2026.04.29
Apr. 29th, 2026 11:06 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lsandersonUS supreme court ‘demolishes’ key Voting Rights Act provision that prevented racial discrimination
Justices rule in landmark 6-3 decision that Louisiana will have to redraw its congressional map
Sam Levine
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/29/supreme-court-louisiana-congressional-map-case-ruling
Inver Grove Heights is joining several other Minnesota cities in switching back to the old state flag after the city council voted 3-2 on Monday night to make the change, following more than an hour of public comment, MPR News reported. The decision came on the same day that eight House DFL lawmakers introduced a bill that would impose a 10% reduction in state aid on cities and counties using a state flag other than the one approved by the State Emblems Redesign Commission in 2024, KTTC reported. Via MinnPost
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/04/28/old-minnesota-state-flag-inver-grove-heights-switches-back
https://www.kttc.com/2026/04/28/house-bill-introduced-penalize-minnesota-cities-not-flying-current-state-flag/
Glory days: In his final State of State, Walz shifts focus from recent tragedies to accomplishments of DFL trifecta
The governor did not dwell on Minnesota’s recent elevation to the national stage, and was 99.99% free of Trump bashing.
by Matthew Blake
https://www.minnpost.com/state-government/2026/04/glory-days-in-his-final-state-of-state-walz-shifts-focus-from-recent-tragedies-to-accomplishments-of-dfl-trifecta/
In downtown Minneapolis on Monday evening, crews responded to an underground electrical transformer that failed, causing several explosions and large plumes of brown smoke near 9th Street North and Hennepin Avenue, KARE 11 reported. Via MinnPost
https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/plume-smoke-downtown-minneapolis-april-27/89-58104fbb-bcaa-4160-8742-772ade1d0d49?tbref=hp
Minnesota’s new school bus safety law, which requires all drivers to stop 20 feet from a school bus with flashing red lights and remain at a stop until the lights stop flashing, is now in effect, WCCO reported Tuesday. Any vehicle caught passing a school bus with flashing red lights could face a $500 fine. Via MinnPost
https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-new-school-bus-safety-law-flashing-red-lights/
An ambulance near Ely crashed into a ditch after colliding with a moose while transporting a patient to Duluth, the Star Tribune reported Tuesday. The cow moose was killed in the collision and its meat was divided among emergency crews on the scene. There were no serious human injuries reported. Via MinnPost
https://www.startribune.com/collision-with-ambulance-kills-moose-in-early-morning-crash-near-ely/601805016
Feds: Feeding Our Future ringleader tried to ‘minimize her starring role’ by leaking secret documents from jail
Federal prosecutors say Feeding Our Future leader Aimee Bock leaked sensitive case documents to elected officials and reporters in a “public relations campaign” to minimize her leading role in the COVID-era fraud scheme.
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/04/28/aimee-bock-feeding-our-future-leak-documents-from-jail
‘Your own Minnesota badge of honor’: The Rebel Loon becomes walking resistance artwork
The Rebel Loon, a round graphic of the state bird with wings outstretched above it — has become a symbol of Minnesotan's response to the immigration enforcement surge. It didn’t take long for the arts world to adapt it into anything imaginable, including tattoos.
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/04/29/rebel-loon-tattoos-as-minnesota-resistance-art-continue-to-provide-hope-and-resilience
US to issue ‘America250’ passports featuring Donald Trump’s image
Limited-edition versions will place US president’s portrait inside cover alongside declaration text and flag motifs
Joseph Gedeon in Washington
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/28/donald-trump-passports
Dozens of North Carolina houses have been lost to the sea. Some surviving homes are now being moved on wheels
Pace of sea-level rise has turned Outer Banks coastal area into a ‘canary in the coalmine’ for other east coast communities
Oliver Milman in Buxton, North Carolina; with visuals by Thalia Juarez
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/apr/29/north-carolina-outer-banks-homes
Older than the dinosaurs: scientists finally unlock secret of the mayfly’s dance
The bizarre vertical flight pattern has long puzzled experts but new research reveals why it may play a crucial role in the insect’s survival
Gloria Dickie
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/29/mayflies-dance-vertical-pattern-experts-aoe
Timmy the whale rescue attempt begins off coast of Germany – in pictures
A rescue operation to transport a young male humpback to deeper waters in the North Sea after it became stranded in the Baltic Sea off Lübeck a month ago is under way. The whale’s ordeal has gripped Germany but there are concerns it may be too fatigued and sick to survive
Matt Fidler
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2026/apr/29/timmy-the-whale-rescue-attempt-begins-germany-in-pictures
Justices rule in landmark 6-3 decision that Louisiana will have to redraw its congressional map
Sam Levine
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/29/supreme-court-louisiana-congressional-map-case-ruling
Inver Grove Heights is joining several other Minnesota cities in switching back to the old state flag after the city council voted 3-2 on Monday night to make the change, following more than an hour of public comment, MPR News reported. The decision came on the same day that eight House DFL lawmakers introduced a bill that would impose a 10% reduction in state aid on cities and counties using a state flag other than the one approved by the State Emblems Redesign Commission in 2024, KTTC reported. Via MinnPost
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/04/28/old-minnesota-state-flag-inver-grove-heights-switches-back
https://www.kttc.com/2026/04/28/house-bill-introduced-penalize-minnesota-cities-not-flying-current-state-flag/
Glory days: In his final State of State, Walz shifts focus from recent tragedies to accomplishments of DFL trifecta
The governor did not dwell on Minnesota’s recent elevation to the national stage, and was 99.99% free of Trump bashing.
