Somali community facing harassment

Good morning, Reformers, 

Best Phish opener for your Minnesota fishing opener. 

Friday news: Minneapolis Public Schools’ officials and board chair called a press conference, talked for 30 minutes and answered just four questions about an accounting maneuver that netted the district $10.8 million, while questions about the state of the district’s chaotic finance department are still largely unaddressed. Also curious: They are using some of the money for adult ed. Melissa Whitler reporting. 

Somali faith and community leaders called a press conference to implore Minnesotans not to judge the entire community on the criminal actions of a few, Atra Mohamed reports. Since late 2025, the Minnesota Somali community — the vast majority of whom are American citizens — have faced sweeping immigration enforcement, business break-ins, vandalism and threatening phone calls, triggering fear and unrest in the community.

Sanford announced a planned merger with North Memorial. Star Tribune has details. This comes after Sutter Health of California announced a proposed merger with Allina Health. 

Is bigger better? Not in the case of the Reformer! 

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the presumptive Democratic-Farmer-Labor nominee for governor, ended the stealthy part of her campaign and unveiled a bunch of anti-fraud focused proposals, with former U.S. Attorney Andy Luger at her side, Michelle Griffith reported. 

(Read my recent column on what kind of governor she’d make.) 

At the Legislature this week: HOA reform to the governor’s desk; a bill creating an office of inspector general passed the House after a Senate version passed last year, final passage likely. Ramsey County Attorney John Choi lobbied the Legislature to take his wildly successful non-fatal shooting program and go statewide with it. Gun control package passed the Senate; House passage unlikely. 

In mass deportation news, guards are increasingly using force inside ICE detention centers; the VA investigated employees who spoke publicly about Alex Pretti.

And, ICE denied a Minnesota woman humanitarian parole to receive surgery to remove a painful, tennis ball-sized ovarian cyst at risk of causing severe medical complications, Max Nesterak reported. Democratic lawmakers, clergy and human rights advocates have called for the release of Andrea Pedro-Francisco to receive medical care while her asylum application is considered, but ICE informed her lawyer on Tuesday that she must remain in detention.

Some energy news: Minnesota produced more of its own power in 2025 — most of it from carbon-free sources — as inflation-adjusted electric rates fell slightly from 2024 even as the national average electric bill jumped. Planet-warming emissions from power generation held steady in Minnesota last year, bucking a national uptick. Lots of bad news, too, especially a climate-denying White House and Republican Congress, Brian Martucci reports.  Apropos: The U.S. Department of Justice sued the state of Minnesota and Attorney General Keith Ellison Monday, asking a federal judge to toss out the state’s lawsuit against petroleum companies, Madison McVan reported. 

More on that in Monday’s Reformer. 

Finally, check out Nicole Neri’s lovely images from the 51st Mayday parade in south Minneapolis. The festival of puppets, music and protest art has long highlighted immigrant communities and decried U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This year, anti-ICE sentiment was omnipresent, though accompanied by Mayday’s typical celebratory energy.

I wrote in support of a bipartisan proposal at the Legislature to limit — slightly — the ability of cities to block new housing construction. 

Jesse Schumann evaluated the data on charter schools, concluding that, in light of the political infeasibility of dismantling charter schools, Minnesota should at least mandate stricter state oversight of charter authorizers, require robust integration standards and promote the right of all educators to unionize.

Veteran Twin Cities journalist Jane McClure took a critical look at the draft of the state’s new Olmstead Plan, which outlines goals for person-centered, integrated care for Minnesotans with disabilities. Jane argued it needs revisions. 

Correspond: [email protected] 

Have a great rest of your weekend! JPC