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  • Under 2% of US legislators have working class background

    Under 2% of US legislators have working class background

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    In North Dakota and all other states, the backgrounds of people serving in state legislatures largely leave out a key demographic, the working class, according to a new national study.

    Researchers at Duke University and Loyola University Chicago said their study found the share of legislators across the country who have mainly held working-class jobs as adults was below 2 percent in 2023. In contrast, 50 percent of the U.S. labor force is made up of manual labor workers, the service industry and clerical or union jobs.

    Eric Hansen, assistant professor of political science at Loyola University Chicago and co-author of the report, said the data represent a clear disconnect.

    “There’s this real sense that government and elected officials are really out of touch with the population,” Hansen observed. “One of the reasons for that is because our elected officials don’t really come from the same set of backgrounds that most Americans come from.”

    He argued boosting the ranks could restore trust and usher in more economic policies helping those with lower incomes. It is not a partisan issue, with the study noting the small percentage of existing legislators who are working class is almost equal among Democrats and Republicans.

    For a rural state like North Dakota, experts said small communities have unique economic challenges, and the data show less than 1 percent of state lawmakers here are working class.

    However, 15 percent do have farming backgrounds, second to only the business sector, which is at 41 percent in North Dakota. Meanwhile, Hansen noted the cost of campaigning is often a barrier to working-class residents who might consider running.

    “It’s just really hard to support yourself and campaign when you are holding a working-class job,” Hansen acknowledged.

    Researchers said because of the way the campaign finance system is structured, it is hard to foster solutions. But they emphasized recruiters can do their part by trying to make more connections with people who work lower-wage jobs and gauge whether they can become more involved and potentially run for a seat.

    Prairie News Service

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  • Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis Announces a New Series: Mara in Season  – Minneapolis Riverfront News – Minneapolis Riverfront Neighborhoods.

    Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis Announces a New Series: Mara in Season  – Minneapolis Riverfront News – Minneapolis Riverfront Neighborhoods.

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    With the goal of bringing people together, providing memorable experiences and celebrating each season, Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis announces a new series: Mara in Season presented by RBC Wealth Management. Taking place four times per year, each event features a surprise Hotel experience followed by a collaborative, multi-course tasting menu at Mara where Chef Gavin Kaysen and his team cook with a renowned visiting chef from their open kitchen.

    In the inaugural series, Chef Kaysen and team will collaborate with Greg Vernick for A Spring’s Table (May 9, 2024), Nancy Silverton for A Summer’s Table (August 15, 2024) and Tyler Florence for An Autumn’s Table (October 24, 2024). These events, made possible in part by Steelite International, follow A Winter’s Table, which took place on February 1, 2024.

    “I am thrilled to be creating a dinner series at Mara, especially one that is tied to the seasons,” says Chef Kaysen. “One of the most exciting ways to cook is by way of how nature is unfolding, and this offering will showcase that alongside the unique personality of each chef. Greg, Nancy and Tyler are not only friends, but incredible chefs who have created magic in their own kitchens. Now, they bring it to us at Mara and in Minneapolis.”

    Adds Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis General Manager Florian Riedel, “Since opening, our Hotel has become a place that brings people together and Mara a destination restaurant for life’s celebrations. With this series, we’re building upon these identities as we gather exceptional culinary talent and fresh, seasonal ingredients unique to Minnesota and its ever-evolving landscape.”

    Season passes and tickets for A Spring’s Table are available now on Tock. The season pass, which includes beverage pairings and service charge for the next three events, is available now through April 4, 2024, for $1200. In addition, for every pair of season passes purchased, a couple will be gifted one complimentary night at Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis; this overnight stay must occur in 2024 and is subject to availability. Individual events, which include beverage pairings and service charge, are priced at $395. Ten percent of the proceeds will be directed toward local business leader Houston White and his cultural impact work to advance diversity, equity and belonging.

    Before Mara and Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis opened, the Hotel formed a partnership with White based on shared values and began creating Cultural Collisions: events and experiences that invite people to make new connections, learn from one another and build bridges. This effort kicked off with recruitment-focused open houses in early 2022 and will extend to rooftop events this summer.

    About Mara’s Visiting Chefs

    • Five years after opening his debut restaurant, Vernick Food & Drink, Philadelphia-based Chef Greg Vernick was recognised by the James Beard Foundation as Best Chef Mid-Atlantic. He has since expanded his enterprise to include Vernick Wine and opened Vernick Coffee Bar and Vernick Fish within Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia.
    • Winner of the James Beard Foundation’s Outstanding Chef award, Chef Nancy Silverton has been called one of the Most Innovative Women in Food & Drink. Co-owner of the Mozza Restaurant Group, which includes Michelin-starred Osteria Mozza, she has authored 11 cookbooks and appeared in Netflix’s Chef’s Table and MasterClass’s G.O.A.T. series. 
    • Food Network star Chef Tyler Florence is a content creator, restaurateur and the author of 17 cookbooks. Twice a James Beard Award nominee for Best Chef West Coast, he is the visionary behind acclaimed eateries, including Miller & Lux in Chase Center – named the Bay Area’s Best Steakhouse – and Miller & Lux Hualalai within Four Seasons Resort Hualalai.

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    Kim Eslinger

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  • Minneapolis’ The 19 Bar, one of the oldest gay bars in the country, closed due to fire

    Minneapolis’ The 19 Bar, one of the oldest gay bars in the country, closed due to fire

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    19 Bar closed due to fire


    19 Bar closed due to fire

    00:38

    MINNEAPOLIS — The future is uncertain for a Minneapolis landmark after a freak accident started a fire.

    The 19 Bar, one of the oldest gay bars still operating in the United States, is closed until further notice. Witnesses say a garbage truck clipped a nearby power pole Friday afternoon. 

    The pole then fell over and started a fire at the bar.

    MORE NEWS: Sunday storm in Minnesota could drop 6-10 inches of snow in metro, more in the west

    “I felt the vibration from the explosion,” said Chiquita Plowman. “I looked out my window, you saw the fire shoot up from the building.”

    On Facebook, the bar said that no one was injured due to the fire.

    “We will have to face this challenge one day at a time,” the Facebook post says.

    Aki Nace

    Aki Nace has been a web producer at WCCO since 2019. She covers breaking news and makes short-form documentary films.

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    Aki Nace

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  • Sunday storm in Minnesota could drop 6-10 inches of snow in metro, more in the west

    Sunday storm in Minnesota could drop 6-10 inches of snow in metro, more in the west

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    MINNEAPOLIS — Saturday will be the calmer of the weekend days as Minnesotans brace for a major winter storm to arrive on Sunday.

    WEATHER RESOURCES:  More weather coverage | Animated radars | School Closings & Delays

    High temperatures on Saturday will reach the mid-30 and a high pressure system will exit to the east. A few light snow showers arrive after 7 p.m., mainly south of Interstate 94, and there will be a light coating by Sunday morning. 

    Winter weather alerts kick in Sunday morning; much of the state will be under a winter storm watch, with areas in central and northeast Minnesota under a winter storm warning. A strip of Minnesota along the north shore will be under a blizzard warning into Tuesday morning. Sunday through Tuesday will be NEXT Weather Alert days.

    Greatest snowstorm impacts

    The snow picks up in intensity through Sunday morning, though the heaviest rounds will fall through the afternoon and evening. There will be widespread travel issues during this time, NEXT Weather Meteorologists say.

    At times, the snowfall rates could reach 1-to-2 inches per hour, with gusts up to 40 mph. The snow will be heavy and wet, making it difficult to shovel.

    MORE: Minnesotans are preparing physically and financially for the big weekend snowfall

    By midnight Sunday, NEXT Weather Meteorologists say that the metro area could see between 6 and 10 inches of snow. Areas to the north and west, like St. Cloud and Rice Lake, could see around a foot.

    wpc-snow-chances.png

    WCCO


    Some warm air will move in along Interstate 90 by 9 p.m. Sunday, and will reach the metro by Monday morning, which will turn the snow into rain. That rain, however, could cut back on some of the snow totals in the southeast. The warm nose of air isn’t expected to hit the northern and western parts of the state however, meaning that snow totals could continue to climb into Monday evening.

