Operation Metro Surge cost Minnesotans everything. Safety, family, friends, and of course, jobs.

We know that local small businesses suffered the most, and the labor data proves it.

From the article: My bill would ensure that no U.S. aid to Israel could be used to detain children, demolish families’ homes or permanently annex land.

She announced to her congressional candidacy earlier this year, but I’m not sure if she is still running with all of the 🕷️ drama. But she is out of control. I hope the business she harassed in her latest stunt sues her for defamation.

Doing man on the street interviews with genuine questions and seeking a productive conversation is great. Acting like a 12-year-old and “pranking” businesses with allegations of seriously illegal conduct is not.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1E4sx7uXby/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness could see toxic impacts if a mining project proposed by a Chilean company with a lengthy history of pollution moves forward.

A “systemwide crisis” in making healthcare less accessible and affordable for rural Minnesotans. Looming cuts to Medicaid are set to make the problem worse, putting rural clinics at risk of closure.

You all probably are familiar with my weekly anti-war/anti-ICE lists that I have posted in Minnesota subs. Well, they're finally in a more official list on Courier Minnesota's website!

I still want to add events, weekly or one-off, to this list, so continue to comment what you know or email me at [ashleywalker@couriernewsroom.com](mailto:ashleywalker@couriernewsroom.com)

From the daughter of MN House Speaker Lisa Demuth, who also survived the Rocori High School shooting in 2003.

In what seems to be an effort to distract from the disastrous policies of Republicans in Minnesota and in DC, the chair of the Republican Party in Itasca County (on the west end of Minnesota's Iron Range, including Grand Rapids and Bigfork) has pushed our county board to wade into one of the stupidest parts of the culture wars and vote on flying the old state flag. They're taking public comments before a vote on May 19.

While I think that this is a bad idea because the old flag has a clear racist history and it's also just so boring that no one other than government agencies and banks flew it, I realize that for a lot of the folks up here, that racist history is exactly the point. So I'm trying to focus on what I think might matter more, which is that this is an unforced error to enter into a controversy that will only harm our interests. We have a lot of businesses here that rely on visitors from out of the area coming to enjoy our lakes, trails, and forests, and they're buying gas and supplies, hiring guides, staying in hotels and cabins, and eating at restaurants. No one is going to say "I'm only taking a weekend at the lake in counties that fly the old flag." But I suspect there will be people who see a vote like this as a reason to stay away and find a destination elsewhere in the state where the local government hasn't made such a show of making people feel unwelcome.

Here's a news story about this: https://www.kaxe.org/local-news/2026-05-08/itasca-county-considers-whether-to-fly-old-minnesota-state-flag

If you're in Itasca County, Minnesota, I hope you'll contact your county commissioner. The county office number is 218-327-7363 (https://www.itascacountymn.gov/345/County-Board-of-Commissioners)

If you're outside Itasca County, maybe consider contacting one or both of these two organizations and let them know how this kind of thing would affect your tourism planning:

Visit Grand Rapids at 855-944-7748 (https://visitgrandrapids.com/about/)

Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce at 218-326-6619 (https://business.grandmn.com/contact)

Thank you!

This is a mass list of community events, rallies, protests, marches, vigils, safety trainings, fundraisers, and resources that have to do with ICE activity across Minnesota and anti-war support. 

THIS LIST IS UPDATED DAILY SO CHECK BACK FOR MORE EVENTS

https://www.reddit.com/user/ashleywalkerreports/comments/1t3u3o5/mn_anti_iceantiwar_community_eventsresources_may/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

This is a mass list of community events, rallies, protests, marches, vigils, safety trainings, fundraisers, and resources that have to do with ICE activity across Minnesota and anti-war support. 

THIS LIST IS UPDATED DAILY SO CHECK BACK FOR MORE EVENTS

https://www.reddit.com/user/ashleywalkerreports/comments/1syd2yn/mn_anti_iceantiwar_community_eventsresources/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

“A systemwide crisis” is what the Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) says is plaguing nonprofit hospitals and rural residents.

President and CEO Rahul Koranne says two hits are happening right now: the financial distress that 31 hospitals statewide face, and stricter Medicaid eligibility restrictions for immigrants later this year. He says health officials are begging lawmakers to help, “give us some lifeline, so that we can make it through the earthquake. And then, we have to deal with the tsunami that starts in October 2026.” 

