Stories from February 22, 2025

Border patrol agent from Minnesota buried with full military honors at Fort Snelling
David Christopher “Chris” Maland, 44, was killed on Jan. 20 while working in Vermont. He pulled over a car, believing one of the two passengers had an expired visa. One of the passengers opened fire; the other allegedly also drew a gun, according to an FBI affidavit. 
Warming trend continues to close out the weekend
Saturday’s snowmelt freezes over tonight, then more melting is in store as the warmth dials up a notch on Sunday. The above-average stretch continues this week with a few opportunities for light rain or snow.
Pope Francis is in critical condition after a long respiratory crisis, requiring oxygen at high flow
The 88-year-old Francis, who has been hospitalized for a week with a complex lung infection, also received blood transfusions after tests showed a condition associated with anemia, the Vatican said in a late update.
State DNR and U of M partner for elk research project beginning in March
This project is only the second of its kind in Minnesota. This study is more comprehensive than the first, held between 2016-2018, when only adult cows were studied. This new study will include data from bulls, cows and calves. 
Meet five Minnesota federal workers mourning the loss of their dream jobs
Many Minnesotans are among those facing unemployment, as the Trump administration slashes jobs across agencies. The state is home to more than 18,000 federal workers, with nearly 60 percent working for the Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
NIH funding freeze stalls applications on $1.5 billion in medical research funds
The National Institutes of Health had to stop considering new grant applications, delaying funding for research into diseases ranging from heart disease and cancer to Alzheimer’s and allergies.
Cooperator, FBI agent, tell of ‘pay to play’ kickback scheme at Feeding Our Future
Qamar Hassan, who pleaded guilty in 2023, testified that she and other operators of purported meal distribution sites gave “donations” to Feeding Our Future founder Aimee Bock in exchange for their continued participation in the fraud.
The Supreme Court won’t allow Trump to immediately fire head of whistleblower office
The Supreme Court on Friday temporarily kept on the job the head of the federal agency that protects government whistleblowers, in its first word on the many legal fights over President Donald Trump’s second-term agenda.
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