AGP Executive Report

Sports—NBA Finals twist: San Antonio’s De’Aaron Fox is out of Game 1 of the Western Conference finals with right ankle soreness, leaving Dylan Harper to start as the Spurs open against Oklahoma City. The Thunder, meanwhile, welcome back Jalen Williams after a hamstring absence. Public Health—Tick season surge: In Illinois and across the Midwest, ER visits for tick bites are at their highest levels for this time of year since 2017, with Lyme disease remaining the most common tick-borne illness. Minnesota—ICE accountability: Minnesota prosecutors charged ICE agent Christian Castro in a north Minneapolis January shooting, saying his federal badge doesn’t shield him from state assault charges. Weather—Storm watch: Forecasters flagged a moderate severe-weather risk across parts of central and northeast Kansas, with tornado and very large hail chances. Local—Community notes: Funeral services are set Wednesday for Annandale volunteer “Judy” Lusti, and New Ulm area sports roundup includes multiple hole-in-one reports and prep baseball results.

Wildfire Response: Gov. Tim Walz is set to visit Two Harbors as the Stewart Trail Fire grows to 62% containment, with 34 structures destroyed and Highway 61 still closed in parts; officials say the cause was a power line. Second Fire Update: In Crow Wing County, the Flanders Fire is now about 1,700 acres and has triggered a local emergency as crews work hot spots and reinforce containment. Public Safety—Shooting Incidents: A stray target-shooting bullet hit a man driving on a Minnesota highway, sending him to the hospital; separately, a man was arrested for allegedly firing at a firefighting plane battling a northern wildfire. Health & Sports: Minnesota Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson will undergo offseason hip surgery, clouding training camp readiness. Housing/Senior Care: Walz signed “Larry’s Law,” banning “no lift/no touch” policies in assisted living and requiring new facility procedures by August 2027. Local Economy/Science: The U of M is pursuing a $60M Duluth freshwater research facility at the Large Lakes Observatory. Legislature Afterglow: Lawmakers also approved a $1.24B bonding bill for projects ranging from water infrastructure to transportation.

Minnesota Capitol Wrap: Lawmakers closed the 2026 session just before midnight, passing a $205 million HCMC rescue package plus a bonding bill, property tax relief, and tab fee reductions—while gun reform still didn’t get a House vote. Health Care & Fraud: The deal also boosts Medicaid fraud enforcement and sets up hospital stabilization reserves. Injury Watch: Chicago Sky star Rickea Jackson left Sunday’s win over the Lynx with a left knee injury and didn’t return. Public Health: A new U.S. study finds teens are sleeping less than ever, with only about one in five getting at least seven hours. Wildfire Response: Northern Minnesota wildfire activity continues to drive evacuations and National Guard support. Sports: The Twins open a three-game set vs. the Astros Monday, and Minnesota avoided a sweep with a 5-4 win over Milwaukee Sunday.

Gun Reform Standoff: Minnesota’s gun reform bill is still stuck in the House as DFL lawmakers stage a sit-in and demand a floor vote on a package already approved by the Senate, with Speaker Lisa Demuth saying the vote happened in committee—while families and advocates keep pressing for action. Wildfire Emergency: Gov. Tim Walz declared a peacetime emergency and mobilized the National Guard as major fires grow, including the Flanders Fire near Brainerd and a blaze north of Two Harbors, with evacuations underway. Kids’ Social Media Protections: A bipartisan bill limiting how platforms handle accounts for children under 16 cleared both chambers and heads to Walz’s desk, aiming to curb targeting and addictive features. Public Safety & Health: Minnesota reported that 99%+ of water systems met drinking-water standards in 2025, while officials also flagged nitrate-contaminated water as a national concern. Sports: The Brewers pushed toward a Twins sweep, and the Wild’s season ended after a late collapse against Colorado.

Wildfire & Highway Impacts: A fast-growing wildfire near Minnesota’s North Shore has pushed Highway 61 closed for miles, with evacuations reported between Two Harbors and Castle Danger as the Stewart Trail fire swelled to hundreds of acres. Statehouse Watch: As the session nears the finish, lawmakers are racing to pass bills by midnight, including a social media rules package for kids and an anti-grooming bill making adult grooming a felony. Education & Local Relief: Ely’s schools may get a boost from a bipartisan budget deal that would change how seasonal recreation properties count toward school tax base—an issue that hits rural districts hard. Community Safety Program: In Morse, the Firewise update focused on wildfire-resiliency outreach, underbrush removal plans, and how grant help is handled. Sports—Minnesota’s Weekend: The Spurs ended the Wolves’ season in Game 6, while the Brewers kept rolling with a 2-1 win over the Twins and a chance to finish the sweep Sunday.

