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  • MLB power rankings: Braves, Dodgers sit on top

    MLB power rankings: Braves, Dodgers sit on top

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    (Photo credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports)

    The Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks shocked the world by making the World Series last year. And you know what that means …

    The two best teams in baseball are mighty upset.

    The Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers will take the field in 2024 with the most star power in baseball, thebest collections of young talent and the best prospects waiting their turn.

    What could possibly go wrong?

    Here are the Field Level Media season-opening power rankings, from worst to first:

    30. Chicago White Sox. Having failed to win a postseason series since winning the 2005 World Series, the White Sox already appear to be tanking for the top pick in 2025. Can Caitlin Clark play baseball?

    29. Colorado Rockies. The traditionally pitching-challenged club was really good at preventing stolen bases last season. That’s a little like being really good at losing weight … again and again.

    28. Washington Nationals. Not that anybody noticed, but they went 35-37 after the All-Star break last season. All it got them was a worse draft pick.

    27. Oakland Athletics. The signing of J.D. Davis last week following his release by the cross-bay rival San Francisco Giants won’t stop local fans from staying away from the Coliseum.

    26. Los Angeles Angels. The bad news: Shohei Ohtani is now a Dodger. The good news: Anaheim still has the Matterhorn … and a Mickey Mouse of a baseball team.

    25. San Diego Padres. Yes, you can do worse than to constantly lose close games (9-23 in one-run affairs in 2023). You can not be competitive at all.

    24. Pittsburgh Pirates. Oneil Cruz is one of the most unique talents in baseball. The Pirates need far more than him to become competitive, though.

    23. Kansas City Royals. Patrick Mahomes’ adopted team is spending money as if some famous tight end’s girlfriend has bought an interest in the club. As for 2024 … “Shake It Off.”

    22. Detroit Tigers. Miguel Cabrera passes the baton to Colt Keith. Careful, young man, it’s slippery.

    21. St. Louis Cardinals. Apparently they’ve scheduled an Old-Timers’ Game on Opening Day at Busch. Lance Lynn, Kyle Gibson, Miles Mikolas, Matt Carpenter and Brandon Crawford are all expected to suit up.

    20. Miami Marlins. The team that Derek Jeter couldn’t save made the playoffs last season and then decided to get younger. You’d think being afraid of the bright lights wouldn’t be a problem in Miami.

    19. San Francisco Giants. Confused fans will witness a change from a hockey-style manager (line-shifting Gabe Kapler) to soccer-style (ironman fan Bob Melvin). To think they could have had Jim Harbaugh; that surely would have helped the running game.

    18. Cincinnati Reds. The up-and-comers chose to address last year’s 5.43 starting-staff ERA by bringing aboard Frankie Montas. Expect more fireworks.

    17. Houston Astros. Dusty Baker, Martin Maldonado and Michael Brantley are gone from an old team that hasn’t done anything exciting to replace them. This could get ugly in a hurry.

    16. New York Mets. The son of a Long Island congressman hit a walk-off sacrifice fly this spring. Hey, it kept the loss of Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer out of the tabloids for one day.

    15. Boston Red Sox. Much as it did last season when J.D. Martinez left for the Dodgers, this once proud franchise has aided the Braves’ cause this year with the trade of Chris Sale. At least it wasn’t to the Yankees.

    14. Milwaukee Brewers. The Yankees acquire Juan Soto. The Brewers trade away Corbin Burnes. Raise your hand if either surprises you.

    13. Minnesota Twins. Great power hitting and starting pitching delivered 87 wins last season. But losing Joey Gallo, Michael A. Taylor, Sonny Gray and Kenta Maeda leaves them with … a good bullpen?

    12. Seattle Mariners. It’s March Madness time, so it’s probably a good thing to mention the Mariners has all five starters back from last year’s 88-win team. But after narrowly missing the postseason, the question is: Can they rebound?

    11. Cleveland Guardians. New manager Stephen Vogt began his playing career 0-for-32 at the plate. At least he was healthy, something his team already isn’t.

    10. Chicago Cubs. Shota Imanaga has looked like the second coming of Shohei Ohtani at times on the mound this spring. Oh, wait. That was against the A’s. Never mind.

    9. Toronto Blue Jays. Out goes Brandon Belt, Matt Chapman and Whit Merrifield. In comes Joey Votto, Justin Turner and Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Call it a push?

    8. Arizona Diamondbacks. After surprising everyone with speed last season, they added Eugenio Suarez and Joc Pederson in the offseason. Has MLB shrunk the super-sized bases?

    7. Tampa Bay Rays. Is Manager of the Century Kevin Cash back? OK, then the Rays will defy all odds and compete again.

    6. Baltimore Orioles. Don’t look now, but the next Corey Seager-Marcus Semien-style superstar double-play combination is developing in Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday. If only John Means could stay healthy.

    5. New York Yankees. Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon might not scare anyone in March, and Cole could miss the first third of the season due to an arm ailment. But big money says: Look out in October.

    4. Philadelphia Phillies. One-armed Bryce Harper and his handpicked mates can’t play defense and the bullpen is shaky. Who cares? Adding Whit Merrifield to this collection of boppers is almost unfair.

    3. Texas Rangers. Bruce Bochy loves veteran players, but if Wyatt Langford can do for the champs what Evan Carter did last year, it’s bound to make the manager feel young again.

    2. Los Angeles Dodgers. Winning 100 games (again) wasn’t enough, so the Dodgers imported another star hitter (Shohei Ohtani) and another star pitcher (Yoshinobu Yamamoto). All of a sudden, Clayton Kershaw’s shoulder surgery doesn’t seem to matter.

    1. Atlanta Braves. Unfazed after succumbing to too much of a good thing last October, the defending regular-season champs added Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez and Jarred Kelenic. Are they gluttons for punishment, or what?

