2026.04.22

[lsanderson]

More than 70 Minnesota children were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers during Operation Metro Surge, according to an analysis of court records and federal deportation data by Sahan Journal. The analysis also found that nearly two dozen children were held in custody for more than 20 days. And seven Minnesota children ages 4 to 17 remained in detention as of March 10. Via MinnPost
https://sahanjournal.com/immigration/ice-detention-data-minnesota-children-operation-metro-surge/

An estimated 3,000 to 3,500 gallons of crude corn oil spilled from a barge into the Mississippi River Monday afternoon near Red Wing, KTTC reported. The Red Wing Fire Department responded to the ADM riverfront facility around noon, where ADM staff had placed a containment boom around the barge to prevent downstream drift, the city said in a news release. The scene has been turned over to ADM staff and Clean Harbors for continued response, with no immediate risk to the public, officials said. Via MinnPost
https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/thousands-of-gallons-of-crude-corn-oil-spilled-into-mississippi-river-near-red-wing/89-4099127a-b22c-4273-bbee-84273732c035?tbref=hp
https://www.redwingmn.gov/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/938

In Minneapolis, Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Brian O’Hara discussed initiatives aimed at improving public safety in the Uptown neighborhood during a Tuesday news conference, WCCO-TV reported. City leaders highlighted the expansion of the city’s Community Safety Ambassadors, a pilot program already operating in other south Minneapolis neighborhoods. The program trains unarmed dispatchers and ambassadors to conduct wellness checks, connect people with services, serve as safety escorts and provide basic first aid. It is set to begin serving the Uptown community in November, KSTP-TV reported. Via MinnPost
https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minneapolis-uptown-safety-update/
https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/programs-initiatives/violence-prevention-approach/community-safety-ambassadors/?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=
https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/minneapolis-leaders-to-highlight-uptown-safety-efforts-expansion-of-safety-ambassadors/

Minnesota cannabis growers are running into regulatory challenges and resistance even as recreational marijuana has been legalized across the state, MPR News reported. While state law allows the cannabis industry to operate, some local governments have passed ordinances restricting or zoning out businesses. The mismatch between state and local regulations is prompting lawsuits from growers around the state. Via MinnPost
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/04/21/minnesota-cannabis-growers-operators-stung-by-local-tensions-over-legalization

New app using AI aims to expand civic engagement in Minnesota
CivicLoon, the creation of a Lakeville-area programmer, summarizes bills at the Legislature into plain English and translates them into more than 30 languages.
by Shadi Bushra
https://www.minnpost.com/state-government/2026/04/new-app-using-artificial-intelligence-aims-to-expand-civic-engagement-in-minnesota-ai/

Minnesota’s energy system faces headwinds, from federal policy to surging data center demand
In a new weekly newsletter from MinnPost, journalist Brian Martucci explains the past, present and future of energy in Minnesota.
by Brian Martucci
https://www.minnpost.com/energy/2026/04/minnesotas-energy-system-headwinds/

Dozens of US lawmakers have been accused of sexual harassment, study finds
Analysis finds 53 workplace harassment allegations against 30 lawmakers amid wave of resignations in Congress
Chris Stein
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/21/house-senate-sexual-harassment-study

Nearly half of US children are breathing dangerous levels of air pollution, report warns
American Lung Association report comes amid Trump EPA’s expansive rollback of environmental protections
Maya Yang
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/22/air-pollution-report-dangerous-levels-children

AI hallucinations found in high-profile Wall Street law firm filing
Sullivan & Cromwell apologises to New York federal judge for string of errors in documents for Prince
Mark Sweney
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/22/ai-hallucinations-found-in-high-profile-wall-street-law-firm-filing

Susan Choi and Lily King shortlisted for Women’s prize for fiction
The US writers join four debut authors in demonstrating ‘the complexity and beauty of the female experience’, said chair of judges Julia Gillard
Miatta Mbriwa
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/apr/22/susan-choi-lily-king-shortlisted-womens-prize-for-fiction

The Wonderful World that Almost Was by Andrew Durbin review – the queer artists who shaped New York cool
A tender but unflinching account of Peter Hujar and Paul Thek, forgotten stars of the 1960s scene
Chloë Ashby
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/apr/22/the-wonderful-world-that-almost-was-by-andrew-durbin-review-naked-ambition

Why was the Southern Poverty Law Center indicted on federal fraud charges?
Charges alleged the center paid informants to infiltrate extremist groups without disclosing payments to donors
Associated Press
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/21/splc-fraud-charges-explained

‘Get back to work’: Amazon faces fresh scrutiny over workplace safety record
Workers and labor advocates say the company’s injury rates and how it treats injured staff remain a problem
Michael Sainato
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/22/amazon-workplace-safety-record

Millions in India stripped of vote before critical state election, as government seeks to ‘purify’ electoral roll
Experts say Muslims and other minorities have been disproportionately deleted from the electoral roll ahead of the West Bengal elections this week
Hannah Ellis-Petersen and Aakash Hassan in Delhi
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/22/india-west-bengal-state-elections-millions-stripped-of-vote

This Is a Gardening Show review – Zach Galifianakis’ charming new series feels like perfect TV
Part lesson, part lark, these 15-minute episodes are a total joy. They have such a deliriously light touch they will make you want to run outside and plunge your hands into the soil
Stuart Heritage
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/apr/22/this-is-a-gardening-show-review-zach-galifianakis-netflix

The Pentagon released its UFO videos – so I went to the US to chase aliens. This is what I found
What is behind the surge in ufology? The recent spike can be traced to the top of the US government, which inspired me to start investigating …
Daniel Lavelle
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/apr/22/pentagon-released-ufo-videos-chase-aliens

China Built a City Sized Train Station
The B1M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-Oa2vEr8Rs

Curry puff pies and king noodles: Ranie Saidi’s everyday Malaysian recipes
Malaysian home cooking is all about balance, and you will find that in abundance in a curried potato karipap pie and homely noodles in a punchy sambal
Ranie Saidi
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/apr/22/malaysian-curry-puff-pie-king-noodles-recipes-ranie-saidi

Ghosts, nudes and lesbian pageant queens: highlights from NYC’s Photography Show – in pictures
Portraits of South African activists and the enigmatic silhouettes of Bill Brandt join a selection from more than 70 galleries at Aipad: The Photography Show at the Park Avenue Armory in New York from 22-26 April
Briana Ellis-Gibbs
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2026/apr/22/aipad-photography-show-new-york