NBA Playoffs: The Spurs punched their ticket to the Western Conference Finals with a 139-109 Game 6 rout of the Timberwolves at Target Center. Stephon Castle led the closeout with 32 points, plus Fox and Harper powered a backcourt surge as Minnesota’s season ended in six games. Western Finals: San Antonio now faces Oklahoma City, starting Monday in Game 1. Wildfire & Travel: North Shore Highway 61 near Two Harbors is closed as the Stewart Trail Fire grows to about 376 acres and is 0% contained; evacuations are ordered between Two Harbors and Castle Danger, with a red flag warning in effect. Public Safety: Minneapolis saw a shooting with life-threatening injuries, followed by a fleeing vehicle that crashed into a police squad. Local Government: Park Rapids cleared long-running negative fund balances by moving money from the general fund to capital accounts. Weather: A sunny Saturday is ahead, but storms return Sunday into Monday. Community & Culture: Festival of Nations is set for May 30 in St. Peter, and Summer Games Done Quick reveals its full 2026 schedule in Minneapolis July 5-11.

NBA Playoffs: The San Antonio Spurs sent the Minnesota Timberwolves home in a 139-109 Game 6 blowout, finishing the series 4-2. Spurs Surge: Rookie Stephon Castle exploded for 32 points and 11 rebounds, while Victor Wembanyama added 19 points and the Spurs never trailed by double digits. Next Up: San Antonio now faces defending champion Oklahoma City in the Western Conference finals, starting Monday. Wild Injury Fallout: Minnesota’s NHL season ended with major setbacks—Jonas Brodin and Joel Eriksson Ek both missed the Colorado series due to broken foot bones. Capitol Pressure: In St. Paul, DFL lawmakers kept a gun-safety sit-in going as families pushed for a House vote on the Senate bill. Aurora Watch: Northern Lights alerts are out for Saturday night, with Minnesota among the states that could see faint aurora in darker skies.

Youth Mental Health & Social Media: Minnesota is ranked #30 for youth mental health, and lawmakers are moving fast on new protections—SF2696 would require parental consent for social media accounts for kids 15 and under and curb “addictive” features; it unanimously cleared the Senate and now heads to the House. Public Safety & Crime: A Robbinsdale Area school district is investigating an alleged sexual assault at Armstrong High School in Plymouth, working with Plymouth Police and citing student privacy limits. State Government: Gov. Walz signed a bill creating a Minnesota Office of Inspector General to investigate fraud, with a compromise delaying the law-enforcement side until 2028. Veterans Memorial: Walz also signed HF4987 renaming part of Highway 96 as the “Master Sergeant Nicole Amor Memorial Highway.” Wild Contract Talk: Quinn Hughes says he’s “definitely open” to a Wild extension after Minnesota’s playoff exit. Sports: Twins host the Brewers at Target Field; and the Wolves face a Game 6 vs. the Spurs in Minneapolis.

WNBA: Natasha Howard hit 26 points, including the go-ahead basket with 51 seconds left, as the Minnesota Lynx beat the Dallas Wings 90-86. Courtney Williams added 21, rookie Olivia Miles had 15 points and six assists, and Kayla McBride sealed it with late free throws. MLB: The Twins open a three-game set hosting the Brewers, with Joe Ryan expected to start. Sports talk: Michael Jordan fired back at Anthony Edwards after Edwards questioned Larry Bird’s skill, reigniting the old “past vs. present” debate. NFL: The Packers released their 2026 schedule, kicking off at Minnesota in Week 1—while the Vikings’ slate also landed, setting up a busy stretch ahead. Policy: The Trump administration is expanding crackdowns on welfare and immigration fraud, with federal investigators pointing to a Minneapolis-linked Medicaid/food assistance fraud case as a trigger for broader action. State budget: Minnesota is also dealing with a $131M aid shortfall that could force cuts to college grants.

NIH Grant Boosts Northland Research: UMD and Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College won a $3.4M, five-year NIH grant to expand biomedical research and student opportunities across northern Minnesota. Gun Reform Pressure Hits the Capitol: Gun violence prevention groups delivered petitions with 7,000+ signatures to House Speaker Lisa Demuth, demanding a vote on the Senate-passed SF4067 package as lawmakers near the May 18 session end. Capitol Crime Case: Former Minnesota Sen. Justin Eichorn pleaded guilty in a child solicitation sting, accepting lesser charges that could mean 15 to 21 months in prison. Public Safety Strain: Minneapolis Fire says about 7% of staff are on PTSD leave, driving overtime and budget pressure after spikes tied to major incidents. Local Business Shock: Bauhaus Brew Labs announced it will close at the end of June after years of rising costs and shifting demand. Sports—Playoff Life Support: The Timberwolves face a Game 6 vs. the Spurs after a rough Game 5, while the Wild’s season ended after being eliminated by Colorado.

NHL Playoffs: The Minnesota Wild’s season ended in heartbreak Wednesday night as they blew a 3-0 lead and fell 4-3 in overtime to the Colorado Avalanche in Game 5, with Brett Kulak scoring at 3:52 after Nathan MacKinnon tied it late. Colorado erased the deficit and clinched the series 4-1, earning a trip to the Western Conference final. NBA Playoffs: In San Antonio’s push for the next round, Victor Wembanyama returned to lead the Spurs to a 3-2 series edge over the Timberwolves, setting up Game 6 in Minneapolis. Local Government: Minneapolis is set to vote next Thursday on a temporary data center moratorium, as residents raise concerns about energy, water use, pollution, and “environmental racism.” Justice & Health: Marvin Haynes is one step closer to $4.5M after lawmakers approved compensation for a wrongful conviction; and a man was charged after an alleged fatal stabbing in a Minneapolis park. Sports (MLB): Shohei Ohtani lowered his ERA to 0.82 as the Dodgers blanked the Giants 4-0.

