Stories from March 5, 2025

Lawsuit claims Carver County Sheriff held man illegally on ICE detainer request
The ACLU alleges that even though a bail payment was made for Maikol Javier Suarez Varela, Carver County continued to hold him based on a detainer request from ICE, which is not the same as a court issued warrant. 
Trump administration plans to cut 80,000 employees from Veterans Affairs, according to internal memo
The Department of Veterans Affairs is planning a reorganization that includes cutting over 80,000 jobs from the sprawling agency that provides health care and other services for millions of veterans, according to an internal memo obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press.
Parts of southern and eastern Minnesota are digging out from more than a foot of heavy, wet snow Wednesday. Minneapolis and St. Paul have declared snow emergencies. And state officials are predicting higher energy prices because of tariffs imposed this week by the Trump administration.
There are calls to pardon Chauvin. Here’s why it wouldn’t get him out of prison
Trump can pardon Chauvin’s 20-year federal convictions for violating Floyd’s civil rights, but pardoning or commuting Chauvin’s 22 1/2 year state sentence is out of Trump’s jurisdiction.
Director of Twin Cities-based group shares how federal cuts are impacting the Horn of Africa
American Relief Agency for the Horn of Africa, also known as ARAHA, works in a region where food assistance programs, health care and nutrition services and projects combating malaria have closed due to cuts to USAID.
As boys state hockey tournament takes off in St. Paul, a look back at its 81-year history
The puck drops Wednesday on high school hockey's biggest stage, the boys state hockey tournament. We revisit a book that takes a year-by-year look at the tournament.
Spring storm dumps heavy snow, causes dangerous road conditions in southern Minnesota
Minnesotans across the state woke up Wednesday to several inches of cement-like snow on the ground. By noon, blowing snow was still causing problems on the roads in southern Minnesota.
Veterans are speaking out on the Trump administration’s plans to cut the VA’s budget
A handful of veterans speaking to The Associated Press are divided over the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Stephen Watson is a former Marine who lives in Jesup, Georgia. 
U.S. Sen. Tina Smith responds to Trump address, looming government shutdown
The Minnesota Democrat dissented along with her caucus. She joined Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer on Wednesday to talk about the president’s speech promoting his administration’s accomplishments so far.
Businesses scramble to contain fallout from Trump’s tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico
A Minnesota farmer worries about the price of fertilizer. A San Diego entrepreneur deals with an unexpected increase in the cost of remodeling a restaurant. A Midwestern sheet metal fabricator bemoans the prospect of higher aluminum prices.
‘Not the government I grew up with’: Fired federal employee attends Trump address to Congress
Rep. Ilhan Omar invited Chris Wicker as her guest to President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress. The Air Force veteran recently lost his job in the first round of layoffs by the Department of Governmental Efficiency, or DOGE.
Divided SCOTUS rejects Trump administration's push to rebuke judge over foreign aid freeze
By a 5-4 vote Wednesday, the Supreme Court told U.S. District Judge Amir Ali to clarify his earlier order that required the Republican administration to release nearly $2 billion in aid for work that had already been done.
Trump grants one-month exemption for U.S. automakers from new tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada
President Donald Trump is granting a one-month exemption on his stiff new tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada for U.S. automakers. Worries persist that the newly launched trade war could crush domestic manufacturing.
Joey Molland, a guitarist with 1970s Welsh pop-rock band Badfinger, dies at 77
Joey Molland, a guitarist with the Welsh pop-rock band Badfinger that was known for such 1970s hits as “No Matter What” and “Day After Day,” has died at age 77. Badfinger was a quartet that also included singer-guitarist Pete Ham, bassist Tom Evans and drummer Tom Gibbins.
Running for health and community
Running is good for your physical and mental health. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about how to get into the habit with two runners, including the founder of Black Men Run Twin Cities.
Pope resting after sleeping through the night with a ventilation mask as he battles pneumonia
Pope Francis is resting after sleeping through the night with a ventilation mask as he undergoes hospital treatment for double pneumonia. In its latest update, the Vatican said on Wednesday that the pope rested well overnight, waking up shortly after 8 a.m. Pope Francis remains in stable condition, with a guarded prognosis, meaning he was not out of danger. 
‘God walks with us through the ashes.’ A poignant Ash Wednesday after LA wildfires
On Ash Wednesday, Christians hear the words "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return." Those words ring differently for many whose churches and homes burned in the Los Angeles fires.
A major late-winter storm continues to wallop southern and eastern Minnesota with heavy snow, howling winds and blizzard conditions. MnDOT has closed many highways across the southwest and south-central parts of the state.
Storm system winds down Wednesday
Blizzard and winter storm warnings continue into midday Wednesday. Snow showers will persist for southeastern Minnesota through midday followed by seasonably cool temperatures. 
6 takeaways from Trump’s pointedly partisan address to Congress
After a firehose of a first six weeks back in the White House, President Trump delivered a boastful and partisan address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night. Here are six takeaways from the speech.
Trump’s drive to boost domestic mining stokes long-running debate near BWCA
As President Donald Trump lifts “undue burdens” on U.S. mines, the shift in the federal posture could boost long-simmering projects in northern Minnesota. Meanwhile, efforts at the state level to slow mining face dim prospects.
Trump vowed to end surprise medical bills. The team working on that just got slashed
Trump's first round of staff cuts to federal agencies eliminated dozens of positions at the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, in charge of implementing the No Surprises Act.