    –Dave Del Grande, Field Level Media

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  • Dairy Queen again marks start of spring with free vanilla cones

    Dairy Queen again marks start of spring with free vanilla cones

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    Finding Minnesota: The birthplace of the Dilly Bar


    Finding Minnesota: The birthplace of the Dilly Bar

    02:53

    MINNEAPOLIS — With the country on the cusp of greeting the return of spring, a warm-weather treat is once again available for free for a limited time only.

    That’s right, Tuesday is Free Cone Day at participating Dairy Queen locations. That means at participating restaurants, you can get a free small vanilla soft-serve cone.

    “Nothing says warmer weather is around the corner quite like Free Cone Day. We’re inviting fans everywhere to grab their friends and families and get their ‘Treat Szn’ started with something sweet — on us,” said Maria Hokanson, executive vice president of marketing at Dairy Queen.

    This year marks the eighth time the Bloomington-based ice cream chain has marked the start of spring with a free cone giveaway.

    There are Dairy Queen locations in most states. Click here to find a Dairy Queen near you.

    Are DQ’s cherry-dipped cones coming back?

    While this week’s free giveaway only involves unfettered vanilla cones, Dairy Queen fans remain on the hunt for their beloved cherry-dipped cones, and once again the rumor mill is swirling of a return.

    While for a number of years those with a particular jones could find cherry-dipped cones at nearly any given time, in recent years that’s not been the case. It’s been on and off the menu with the seasons, with butterscotch more affixed to cold-weather months, and cherry reemerging during warmer months.

    Over the years, Dairy Queen has explored a number of flavors for their dipped soft-serve ice cream cones. In the spring of 2019, Dairy Queen launched the Dreamsicle dipped cone, and in 2022 and 2023 launched additional flavors including Fruity Blast — a cereal-flavored dip — and churro. 

    Dairy Queen has even tried their hand at a pumpkin-flavored dipped cone (as if there weren’t enough pumpkin-spice flavored items).

    This spring, the chain is testing out a new “confetti cake” dipped cone.

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    Eric Henderson

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  • Apple and Google Collaboration – Gemini AI to Boost iPhone’s Smart Functions

    Apple and Google Collaboration – Gemini AI to Boost iPhone’s Smart Functions

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    March 18 (Reuters) – In a significant development, Apple (AAPL.O) is currently in negotiations to integrate Google’s advanced Gemini artificial intelligence platform into its iPhone offerings, according to sources reported by Bloomberg News on Monday. The discussions revolve around the licensing of Gemini to enhance certain upcoming features of the iPhone’s software later this year, though specifics on the agreement’s terms, branding, or the exact implementation have yet to be solidified.

    Market Reaction and Strategic Timing

    Following the news, Alphabet’s shares saw a substantial increase of over 6% in early trading in the United States, with Apple’s stock also rising by 2.5%. Any formal announcement of a deal is anticipated to be postponed until June, coinciding with Apple’s yearly developer conference.

    Apple has been in conversations with OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT, about incorporating its model, highlighting Apple’s keen interest in bolstering its AI capabilities.

    Potential Impact of the Deal

    Immediate comments from Apple, Google (owned by Alphabet, GOOGL.O), and OpenAI were not available in response to Reuters’ inquiries. A collaboration between these tech giants could significantly extend Google’s AI services across Apple’s vast ecosystem, which boasts over 2 billion active devices.

    This move is seen as a strategic effort by Google to strengthen its position against Microsoft-backed OpenAI, while simultaneously addressing Apple’s challenges in rapidly deploying AI applications—a factor contributing to Apple’s recent 10% share price decline and its loss of the title as the world’s most valuable company.

    Regulatory Considerations and Future Plans

    However, this deal might attract increased attention from U.S. regulators, given Google’s previous legal challenges regarding its search engine dominance and the financial arrangements with Apple to maintain its position.

    Daniel Ives, an analyst at Wedbush, highlighted the significance of this partnership, stating, “This strategic partnership is a critical element in Apple’s AI strategy, uniting with Google to leverage Gemini for powering AI features Apple plans to introduce.” He further emphasized the advantage for Google, noting the access to Apple’s substantial user base and the considerable licensing fees involved.

    Google’s January collaboration with Samsung, Apple’s competitor, to implement its Gemini AI in the Galaxy S24 smartphone series was part of its broader strategy to enhance Gemini’s adoption following initial setbacks. Apple CEO Tim Cook recently indicated the company’s substantial investment in generative AI, with plans to unveil its applications later in the year.

    According to Bloomberg, while Apple aims to deploy its in-house AI models for certain new functionalities in the forthcoming iOS 18, it is also exploring partnerships to drive generative AI features, including image creation and essay writing based on simple inputs.

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    Srdjan Ilic

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  • Jazz F John Collins (head) exits game vs. Wolves

    Jazz F John Collins (head) exits game vs. Wolves

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    (Photo credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports)

    Utah forward John Collins exited the Jazz’s Monday game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third quarter due to a head contusion.

    Collins was the victim of a vicious dunk by Minnesota star Anthony Edwards with 5:29 remaining in the third. He went up for a block when Edwards took flight, but the latter elevated well above Collins’ outstretched arm, throwing down a right-handed tomahawk slam.

    When Edwards was above the rim, his left forearm appeared to hit Collins in the face, and Collins fell to the floor after the play.

    Collins was evaluated for a concussion, but The Athletic reported following the game that it was just a bruise.

    Prior to exiting, Collins had 11 points and six rebounds in 20 minutes of action.

    Collins, 26, has averaged 14.6 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.9 blocks across 63 games (61 starts) this season, his first with Utah following six with the Atlanta Hawks.

    The Timberwolves came away with a 114-104 win. Edwards finished with a game-high 32 points.