by Matthew Blake
https://www.minnpost.com/state-government/2026/04/glory-days-in-his-final-state-of-state-walz-shifts-focus-from-recent-tragedies-to-accomplishments-of-dfl-trifecta/
In downtown Minneapolis on Monday evening, crews responded to an underground electrical transformer that failed, causing several explosions and large plumes of brown smoke near 9th Street North and Hennepin Avenue, KARE 11 reported. Via MinnPost
https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/plume-smoke-downtown-minneapolis-april-27/89-58104fbb-bcaa-4160-8742-772ade1d0d49?tbref=hp
Minnesota’s new school bus safety law, which requires all drivers to stop 20 feet from a school bus with flashing red lights and remain at a stop until the lights stop flashing, is now in effect, WCCO reported Tuesday. Any vehicle caught passing a school bus with flashing red lights could face a $500 fine. Via MinnPost
https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-new-school-bus-safety-law-flashing-red-lights/
An ambulance near Ely crashed into a ditch after colliding with a moose while transporting a patient to Duluth, the Star Tribune reported Tuesday. The cow moose was killed in the collision and its meat was divided among emergency crews on the scene. There were no serious human injuries reported. Via MinnPost
https://www.startribune.com/collision-with-ambulance-kills-moose-in-early-morning-crash-near-ely/601805016
Feds: Feeding Our Future ringleader tried to ‘minimize her starring role’ by leaking secret documents from jail
Federal prosecutors say Feeding Our Future leader Aimee Bock leaked sensitive case documents to elected officials and reporters in a “public relations campaign” to minimize her leading role in the COVID-era fraud scheme.
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/04/28/aimee-bock-feeding-our-future-leak-documents-from-jail
‘Your own Minnesota badge of honor’: The Rebel Loon becomes walking resistance artwork
The Rebel Loon, a round graphic of the state bird with wings outstretched above it — has become a symbol of Minnesotan's response to the immigration enforcement surge. It didn’t take long for the arts world to adapt it into anything imaginable, including tattoos.
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/04/29/rebel-loon-tattoos-as-minnesota-resistance-art-continue-to-provide-hope-and-resilience
US to issue ‘America250’ passports featuring Donald Trump’s image
Limited-edition versions will place US president’s portrait inside cover alongside declaration text and flag motifs
Joseph Gedeon in Washington
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/28/donald-trump-passports
Dozens of North Carolina houses have been lost to the sea. Some surviving homes are now being moved on wheels
Pace of sea-level rise has turned Outer Banks coastal area into a ‘canary in the coalmine’ for other east coast communities
Oliver Milman in Buxton, North Carolina; with visuals by Thalia Juarez
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/apr/29/north-carolina-outer-banks-homes
Older than the dinosaurs: scientists finally unlock secret of the mayfly’s dance
The bizarre vertical flight pattern has long puzzled experts but new research reveals why it may play a crucial role in the insect’s survival
Gloria Dickie
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/29/mayflies-dance-vertical-pattern-experts-aoe
Timmy the whale rescue attempt begins off coast of Germany – in pictures
A rescue operation to transport a young male humpback to deeper waters in the North Sea after it became stranded in the Baltic Sea off Lübeck a month ago is under way. The whale’s ordeal has gripped Germany but there are concerns it may be too fatigued and sick to survive
Matt Fidler
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2026/apr/29/timmy-the-whale-rescue-attempt-begins-germany-in-pictures