NBA Playoffs: Victor Wembanyama powered the Spurs to a 126–97 Game 5 blowout over the Timberwolves, putting San Antonio up 3–2 and setting up a must-win Game 6 in Minneapolis. NHL Playoffs: The Wild are facing elimination in Game 5 at Colorado after dropping Game 4, with odds leaning hard toward the Avalanche at Ball Arena. Public Safety: Excelsior residents were told to boil drinking water after a pressure loss raised possible contamination concerns, while Grand Rapids reported a K-9 dog attack that left another pet seriously injured. Local Sports & Community: Moorhead cornerback Zak Walker committed to Minnesota, and the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota landed a record $4 million gift to fuel its expansion. State Politics: Walz is set to sign a bill strengthening penalties for impersonating police officers, as lawmakers continue pushing fraud oversight and reforms.

NBA Playoffs: Victor Wembanyama answered his Game 4 ejection with a monster Game 5, dropping 27 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks as the Spurs crushed the Timberwolves 126-97 to take a 3-2 series lead. Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards finished with 20, but San Antonio pulled away after Minnesota briefly tied it at 61. Next Up: Game 6 is Friday in Minneapolis, with the Spurs one win from the Western Conference final. WNBA: The Minnesota Lynx beat the Phoenix Mercury 88-84, with Nia Coffey hitting a late 3 and finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds; Olivia Miles added 13 points, six boards and seven assists. PWHL: Montreal’s Marie-Philip Poulin scored the power-play winner to send the Victoire to the Walter Cup final, ending Minnesota Frost’s run 2-1 in Game 5. Local Life: A southern Minnesota family is searching for a stolen boat tied to a fallen Zumbrota officer and firefighter, with community support rallying around them.

Health Care Deal: Sanford Health and North Memorial Health have signed a definitive agreement to merge into a single nonprofit system, with Sanford’s Twin Cities leadership led by North Memorial CEO Trevor Sawallish and a planned $600 million investment into Robbinsdale and Maple Grove hospitals. Courts & Public Safety: A former Minnesota pastor, Jeffrey Charles, was sentenced to life without parole for repeated sexual assaults of a child at a Wisconsin cabin; in another case, a Coon Rapids man pleaded guilty in federal court to machine gun possession tied to a high school graduation shooting at Mariucci Arena. Politics & Law: A Minnesota Senate Finance Committee advanced a bill making impersonating law enforcement a felony, after Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were shot by an alleged officer impersonator. Business & Antitrust: Sezzle won a partial victory in its antitrust fight against Shopify, with core claims allowed to proceed. Sports: The Spurs-Timberwolves series heads to Game 5 tied 2-2, with Victor Wembanyama available after avoiding further suspension. Weather/Fire Risk: A Red Flag Warning covers 35 Minnesota counties due to extreme wildfire conditions.

NBA Discipline Decision: Victor Wembanyama won’t face more punishment after his Game 4 ejection for elbowing Naz Reid—he’s eligible for Tuesday’s Game 5 as the Spurs and Timberwolves are tied 2-2. Stanley Cup Playoff Shock: The Avalanche answered a rough stretch by beating the Wild 5-2 in Game 4 to take a 3-1 series lead, with Mackenzie Blackwood solid in net and Nathan MacKinnon returning after getting bloodied by a puck. Local Safety & Public Policy: Minnesota’s Senate narrowly passed a bill restricting how federal immigration agents operate in the state, including rules on identity concealment and access to schools and health facilities. Crash Report: A Greenfield woman was unhurt in a Sunday Mankato crash, while a Mankato passenger suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Sports Schedule: Tuesday brings Twins–Marlins and Game 5 of the Wolves–Spurs series, while Colorado heads back to Denver for the next Wild matchup.

NBA Playoffs: Victor Wembanyama’s elbow drama is over for now—after a Flagrant 2 ejection in Game 4, the NBA is not adding further discipline, and he’s set to play Game 5 as the Timberwolves and Spurs are tied 2-2. Local Public Safety: A Metro Transit bus crashed into a south Minneapolis home after a pickup ran a stop sign; the pickup driver died and the bus driver was hurt. State Watch: Minnesota’s Senate gave final approval to a new statewide Office of Inspector General to crack down on fraud, sending it to Gov. Tim Walz. Health Care Crisis: Lawmakers are racing against the clock to prevent Hennepin County Medical Center from starting closures as early as this summer. Sports Beyond Basketball: Adrian Peterson will be inducted into the Vikings Ring of Honor in 2026, and the PWHL Frost–Victoire Game 5 was postponed due to illness in Montreal.