Stories from February 28, 2025

Judge revokes pretrial release of Feeding Our Future defendant after witness tampering allegations
Last week, during the ongoing trial of Feeding Our Future founder Aimee Bock and restaurant owner Salim Said, Abdinasir Abshir allegedly approached cooperating defendant Sharmake Jama, who was in a courthouse hallway waiting to testify, and asked to speak with him in a bathroom.
Life-saving medical care in jeopardy as USAID cancels contracts with Minneapolis agency
Severely malnourished kids in Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan may lose access to life-saving nutrition with the cancellation on Tuesday of three USAID contracts managed by Minneapolis-based Alight.
An infectious disease expert says it's concerning that federal officials canceled a Food and Drug Administration advisory committee meeting scheduled for next month to select the strains to be included in next season's flu shot. And PRISM, a Golden Valley-based food shelf, needs to come up with an additional $30,000 that was originally promised by the USDA to buy food from local farmers and other sources. Otherwise, it’ll have to pull the money from its reserves.
Feds: Minneapolis man attempted to provide material support to ISIS
Federal prosecutors say Hassan allegedly posted his support for ISIS on his social media accounts. And they say he communicated online with a group that encourages others to travel overseas to join ISIS.
Amenazas de deportación mantienen alejados a clientes de negocios latinos
Empresarios latinos dicen que muchos clientes se están manteniendo alejados de sus establecimientos por miedo a ser detenidos y deportados. Líderes municipales de las ciudades gemelas están animando a la gente a comprar en negocios latinos este sábado.
Wind advisory continues into Friday night; cooler temperatures for Saturday
Blustery northwest winds are blowing across the state Friday, with gusts reported over 60 mph! While the winds will gradually lessen through the evening, gusts will remain over 30 mph. Cooler air will follow the front, bringing chillier temperatures for Saturday.
RFK Jr. canceled flu vaccine meetings. What does that mean for fall shots?
Epidemiologist Michael Osterholm, the head of the University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, joined Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer to talk about the implications of axing the meeting.
Trump to sign order Friday designating English as the official language of the U.S.
President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order on Friday designating English as the official language of the United States. That's according to the White House.
Clayton Keller has goal and 4 assists for career-high 5 points in Utah’s 6-1 romp over Wild
 Clayton Keller had a career-high five points — scoring his 22nd goal and assisting on four others — and the Utah Hockey Club beat the Minnesota Wild 6-1 on Thursday night for its fourth straight home victory. 
Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards likely to be suspended after picking up 16th technical foul
Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards will likely be suspended for one game after being ejected and picking up his 16th technical foul of the season during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.
No signs of forced entry or a carbon monoxide leak in Gene Hackman’s death
Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead inside a New Mexico home, as well as a dog. The door to the home was open when a maintenance worker discovered their bodies, an affidavit says.
As the Texas outbreak grows, how contagious is measles, really?
Vaccination eliminated measles from the U.S. 25 years ago. But it can still spread in pockets where vaccination rates are low, like the west Texas county with a current outbreak. Here’s how fast.
Minnesota state government leaders say programs that operate with federal funding have faced disruptions. Programs run by the departments of commerce, natural resources and agriculture are among those where federal funding awards are currently inaccessible.
LeBron James powers the Lakers to 4th straight victory, 111-102 over the Timberwolves
LeBron James had 33 points and 17 rebounds and the Los Angeles Lakers won their fourth straight game, holding off the Minnesota Timberwolves 111-102 on Thursday night. Austin Reeves added 23 points and Luka Doncic had 21 points and 13 rebounds to help the Lakers improve to 14-3 since Jan. 21.
An ex-minor league catcher was accused of trying to lose on purpose. He says he didn’t tip pitches
A former minor league catcher in the Minnesota Twins organization has denied an allegation he tipped pitches to opponents to try to make his team lose because he was tired of the season.
Hundreds of weather forecasters fired in latest wave of DOGE cuts
Hundreds of weather forecasters and other federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employees on probationary status have been fired, lawmakers and weather experts say. Federal workers who were not let go said the Thursday afternoon layoffs included meteorologists who do crucial local forecasts in National Weather Service offices across the country.
As inspiration for ‘The Brutalist,’ famed St. John’s Abbey Church gains renewed interest
Completed in 1961, the strikingly unique Abbey Church is the flagship of St. John’s, and a heralded example of modern architecture. It’s also the inspiration for “The Brutalist,” one of the favorites to win best picture at Sunday's Academy Awards. 
A stray inspired a Minnesota family to build a heated ‘cat condo’ — and livestream it
At any given time, dozens of people watch the 24/7 livestream showing the northern Minnesota cats in their heated home as they sleep, eat and play alongside the birds and other wildlife that move on and off the screen.
Theater Mu meets the political moment with a world premiere play 
Theater Mu’s world premiere of “Fifty Boxes of Earth,” a play by Ankita Raturi reimagining Dracula through themes of xenophobia, colonialism and trans identity, faces political scrutiny and potential funding loss under federal DEI rollbacks.
Bois Forte Band of Chippewa set to open cannabis dispensary on tribal land in northern Minnesota
A tribal nation in the far north part of the state is set to open its first cannabis dispensary. Bois Forte will be the sixth tribal nation in the state to open a cannabis dispensary.   
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