    –Field Level Media

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  • Discrimination lawsuit brought by transgender athlete sent back to Minnesota trial court

    Discrimination lawsuit brought by transgender athlete sent back to Minnesota trial court

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    A Minnesota appeals court has sent the lawsuit brought by a transgender athlete back to a trial court to determine whether she was illegally denied entry into women’s competitions because of her gender identity.

    JayCee Cooper, a transgender woman, sued USA Powerlifting in 2021 after the organization denied her 2018 request for participation. She alleged the organization violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act, an anti-discrimination law which includes gender identity.

    Last year, a district court judge found that USA Powerlifting had discriminated against Cooper. USA Powerlifting appealed, and Cooper cross-appealed. In its lengthy Monday decision, the Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed, reversed and sent back parts of the case.

    Judge Matthew Johnson wrote: “The circumstantial evidence on which Cooper relies, when viewed in a light most favorable to her, is sufficient to allow a fact-finder to draw inferences and thereby find that USAPL excluded Cooper from its competitions because of her sexual orientation (i.e., transgender status).”

    Gender Justice Legal Director Jess Braverman, an attorney for Cooper, said, “We agree that it’s illegal to discriminate against transgender people in Minnesota, but we think it’s crystal clear that that’s what USA Powerlifting did in this case, so we don’t agree with the court’s ultimate conclusion that the case needs to go back for a trial, and we’re currently weighing all of our options.”

    Cooper could ask the Minnesota Supreme Court to review the decision, or go back to the lower court to keep litigating the case, Braverman said.

    Ansis Viksnins, USA Powerlifting’s lead attorney, welcomed the decision as having “corrected some of the mistakes” made by the lower court and has given their side an opportunity “to tell our side of the story” to a jury.

    “USA Powerlifting did not exclude Ms. Cooper because of her gender identity,” Viksnins said. “USA Powerlifting excluded her from competing in the women’s division because of her physiology. She was born biologically male and went through puberty as a male, and as a result, she has significant strength advantages over other people who would be competing in the women’s division.”

    Cooper asked USA Powerlifting for a “therapeutic-use exemption” to take spironolactone, a medicine prescribed to treat her gender dysphoria, “but JayCee was denied because she’s transgender,” Braverman said.

    She filed a complaint in 2019 with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, but withdrew it before reaching a decision. The department filed an amicus brief in the lawsuit in support of Cooper, Braverman said.

    In schools and private clubs across the country, transgender people’s participation in sports has become a contentious issue. Many Republican-led states have banned transgender people from participating in high school and collegiate sports.

    Last week, a group of college athletes, including swimmer Riley Gaines, sued the NCAA, alleging the organization violated their Title IX rights by allowing Lia Thomas, who is a transgender woman, to compete in the 2022 national championships.

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    CBS Minnesota

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  • Finalists for Miss and Mr. Basketball, the top high school seniors of the year, are revealed

    Finalists for Miss and Mr. Basketball, the top high school seniors of the year, are revealed

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    After one state tournament and before another, the Mr. and Miss Basketball committees pared down their list of finalists for the yearly awards to the best girls and boys high school basketball seniors in the state.

    The Miss Basketball list has six finalists: 5-11 guard Elisabeth Gadient of Goodhue; 5-7 guard Liv McGill of Hopkins; 6-1 guard Tori McKinney of Minnetonka; 6-1 guard Olivia Olson of Benilde-St. Margaret’s; 6-3 forward Alyssa Sand of Albany; and 5-11 guard Jordan Zubich of Mountain Iron-Buhl.

    McKinney has signed with the Gophers. McGill (Florida), Olson (Michigan) and Zubich (North Carolina) are high-major Division I recruits. Sand is bound for St. Thomas, and Gadient is headed to Minnesota State Mankato. All six played in the state tournament, and McKinney (Class 4A), Olson (Class 3A) and Gadient (Class 1A) won championships.

    The list of Mr. Basketball candidates was trimmed to five: 6-3 guard Isaac Asuma of Cherry; 6-3 guard Casmir Chavis of Park Center; 6-2 guard Daniel Freitag of Breck; 6-7 forward Isaiah Johnson-Arigu of Totino-Grace; and 6-9 forward Jackson McAndrew of Wayzata.

    Asuma has signed with the Gophers. The other four are also high-major Division I recruits. Chavis is headed to Washington, Freitag to Wisconsin, Johnson-Arigu to Miami (Florida) and McAndrew to Creighton. They are also all qualified for the state tournament, Chavis and McAndrew in Class 4A, Johnson-Arigu in Class 3A, Freitag in Class 2A, and Asuma in Class 1A.

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    Ron Haggstrom

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  • Prep Athletes of the Week: Poet Davis drives Minneapolis South back to boys basketball state tournament

    Prep Athletes of the Week: Poet Davis drives Minneapolis South back to boys basketball state tournament

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    POET DAVIS

    Minneapolis South • basketball

    South coach Joe Hyser describes Davis as a “great kid with a magnetic personality. He helped turned a six-win team last year into a 21-5 team this year.”

    That one-season turnaround culminated Thursday, when Davis led the Tigers to their first state tournament berth since 1992.

    Davis scored 20 points in the Tigers’ 62-61 victory over St. Thomas Academy in the Class 3A, Section 3 championship game. Davis also hit the game-winning free throws with 20 seconds left and South down by a point.

    “Poet was pivotal,” Hyser said.

    Davis has been steady for the Tigers all season, averaging 20.1 points per game and scoring in double figures in all but two games.

    Davis, a three-year starter and two-time All-City player, also averaged nearly four assists and four steals per game while making 45 percent of his field goal attempts and 35 percent of his three-point attempts.

    ZAHARA BISHOP

    Benilde-St. Margaret’s • basketball

    The junior guard scored 47 points in three games to help the Red Knights win their second consecutive Class 3A state title. Bishop scored 18 points in the quarterfinals and another 18 in the semifinals.

