A new study by University of Minnesota’s Rural Health Research Center shows that 126,000 women of childbearing age in Minnesota — roughly one in every 10 — live in areas without hospital-based obstetrics care, up 48 percent since 2010. Rural areas are being hit particularly hard with birth center closures, due to a variety of intersecting financial issues.
A proposed petroleum pipeline from Marshall to Sioux Falls has been granted approval by the Public Utilities Commission by a 4-1 vote. The initial proposal in 2022 ran afoul of the Department of the Interior and Native Americans from 23 tribes who have cultural ties to Pipestone National Monument, which the pipeline would have disrupted. The new plan goes around Pipestone, but the coordination between the tribes and Magellan Midstream Partners — the company building the pipeline — has not been going smoothly.
Live Nation opened their new concert venue, the Mystic Lake Amphitheater, in Shakopee last June and after a successful first season, they’re announcing next year’s lineup, including Matchbox 20 and presumably some good bands as well. There were, however, some issues with noise complaints, so the city council is bringing in experts to measure and monitor sound levels and figure out ways to mitigate the noise pollution.
Attorney General Keith Ellison, along with attorneys general from Washington, New Mexico and Oregon, is suing the administration over work requirements for Medicaid in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed last year. This is the second time Minnesota has sued over the work requirements after winning a partial victory in October in a suit from June. This time, the suit is built around a Supreme Court case from 2012 that allowed states to forego the Affordable Care Act expansion.
What do you wear to meet the Pope? If you’re Bob Dylan, you wear a black hoodie.
And finally in your Minnesota news roundup: Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store (you know, the big yellow one) has gotten into a bit of hot water over selling candy containing alcohol without a license for alcohol sales. The candies included Asbach Pralinen Brandy Cherries and Goldkenn Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire Swiss chocolates. Diana Barry from “Anne of Green Gables” could not be reached for comment.
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