    The timing and movement of the warm air is still uncertain, so it’s difficult to determine where, precisely, the snow will turn into rain.

    A high pressure system returns Wednesday, making for much calmer weather on Wednesday through Friday. 

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    Adam Del Rosso

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  • Project to transform Olson Highway in north Minneapolis gains federal backing

    Project to transform Olson Highway in north Minneapolis gains federal backing

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    The construction of Olson Highway through a stretch of north Minneapolis eradicated what was once a bustling commercial district for Black and Jewish residents.

    Now, nearly a century later, a project aiming to convert a mile of the highway into a restored, more community-minded 6th Avenue N. is gaining momentum thanks to new federal funding.

    The U.S. Department of Transportation recently granted $1.6 million to Our Streets Minneapolis, a nonprofit advocacy group spearheading the Bring Back 6th campaign in partnership with the Harrison Neighborhood Association. This funding is part of a $7 million grant allocated to locally led projects in Minnesota through the Reconnecting Communities Pilot program, a component of President Joe Biden’s Investing in America Agenda. Minnesota Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith announced the funding earlier this week.

    “[The money] will allow us to work on this project for a couple of years continuously,” said José Cabán, executive director of Our Streets Minneapolis.

    Launched in 2021, the Bring Back 6th project seeks to transform the one-mile stretch of Olson Highway into a community corridor that reconnects the Near North neighborhood that was divided by the construction of the corridor. The goal, advocates said, is to create a healthier environment and opportunities for residents to access affordable housing, health care, employment, parks and other amenities.

    Some residents of the area have concerns. Among them: gentrification, displacement and traffic delays. Cabán said traffic on Olson Highway has declined significantly in recent years as many drivers now use Interstates 394 and 94.

    Cabán said his group would also like to see immediate near-term safety improvements in the area and a return of the land along the restored 6th Avenue N. corridor to the community.

    Once known as the “Beale Street of Minneapolis,” the Near North Side was a bustling commercial district predominantly occupied by the city’s Black and Jewish communities.

    In an effort to revitalize what was perceived as a “blighted” neighborhood, planners in the 1930s routed Olson Highway, a dedicated portion of Highway 55, through 6th Avenue N., “demolishing hundreds of homes, businesses and community institutions,” according to advocates.

    As part of the campaign, organizers worked with students from the University of Minnesota to research the neighborhood’s lost history. They created a mobile history museum that has been showcased in various parts of Minneapolis, including Sumner Library, the only surviving building on 6th Avenue N.

    North Side residents have long voiced safety concerns in their community, including issues with speeding and pollution.

    From 2017 to 2021, traffic crashes killed or severely injured about 150 people each year in Minneapolis, according to city data.

    As part of the city’s goal to end traffic deaths and severe injuries, officials from Minneapolis’ Vision Zero program interviewed North Side residents in the past, Cabán said, “but none of their concerns have been addressed.”

    The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) made safety improvements in 2022 and 2023 to reduce the number and severity of crashes. The agency installed flexible posts, signage and marked pavement on Olson Highway designed to narrow the roadway, create shorter crossings for pedestrians and cyclists, and improve visibility for them and drivers.

    Pollution is also an issue. North Minneapolis’ 55411 ZIP code, which borders Olson Highway, is one of the poorest in Minneapolis and has the highest asthma hospitalization rate in the seven-county metro area, according to the city.

    “MnDOT did install some improvements, but just not all of them,” Cabán said. “This is a community that’s been devastated, and their standard of living is low. Near-term improvements between now and the full reconstruction would allow people to engage with what’s possible.”

    In 2023, the city passed a resolution in support of removing the North Side highway and restoring the area to a walkable neighborhood commercial street. Minneapolis officials also proposed new development along the corridor, including affordable and public housing, affordable commercial space, new parks and community gardens.

    In early March, MnDOT unveiled four design alternatives for an improved roadway, including one that aligns with the vision of the Bring Back 6th campaign. The agency, which received the same federal funding for a larger study of Olson Highway, is conducting a corridor analysis to better understand the community’s long-term needs and other safety and pedestrian improvements.

    MnDOT officials said they will continue to engage the public in the planning and design process over the coming years; construction is expected to begin as early as 2028.

    Our Streets Minneapolis members said they will generate their own report with the help of engineers and consultants, outlining alternative options for the highway, other than what MnDOT has presented.

    Community members can share their feedback of MnDOT’s design alternatives through an online survey or by attending its next community workshop from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Summit Academy OIC.

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    Faiza Mahamud

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  • Cristian Romero speaks about scoring for Argentina against El Salvador

    Cristian Romero speaks about scoring for Argentina against El Salvador

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    Cristian Romero spoke about scoring for the Argentina national team against El Salvador.

    Romero scored Argentina’s first goal in their 3-0 win vs. El Salvador and he now has three goals with the Argentina national team. The 25 year old spoke about his goal, the team and the young players. Here is what he had to say:

    “We played a great game. We keep growing, they are the last matches before the Copa America and we continue with the same motivation and the same desire to have the national team at the top.

    “We have a great group to keep achieving things. I always see Leo (Scaloni) well, with the same desire as always.”

    “It’s always nice to score with the national team. I emphasize that the important thing is that this team plays in the same way against any rival.”

    In regards to Alejandro Garnacho and Facundo Buonanotte:

    “I have faced Garnacho and Buonanotte and I know they have enormous potential.”

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  • Midwest farmers up in arms over Californian policy

    Midwest farmers up in arms over Californian policy

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    Community and conservation groups in the Midwest worry that a change in California’s carbon emissions policy could hurt the quality of life in the nation’s heartland. This week, regulators are considering an amendment to California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard. Oil and gas companies would be allowed to offset emissions by purchasing credits from producers of “greener” fuel around the country – specifically, methane captured from cow and hog manure. It coincides with a push to offer government incentives to build anaerobic digesters, the facilities used for this production.

    Matthew Sheets, organizer on factory farm and policy development for the Land Stewardship Project, fears it’ll lead to more factory farms in states like Minnesota.

    “It’s mostly a concern about what it’s doing to the ag economy, and what it’s doing to other farmers,” he said.

    Supporters of the amendment say their goal is to reduce carbon emissions on a national scale. Many big dairy farms, known as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, are linked with digester projects. A 2020 report by Food and Water Watch found that, unlike human sewage, hog and cattle waste is not treated – so it can pollute groundwater and blanket downwind communities with a terrible odor.

    Critics say those are some of the many effects industrial ag can have on farming communities.

    Brenda Brink, with Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, said California’s system of emissions credits would allow factory farms to “greenwash” their carbon footprint and put renewable energy, like solar and wind power, at a disadvantage.

    “Because it’s such a sweet deal, it’s pushing more and more production through factory farms. State governments see the sweet deal it is – ‘Well, look, it’s clean energy.’ And so, it’s just this huge P.R. thing that is not true,” Brink explained.

    And officials with the Land Stewardship Project point out the nation has tinkered with scaling up digesters in past decades, but the movement didn’t have the same staying power as other forms of renewable energy.

    Minnesota News Connection

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  • St. Paul woman has been sentenced to 36 months for fentanyl death of 7-year-old daughter

    St. Paul woman has been sentenced to 36 months for fentanyl death of 7-year-old daughter

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    Morning headlines from March 22, 2024


    Morning headlines from March 22, 2024

    02:22

    ST. PAUL, Minn. — Shauntaija Jannell Travis was sentenced Friday to 36 months, with credit for 292 days served for the second-degree manslaughter of her 7-year-old daughter. She will serve her sentence at the Shakopee Women’s Prison. 