    HANIF MUHAMMAD

    Breck • basketball

    The senior point guard scored 45 points in two games to lead the Mustangs to a state tournament berth. He scored 18 in an 87-61 victory over Blake in the Class 2A, Section 5 semifinals Wednesday. Two nights later, he scored 27 in the Mustangs’ 91-74 victory over Minneapolis North for the section title.

    CECE NESSETH

    Minnetonka • basketball

    Nesseth, a 6-0 senior, scored five points in the final 15 seconds of the Class 4A championship game to help the Skippers outlast Hopkins 64-56. The Skippers led by 12 with 5 minutes, 45 seconds remaining, but Hopkins pulled within three, 59-56, in the final minute. Nesseth’s field goal and free throw with 15 seconds made it 62-56, and she sealed the victory with two free throws with two seconds remaining.

    ARI PETERSON

    Providence Academy • basketball

    The 6-1 eighth-grader averaged 13 points and 9.3 rebounds in three state tournament games to help the Lions win their third consecutive Class 2A state title. Peterson, who averaged 12.3 points per game this season, had 12 points and 10 rebounds in the championship game.

    BRADY WOOLEY

    Orono • basketball

    Wooley, a 6-9 junior, had 17 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists to help the Spartans outlast Benilde-St. Margaret’s 86-84 in two overtimes in the Class 3A, Section 6 championship game. Wooley’s layup sent the game to the second overtime.

    Nominate an athlete: Send an e-mail with supporting information to preps@startribune.com. Include a photo and a link, if available, to video.

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    Ron Haggstrom

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  • Lakers may be without Anthony Davis, LeBron James vs. Hawks

    Lakers may be without Anthony Davis, LeBron James vs. Hawks

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    (Photo credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports)

    Hoping to maintain their tenuous grip on one of the final play-in spots in the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers now face the prospect of playing the Atlanta Hawks on Monday at home without either of their top two players.

    Lakers forward Anthony Davis is being listed as questionable forMonday’s game with a corneal abrasion that knocked him out of Saturday’s 128-121 loss to the Golden State Warriors after one quarter.

    Fellow star LeBron James, who has regularly been listed on the injury report of late as a precaution, is listed again as questionable with ongoing ankle soreness.

    Los Angeles had been feeling good about its play since the All-Star break, with Davis saying a week ago that the Lakers (36-32) can beat anybody “if we play the right way.” That was when the Lakers had won five of seven games and Davis was coming off a 27-point, 25-rebound game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

    But Los Angeles has since lost consecutive games, with things falling apart Saturday when Davis departed. The Lakers led 36-30 after one quarter, then trailed by a point at halftime and were outscored 35-27 in the third quarter. Golden State had four points in the paint in the first quarter then had 58 over the final three periods.

    “When you lose AD, it just hurts the balance of our team,” James said. “Our coaching staff has been pretty good with having a certain rotation and how we work in our rotations, so now that changes a lot of things. Golden State, you tip your hat to them. They played exceptionally well. It’s just tough when you have a big component to the puzzle and then you don’t have it.”

    The Lakers entered the game ninth in the Western Conference standings and departed in 10th but still in possession of the final play-in tournament spot.

    The Hawks (30-37) also are well versed in injury issues, while matching the Lakers’ status as the last play-in eligible team in their conference.

    Atlanta helped its postseason cause Sunday with a 110-93 victory over the Clippers as Trae Young missed his 11th consecutive game after finger surgery. Atlanta led by as many as 29 points and went 17 of 34 from 3-point range as it ended a three-game losing streak.

    “I think our players said some things to each other, and I think they’re talking about the right things, which are things we need to do on defense,” Hawks head coach Quin Snyder said. “We’re trying to be focused on doing those things. And offensively, we’re really attacking as a group. I was happy with the way we played.”

    Dejounte Murray scored 21 points with 10 assists for the Hawks on Sunday. De’Andre Hunter had 20 points, Jalen Johnson had 18 points and 12 rebounds and Clint Capela added 15 points with 13 rebounds.

    Bogdan Bogdanovic returned after missing Friday’s loss at Utah with an illness and scored 11 points against the Clippers, but departed with 7:11 remaining in the game and went back to the locker room.

    The Hawks are now 6-5 since Young has been out, with a five-game homestand ahead after facing the Lakers and then the Phoenix Suns in the desert Thursday.

    –Field Level Media

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  • NEXT Weather: Slightly warmer and windy Monday as roller-coaster week begins

    NEXT Weather: Slightly warmer and windy Monday as roller-coaster week begins

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    NEXT Weather: 5 a.m. report from March 18, 2024


    NEXT Weather: 5 a.m. report from March 18, 2024

    03:26

    MINNEAPOLIS — After a cold and breezy weekend, Monday will be slightly warmer.

    Highs will be near 40 in the Twin Cities. Winds will still be somewhat strong, with gusts around 20-25 mph.

    749649fb6b8425ee39a3ae9b2e4718b2.jpg

    WCCO


    This week will be somewhat of a weather roller coaster, with highs jumping to nearly 50 on Tuesday before falling back to freezing.

    A system will pull across the area on Thursday, bringing a chance for snow. It’s too early to tell exact timing on that.

    We’re trending a bit below or near average in the seven-day forecast.

    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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  • Sign up to be a Doors Open Minneapolis Volunteer Greeter! – Minneapolis Riverfront News – Minneapolis Riverfront Neighborhoods.

    Sign up to be a Doors Open Minneapolis Volunteer Greeter! – Minneapolis Riverfront News – Minneapolis Riverfront Neighborhoods.

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    Open Doors Minneapolis Returns May 18 and 19, and volunteers are needed!

