Minnesota
Minnesota United vs. Sporting Kansas City: Keys to the match, projected starting XI and a prediction
Minnesota United vs. Sporting Kansas City
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Allianz Field
Stream: Apple TV Season Pass
Radio: KSTP-AM 1500 ESPN
Weather: 75 degrees, sunny, 5 mph east wind
Betting line: MNUFC minus-135; draw plus-290; SKC plus-310
Form: MNUFC (7-3-4, 25 points) ended a six-game unbeaten run with a 2-0 loss to LAFC on Wednesday; the Loons offense was missing in action. Kansas City (2-8-5, 11 points) have lost six straight, are winless in nine and sit in a last-place tie in the Western Conference.
Last matchup: Sporting’s losing skid started with a 2-1 loss to MNUFC on April 27. The Loons were boosted by early goals from Michael Boxall and Tani Oluwaseyi in St. Paul, but held on after Alan Pulido scored in the 37th minute. Loons head coach Eric Ramsay was displeased in how his team were on the back foot for large stretches to finish the match.
Hot seat? SKC’s Peter Vermes is the longest-tenured coach in MLS, starting in 2009. But could that run be coming to an end? Fans at Children’s Mercy Park booed after Wednesday’s loss to Vancouver.
Quote: “We’re not getting results,” Vermes was quoted by the Kansas City Star. “You can play bad and win and nobody cares. But right now, we’re not getting the results. So, I understand the frustration.”
Absences: Emanuel Reynoso (transfer to Club Tijuana) has left MNUFC for good. Hugo Bacharach (knee) and Alejandro Bran (international duty) are out. Franco Fragapane (leg) is questionable; he missed the LAFC game.
Look-ahead: If MNUFC and Club Tijuana both advance to the knockout rounds of Leagues Cup this summer, there’s a chance Reynoso could play against his former club in the round of 16 or quarterfinals. Stars would have to align for that situation to occur.
Stats: The Loons are playing their third match in eight days Saturday, but only four players have played all 180 minutes across the previous two and 18 total players have taken the field. The Loons should be pretty fresh.
Projected XI: In a 5-2-3 formation, LW Sang Bin Jeong, CF Tani Oluwaseyi, RW Bongi Hlongwane; CM Robin Lod, CM Wil Trapp; LB Joseph Rosales, CB Micky Tapias, CB Michael Boxall, CB Kervin Arriaga, RB Caden Clark; GK Dayne St. Clair.
Players to watch: Vermes made eight changes to the starting lineup midweek, but went with the front three of Alan Pulido, Daniel Salloi and Johnny Russel for 30 minutes. They only have six combined goals this season.
Prediction: Both teams struggled to score midweek and that appears likely to continue Saturday. MNUFC could use a home win, especially with seven players to be away for international duties next weekend. Loons eke it out 1-0.
Minnesota
School bus company’s inspection history in question after kids hurt in Hamline University crash
Data from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety shows the company that owns the school bus that crashed into a building Tuesday at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, has failed the majority of its inspections over the last three years.
Three students from the St. Paul charter school Higher Ground Academy and their bus driver suffered minor injuries when the vehicle crashed into the Robbins Science Center on Tuesday afternoon, according to the St. Paul Police Department. All four have since been released from the hospital. About a dozen students were on board at the time.
Police say the driver “did not exhibit any signs of intoxication or impairment.” Patrick Boyle, the attorney representing the St. Paul-based bus company Pride Transportation, says the crash was due to operator error, noting the driver — who was in the midst of their first week on the job — had accidentally stepped on the gas pedal instead of the break.
State records show vehicles owned by the company, also known as PTB Services, failed most of their recent inspections:
- 2024: 52 passed, 55 failed
- 2025: 40 passed, 47 failed
- 2026: 1 passed, 6 failed
Boyle insists those failures are often corrected and reinspected on the same day.
“We also want to clarify that the inspection statistics referenced in publicly available reports do not represent the entirety of our operating fleet nor do they indicate that vehicles remained in service after failing inspections,” Boyle said. “All buses currently transporting students for PTB Services possess the required inspection certification and comply with applicable state requirements.”
Police are still investigating the crash.
With family by his side, Dennis “Bud” Peterson went to be with the Lord on the morning of June 1, 2026.
He was born at Drake, North Dakota on April 2, 1932 in the home of his parents Nick and Helen Peterson. The family moved to Duluth at the beginning of World War II.
After graduation from Duluth Central High School Bud served in the US Army in Korea during the Korean War, and received an Honorable Discharge with the rank of Sergeant. He used his GI Bill benefits to attend UMD receiving an Associate Degree, and also earned his Commercial Instrument Pilot rating.
Bud was a longtime employee of St. Louis County retiring as Supervisor of Roads and Bridges. In retirement he served as Boiler Engineer and a do it all repairman for Duluth Gospel Tabernacle. He generously devoted his time and talents as a consummate do it yourself repairman to all of his family.
Dennis is preceded in death by his parents, Nick & Helen Peterson; brother, Robert Peterson; sister, June (Don) Kruger; and infant brother and sister, James and Delores Peterson.
He is survived by his sister, Carol (Eli) Miletich; and numerous nieces and nephews all of whom he loved dearly.
At Bud’s request, his family will be holding a private funeral service. Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home 218-727-3555.
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