Thousands are without power along Minnesota’s North Shore as a blizzard continues to sweep across the region. A travel advisory is in effect as of Wednesday morning, as wind gusts of up to 60 MPH, combined with heavy snow fall, are creating near-impassable conditions, especially along Highway 61, which runs parallel to the North Shore, reports Bring Me the News.
A Minnesota man is facing deportation to Laos for a crime he committed more than 30 years ago, MPR News reports. Ricky Chandee has been in the U.S. for more than 45 years, and is an avid outdoorsman and employee of the City of Minneapolis. He was detained last month for a crime he committed in 1992 as an 18-year-old, and was featured on the “Worst of the Worst” list the Trump administration has touted as justification for its immigration crackdown. “His immigration lawyer, Linus Chan, said his case raises an important question: “’At what point are we supposed to continue to say that if you’ve committed a crime, you’re always a criminal?‘”
Hennepin Healthcare in Downtown Minneapolis is in dire financial straits after Medicaid cuts and the shuttering of Ucare (which they say owes over $100 million). On top of cutting services, HCMC leaders have another idea: “The hope is the Minnesota Legislature will allow them to have a sales tax increase at Target Field,” reports WCCO TV. And the stakes couldn’t be higher. If the sales tax is not approved by the end of this session, the hospital will likely close. “Another reason for Hennepin Healthcare’s debt: they are a safety net hospital for people who don’t have insurance.”…