    As a volunteer, you will assist in executing Doors Open Minneapolis in 2024. Doors Open Minneapolis is a weekend-long event that gives the public a chance to explore the buildings that tell our city’s story. From theaters to business hubs, sacred spaces to private clubs, sports complexes to engineering wonders, historical gems to not-even-open-yet buildings, Doors Open Minneapolis will give visitors a free behind-the-scenes look at dozens of exciting venues. Your role as a Greeter Volunteer will make this event function smoothly and easily.

    Volunteers are stationed at one of several venues within the city of Minneapolis. The time commitment is a minimum of 4 hours on either Saturday May 18 or Sunday May 19, between the hours of 9:30am and 5:30pm.

    Responsibilities: 

    • Welcome Doors Open Minneapolis attendees to the venue and count them as they enter. 

    • Encourage attendees to register for Doors Open Minneapolis. Attendees will register via a mobile QR code or weblink and will be entered in a raffle to win prizes. Distribute stickers to attendees. Assist with flow of foot traffic. Answer general questions about the event. 

    Details: 

    • Doors Open Minneapolis will take place 10am – 5pm on May 18 & 19, 2024. Dozens of venues (businesses & buildings) are anticipated to participate. 

    • Two volunteers will be stationed at each venue for the duration of the event’s operating hours.  

    • Greeter Volunteers will sign up for one or more 4-hour shifts. Shifts are 9:30 am – 1:30 pm and 1:30 pm – 5:30 pm. 

    • Rethos is the coordinating entity for Doors Open Minneapolis, but works with the City of Minneapolis, American Institute of Architects, and many more local partners to produce this event. 

    Benefits: 

    • You will receive a pass that allows you priority access at venues, allowing you to skip venue lines for the duration of the event. 

    • You will receive a free Doors Open Minneapolis t-shirt. 

    • You get to choose the venue you volunteer at, and you can sign up with a friend. 

    • You will be invited to a post-event volunteer appreciation party that includes food and beverage.

    Volunteer!

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    Kim Eslinger

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  • Warmer Winters Could Bring Mosquitoes Sooner Than Expected ! Get Ready NY ! – Southwest Journal

    Warmer Winters Could Bring Mosquitoes Sooner Than Expected ! Get Ready NY ! – Southwest Journal

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    In recent weeks, Rochester residents have enjoyed unusually warm weather, leading to an earlier appearance of mosquitoes.

    According to Kaitlin Stack Whitney, an assistant professor and leader of the Stack/Whitney Collaborative of Entomology, Environment, and Technology at RIT, the dormancy period of mosquitoes, known as diapause, and their subsequent emergence is influenced by factors such as the duration of daylight rather than temperature alone.

    The Impact of Climate Change on Mosquitoes

    Asian tiger mosquito laying eggs

    The study of these insects, particularly in the context of climate change, remains underfunded despite its growing importance as the habitats and range of mosquito species shift, potentially bringing diseases typically confined to warmer regions closer to home.

    Climate changes, including milder winters with less snowfall but increased rain, create ideal conditions for mosquito breeding, with species like the invasive Asian tiger mosquito capable of laying eggs in minimal amounts of water.

    Warming Winters and Mosquito Activity

    The Northeast is experiencing a rapid warming of winters, contributing to a rise in the number of days suitable for mosquito activity in Rochester since 1970.

    This warming trend poses a challenge, as it could extend the geographical spread and overwintering capabilities of pest insects, including mosquitoes.

    Mosquito-Borne Illnesses in Upstate New York

    West Nile virus in humansWest Nile virus in humans

    New York is home to around 70 mosquito species, with about a third of them known to carry diseases. The majority of disease-carrying mosquitoes are located in the southern parts of the state, with upstate New York primarily at risk from West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis.

    Surveillance and Disease Spread

    In 2023, Monroe County reported a single case of West Nile virus in humans, despite no positive mosquito detections, partly due to a lack of testing by the state Department of Health. Conversely, no cases were reported in the counties surrounding Monroe, but New York State recorded a total of 32 cases outside of the New York City area.

    Eastern equine encephalitis remained absent in Western New York but was present in counties along the eastern shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.

    Common disease vectors in the state include mosquitoes from the Ades, Culex, and Anopheles genera. The Culex pipiens, or Northern house mosquito, is prevalent in New York, thriving in stagnant water and capable of spreading West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis.

    The Ecological Role of Mosquitoes

    Mosquitoes play positive roles in pollination of orchidsMosquitoes play positive roles in pollination of orchids

    Despite their notoriety, mosquitoes also play positive roles in ecosystems, such as pollination, with certain species contributing to the pollination of orchids in New Jersey and the Adirondacks.

    Stack Whitney emphasizes the complexity of categorizing insects as purely beneficial or harmful, advocating for balanced discussions on the ecological roles of mosquitoes and strategies for mitigating disease risks.

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    Srdjan Ilic

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  • Blues’ 3rd-period surge too much for Ducks

    Blues’ 3rd-period surge too much for Ducks

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    (Photo credit: Jeff Le-USA TODAY Sports)

    Robert Thomas scored twice and Pavel Buchnevich picked up three assists as the St. Louis Blues dispatched the visiting Anaheim Ducks 4-2 on Sunday.

    Jake Neighbours and Kevin Hayes also scored for the Blues, who extended their winning streak to four games.

    Justin Faulk finished with two assists for St. Louis and Joel Hofer made 26 saves.

    Troy Terry scored twice and Lukas Dostal made 23 saves for the Ducks, who lost their sixth straight game.

    The Ducks killed off three penalties during the first period. They took a 1-0 lead with 6:19 left in the period when Pavel Mintyukov shot from a sharp left-side angle and Terry converted the rebound.

    Anaheim hadn’t scored since the 1:51 mark of the second period of a 7-2 loss at Chicago on March 12. The Ducks lost their next two games 2-0 at the Minnesota Wild and 6-0 at the Winnipeg Jets.

