As fire crews extinguish the remaining hot spots in the Flanders wildfire, investigators with the Department of Natural Resources say they have located the fire’s origin and identified people of interest who could face criminal charges, MPR News reported Wednesday.
Crow Wing County Sheriff Eric Klang told MPR he believes the source of the wildfire, which burned more than 1,600 acres, may have been a campfire near the north shore of Flanders Lake that was either not properly put out or became unmanageable in Saturday’s warm and windy conditions. Officials are asking residents with trail cameras, doorbell cameras or other information to contact the DNR.
A yearslong fight over the former Roof Depot warehouse site in south Minneapolis has taken a big step toward resolution after Minnesota lawmakers approved the final funding needed for the project as part of the Legislature’s 2026 bonding bill, Sahan Journal reported Wednesday. The East Phillips Neighborhood Institute will have about 160,000 square feet for an urban farm and community hub project, while Minneapolis Public Works will use the remaining portion for a training center.
“This is a big win for our community, which never let up in fighting for a bold vision for the Roof Depot site,” Rep. Anquam Mahamoud, DFL-Minneapolis, who fought for the project’s funding in the bill, said in a statement. “For years, neighbors, organizers, and advocates kept pushing for a future rooted in environmental justice, and I’m incredibly proud of the community leaders and our partners at the city and state level who helped make this critical funding possible.”
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A Star Tribune analysis Wednesday of the 50 largest public companies in Minnesota found four of the top 10 saw profits decline last year, including UnitedHealth Group, 3M and General Mills. Seven of the top 10 cut jobs last year, reducing the number of people employed by companies on the list by more than 43,000.
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Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has joined a coalition of other attorneys general and state governors in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education over a new rule restricting students pursuing professional degree programs access to federal student loans, KARE 11 reported Wednesday.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has nominated Dr. Reginald Freeman to serve as the city’s next fire chief, KSTP reported Wednesday. Freeman, who will replace Interim Fire Chief Melanie Rucker if confirmed by the City Council, told KSTP, “My wife and I are excited to raise our children here and to join a community that has inspired the entire country with its resilience and commitment to one another over the past several months.”
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Grand Portage National Monument announced the launch of its inaugural artist-in-residence program, giving artists the chance to pursue their creative work while immersed in the landscape and cultural history of Grand Portage, Boreal Community Media reported. The residency provides artists with lodging and studio space at the Grand Marais Art Colony from Aug. 31 through Sept. 12. The deadline to apply is May 22.
