MinnPost

Local officials in Missouri suburbs are halting data center projects through bans and contentious measures as state legislatures struggle to regulate their rapid expansion. The growth of hyperscale data centers, driven by cloud computing and AI, has sparked public protests and debates over energy and water usage, with Missouri lawmakers proposing bills to address regulatory gaps.

Minneapolis anti-violence workers, including Connie Rhodes and Lenise Holliman from Restoration Inc., responded to a January shooting involving federal agents, enduring tear gas and flash bangs during a chaotic encounter. The incident followed the fatal shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis by an ICE agent, which led to the agent's arrest and charges of assault and false reporting.

Vance Boelter pleaded guilty to murdering Melissa and Mark Hortman, shooting John and Yvette Hoffman, and attempting to shoot their daughter Hope Hoffman. He will serve two consecutive life sentences plus 40 years. Officials condemned political violence, emphasizing its threat to democracy.

Steve Sack publishes an editorial cartoon featuring a sleeping President Donald Trump on MinnPost each Thursday. The article mentions a feature story about Sack's cartooning by Eric Ringham and references Sack's Substack.

Minneapolis officials estimate Operation Metro Surge cost the city $700 million from December through April, a significant increase from an initial $203 million estimate. The city's small-business resiliency fund provided license fee refunds to 1,200 businesses. Additional unrelated news includes a court ruling on a tribe's solar power system, a barn quilt tour in Douglas County, and the Minnesota State Fair's new cookbook.

The article discusses Thomas Jefferson's Quran, highlighting his intellectual curiosity about different religions and the historical inclusion of Muslims in America's religious liberty narrative. It contrasts this with current political hostility toward Islam, including Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith's derogatory remarks about Islam and a recent hate crime at a San Diego mosque.

The Minneapolis City Council committee approved an ordinance requiring law enforcement transparency in joint agreements and postponed a $3.7 million ShotSpotter contract extension. Six residents opposed continuing with ShotSpotter, while one council member supported it. A utility bill assistance program with CAPHC was approved, and a police task force presentation was postponed.

Hennepin County committees discussed budget challenges, including anticipated federal funding cuts, and authorized efforts to recruit members for a new Hennepin Healthcare Board by January 2027. A $250,000 agreement with Minneapolis funds a domestic abuse victim support position in felony 'gone on arrival' cases.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services disenrolled providers in 13 Medicaid programs to comply with federal fraud concerns, but providers appealing their disenrollment can receive temporary funding during the process. The action, aimed at addressing Trump administration demands over Medicaid fraud, resulted in 3,411 providers being cut off, though they can bill Medicaid for services up to May's disenrollment date.

Russian asylum seekers in Fort Snelling immigration court have historically had a 77% approval rate between 2010 and 2025, significantly higher than the 11% average for all countries. Since January 2025, approvals dropped to 53%, mirroring a broader decline under President Trump’s second term. Analysts attribute Russians’ high success rates to clear legal arguments about political persecution and U.S.-Russia geopolitical tensions.

The University of Minnesota, Fairview Health Services, and M Physicians finalized a deal providing $1 billion in Fairview facility upgrades, $50 million annual funding for the medical school, and a new program supporting physicians in Greater Minnesota. The agreement, effective January 1, 2027, will be voted on by university and partner boards.

Tickets are available for a MinnPost Social event discussing Minnesota's addiction care future, focusing on innovative treatments and concerns over Medicaid cuts. The event features reporter Andy Steiner and Roots Wellness Center founder Katy Armendariz, with non-alcoholic refreshments and a $10 ticket price for non-members.

The article discusses differing risk assessments between individuals, illustrated by a 2008 encounter in Kabul between the author and a security guard. It references research in 'Predisposed' by political scientists John R. Alford, John R. Hibbing, and Kevin B. Smith, which suggests liberals and conservatives have biologically distinct responses to stimuli. The author argues that these differences do not doom disagreement, as humans evolved to communicate and cooperate.

A wind-powered green ammonia plant in Minnesota, developed by the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center, produces homegrown ammonia to reduce reliance on imported fertilizers. The facility uses wind energy to generate hydrogen and nitrogen, which are combined to create ammonia for agriculture and industry, aiming to lower costs for farmers and diversify energy applications.

Wisconsin’s prison population is approaching a record high, with women’s prisons operating at 180% of their designed capacity. The state has addressed overcrowding by adding beds in gyms and offices, while male facilities are 30% over capacity. Governor Tony Evers recently announced plans to commute sentences for the first time in 25 years.

The U.S. Department of Justice will not seek the death penalty in the case against Vance Boelter, accused of assassinating Melissa Hortman and her husband, as stalking charges do not meet the legal definition of a crime of violence. Prosecutors also cited a similar case in New York where the death penalty was dismissed for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

A Republican-led House Oversight Committee accused Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison of neglecting fraud in the state's federally funded social service programs. The committee urged Vice President JD Vance to investigate further, while Walz and Ellison denied the allegations, calling the report politically motivated.

Farmers Union Agency received a 2026 Make More Happen™ Award from Liberty Mutual for its partnership with The Open Door, a hunger relief organization in Dakota County. Community support through online voting doubled the initial $5,000 donation to $10,000, helping expand food access programs and emergency response capabilities.

Warmer weather is increasing tick populations, leading to higher Lyme disease risks. The CDC reported record tick-bite emergency room visits in 2026, with experts estimating 500,000 U.S. cases annually. Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia bacteria via deer tick bites, is most prevalent in the Northeast and Upper Midwest.

Member pre-sale tickets are available for a MinnPost Social event on June 22 discussing Minnesota's future of addiction care, featuring Andy Steiner and Katy Armendariz. The event addresses concerns about Medicaid cuts threatening access to treatment for substance use disorder.