Minnesota added 5,400 jobs in May and unemployment fell to 4.4%, even as labor‑force participation continued to slip. The gain is modest but noteworthy.

The Rochester School Board adopted a $483 million 2026–27 budget that trims 27 positions and uses $3 million from reserves while adding Eid al‑Adha to the 2027–28 calendar.

Former state Sen. Nicole Mitchell appears to be weighing a Woodbury City Council bid; her campaign’s donate page is live as filing deadlines approach.

Justin Smith, a personal attorney to President Trump, was confirmed to the Eighth Circuit in a narrow Senate vote amid warnings from civil‑rights groups. The pick shifts influence on a court that hears cases from seven states.

Saint Paul’s HRA voted to let Ramsey County use part of the HRA levy for small-business support, freeing a tentative $1.5–$2M countywide and roughly $1M for the city.

Saint Paul will hold neighborhood sessions to gather resident priorities as city leaders craft a nearly $1 billion 2027 budget facing an estimated $26 million gap.

Vadnais Heights may reverse a $33M fire‑station bond after residents pushed back over taxes and interest. The City Council will consider rescinding approval at its June 16 meeting.

A D.C. judge ordered the DOE to reinstate $82.1M for 11 canceled clean‑energy grants after plaintiffs argued the cuts were politically targeted. The decision could restore funding for projects in five states.

An Eighth Circuit panel heard a challenge to South Dakota’s February petition filing deadline, a case that could reshape the calendar for citizen‑led ballot campaigns.

Students and faculty pressed the Board of Regents over a proposed 3.8% tuition increase and budget cuts that could remove roughly 165 positions as regents prepare to vote.

DEED replaced MinnesotaWorks.net with CareerForce.MN.gov, an ad-free labor exchange with a built-in resume builder and statewide job listings.

A new Minnesota law bars criminal charges for children under 13 beginning Aug. 1, 2026 — a shift toward social services that some counties and social workers say they aren't ready for.

Columbia Heights is moving to cancel its Flock Safety contract and remove 12 license‑plate readers after residents raised privacy and immigration concerns. The decision follows packed public meetings and an ACLU memo to the council.