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Stark difference in MN politics: Dysfunctional House vs. efficient Senate

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Stark difference in MN politics: Dysfunctional House vs. efficient Senate


The dysfunctional Minnesota House of Representatives seems unlikely to function as normal until at least Thursday, and possibly for weeks afterward.

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On Capitol Hill

The backstory:

House Republicans filed written arguments with the state Supreme Court Tuesday, arguing the court should stay out of the fight over what constitutes a quorum – the number of representatives needed to do any business.

They say it’s 67, so they’ve gone about business as usual with 67 Republicans.

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Democrats say it’s 68, but they’re trying to negotiate a power-sharing agreement before going to court.

“Both of us have huge downsides, and those are uncertainties that you can control through a settlement agreement,” said Rep. Melissa Hortman, (DFL-Brooklyn Park), who’s leading DFLers in their boycott to deny quorum.

The state’s highest court will hear arguments Thursday.

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An election to fill the empty House seat is still more than a month away, but Democrats expect to win that seat and have a 67-67 tie in the House.

Republicans have a one-member advantage until then.

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Senate efficiency advantage

Dig deeper:

Republicans haven’t used that advantage to do a lot yet, while the Minnesota Senate has been a model of efficiency.

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Senators are sharing power across parties, and they’ve already authored more than 400 bills.

House Republicans have only produced 10 bills to date, and they say those are their priorities.

Three are related to fraud prevention, but most of them are very partisan bills with little chance of passing a mixed legislature.

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Half-empty rooms are hearing the 2025 priorities for House Republicans, with fraud prevention getting first billing.

Finding fraud

Why you should care:

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Rep. Jim Nash, (R-Waconia) wants all legislators to get a five-year scorecard on audits at state agencies.

“These have value,” Rep. Nash said. “We should be looking at them for a longer period of time. We should take advantage of them as we process a request for funding.”

Meanwhile, bipartisan Senate bills would add extra time in prison for people who lead police on chases, or who attack youth sports referees.

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And GOP bills are already getting attention in committees.

“We did lay this bill over last year, and it seems to be gaining some momentum,” said Sen. Steve Drazkowski, (R-Mazeppa), as he moved a tax bill through committee.

Senators are also working on their own fraud prevention bills, but their approach is different.

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Senate Democrats are trying to follow an outline from Gov. Walz.

Where the GOP would create an entire Office of the Inspector General, the governor proposed a Fraud and Financial Crimes unit at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

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He also suggested a pilot program using artificial intelligence to detect fraud.

It’s not in any bill yet, but House Republicans say they’re on board.

“It is a tool that can be used to look for irregularities,” said Rep. Nash. “And I think that it would have found some of those things that would have been popping up with Feeding our Future.”

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We’re still a long way from seeing any bills passed at the Capitol and when they do, it’ll require bipartisanship.

Neither party can pass a bill without at least one vote from the other side.

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Minneapolis, MN

Truck driver dead after crash sends Metro Transit bus into home in south Minneapolis

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Truck driver dead after crash sends Metro Transit bus into home in south Minneapolis


It happened early Monday morning in Minneapolis.

One person is dead and another is hospitalized after an early-morning crash in south Minneapolis on Monday that sent a Metro Transit bus into a home.

It happened at around 4 a.m. at 10th Avenue South and East 38th Street, just a few blocks east of George Floyd Square.

A spokesperson for Metro Transit police tells 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that a truck was speeding down 10th Avenue when it hit the back of the bus, ripping a tire off the bus and sending it into the front of a home.

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The driver of that truck died, according to Metro Transit police, while the driver of the bus was taken to a hospital but is expected to be OK.

Officials say nobody besides the driver was on the bus at the time, and the home the bus hit was also empty at the time.

Investigators are still at the scene, working to clean up all of the debris and determine exactly what led up to the crash.

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS is at the scene and working to learn more. Download the KSTP app and follow 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS on social media for the latest updates.

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Minneapolis, MN

Atlanta Dream survive thriller in Minneapolis, edge Lynx 91-90 to open 2026 WNBA season

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Atlanta Dream survive thriller in Minneapolis, edge Lynx 91-90 to open 2026 WNBA season


The Atlanta Dream trailed by double digits, fought back twice and still needed Angel Reese’s game-saving block in the final seconds to survive. 