    In March 2023, Travis’ daughter died in the living room of a residence on the 800 block of Sherburne Avenue, according to a criminal complaint. The girl’s cause of death was later identified as fentanyl toxicity and the manner of death was declared as accidental.

    Officers searched Travis’ bedroom and found a straw with “white residue,” the complaint said, along with a pill that was later found to contain fentanyl.  

    At the time of the girl’s death, Travis was in a custody battle over the child with other family members. Travis admitted to officers that she agreed to let her grandmother take custody of the victim so she could “get her life straightened out and get help from her drug addiction,” the complaint said. The girl would’ve been in her grandmother’s custody less than a week after the victim’s death. 

    Travis originally pleaded not guilty to charges, but changed her plea to guilty in January. 

    Mackenzie Lofgren

    Mackenzie Lofgren is a Web Producer and Digital Content Producer at WCCO. She writes web articles and produces short-form video content used on WCCO’s streaming platforms.

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    Mackenzie Lofgren

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  • Minnesotans are preparing physically and financially for the big weekend snowfall

    Minnesotans are preparing physically and financially for the big weekend snowfall

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    PLYMOUTH, Minn. — Saturday will be a calm day on the weather front, but heavy wet snow is set to arrive Sunday. This means that as quickly as the first round of snow melts, the stage is set for round two. 

    David Hartigan with Twin Cities Orthopedics says urgent care numbers go up, as soon as flakes begin to fall.

    LATEST WEATHER: Sunday storm in Minnesota could drop 6-10 inches of snow in metro, more in the west

    “I would think of shoveling almost like a workout,” Hartigan said.

    Hartigan believes that’s due to poor shoveling techniques. He suggests using more of your legs and stretching or walking to loosen up your muscles.

    “Use a pushing motion where you’re not lifting and throwing snow,” Hartigan said. “It’s more of a push and throw, keeping your knees bent and back straight.”

    Hartigan says snow blowers while easy on your back can be dangerous. He urges people to never use their hands to unclog it because the recoils inside can cause real problems.

    WEATHER RESOURCES:  More weather coverage | Animated radars | School Closings & Delays

    From outside to inside, preparing your home for the weather ahead is important.

    Ian King with ACE Handyman Services says keeping cold air out is crucial.

    “You’ll be losing money and you’ll be causing excess wear and tear on HVAC system,” said King.

    King also recommends replacing thermostat batteries, checking windows and doors, and sealing home drafts to save money in the long run.

    “Your life will be a lot easier and a lot happier when you have your basis covered,” said King.

    Covered and protected from any weather conditions Minnesota has in store. 

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    Ubah Ali

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  • More Minnesota state boys basketball semifinals: Here’s your spot for updates with 1A, 2A title games set

    More Minnesota state boys basketball semifinals: Here’s your spot for updates with 1A, 2A title games set

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    Tap here for coverage of Thursday’s Class 4A and 3A semifinals and 1A quarterfinals

    Tap here for coverage of Wednesday’s quarterfinals

    Semifinals

    Tap on the game for a postgame summary or live scoring if the game is in progress

    FRIDAY

    At Williams Arena

    Class 1A

    [1] Cherry 76, [5] Nevis 58

    [3] Fertile-Beltrami 84, [2] West Central Area 75 in 3OT

    Class 2A

    [1] Breck 70, [5] Minnehaha Academy 45

    [3] Lake City 69, [2] Albany 59

    . . .

    10:07 p.m.

    Lake City knocks off defending 2A champ Albany

    Class 2A will crown a new boys basketball state tournament champion.

    Third-seeded Lake City took out defending champion Albany by a 69-59 score in Friday’s second semifinal played at Williams Arena. Senior guard Hunter Lorenson led Lake City with a game-high 22 points. He also grabbed 14 rebounds.

    The Tigers (26-5) advance to the championship game, set for 5 p.m. Saturday against No. 1 seed Breck at Williams Arena.

    Lake City led No. 2 seed Albany 30-28 at halftime. Senior guard Jack Rieland and junior guard Zeke Austin paced the Huskies (29-3) in scoring with 16 points.

    DAVID LA VAQUE

    7:48 p.m.

    Breck sweeps Minnehaha Academy out of tourney

    Breck swept its two regular-season games against Minnehaha Academy and brought the same winning formula to Friday’s Class 2A boys basketball state semifinal at Williams Arena.

    Top seed Breck won the game 70-45 and didn’t allow the Redhawks, who pulled an upset of No. 1 seeded Holy Family Catholic in the semifinals last season, to recapture their underdog magic.

    As a result, the Mustangs (30-1) advance to the championship game, set for 5 p.m. Saturday at Williams Arena. Breck’s leading scorers, Daniel Freitag and Hanif Muhammad, each finished with 13 points, and Freitag added 15 rebounds, six assists and five steals.

    Breck led 28-21 at halftime as No. 5 seed Minnehaha Academy (15-15) shot a dismal 30%. George Norsman led the Redhawks with 15 points for the game.

    DAVID LA VAQUE

    . . .

    4:29 p.m.

    Fertile-Beltrami outlasts West Central Area in three OTs

    Derek Sorenson had seen enough.

    The Fertile-Beltrami senior guard scored seven points and handed out an assist in the third overtime as the Falcons outlasted No. 3-ranked West Central Area 84-75 in the Class 1A boys basketball state semifinals Friday at Williams Arena.

    “I’ve been doing this for 31 years and that might be one of the best state tournament games I have ever seen,” Fertile-Beltrami coach Neil Steffes said. “It was an unbelievable game by both sides.”

    Sorenson drained a three-pointer on the first possession of the third overtime, giving the Falcons the lead for good. He finished with 13 points and five assists, and was one of five Fertile-Beltrami starters to finish in double-figures.

    “I got a little confidence after making that three-pointer,” Sorenson said. “I kept going from there.”

    Fertile-Beltrami sophomore forward Preston Hanson’s two free throws with 57 seconds left in the second overtime tied the score at 67, forcing a third extra session. Hanson wound up with 23 points.

    “Our defense was good all game,” Steffes said. “We locked them down in the third overtime.”

    Falcons senior guard Masen Nowacki buried a three-pointer from the wing with six seconds remaining in the first overtime to make the game 60-60. He had 12 points.

    “They made a lot of shots in clutch situations,” West Central Area coach Kraig Hunter said.

    As did the Knights (28-4), who were playing in their first state tournament. West Central senior guard Mitchell Dewey banked home a three-pointer on a heave from between the college three-point line and the large “M” at midcourt at the buzzer send the game to overtime tied at 51. He finished with 11 points.

    “I was just glad it went in,” said Dewey, whose three-pointer at the buzzer of the second overtime rimmed out. “We just didn’t win today.”

    Junior forward Ben Bye had 23 points, leading four Knights in double figures.

    The Falcons survived without leading scorer Caiden Swenby. The senior guard had 19 points, 13 rebounds and four assists before fouling out with 2:58 remaining in regulation.

    “We had other guys step up,” Steffes said.

    Caleb Stoltman finished with 13 points for Fertile-Beltrami (27-6).

    “We’re just happy,” Steffes said. “It’s really surreal right now.”

    . . .

    1:38 p.m.

    Sharp-shooting Cherry nips Nevis in rematch

    Nevis coach Scott Kramer was concerned about Cherry’s explosiveness. He had seen it firsthand. It was even better the second time around.

    No. 1-ranked Cherry connected on its first seven shots, running out to a quick double-digit lead en route to a 76-58 victory in the Class 1A boys basketball state semifinals Friday at Williams Arena. Nevis lost to Cherry 73-57 in the regular season, a game it led by one point at halftime.

    “What we didn’t want to happen did,” Kramer said. “They knocked down about everything. They were a lot better this time.”

    All five Cherry starters scored in the opening five minutes and four finished in double figures. When Cherry finally missed a shot, sophomore Noah Asuma grabbed the offensive rebound and kicked it out to his older brother, senior Isaac Asuma, for a three-pointer. It left Kramer shaking his head.