    Hofer kept the score at 1-0 by stopping Leo Carlsson coming down the middle on a Ducks power play in the second period.

    St. Louis tied the score 1-1 with 5:04 left in the second period. Torey Krug fired a turnaround shot and Hayes jammed in the rebound at the left post.

    Hofer turned away shots from Terry and Frank Vatrano during a goalmouth scramble in the closing seconds of the period.

    The Blues seized control of the game by capitalizing on three consecutive power plays during the third period.

    Thomas put the Blues up 2-1 at 1:53 of the third period by firing a shot from the high slot while Neighbours screened Dostal.

    The Blues scored 4:19 later to make it 3-1. Brayden Schenn shot from the left circle and Neighbours deflected the shot past Dostal.

    Thomas struck again with 10:27 left to play, stepping in through the right circle to score off Buchnevich’s feed.

    With Dostal off the ice for an extra attacker, Terry scored a six-on-five goal to cut the margin to 4-2.

    –Field Level Media

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  • Enhanced security at Bloomington mosque after shots fired in parking lot

    Enhanced security at Bloomington mosque after shots fired in parking lot

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    Shooting outside Bloomington mosque shakes Muslim community


    Shooting outside Bloomington mosque shakes Muslim community

    01:34

    BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Security measures are being enhanced at a Bloomington mosque after shots were fired in the parking lot Saturday night, police said.

    Officers responded to Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center around 10:40 p.m. on a report of shots fired, the Bloomington Police Department said. As they arrived, several vehicles were leaving the mosque. 

    Witnesses told police several people started arguing inside a bathroom. They were asked to leave and escorted outside, where the gunfire then occurred, according to police.

    No injuries were reported and the suspects left the scene before officers arrived, police said.

    47f929bfbe79157e5384c7134ae915a0.jpg

    WCCO


    Anyone with information is asked to call BPD at 952-563-4900.

    The mosque said the individuals involved in Saturday’s incident are not known to the community.  

    The mosque posted on its Facebook page that police assured them the area is now secure. The mosque also said prayer services will continue as usual. Those prayer services hold extra meaning for the community during Ramadan happening right now, which is considered one of the holiest months of the year for Muslims.

    In 2017, there was a bombing at the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center. Several worshippers were inside for morning prayer when it happened, but they were not hurt. 

    Two Illinois residents admitted to throwing a pipe bomb inside the building.  A third person is also serving time for recruiting those men to carry out the attack.

    WCCO Staff


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    The WCCO Staff is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on WCCO.com.

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    WCCO Staff

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  • Blues, with momentum on their side, host sliding Ducks

    Blues, with momentum on their side, host sliding Ducks

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    (Photo credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports)

    The St. Louis Blues are making a late push to get back into the Western Conference playoff race after pulling out of a 3-7-1 downturn.

    They edged the visiting Minnesota Wild 3-2 in a shootout Saturday night as their winning streak reached three games. The Blues will try to extend their run when they host the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday night.

    “We played tonight, so obviously you get some rest here, then come ready tomorrow,” Blues winger Jordan Kyrou told Bally Sports Midwest. “It’s big game. All these games are huge (with a) big playoff push coming.”

    The Blues trail the Vegas Golden Knights by four points in the race for the second wild card entering play Sunday.

    Blues captain Brayden Schenn snapped an 18-game goal-scoring slump against the Wild and Kyrou scored just his second goal since Feb. 17. Earlier during the winning streak, third-line forwards Kevin Hayes and Kasperi Kapanen broke out of slumps, so fewer Blues are pressing offensively at this point of the season.

    “The approach is, don’t overtry, don’t try too hard to score,” Schenn told Bally Sports Midwest. “You just have to stick to the same game plan, keep it simple. If we’re playing like we were the last three games, we’ll fill the net and goals will go in.”

    The Ducks have lost five straight games and six of their past seven. They suffered a 6-0 loss on Friday at Winnipeg that wasn’t quite as bad as the score indicated.

    “It was a tight game for two periods,” Anaheim coach Greg Cronin said. “It was like 9-6 for scoring chances. It was close in shots. And the third period … you could feel (the Jets) feeling a little bit more confident. I think they were playing a smart game protecting the lead. Then it’s 3-0 and we don’t have a full lineup, so for us to come back from a 3-0 lead is difficult.”

    The Ducks were missing key forward Mason McTavish (lower-body injury) and defenseman Radko Gudas (upper-body injury) in that loss.

    The Jets were able to pour it on Ducks goaltender John Gibson to close out the game.

    “There’s really no excuse for giving up the Grade A (scoring chances) that we did in that third period,” Anaheim forward Troy Terry said. “When I say it’s unacceptable to give those up, it’s mostly to him (Gibson). He’s been that guy for us for years now, and he’s our backbone and the team kind of runs through him, and it’s kind of unfair to leave him out to dry like that. Even just staying out of the box and stop giving up power plays or clearing out in front of him. I mean, some of these he just has no chance, and it’s really unfair to him.”

    The Blues won the previous meeting between the teams 3-1 on Nov. 19 in Anaheim, Calif. Joel Hofer made 30 saves in that game and he is likely to start this one after Jordan Binnington faced the Wild Saturday night.

    Pavel Buchnevich, Alexey Toropchenko and Jake Neighbours scored for the Blues in the earlier meeting and McTavish tallied for the Ducks.

    –Field Level Media

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  • Small Business Spotlight:  Meteor – Minneapolis Riverfront News – Minneapolis Riverfront Neighborhoods.

    Small Business Spotlight:  Meteor – Minneapolis Riverfront News – Minneapolis Riverfront Neighborhoods.

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    Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

    Interior of Meteor

    Meteor was recently nominated for a James Beard Award. We talked to co-owner Robert Jones about what the nomination means for the business, the interesting backstory to the bar’s name and their approach to creating inspiring and memorable cocktails. The business is located at 2027 N 2nd Street. Visit them and see why their tag line is “Meteor is an old ass bar with good ass drinks.”

