2026.04.09

[lsanderson]

A group of Minnesota restaurant owners appeared at the Capitol Wednesday to plead with lawmakers for short-term relief to severe financial strain hitting the industry, Fox 9 reports. “A State of Hospitality Report shows Minnesota restaurants face economic uncertainty with lower profits, increased costs, rising wages, and reduced traffic, worsened by federal surge impacts in early 2026.” Via MinnPost
https://www.fox9.com/news/minnesota-restaurants-being-pushed-breaking-point-new-report-shows

In dining news of a different kind, Michelin, the international restaurant rating guide, announced it will be coming to six cities in the “American Great Lakes” region, including Minneapolis (sorry St. Paul). Ratings will likely begin in 2027, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune. Via MinnPost
https://www.startribune.com/after-years-of-speculation-michelin-is-finally-coming-to-minneapolis/601663256

Minneapolis City Council members announced they are considering ordinances that would allow public bathhouses back in the city after a nearly 40-year ban. MPR News provides context and the history of bathhouses in the area. Via MinnPost
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/04/08/minneapolis-bathhouse-ban-history

Latino-led nonprofit CLUES is ready to be part of the solution to post-Metro Surge housing crisis
The nonprofit is among three chosen by the city of Minneapolis to help distribute emergency rental assistance to those in need.
by Trevor Mitchell
https://www.minnpost.com/metro/2026/04/minneapolis-emergency-rental-assistance-clues-metro-surge-nonprofits/

As RFK Jr allies hailed Mississippi’s rollback of strict school vaccine rules, whooping cough surged and a baby died
The campaign to change the rules was years in the making, orchestrated in part by two men with close ties to US health secretary RFK Jr
Michelle R Smith in Hattiesburg, Mississippi
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/apr/09/rfk-jr-mississippi-rollback-school-vaccine-rules

Ohio man becomes first to be convicted under new AI statute for sexually explicit images
James Strahler II pleaded guilty to cyberstalking, producing obscene images and digital forgeries of child sexual abuse
Victoria Bekiempis
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/08/ohio-man-convicted-ai-sexually-explicit-images

Pam Bondi will not appear at scheduled House hearing on Epstein files, DoJ says
Justice department says Bondi will not appear for House deposition since she was ousted as US attorney general
Anna Betts
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/08/pam-bondi-house-hearing-epstein-files

California sheriff who seized ballots ordered to halt election investigation
Attorney general says court ruling against Chad Bianco ‘reins in the destabilizing actions of a rogue sheriff’
Associated Press
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/08/california-sheriff-election-ballots

Mass drowning of chicks puts emperor penguins at risk of extinction
Record low levels of Antarctic sea ice is having grim consequences for penguins yet to grow waterproof feathers
Damian Carrington Environment editor
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/09/mass-drowning-of-chicks-puts-emperor-penguins-at-risk-of-extinction

‘A dream come true’: Brazil’s blue-and-yellow macaws return to Rio after 200 years
An ambitious ‘refaunation’ project is bringing the much-loved birds and other lost species back to the city’s national park
Luke Taylor
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/09/a-dream-come-true-brazils-blue-and-yellow-macaws-return-to-rio-after-200-years

How KFC, AKA Korean fried chicken, took over the world
The dish, adapted from one brought by US soldiers after the Korean war, has sparked thousands of variations and sits at the forefront of the K-food wave
Raphael Rashid in Seoul
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/09/korean-fried-chicken

Big Mistakes review – Schitt’s Creek creator Dan Levy excels in new cringe comedy
He plays a pastor on the run from a gang in this dysfunctional family sitcom. The cast is ace, with Taylor Ortega as the hilarious sister – and it has a blindsiding twist
Rachel Aroesti
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/apr/09/big-mistakes-review-dan-levy-netflix

Birdwatch: Climbing to 4,400 metres to spot a rare rufous-bellied seedsnipe
Our writer travels to the eastern Andes in search of one of Ecuador’s most elusive birds
Stephen Moss
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/08/birdwatch-rufous-bellied-seedsnipe-andes-mountains-ecuador

Wit, unker, git: The lost medieval pronouns of English intimacy (Paywalled?)
Sophie Hardach
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260408-the-extinct-english-words-for-just-the-two-of-us