Atlanta opened the 2026 WNBA season with a 91-90 victory over the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday night, powered by Allisha Gray’s 24 points, Te-Hina Paopao’s pull-up jumper with 12 seconds remaining, and a performance that left little doubt about what this team intends to do this season.

Reese’s block on Emese Hof’s layup attempt in the closing seconds sealed one of the most dramatic opening-night wins before 10,821 fans at Target Center.

When Minnesota pushed its advantage to 13 points in the second quarter and the Dream looked like they were in serious trouble, Allisha Gray took over. The veteran guard finished with a game-high 24 points on 7-of-18 shooting, going a near-perfect 9-of-11 from the free throw line to go along with eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.

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Gray’s ability to get to the line and convert kept Atlanta within striking distance throughout a game that could have spiraled out of control multiple times. She scored 11 points in the third quarter alone as the Dream chipped away at Minnesota’s lead.

Rhyne Howard was equally important on both ends, finishing with 15 points, five assists and three steals. Jordin Canada ran the offense efficiently with 12 points and six assists, and Paopao added six points and four assists in a composed performance off the bench.

With Atlanta trailing 85-87 and the clock winding down, Naz Hillmon stepped back and drained a 22-foot three-pointer with 2:44 left to tie the game and silence the fans in the Target Center. It was the shot of the night, and arguably the play that won Atlanta the game.

Hillmon finished with 15 points on an efficient 6-of-10 from the field, adding seven rebounds in 33 minutes. She was the Dream’s most reliable scorer off the bench and delivered her best basketball when Atlanta needed it most.

Rookie Madina Okot also impressed in her WNBA debut, scoring eight points on 3-of-6 shooting with four rebounds in just 10 minutes, showing the poise and physicality that earned her a roster spot out of training camp.

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Angel Reese’s first game in a Dream uniform was complicated. She shot 4-of-11 from the field, committed five turnovers and picked up a first-quarter technical foul that gifted Minnesota a free point. At one point in the first half, she missed three consecutive shots on the same possession.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – MAY 09: Angel Reese #5 of the Atlanta Dream blocks a shot attempt by Emese Hof #25 of the Minnesota Lynx during the fourth quarter at Target Center on May 09, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

Ellen Schmidt / Getty Images


But Reese also grabbed 14 rebounds, nine on the offensive glass, blocked three shots, came up with two steals, and made the most important play of the game when it mattered most. Her block on Hof’s layup in the final seconds was the kind of athletic, instinctive play that changes games and defines seasons.

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That is the player Atlanta acquired this offseason. On opening night, in the most pressure-packed moment of the game, she showed exactly why.

Minnesota had every opportunity to win this game and couldn’t finish it. Olivia Miles finished with 21 points on 6-of-14 shooting and eight assists to go along with eight free throws made. Kayla McBride scored 20 points and hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 1:11 left that looked like it might be the dagger.

Courtney Williams added 14 points and six assists, and the Lynx shot 50 percent from the field, a number that should have been good enough to win.

But 15 turnovers and an inability to execute in the game’s final minute proved too costly. Minnesota had chances to put Atlanta away in the fourth quarter and couldn’t. The Dream made them pay every time.

Atlanta continues its opening road trip Tuesday against the Dallas Wings before returning home for the May 17 opener against the defending champion Las Vegas Aces at State Farm Arena. Minnesota hosts Atlanta again on May 27.

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Minneapolis, MN

Woman dead after argument leads to shooting in Minneapolis

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Woman dead after argument leads to shooting in Minneapolis


A shooting in south Minneapolis left a woman dead Saturday night. 

Fatal shooting on Pillsbury Avenue South

What we know:

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According to Minneapolis police, officers responded to a report of gunfire near Pillsbury Avenue South and West 25th Street around 5:30 p.m. 

A woman was found at the scene with life-threatening gunshot wounds. She was taken to the hospital where she later died. 

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Police believe that an argument inside an apartment led to gunfire. 

The suspected shooter fled the scene before police responded. 

What we don’t know:

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Police did not say what led up to the shooting or if they made any arrests. 

The woman has not yet been identified. 

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What you can do:

Anyone with information on the shooting can call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or click here to submit a tip. 

The Source: A press release from the Minneapolis Police Department. 

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