocates want more action

Lake advocates say a recent state law is helping curb the problem of trash left on Minnesota’s frozen lakes. But they're hoping for more action, including passage of a bill requiring state agencies establish a statewide “Keep It Clean” program and provide funding for local cleanup efforts.

A downbeat Minnesota budget forecast initiates lawmaker blame game

Minnesota lawmakers received an economic budget forecast that shows less wiggle room as they write a new budget and an even larger looming deficit in the future. Gov. Tim Walz and DFL leaders blamed President Donald Trump while Republican leaders said Democrats need to look in the mirror.

NEWS ROUNDUP

✈️ Sun Country flight from Twin Cities to Mexico diverted due to threatening handwritten note. A Sun Country Airlines flight from the Twin Cities to Mazatlán, Mexico, was diverted to El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday afternoon after a threatening handwritten note reading “You Are All Going to Die, Help Me” was found on the plane.

🚓 Protesters denounce ICE arrests at St. Louis Park manufacturing facility. Employees said the company recently audited the staff’s immigration documents. Employees received a notice two weeks before the raid of an I-9 audit, which they shared with advocates and reporters. The note told employees to prepare residency documents, like a driver’s license, a green card or a valid visa.

🚨 Minnesota radio station owner among three skiers buried in Alaska avalanche. “I will remember Dave Linder as an amazing as an amazing family man, one of the smartest people I’ve ever known, and someone who lived life to the fullest,” Radio Mankato managing partner Matt Ketelsen said in a statement.

🥚Egg inflation: Keys Cafe and Bakery has introduced a temporary 50-cent surcharge per egg at its nine Twin Cities locations, citing supply shortages and rising costs. The St. Paul-based restaurant chain says the extra charge will fluctuate based on egg prices and will be removed once costs stabilize.

❄️ St. Paul carefully plowing Tuesday’s ‘concrete’ snow. Tuesday’s snowstorm left the Twin Cities blanketed in almost 10 inches of wet, heavy snow. It covered southern and eastern parts of the state, shutting down highways including Interstate 90 between Luverne and Albert Lea for much of Wednesday. Many school districts canceled in-person classes.

💰 ‘Peoples’ livelihoods are on the line’ due to tariffs, Thunder Bay business leader says. Reactions from Minnesota’s neighbors to the north are mixed, ranging from frustration to disbelief to anger. Gov. Tim Walz met with Ontario Premier Doug Ford earlier this week, because Canada is a major trade partner for Minnesota.

🤧 Is it too soon for seasonal allergies? We asked an expert. Dr. Niladri Aichbhaumik, from St. Paul Allergy and Asthma, told MPR News host Cathy Wurzer that in the last month or so, he’s had an uptick in patients asking whether it’s seasonal allergies or an infection upsetting their body.

MUST LISTEN

🎧 The blame game around Minnesota's dimmer budget forecast. Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, joined Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer ahead of the budget forecast release to talk about how President Donald Trump’s actions are affecting Minnesota and about state GOP plans to reduce fraud and waste.

🎧 Help me budget during uncertain economic times. U.S. consumer confidence plummeted last month. It was the biggest monthly decline in more than four years. And it is leading people to change their spending habits.

🎧 State grant gives Minnesota students the chops for meat processing. A state grant is helping Minnesota schools teach meat processing to students. Applications are now open for the MEAT grant, which stands for Meat Education and Training. In the first round of grants, $350,000 was dispersed across nine districts to establish or enhance meat cutting and butchery training.

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