    “I was happy with the way we started,” said Isaac, a 6-3 Gophers recruit who finished with a game-high 20 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and three blocked shots. “We came out really hot. We rode that momentum throughout the game.”

    Cherry assisted on 14 of its 17 first-half baskets, building a 38-23 lead. Noah and Isaac each had 13 points at the intermission. Noah also finished with 20 points, while Isaiah Asuma scored 14 points and Carson Brown had 13 for top-seeded Cherry (30-2).

    “We try to gas our opponents out,” Cherry coach Jordan Christianson said. “We’ve been rolling for a while. We are getting better every day.”

    Fifth-seeded Nevis (24-8) was paced by 6-7 junior center Alex Lester’s 18 points.

    “We got in a hole early,” Kramer said. “They are playing with an edge. This is their year.”

    RON HAGGSTROM

    . . .

    TV and tickets

    Ch. 45 will televise the semifinals and championship games. All consolation games are available for a fee on NSPN. Tickets to the event range from $11 to $22 and are available at mshsl.org/tickets.

    . . .

    Championship games

    SATURDAY

    At Williams Arena

    Class 1A: [3] Fertile-Beltrami (27-6) vs. [1] Cherry (30-2), 11 a.m.

    Class 3A: [2] Mankato East (28-2) vs. [1] Totino-Grace (26-5), 1 p.m.

    Class 2A: 5 p.m.

    Class 4A: [3] Minnetonka (24-6)vs. [1] Wayzata (29-1), 8 p.m.

    . . .

    Tournament brackets

    Class 4A | Class 3A | Class 2A | Class 1A

    . . .

    Star Tribune coverage

    The Star Tribune will be publishing stories and other content related to these state championship games and more this week. Keep up by checking startribune.com/preps each day. Thank you for reading and subscribing.

    . . .

    Tournament information

    * Download and print the tournament program

    * Star Tribune high school sports page

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    Ron Haggstrom, David La Vaque

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  • Is remote work stifling creativity?

    Is remote work stifling creativity?

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    MINNEAPOLIS — The move to remote work has been a learning curve for everyone.

    While Zoom meetings mimic in-person interaction — it isn’t as spontaneous and some employees are having trouble connecting — and creating, virtually.

    Last year, almost 34% of Minnesota workers worked remotely at least one day per week according to census data. But there are troubling signs among full-remote workers.

    “People are disconnected, isolated, frustrated, not committed to the vision or the mission of the organization. I wanted to figure out what is going on,” explained Peggy Kendall, professor of communication studies at Bethel University.

    Kendall teamed up with one of her students, Triston Thomas, in a four month-long pilot study to find answers.

    MORE NEWS: Can you guess when the first “salty” of 2024 will enter Duluth Harbor?

    “We wanted to focus on this idea of psychological safety which is a sense of people not speaking out or feeling as if they can’t speak out,” said Triston Thomas, a graduate of Bethel University.

    Which leads to another question: Does remote work stifle innovation and creativity?

    “To come up with a creative idea, you have to trust that people aren’t going to think, ‘that was a stupid idea’,” said Kendall,

    In their interviews, they found a disconnect between managers and employees.

    ‘The biggest killer of psychological safety is this feeling that my boss is too busy and that my boss is too busy for me,” said Kendall.

    “I don’t know my boss. I don’t know people around me so I don’t trust them so maybe I should carry more of this workload which equals this burnout situation that’s happening at home,” said Thomas.

    Their advice to managers in a virtual environment:

    “Watch your body language and second, check in,” said Kendall.

    “Don’t assume that everything is ok. Figure out their mental space. Ask them about life. Ask them about their children,” added Thomas.

    After completing their work over the summer, Thomas graduated in December and has entered the workforce.

    MORE NEWS: Business licensing proposal supported by new state cannabis office sparks debate

    Having conducted the study, we asked Thomas and Kendall if given the option, would they choose in person, remote or hybrid?

    “Hybrid. Because you live in both worlds. I believe that no matter what I choose, we are transitioning into a world where it’s remote now,” said Thomas.

    Kendall sees it differently.

    “A lot of people are really sold on virtual work. I don’t like it. I don’t like it at all. Teaching virtually oh my gosh,” she said.

    Kendall believes any company attempting a 100% return to the office is facing an uphill battle.

    She says the most talented, qualified workers want flexibility and choice.

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    Derek James

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  • Tapping into neighborhood power to make maple syrup in a Minneapolis sugarbush

    Tapping into neighborhood power to make maple syrup in a Minneapolis sugarbush

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    The sap erupted at the end of January, two months earlier than normal. There had been no rain, so the rivulets of ice coursing between the furrows of King Park’s maple trees could only be frozen sap. It came apart in the hand with a slightly glutinous texture, and tasted distinctly sweet.

    The sudden start of syruping season launched the members of the Urban Sap Tap project into action. Holes were drilled in trunks, spiles hammered 2½ inches deep, plastic receptacles hung with the group’s new logo, including a QR code with information about their new Park Board pilot program.

    For the past six winters, an ad hoc collective of people who live in the King Field neighborhood of south Minneapolis have harvested sap from the maple trees in their own yards, getting together in the park to boil their spoils down into syrup. This winter they got the Park Board’s permission to tap the park’s maples, too, after convincing the forestry department they could do it without damaging the trees.

    At the peak of sap production, Sarah Linnes-Robinson, a longtime neighborhood association leader, would empty the bags in the park at least once a day into 5-gallon buckets. She compared sap tapping to ice dipping on the lakes, another niche and quintessentially Minnesotan activity that wasn’t sanctioned by the Park Board until residents pushed for it.

    “I think the Park Board is maybe trying to listen more to citizens and how they want to use the urban environment,” Linnes-Robinson said.

    By bringing the rustic tradition of maple tapping out of backyards and into a major city park, the group hopes to share their hobby more widely — including with neighbors who don’t have maples and those who don’t own land.

    The whole exercise is bit like making stone soup. Maple sap contains 98% water and just 2% sugar, meaning 40 gallons of sap cooks down into about 1 gallon of syrup. A single maple tree isn’t going to produce much, and no one household in the city has enough space for a sugar bush, or maple orchard. It quite literally takes a village to make enough syrup to serve the neighborhood a proper pancake breakfast, which the Urban Sap Tap group puts on in March to celebrate spring’s arrival after the trees bud and the sap dries. They raise just enough money to finance the following year’s tap.

    But is there a conservation angle? Just a subtle one derived from the oft-quoted logic of Senegalese forester Baba Dioum: “In the end we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught.”

    Urban Sap Tap member Steve Brandt and Aaron Flanders, King Park’s recreation supervisor, pondered the connection between caring for a tree and collecting food from it as they tapped six more maples in the park in early February. Brandt used a hand drill to make the hole and a turkey baster to flush it with diluted bleach.

    “It gets you outside at the time of year when most people aren’t doing recreation outdoors, when the snow’s starting to go, the ice skating rinks have turned to mush and it’s not bicycling weather unless you’re hard-core,” he said. “It does put you in touch with trees. You learn to read a tree and see how the tree heals itself.”

    Maple tree tapping was invented by Indigenous groups, who associated it with the nascent spring, when it’s still freezing at night but the days are starting to get warmer. These conditions cause the tree’s cells to expand and contract, sucking water up from the roots overnight and building pressure in the trunk when temperatures rise during the day. Some trees practically gush sap when that pressure gets overwhelming, like a cow badly needing to be milked.

    “It’s hard to ask a tree to get a firsthand opinion, but it’s nature’s way of releasing pressure,” said Gary Wyatt, agroforestry educator with the University of Minnesota Extension. “I would say it’s somewhat healthy for the tree.”

