2026.03.02

[lsanderson]

More than 250 Minnesota National Guard members are currently serving in the Middle East amid the the U.S. and Israel’s attacks on Iran. In response to a KARE 11 inquiry, a guard spokesperson did not release their locations but said the troops are “grateful for the strong support of those back home.” The Minnesota National Guard units hail from Duluth, Marshall and Stillwater.
https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/mn-national-guard-in-iran-attacks-continue/89-d22e34f2-8983-4d17-badb-22b0160c8597

The Pioneer Press reported the beaver expert in the new Pixar movie “Hoppers” is a nod to a University of Minnesota beaver expert who helped the film producers learn about beavers.
https://www.twincities.com/2026/03/01/emily-fairfax-umn-beaver-expert-hoppers-pixar/

Thousands flee Beirut and southern Lebanon amid Israeli strikes: what we know so far on day three of the Iran war
Middle East conflict spreads as Hezbollah attacks Israel, prompting strikes on Beirut; oil prices soar; drone hits UK base in Cyprus
Guardian staff
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/02/thousands-flee-beirut-and-southern-lebanon-amid-israeli-strikes-what-we-know-so-far-on-day-three-of-the-iran-war

Private jet prices soar as wealthy scramble to leave Dubai
People drive to Oman and Saudi in hope of a flight, while most tourists stay stuck in hotels and on cruise ships
Pjotr Sauer, Lorenzo Tondo in Palermo and Kate Connolly in Berlin
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/02/dubai-private-jet-prices-soar-tourists-stuck-wealthy-leave

Middle East crisis pushes up oil prices – and could drive inflation rises too
Heather Stewart Economics editor
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/mar/02/middle-east-crisis-oil-prices-inflation-us-iran-interest-rates-growth

As measles spreads in South Carolina, RFK Jr’s allies work to gut vaccine laws
Activists who dispute safety of vaccines are pushing to limit immunization requirements in schools
Michelle R Smith
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/02/measles-south-carolina-rfk-jr-vaccine-laws

The Democrat who schools Republicans – ‘I would say do more of that’
Isaiah Martin’s videos have gone viral – he thinks his party should follow his lead and stand up to Republican excess
Adam Gabbatt
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/01/isaiah-martin-democrats-republicans

The UK has arrested high-profile figures connected to Jeffrey Epstein. Will the US?
In contrast with the takedowns of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Peter Mandelson, US consequences have been limited to resignations and apologies
Victoria Bekiempis
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/02/jeffrey-epstein-uk-us-arrests

Rijksmuseum reveals painting to be early work by Rembrandt
17th-century Dutch master’s Vision of Zacharias in the Temple to go on display this week
Senay Boztas in Amsterdam
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2026/mar/02/rijksmuseum-painting-early-work-rembrandt-van-rijn-amsterdam

‘I’m dying for the day heterosexuals have to come out’: Catherine Opie and her astonishing shots of queer America
Famed for having a child’s drawing of a family carved into her back, the photographer has devoted her life to queer America, from endurance swimmers to drag artists to her son in a tutu. Now she’s finally getting a major UK show
Emma Brockes
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2026/mar/02/catherine-opie-photographer-queer-america-drag-pink-tutu

Stardew Valley at 10: the anticapitalist game that cures burnout and inspires queer art
Since 2016, the cosy, inclusive, non-heteronormative escapism of the beloved farming sim has inspired a community of devoted fans, and helped it shift 50m units
Jordan Erica Webber
https://www.theguardian.com/games/2026/mar/02/stardew-valley-at-10-the-anticapitalist-game-that-cures-burnout-and-inspires-queer-art

My search for the perfect brown bar in Amsterdam
I swerved the tourist traps and went on a bar crawl of the city’s bruine kroegen, the cosy, dimly lit pubs that are the Netherlands’ ‘surrogate living rooms’
Ben West
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2026/mar/02/my-search-for-the-perfect-brown-bar-in-amsterdam

Rare ‘blood moon’ total lunar eclipse to loom over North America, Australia and New Zealand
Eclipse will feature a deep, coppery-red full moon on 3 March, with scientists predicting the best times to see it
Ima Caldwell
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/mar/02/blood-moon-total-lunar-eclipse-2026-march-3-full-worm-what-date-time-australia-america

Waiting at Methodist Hospital for a cardioconversion. Luttle like Frankenstein, but less lightning.