    Q:  How does it feel to be nominated for a James Beard Award, and what does it mean to you and your team, personally and professionally?

    A:  It was an incredible surprise. I never thought that this would be the bar that would garner that type of recognition. It’s incredibly gratifying personally after working so hard in this industry for the last 20 years. My team is elated, they’re really the soul behind the bar, I’m so happy to be able to share this experience with them.

    Q:  Why did you name your bar Meteor?

    A:  We named it Meteor after a deep dive into the story behind the neighborhood we’re in. We’re in the Hawthorne neighborhood of Minneapolis, named for Nathaniel Hawthorne, author of The Scarlet Letter. The Scarlet Letter is full of symbolism, and the midway and in most transitional point of the story a Meteor appears. Opening the bar was a point of transition for us at the time, so it felt appropriate. Meteor is also a word that just feels nice to say. Hawthorne would be a great name for a bar for a number of reasons, but it already exists out east.

    Q:  Can you tell us about one of your signature cocktails and the inspiration behind it?

    A:  We’ve had a lot of great cocktails on the menu. Our team draws inspiration from travel, memories and sometimes just passion for a specific ingredient. Our most popular cocktail is the Secret Tiger. It was inspired by my trips to Mexico, and named for a secret bit of tiger carpet that we kept on the wall when we were doing our remodel.

    Q:  How do you balance innovation with creating drinks that appeal to a wide audience?

    A:  We try to balance our menu and include something for everyone’s palate. We might take an unfamiliar ingredient but then surround it with flavors that are less challenging and more familiar. We always appreciate it when people ask questions, because there’s a lot of interesting new things to work with, and it’s hard to keep up on everything!

    Ask your bartender about whiskey!

    Additive-free tequilas

    Q:  Are there any particular ingredients or techniques you find especially exciting or challenging to work with?

    A:  I’m still passionate about Mexican spirits in general. They vary so much from bottle to bottle and style to style.

    Q:  What drink should we try if we’re a newcomer to Meteor, and why?

    A:  I think the best way to order anything anywhere new is to have a conversation with your bartender or whoever is guiding you through your experience. Hopefully we can get you to a place where you’re confident and happy with what you order.

    Q:  What role does ambiance and atmosphere play in the Meteor’s success?

    A:  Meteor is just a bar. It’s great for that reason alone. We made a bar that is approachable to everyone. We try to remove a little of the pretentiousness of the fancy cocktail world out of what we do. It’s a place where you should be comfortable ordering a beer and a shot, or a perfect daiquiri or martini.

    Q:  How may we follow your news?

    A:  We’re on that gram: @meteor_mpls

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    Becky Fillinger

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  • Live: Get updates on the girls basketball state tournament championship games here

    Live: Get updates on the girls basketball state tournament championship games here

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    The Class 2A and 1A finals were afternoon affairs, and Class 3A and 4A teams will make an evening of it.

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    Star Tribune staff

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  • Benilde-St. Margaret’s romps past DeLaSalle to Class 3A girls basketball state championship

    Benilde-St. Margaret’s romps past DeLaSalle to Class 3A girls basketball state championship

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    Olivia Olson scored 30 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, driving Benilde-St. Margaret’s past DeLaSalle 81-58 on Saturday in Williams Arena for its second Class 3A girls basketball state championship in a row.

    Benilde-St. Margaret’s was the top seed and ranked second in Class 3A by Minnesota Basketball News. DeLaSalle was seeded first but ranked second.

    DeLaSalle (27-4) lost only to state tournament teams this season: to Minnehaha Academy and Hopkins in November and to Minnetonka in mid-January. The Islanders defeated Benilde-St. Margaret’s 78-63 on Dec. 22 in their annual rivalry game.

    Benilde-St. Margaret’s (27-5) suffered all of its losses when Olson, a first-team All-Metro player committed to Michigan, was out because of a broken hand. She was injured early in a season-opening loss to Class 2A champ Providence Academy, and losses to Hopkins, Alexandria, Eden Prairie and DeLaSalle followed in quick succession. Olson returned Jan. 4 and scored 30 points against Jordan. The Red Knights have not lost since.

    Benilde-St. Margaret’s scored 15 straight points in a span of 6 minutes, 2 seconds early in the second half to pull away from the Islanders.

    Olson dominated the first half with 21 points as the Red Knights took a five-point lead into halftime. Zahara Bishop’s six points led the 15-0 run.

    Olson did not score her first basket of the second half until the 11:08 mark.

    The Islanders got off to a hot start, shooting well over 60% from the floor through most of the first half. They fell off to and finished at 39.2%.

    Aneisha Scott, the Islanders’ leading scorer in the regular season at 17.9 points per game, had 15 points in 19 minutes. She was limited in the second half after picking up her fourth foul with 13:06 left.

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    Joseph Gunther

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  • Girls basketball state tournament hits the peak: Four finals featuring the top seeds in each class

    Girls basketball state tournament hits the peak: Four finals featuring the top seeds in each class

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    7:18 p.m.

    Cosgriff says he enjoyed Hopkins and now enjoys Minnetonka

    Minnetonka coach Brian Cosgriff was asked after Thursday’s 67-49 semifinals victory over St. Michael-Albertville how he felt about coaching against his former team in the state championship game.

    “Well, I’ve never coached anybody on that team,” said Cosgriff, who coached Hopkins to 14 tournament appearances between 2002 and 2020. “I do know some of them from when they were in the traveling association, but I’ve been gone for four years now.”

    He added that he cherishes his time at Hopkins and is an admirer of Hopkins coach Tara Starks.

    “I have fond memories of the teams that I did coach at Hopkins. And I have the utmost respect for Coach Starks. She does a great job as the coach. I just feel I’ve found a new home and I love my team this year. I love these girls with everything I have. It’s a different era now.