    Whether the trees are resilient enough for tapping following several years of drought and an unseasonably warm winter was a question posted on many a maple syruping forum this year. When urban residents asked friends on the reservation whether they’re tapping, the answers ran from abstention out of an abundance of caution to snapshots of pots full of sap boiling on the stove. There’s no absolute right answer — every tree owner has to make the decision for themselves, said Wyatt.

    South High School’s All Nations program, which has a long-running tradition of tapping the boulevard trees next to the school, had a bye year. District spokeswoman M.A. Rosko said it was a weather-related decision.

    Native kids who grow up in the city may never have gotten the chance tap a tree and collect their own sap for syruping, said Gloria Iacono of the Native American Community Development Institute. She’s the food sovereignty manager of Four Sisters Farm at 2839 17th Av. S., which has a plot dedicated to sugar maple saplings that will one day contribute to the farm’s mission of rebuilding Indigenous food systems in the urban environment.

    That’ll be many years in the future, when the saplings reach the 10 inches in girth required for tapping. In the meantime, the NACDI and foraging instructor Haleigh Ziebol are trying to recreate in East Phillips the network of privately owned maple trees that the Urban Sap Tap group started in King Field. They hope that grassroots organizing will one day unlock park trees for tapping in the Phillips community as well.

    “I don’t know of any other operations that are doing this in an urban environment,” said Iacono. “I think maybe part of that is, again, access to trees … You need to be able to tap a significant amount of trees, which is kind of why doing it in a community setting is so cool. If everyone pools their resources, you can find enough maple trees in your area, and people can bring the sap that they have and make something together.”

    The Urban Sap Tap project hosted their annual pancake breakfast on March 16 and served 250 people, or roughly 100 more than last year, according to an informal utensil poll. As clouds of water vapor billowed from a new evaporator paid for by a park innovation grant, families sampled the product of last year’s tap. It was a dark, viscous syrup, its complex sweetness the result of sap taken from different types of maples growing in the neighborhood.

    “Hopefully we can replicate this for other areas,” said Peter Jaeger, a citywide nature programmer for the Park Board who has long advocated for tapping the trees in King Park. “It’s been received pretty well, so as we continue, hopefully there’ll be more and more interest.”

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    Susan Du

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  • Mississippi Park Connection and the National Park Service Present “Welcome Back the Herons” on March 30 – Minneapolis Riverfront News – Minneapolis Riverfront Neighborhoods.

    Mississippi Park Connection and the National Park Service Present “Welcome Back the Herons” on March 30 – Minneapolis Riverfront News – Minneapolis Riverfront Neighborhoods.

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    An Annual Celebration of Migratory Wildlife’s Return to Minnesota

    As the snow melts and the days grow longer, it’s time to welcome back our beloved herons, cormorants, and egrets to their summer sanctuary in Minnesota! After their arduous migratory journey along the Mississippi River, these majestic birds are returning to mark the onset of spring and a season of renewal.

    To celebrate this joyous occasion, Mississippi Park Connection and the National Park Service invite you to join them for the annual Welcome Back the Herons event, a festive celebration that brings hundreds of curious people to the rookery to celebrate nature’s resilience and beauty. Explore the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area – your national park! This event promises an unforgettable experience for nature enthusiasts of all ages.

    Highlights of the event include:

    Birdwatching: Take a leisurely walk to the heron rookery and witness these magnificent birds in action as they build their nests for the breeding season. Get up close and watch our feathered friends as they return to their nesting grounds along the Mississippi River. Experienced birdwatchers will be on hand to guide you through the diverse avian species that call this area home.

    Educational Talks: Learn about the incredible journey of these migratory birds through engaging and informative talks led by birding experts and National Park Service park rangers.

    S’mores and Bonfire: Experience the joy of bird watching along the Mississippi River while indulging in s’mores around a cozy bonfire. 

    “It wasn’t so long ago that a Great Blue Heron was an uncommon sight. Over the last century, their population suffered – first from feather collectors who sought their elegant plumes, then from water pollution and the toxic effects of DDT. Now the herons have returned – tall, stately, elegant birds strutting along the riverbanks. Now they arrive each spring and congregate in great numbers in rookeries along the Mississippi River. They remind us that in the last decades our river has returned too. It now offers a bounty of food – and year after year the herons return to harvest it. At this event, hundreds can be seen in the treetops as they court each other, tend to their young, and lay the groundwork for the coming generations. They remind us how far we’ve come, and show that it’s never too late to begin again.” – Will Mathews, National Park Service 

    Whether you’re a seasoned birdwatcher, a nature enthusiast, or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of the natural world, this event offers something for everyone. Come together with fellow community members to celebrate the return of the herons and embrace the spirit of conservation and stewardship.

    Event Details:

    Date: Saturday, March 30

    Time: Drop in anytime between 11 AM – 1 PM 

    Location: Marshall Terrace Park, 2740 Marshall St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418

    Admission: Free

    For more information and to RSVP, please visit parkconnection.org/events or contact Mississippi Park Connection at 651-291-8164 or info@parkconnection.org.

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    Kim Eslinger

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  • How would we get around if Uber and Lyft leave Minneapolis? It’s complicated.

    How would we get around if Uber and Lyft leave Minneapolis? It’s complicated.

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    There was a time when hundreds — okay, more like 1,600 — cabdrivers roamed Minneapolis roads. They picked up riders who had either called a company dispatch center or stood on a curb, raised a hand and shouted “taxi!”

    Not so anymore.

    These days we’re used to opening a rideshare app and having a driver arrive within minutes. Upward of 12,000 Uber and Lyft drivers work within city limits, according to the companies. Now, the two biggest players in the rideshare game are threatening to leave the city over a new City Council ordinance hiking driver pay.

    That would leave the nine remaining taxi companies, which employ 14 drivers, to pick up the slack. What does it look like to hail a taxi in Minneapolis these days? And how does it compare to using the Uber and Lyft apps to order a ride? We took two trips to find out.

    For the first, reporter Eder Campuzano and news intern Alex Karwowski rode from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to the Seven Points shopping mall in Uptown. The second trip was a ride from the Whittier neighborhood to downtown St. Paul, simulating a night of drinks followed by an event at Xcel Energy Center.

    Here’s what we found:

    MSP to Uptown

    Our reporters began their journey at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport where we synced up our watches, figuratively speaking, in front of the Delta Air Lines kiosk in Terminal 1. From there, we went our separate ways.

    Alex set off for the airport’s designated rideshare area and Eder took another escalator up to the taxi waiting area. There were three cabs parked in the waiting area, and two drivers immediately acknowledged the waiting reporter. He was in a Classic Travel taxi within seconds.

    Alex hailed an Uber and waited about five minutes before his car arrived.

    The drivers took nearly identical routes. Eder’s dropped him off at the entrance to Curioso Coffee Bar 16 minutes and 59 seconds after he got into the vehicle. Alex’s left him between Girard and Fremont Avenues on 31st Street 22 minutes and 43 seconds after pickup.

    While Eder’s ride was about 25% shorter, it was much more expensive. The fare alone was $39.50, while Alex paid $26.97 before tip. Taxis that operate out of MSP automatically charge $6.50 — that’s $4 for an airport access fee and $2.50 for a flag drop (a minimum fee).

    Uber charged Alex a $2.75 booking fee and a $3.62 airport surcharge, or $6.37 in mandatory fees. His driver, Greg Lasica, said he does the gig full-time. He works for both Uber and Lyft in a bid to “maximize my efficiency.”

    As he ferried Alex to Uptown, Lasica received a notification for a potential rider from the Uber app. The trip would take 13 minutes and pay $5. Lasica did some quick mental math — that amounted to a rate of a little more than $22 an hour. He declined the job.

    “It’ll fit for someone else,” Lasica said.

    Lasica likes the relationship he’s built with Uber and Lyft. He’s figured out a system that maximizes his profits. Lasica drives customers between MSP and downtown Minneapolis, picking up spare rides between the destinations.