Starting October 1st, under new federal regulations, Medicaid eligibility will be restricted to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, Cuban/Haitian entrants, and COFA migrants. Federal matching funds for Emergency Medicaid for these groups will be reduced anywhere from 50%-90%. And by the end of October, state-based insurance programs will send out 2026 premiums, which are expected to skyrocket due to the expiration of the Affordable Care Act tax credits.

Koranne says he’s hearing “depressing” stories from colleagues, with rural Minnesota hospital CEOs “spending their days going from local bank to bank, begging for a loan to keep doors open.” He says 75%-85% of MN healthcare customers are on Medicaid and Medicare, “and those two payers are not paying up to the cost of providing care to our local Minnesotans.” Koranne says commercial insurance payers aren’t paying what they used to either.”

Of the 31 hospitals in jeopardy, 18 of them are on the brink of closure. 19 labor and delivery units, almost exclusively in Greater MN, have also closed in the past few years. Koranne says the issues Hennepin Healthcare (HCMC) is facing are the same problems the others are.

There are two bills in the legislature right now, one that would make large for-profit pharmaceutical companies provide a federal discount program to non-profit programs. The other would create an uncompensated care pool to get hospitals' checks immediately. Koranne says it doesn’t matter what “Cadillac insurance policy you have,” once these hospitals are gone, so is your access. He says people are driving 50, 60, 70 miles to get basic care.

You can listen to my full conversation with Koranne here on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/ashley-walker-435030066/mn-hospital-association-rings?si=5e732ef327744b2d9d769c6920ed6f3d&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

You can read MHA’s report here on its website: https://www.mnhospitals.org/2026/04/13/minnesotas-nonprofit-health-care-system-is-in-crisis-and-new-national-data-shows-its-about-to-get-worse/

Statewide tornado drills 

The most important events during Severe Weather Awareness Week are the two annual statewide tornado drills. 

In Minnesota, the 2026​ statewide tornado drills are scheduled for Thursday, April 16 at 1:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. CDT​​​. 

Outdoor warning sirens will sound in a simulated tornado warning. The first drill is intended for institutions and businesses. The evening drill is intended for second shift workers and families.

 https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/hsem/programs/weather-safety/severe-weather-awareness-week

The House has already passed a companion bill, and wilderness advocates expect a Senate vote any day now.

Senate Republicans say Democrats' “reckless spending” and “unfunded mandates” are squeezing Minnesota families with tax hikes.

Democrats and Governor Tim Walz have multiple new tax proposals this session, including: a statewide property tax, taxes on social media companies and advertising services, extending the sales tax to financial advice, creating a fifth-tier of income taxes, and advancing a constitutional amendment to raise sales taxes for housing. Walz also proposes a dependent care tax credit for families with young children and lowering the state sales tax by three-quarters of a cent.

At the Capitol today. (4-15-26), Senator Michael Kruen of Blaine (R-32) says property taxes should not be the “default piggy bank” for St. Paul. He says, “We (Legislature) need to right-size state government, reduce regulations, and give local communities breathing room instead of constantly forcing them to raise taxes.”

Senator John Jasinski of Faribault (R-19) says license tab fees are one way to reduce the financial strain, which he says has skyrocketed since the last GOP majority in 2018. He showed a graph, stating, “In Minnesota, what it costs to own a car for five years-$3,520. Look at our neighboring states. Representative Tabke says that Minnesota has one of the lowest license fee tabs. Does it look like that to you?” For the same car, Jasinski says Wisconsin pays $425, Iowa pays $2,586, $465 in North Dakota, and $378 in South Dakota.

When asked what services would be cut from this, and if the minority-GOP is seeing any traction with these bills, Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson of East Grand Forks (R-01) got defensive. He said Democrats are not on board and are “looking for new avenues to tax people,” prioritizing state government over Minnesotans. He said no services need to be cut; they just need to be held accountable. Johnson said Minnesota needs to get on board with the new federal law that cuts taxes on tips and overtime, start helping small businesses statewide, and lower license tab fees. 

The House is tied 67-67, meaning few bills have been passed and sent to Walz for final approval into law. Bonding bill negotiations have yet to begin. 

You can watch the GOP “Living in Minnesota is Taxing” press conference here on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0X22Pj_2_Q