    . . .

    6:09 p.m.

    Albany hits that same barrier again

    Albany was the last team to beat Providence Academy in the finals, 57-43 in 2021. The Huskies fell to the Lions 74-60 in the championship last season and 55-48 in the semifinals in 2022.

    Until the last nine seconds Saturday, it appeared Albany might knock off Providence Academy again. The Huskies had led the entire way, but the Lions did what they’ve done to Albany and won.

    “If it wasn’t for us, they would be a four-time [consecutive] state champion,” Providence Academy coach Conner Goetz said. “It was nerve-racking. This is something I’ve never been a part of, that comeback, that late. That was special. A storybook ending.”

    . . .

    11:30 a.m.

    The day dawns with a loaded schedule

    The Super Saturday Showdown Spectacular is on for basketball fans across the state.

    The top two teams in all four classes will try to become state champions. The girls basketball state tournament finals will get under way at noon at Williams Arena.

    Three defending state champions — Benilde-St. Margaret’s (26-5) in Class 3A, Providence Academy (27-4) in Class 2A and Mountain Iron-Buhl (29-3) in Class 1A — have their sights set on successful title defenses. Providence Academy is the reigning two-time champion.

    In Class 4A, Lake Conference rivals Hopkins (27-3) and Minnetonka (28-2) will meet for a third and deciding time. They split their two conference matchups during the regular season, now meaningless with a state title and bragging rights on the line, not to mention the rightful claim to being No. 1. Minnetonka was rated No. 1 in the final regular-season poll by Minnesota Basketball News, followed by Hopkins. They were seeded in the opposite order for the state tournament.

    The same holds true in Class 3A. Benilde-St. Margaret’s was ranked behind DeLaSalle (27-3) in the final poll yet was seeded ahead of the Islanders. Each team feels dissed and ready to make a statement. DeLaSalle won the regular-season matchup 78-65 in December, when the Red Knights were without injured Michigan recruit Olivia Olson. More fuel: These private powers have been rivals for a long time.

    Providence Academy will play Albany (30-1) in a rematch of last season’s championship game, won by the Lions 74-60. They met again in mid-December, and Albany won 72-70. Albany finished the season ranked third and seeded second. The Huskies were ranked behind Minnehaha Academy, the team they beat 60-52 in the semifinals.

    In Class 1A, second seed Mountain Iron-Buhl doesn’t approve of being seen as an underdog. Goodhue (27-5) is ranked No. 1 and seeded there as well, based on its 67-62 victory over the Rangers in late December. Jordan Zubich, signed with North Carolina, is set on leading Mountain Iron-Buhl to a repeat title.

    A lot is on the line for all eight programs. It should make for a fun and intense 10 hours.

    The bands will be ready. Cue up Queen’s “We Are the Champions.”

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    Ron Haggstrom, Jim Paulsen, Joseph Gunther, Theo Franz

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  • Kids across America reading at or below basic level for their age

    Kids across America reading at or below basic level for their age

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    March is National Reading Month, and educators say most schoolchildren in Indiana and across the country are reading at or below a basic level for their age.

    It’s estimated that 25 million children in the United States don’t read as well as they should, making it difficult for them to succeed in school and also later in life. The group Reading is Fundamental has said a student’s lack of age-appropriate literacy is often a combination of their family’s economic status and flaws in the education system.

    Andrea Stefanski, an associate professor of elementary education at Ball State University, said there are often major hurdles to overcome.

    “I think those families that are struggling the most already because of socioeconomic challenges, there’s assumptions that are sometimes made about them, that they don’t care or they’re not involved,” she said. “But I think that largely they do care, and they may even have a better understanding of the importance of literacy.”

    According to a 2022 national reading “report card,” 67percent of all fourth graders were testing below their grade level. Black students scored 29 points below white students, and Latino students scored 13 points lower.

    Stefanski said many Indiana teachers and students are still trying to catch up after falling behind during the pandemic. She explained Indiana schools began a new reading program in 2019, just before students were sent home during the quarantine, which has put a lot of pressure on educators.

    “Right now, I’m seeing a trend where those that are in the lowest percentile – here in Indiana particularly – are getting virtually ignored,” she said, “because they’re focusing on children that are closest to bringing up those test-passing rates.”

    Stefanski considers it extremely important for parents to be involved in their child’s reading education. She said the family needs to set an example as readers, and reading with their children, and should communicate with teachers and school administrators.

    “I would encourage parents to be asking questions of their school about their children’s progress,” she added, “and making sure that all of the children are making progress, and that the schools can provide evidence of that.”

    Indiana News Service

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  • Weather Service, DNR warn of extreme fire risk in 41 Minnesota counties

    Weather Service, DNR warn of extreme fire risk in 41 Minnesota counties

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    Dozens of central and southern Minnesota counties are at higher risk of fire this weekend due to windy and dry conditions.

    According to a National Weather Service warning issued Saturday, 41 counties in Minnesota are under a red flag warning for extreme fire risk. Because weather conditions are dry with low humidity and strong winds, fires can spread quickly out of control.

    “When fire risk is this high, it’s important to be careful with anything [that] could spark a wildfire,” said Karen Harrison, a wildfire prevention specialist with the Department of Natural Resources, in a statement.

    The Weather Service warning was scheduled to run from 1 to 8 p.m. Saturday.

    Counties in the warning area include Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Dakota, Faribault, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hennepin, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Pope, Ramsey, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Scott, Sibley, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, Waseca, Watonwan, Wright and Yellow Medicine.

    The DNR advises residents not to burn in those counties, and is asking those who recently burned to ensure the fire is out. Campfires are also discouraged, and officials will not issue or activate open burning permits for “large vegetative debris” while the red flag warning is in effect.

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    Kyeland Jackson

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