    Lasica believes the Minneapolis City Council should “stay out of it.” Eder’s driver declined to speak on the record. While the taxi and rideshare service models differed in price, the experience of traveling from the airport to Uptown was nearly identical.

    But it’s not every day that Minneapolitans are landing at MSP and shuttling home. Sometimes, they’re merely looking for a ride to another neighborhood or to visit that other city across the river. And hailing a cab from one municipality to the other can prove to be a baffling ordeal.

    Minneapolis to St. Paul

    While Minneapolis proper has its fair share of venues for concerts and major league sports, a pair of notable destinations reside within St. Paul: Xcel Energy Center and Allianz Field. How much would it cost, and how long would it take, to take a taxi from a bar in the Whittier neighborhood in Minneapolis to downtown St. Paul?

    We chose Mortimer’s Bar and Restaurant as the starting point for our experiment. Unsure of whether any of the myriad taxi apps in Apple’s App Store would be of use — many had one- or two-star ratings — we turned to Google.

    A quick search for a cab company yielded several results, two of which allowed online booking and a quote for the ride. Blue and White Taxi estimated a cost of $28.50. Transportation Plus offered a lift for 60 cents less and a wait time of 23 minutes, so at 8 p.m. we prepaid for that trip.

    The company texted a link to a map that tracked the driver as he left Golden Valley. At 8:15, the vehicle icon disappeared from the map, as did the estimated time of arrival. It popped back up at 8:21 with a new ETA, this time 11 minutes.

    The driver arrived at Mortimer’s at 8:33 p.m. and dropped off at Xcel Energy Center at 8:47 p.m. All told, it took 47 minutes to get from Whittier to downtown St. Paul. Lyft, by contrast, quoted a $16.90 fare at 8 p.m. with an estimated arrival at Xcel of 8:18 p.m.

    Heading back to Minneapolis

    While the trip from Minneapolis to St. Paul proved relatively easy, if a little long, returning to the Whittier neighborhood was something of a fiasco. Wary of the web-based taxi ordering systems, we went old school and dialed up three cab companies at about 10:05 p.m.

    One of them quoted a fare of $60 and a pickup time of about 20 minutes.

    A call to another went to voicemail. A dispatcher for a third company quoted a fare of about $40. There was just one problem: He didn’t have any drivers available to make the trip from the St. Paul Grill back to Mortimer’s.

    We ended up ordering a Lyft at 10:17 p.m. The driver arrived at 10:19 p.m., just as the app advertised, with the $14.99 fare. We arrived at Mortimer’s 14 minutes later.

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    Eder Campuzano, , Alex Karwowski

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  • Bengals.com Media Mock 2.0: How Free Agency Impacted No. 18

    Bengals.com Media Mock 2.0: How Free Agency Impacted No. 18

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    Geoff Hobson

    For the past ten days, free agency has consumed the NFL, but it barely nudged the second edition of the 2024 Bengals.com Media Mock Draft.

    There is barely a blip between this one and the Feb. 25 Media Mock published before the NFL scouting combine and free agency. Before the Bengals pick at No. 18, six teams took the same player they took last month and three who didn’t took the same position. And only two players, Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton and Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins, are the only players available to the Bengals who weren’t there in February.

    (The only real response to free agency came at No. 11, when the Vikings reacted to the loss of quarterback Kirk Cousins by taking Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy instead of Wiggins.)

    That’s a pretty solid universe of 15 players who have a good shot of not being there for the Bengals: Five quarterbacks, three receivers, three offensive tackles, two cornerbacks, an edge rusher, and a tight end.

    Here’s the breakdown before No. 18 in this Media Mock: Five quarterbacks, four wide receivers, four offensive tackles, two cornerbacks, a tight end, and an edge rusher.

    The new players in the top 17 are LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (to New Orleans at 14) and Washington guard-tackle Troy Fautanu (No. 16 to Seattle). That may set off some alarm bells for the Bengals, clearly perusing one of the best tackle classes in years. And the 6-4, 317-pound Fautanu is one of them, a really intriguing guy who is big enough and athletic enough that he may be able to play any spot on the line.

    So how deep does that tackle class go? And do the Bengals even consider a tackle at No. 18 now that they filled out their offensive line earlier this week with the signing of right tackle Trent Brown?

    Here’s how the Bengals.com Media Mock panel called the run-up to Cincinnati’s pick:

    2024 Mock Draft Roundup 5.0: Another LSU Wide Reciever To Cincinnati? 2024 Mock Draft Roundup 4.0: Pundit Picks SEC Corner for Round One 2024 Mock Draft Roundup 3.0: Two Pundits Select TEs for First-Round Pick

    1.BEARS: QB Caleb Williams, USC; Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune: They’re banking on Williams’ drop-back accuracy to go with his playmaking as the inconsistent Justin Fields tries to turn it around with Mike Tomlin and Russell Wilson.

    2.COMMANDERS: QB Jayden Daniels, LSU; John Keim, ESPN.com: New owner Josh Harris is a process guy. If anything, they’ll check all the boxes. Last media mock, it was Drake Maye. Now it is Daniels and his game-changing ability. In two weeks it could be someone else as the process plays out.

    3.PATRIOTS: QB Drake Maye, North Carolina; Karen Guregian, MassLive.com: They signed Jacoby Brissett as soon as they could in free agency and he would seem to be the obvious bridge guy in what looks to be an obvious move.

    4.CARDINALS: WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State; Darren Urban, azcardinals.com: They could trade back as the quarterback sweepstakes heat up, but now that Hollywood Brown is in Kansas City, they may be better off just staying put and getting Kyler Murray the best receiver in the draft.

    5.CHARGERS: WR Malik Nabers, LSU; Jeff Miller, The Los Angeles Times: With two long-time franchise receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams gone, this seems to be the only pick.

    6.GIANTS: WR Rome Odunze, Washington; Mike Eisen, Giants.com: The Giants are in hot pursuit of that down-the-field threat they’ve seemingly been lacking since the days of the late, great Homer Jones.

    7.TITANS: T Joe Alt, Notre Dame; Turron Davenport, ESPN.com: Per Davenport: The Titans offensive line is desperately in need of an overhaul. Adding Alt, the most plug-and-play tackle in the draft, gives Tennessee their left tackle for the next decade beside guard Peter Skoronski, their 2023 No. 1 pick.

    8.FALCONS: DE Dallas Turner, Alabama; D. Orlando Ledbetter, Atlanta Journal-Constitution:As free agency clears with Cousins at quarterback, DLed is sticking with the edge rusher and first defensive player off the board for new head coach Raheem Morris. Morris, an old defensive coordinator, is probably going to stand him up as an outside backer as he transitions the Falcons to his 3-4.

    9.BEARS: T Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State; Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune: With the top three receivers gone, the Bears opt to get a new quarterback the next best thing: A top ten tackle.

    10.JETS: T Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State; Rich Cimini, ESPN.com: They just signed Tyron Smith, but he’s on a one-year deal and has durability issues. So is Morgan Moses and he’s 33. Still need O-line help.

    11.VIKINGS: QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan; Mark Craig, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: Whatever they have to do to come out of it with the successor to Cousins.

    12.BRONCOS: QB Bo Nix, Oregon; Mike Klis, 9News: In the last mock, McCarthy was there and Klis picked Nix instead. If he had it to do over, he’d take McCarthy because he thinks the Broncos have liked what they’ve seen the last few weeks. He also thinks Nix is head coach Sean Payton’s kind of quick-thinking, quick-dealing quarterback.

    13.RAIDERS: CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama Vinny Bonsignore, Las Vegas Review-Journal: Raiders complete their three-headed monster on the corner by adding Arnold to Jack Jones and Nate Hobbs.

    14.SAINTS: WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU; Katherine Terrell, ESPN.com: Bengals fans know Kat Terrell well from her days she chronicled the last days of the Marvin Lewis Bengals and the first days of the Zac Taylor regime, so they know the LSU grad loves her Tigers. But she insists this one makes sense:

    With Trevor Penning still unproven at left tackle and Ryan Ramczyk’s long-term future in doubt, a top tackle like Fashanu beckons, but he’s gone. So is wide receiver Michael Thomas and they also need a running mate for Chris Olave.

    15.COLTS: TE Brock Bowers, Georgia; Stephen Holder, ESPN.com: A versatile weapon like Bowers could thrive in head coach Shane Steichen’s dynamic offense. In Steichen’s last two seasons running the Eagles offense, tight end Dallas Goedert had 111 catches and seven touchdowns.

    16.SEAHAWKS: T Troy Fautanu, Washington; John Boyle, Seahawks.com: Per Boyle: A trade back could make a lot of sense for a team that has only one other pick in the top 100, but if the Seahawks do stay put at 16, addressing the offensive line would make a lot of sense. Fautanu looks like he could stick to tackle at the next level, but he might be even better at guard, where the Seahawks also happen to have a need.

    17.JAGUARS: CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo; Michael DiRocco, ESPN.com: DiRocco took Mitchell last time and he’s sticking with it. In the run-up to free agency the Jags cut Darious Williams and they added Ronald Darby, a 10-year man working on his sixth team. With Tyson Campbell in the final year of his deal, getting one of the draft’s top cornerbacks here seems to be the move.

    18.BENGALS: DT Jer’Zhan (Johnny) Newton, Illinois; Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com:

    If there’s one thing the last ten days has reminded us, it is just how rare and expensive defensive tackles are out there when they hit free agency. Even rarer are the massive nose tackles such as DJ Reader, the man who filled that role here for four seasons before leaving for Detroit last week.

    The Bengals could use a nose tackle for the opener and there doesn’t seem to be one early in the draft. But a team that has to face Nick Chubb, Derrick Henry, and Najee Harris knows it needs juice up front no matter in what form.

    They still need offensive tackle depth, but now that Trent Brown is here at right tackle for a year, what’s more urgent? (Hint: Chubb averages five yards per carry and 90 yards per game in his career against the Bengals.)

    According to a survey of big boards (Scouts, Inc., Pro Football Focus, NFL.com), there are top players at other spots lurking at No. 18 in this scenario: Edgers Jared Verse and Laiatu Latu, Wiggins and Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean, and another wideout, Adonai Mitchell of Texas.

    But they’ve got plenty of young pass rushers, the secondary is so stocked they have to figure out the talent they’ve got, and when it comes to wide receiver, Tee Higgins is franchised and they may have solved some of the slot puzzle when they signed vet pass-catching tight end Mike Gesicki.

    So it gets back to the big guys. Doesn’t it always? Just how deep is that offensive tackle class? If they want one, it may have to go six or seven deep. Four are gone in this one and Arizona, New Orleans, and the Colts seem to be mulling them, too.

    In this scenario, the big boards would give the Bengals a shot at Georgia’s Amarius Mims, Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton, and Alabama’s J.C. Latham. But if the tackle crop is that deep, can’t they wait until the second round and grab that D-tackle first who won’t be there then?

    In the last Media Mock, we did pick a three-technique in Texas’ Byron Murphy II and he’s available. And, it seems many, if not most, draft gurus rate Murphy over Newton.

    But it’s close and we wanted to mix it up, as well as emphasize Newton’s prowess against the run.

    Two things working against the 6-2, 304-pound Newton are his size and he’s recovering from a slight foot fracture and didn’t work at the combine. But, gee, it sounds like he’s got that mindset they seek. He’s not sure which game he did it, but it was somewhere in the middle of the year and he kept playing and still made All-American.

    “I forgot, but I’ve been feeling it for a long time,” he’s quoted as saying.

    That’s tough. Plus, you have to like he what does against the run. According to Pro Football Focus, since 2022 he’s got a better grade against the run than Murphy. And Newton played 633 snaps on the run, nearly double what Murphy did, although Murphy compiled better pass-rush numbers.

    But Newton is well-rounded.

    “Newton finished with top-five marks in each stable metric category,” PFF said of his past two seasons. “In large part due to an elite 2022 season in which he earned a 91.5 overall grade, a 91.9 run-defense grade, and an 84.7 pass-rush grade. While those numbers did decrease slightly in 2023, Newton delivered eight sacks, doubling his 2022 season total.”

    NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah adds, “Against the run, (Newton) generates knock-back at the point of attack and gives effort to chase plays down the line … he’s a very skilled rusher and holds up versus the run.”

    Maybe Newton’s a better fit because of his experience against the run. Maybe not. Maybe your guy is Murphy.

    It’s just food for thought. Offensive or defensive tackle? It may be neither because with the signing of Brown, it’s so much easier to take their much-coveted best player available.

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  • Round 1 of snowfall tapers off Friday morning in Twin Cities; heavier round 2 arrives Sunday

    Round 1 of snowfall tapers off Friday morning in Twin Cities; heavier round 2 arrives Sunday

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    NEXT Weather: 7 a.m. forecast from March 22, 2024


    NEXT Weather: 7 a.m. forecast from March 22, 2024

    03:20

    MINNEAPOLIS — Snow will taper off through Friday morning in the Twin Cities, with most of the damage done before 7 a.m. However, a winter weather advisory is in place until 10 a.m.

    WEATHER RESOURCES:  More weather coverage | Animated radars | School Closings & Delays

    wwn-snowfall-map2-1.png

    WCCO


    Many snow reports show 2-5 inches of snow fell in the metro overnight. Friday’s forecast high is 33 degrees. As the system clears out, there is some potential for sunshine.    

    wwn-snowfall-map.png

    WCCO


    The weekend will start quiet with sunshine and temps in the lower 30s. Some flurries are possible late Saturday before the next storm system approaches Sunday.  

    RELATED: Major weather shift could make March the snowiest month of the season in Minnesota

    There will be high rates of moisture that will bring the potential for heavy rates of snow on Sunday, causing a high impact on travel.

    NEXT Drive: Overnight snow to make for tough Friday morning commute in the Twin Cities

    wx-alerts.jpg

    WCCO


    With snow continuing all day and likely carrying over into Monday, this could be a messy start to the week. 

    Tuesday looks to be wet and potentially a little snowy as well. This system will likely clear on Wednesday, and temps will warm on Thursday.

    RELATED: Could the Twin Cities get more than half the season’s current snowfall total by Tuesday? Here’s what we know

    Joseph Dames


    web-joseph-dames.jpg

    Joseph Dames joined the WCCO team during the winter of 2022. He is currently the weekend morning meteorologist. You can also catch him putting together weather, science, and other environmental stories during the week.

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    Joseph Dames

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  • After 30 Years Together, New York Resident Fights to Reclaim Seized Pet Alligator – Southwest Journal

    After 30 Years Together, New York Resident Fights to Reclaim Seized Pet Alligator – Southwest Journal

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    HAMBURG, N.Y. — A New York man is battling to get his alligator back after conservation officers confiscated the reptile, which he claims is harmless and has been a part of his family for over 30 years. Tony Cavallaro faced officers at his Buffalo suburb residence last week, who came with a warrant to take his alligator named Albert, a 12-foot (3.6-meter), 750-pound (340-kilogram) creature. They sedated Albert, secured his mouth, and transported him in a van.

    The Department of Environmental Conservation cited the expiration of Cavallaro’s license to keep Albert in 2021. Furthermore, Cavallaro’s interactions with the alligator, including allowing others to touch and swim with Albert, violated regulations regarding the ownership of animals deemed dangerous.

    Tony Cavallaro`s Mom Feeding Crocodile Albert
    Screenshot from Instagram / cavallaro966

    Cavallaro, 64, disagrees with this characterization. He insists that Albert, who has been raised in captivity since he was two months old and bought at an Ohio reptile show, has never been aggressive towards humans or pets. He reminisced about times when Albert and his dog would snuggle together.

    Describing Albert as an “emotional support animal,” Cavallaro has invested $120,000 in a home extension tailored to the alligator’s needs, featuring a heated pond, tropical plants, and a bar. Since the seizure, he finds the space devoid of its main attraction.

    Cavallaro’s fight to reclaim Albert has garnered widespread support, evidenced by a petition with over 120,000 signatures and social media campaigns. A friend even composed a song titled “Oh Albert, please come home” to support the cause.

    Despite his personal bond with Albert, Cavallaro admits to letting visitors interact closely with the alligator, emphasizing Albert’s gentle nature, even with his elderly mother.

    The issue arose from a failure to renew his license after changes in the laws governing the possession of dangerous animals in 2020. Cavallaro attempted to renew his license but found the regulations unclear and believes his previous compliance should be grandfathered in.

    Cavallaro’s passion for reptiles is long-standing, with a history of owning various species. He refutes claims by the DEC about Albert’s health problems, asserting the alligator’s well-being and disputing any vision or spinal issues.

    The DEC has placed Albert with a licensed caretaker temporarily, not disclosing the location, while plans for his permanent care are made. The case highlights the complexities of owning exotic pets in the U.S., where abandoned alligators in public spaces occasionally surface, raising concerns about their welfare and public safety.

    Source: Yahoo

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    Srdjan Ilic

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  • OpTic, Ultra open Stage 2 Major with sweeps

    OpTic, Ultra open Stage 2 Major with sweeps

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    (Photo credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports)

    OpTic Texas and the Toronto Ultra swept their matches Thursday on the first day of action in the Call of Duty League’s Stage 2 Major.

    The other two winners were the New York Subliners and the Atlanta FaZe.

    OpTic defeated the Miami Heretics and the Ultra knocked off the Vegas Legion, and those winners will remain in the upper bracket and meet on Saturday.

    The Subliners handled the Boston Breach 3-1, and the FaZe had to go the distance, beating the Los Angeles Thieves in five maps. The Subliners and the FaZe will also square off on Saturday.

    All 12 CDL teams played seven qualifying matches ahead of the Stage 2 Major, which runs through next Sunday in Miami. Every team advanced to the double-elimination tournament, with the qualifying matches determining seeding. The top eight teams in the qualifying standings got a bye in the first round of the tournament.

    The winning team gets $150,000 of the event’s $375,000 prize pool. The winner also gets 100 CDL points.

    OpTic began its sweep with a 250-165 win on Invasion Hardpoint. Next came a 6-4 victory on Rio Search Destroy and a 3-1 clincher on Karachi Control.

    The Ultra had closer calls but still won all three of their maps: 250-225 on Rio Hardpoint, 6-5 on Invasion Search Destroy and 3-2 on Invasion Control.

    The Subliners lost their first map, Skidrow Hardpoint, 250-125 to the Breach. But then New York rallied with wins on Terminal Search Destroy (6-4), Invasion Control (3-0) and Sub Base Hardpoint (250-157).

    The FaZe and Thieves alternated wins and losses through the first four maps. The Thieves took Invasion Hardpoint 250-173, but the FaZe eked out a 6-5 victory on Invasion Search Destroy. The Thieves again took the lead with a 3-1 win on Invasion Control, but the FaZe responded with a 250-172 victory on Rio Hardpoint.

    Finally, Atlanta prevailed 6-2 on the clincher, Highrise Search Destroy.

    There will be five matches on Friday:

    (Elimination bracket round 1)

    –Miami Heretics vs. Carolina Royal Ravens

    –Vegas Legion vs. Seattle Surge

    –Boston Breach vs. Minnesota Rokkr

    –Los Angeles Thieves vs. Los Angeles Guerrillas

    (Elimination bracket round 2)

    –Breach-Rokkr winner vs. Thieves-Guerrillas winner

    Stage 2 Major prize money and CDL points

    1st — $150,000, 100 points, TBD

    2nd — $90,000, 75 points, TBD

    3rd — $60,000, 60 points, TBD

    4th — $30,000, 45 points, TBD

    5th-6th — $15,000, 30 points, TBD

    7th-8th — $7,500, 15 points, TBD

    9th-12th — No money, no points, TBD

    –Field Level Media

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  • CAIR MN removes Shaun King as event keynote speaker following backlash

    CAIR MN removes Shaun King as event keynote speaker following backlash

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    Minnesota’s branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said Thursday night it will remove activist Shaun King as its keynote speaker for an upcoming Ramadan fundraiser, hours after backlash over the announcement that King was selected.

    A little before noon, CAIR posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that King would speak at its 17th annual fundraising dinner on Sunday evening at Coffman Memorial Union at the University of Minnesota.

    The post quickly drew outraged comments on X that were later hidden by the page by making it private, with many comments accusing King of being a scammer.

    About seven hours later, CAIR posted an update saying it had canceled King’s appearance after hearing the complaints.

    “We have heard concerns expressed — directly and indirectly — by our community regarding Shaun King being the keynote at your annual Iftar fundraiser,” the post read. “We have made the decision to not have Shaun King as the keynote speaker for our annual fundraising dinner.”

    The post said the controversy over King became a “distraction from the sole purpose of our event — to support the work of protecting and advancing the civil liberties of Muslims in Minnesota.”

    Those who commented on the reversal were mostly pleased about the decision, and some criticized CAIR for describing King in the initial post as a “civil rights icon.”

    King rose to prominence in 2014, and was known for his commentary and posts about police brutality and social justice. He has also been seen as a controversial figure and been accused of misappropriating funds intended to be used for Black Lives Matter causes.

    Following the killing of Tamir Rice by police in Ohio, King raised $60,000 for Rice’s family, but an attorney for Rice’s family later said they hadn’t received any of the money, and that they had never heard of King or the fundraiser, according to a Washington Post article at the time. The money was later seized by the court and given to Rice’s family.

    King did not immediately respond to a request for comment on LinkedIn.

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    Louis Krauss

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  • Antitrust lawsuits accuse major U.S. sugar companies of conspiring to fix prices

    Antitrust lawsuits accuse major U.S. sugar companies of conspiring to fix prices

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    Three antitrust lawsuits filed by food businesses in federal court in Minnesota this week accuse some of the largest U.S. sugar-producing companies of conspiring to fix prices.

    The lawsuits name United Sugars, which includes American Crystal Sugar and the Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative; Domino Sugar; Cargill; other producers, and a commodity data company. The plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuits include Great Harvest Bread in Duluth, Morelos Bakery in St. Paul and the Connecticut restaurant group WNT, the Star Tribune reported.

    “Since at least 2019, the Producing Defendants have had an ongoing agreement to artificially raise, fix, stabilize or maintain Granulated Sugar prices in the United States,” one of the lawsuits alleges. “To effectuate this agreement, the Producing Defendants engaged in price signaling and exchanges of detailed, accurate, non-public, competitively sensitive information.”

    The lawsuits, which make broadly similar claims, seek injunctions barring the sugar companies from engaging in illegal conduct and unspecified damages.

    READ MORE: U.S. hits Apple with landmark antitrust suit, accusing tech giant of stifling competition

    Minnesota grows more sugar beets than any other state. The sugar industry, which is dominated by a handful of large companies, has faced antitrust scrutiny for decades. A 1978 consent decree banned sugar companies from communicating about future prices or coordinating on sugar sales.

    United Sugars, which is based in Edina, called the claims baseless.

    “While it is our longstanding practice to not comment extensively on litigation, we believe this case has no merit, and we will vigorously defend ourselves from its baseless accusations,” the company said in a statement.

    Minnetonka-based agribusiness giant Cargill also denied the allegations.

    “We take pride in conducting our business with integrity,” Cargill said in a statement. “We compete vigorously but do so fairly, ethically and in compliance with the law.”

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    CBS Minnesota

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