Minnesota
Minnesota libraries warn federal cuts may hurt services
For library staff in central Minnesota’s Great River Regional Library system, recent moves from the Trump administration are calling into question the future of beloved library services.
“Right now, we’re in a position of a lot of uncertainty,” said Karen Pundsack, executive director of the six-county system. “My staff are worried about how are we going to provide services to the public if there’s a funding shortfall … how can we do this well when we don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. Are our jobs safe?”
An executive order in March from President Donald Trump called for eliminating the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the main federal funder of museums and libraries.
The move threatened more than $3 million in federal funding of library services to Minnesota — money that pays for the interlibrary loan service, access to online databases, telehealth services, translations and materials for people with visual impairment and supports library storytimes for children and summer music programs.
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A federal judge’s temporary restraining order last week to consider the case has stopped the process for now, but local librarians say it would be a significant financial hit if it came to pass.
‘Cautiously optimistic’
Most public library funding in Minnesota comes from state, county and city governments, and the state has a history of embracing libraries. That’s helped buoy library supporters here as they wait to see how the federal cuts play out in court.
“We are cautiously optimistic about this temporary restraining order, because it says basically anything that wasn’t already dismantled prior to when that came out on May 1, things are paused,” said Sarah Hawkins, assistant director of the Anoka County Library system and legislative chair of the Minnesota Library Association.
“We’re in a different situation than some states, in that we have a strong ecosystem where the federal government isn’t the only player in providing strong library services,” Hawkins said. “We have people fighting for library services in Minnesota, bipartisan folks, people on both sides of the aisle, especially at our state Legislature, that care about Minnesota libraries.”
Cancel changes
Books displayed in the large print section at the Wentworth Library in West St. Paul in July. Library officials across Minnesota are concerned about the Trump administration’s recent efforts to end crucial federal library funding.
Kerem Yücel | MPR News
Hawkins said that support, along with the temporary court order, have her hopeful federal funding will remain the same through mid-fall, when Congress will look at appropriating money for the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
But in places like St. Cloud where the Great River Regional Library system operates, there’s still a lot of uncertainty.
Pundsack said she’s thinking about the ripple effects of what federal changes will mean.
“Libraries historically see an increase in activity when the economy gets tight,” Pundsack said. “We see decreased funding when we have our highest usage, and that’s one of the things that I could see on the horizon happening if things don’t change at the federal level soon.”
At a recent Stearns County meeting, Pundsack said she listened to local leaders discuss what would happen to their budgets if state and federal plans move forward to slash spending on Human Services.
“The ripples are really wide and deep with what’s happening at the federal government, because so much of how Minnesota works is tied together collaboratively,” Pundsack said.
“It’s really important to realize that there’s a reason we have so many different funding sources,” she added. “It’s because we’re trying to maximize taxpayer dollars and provide services. And we do that very well, but when something happens at the federal level, the tails just go all across the state.”
Regardless of what happens, “Minnesota librarians are going to step up and do what needs to be done to do the best possible job they can with the resources they’re given,” Pundsack said. “But with less resources, will come less services, and I don’t know if people will realize that those services are important to them until they’re gone.”
Minnesota
Inver Grove Heights chosen as official location of Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame
The future location of the Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame (MNHHOF) will be in the city of Inver Grove Heights.
The future location of the Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame (MNHHOF) will be in the city of Inver Grove Heights.
In the announcement made on Wednesday, the MNHHOF said the new site will be a 120,000-plus-square-foot, multi-purpose facility located adjacent to Interstate 494 and just east of Vikings Lakes and the Minnesota Vikings training complex.
“Since announcing this legacy project in August, the outpouring of support from players past and present, Minnesota-based companies, and hockey fans statewide has been overwhelming,” said MNHHOF CEO Natalie Darwitz. “We’re truly excited to build our permanent home in Inver Grove Heights, honoring the past and inspiring the future of Minnesota hockey.”
The current plans for the facility are to build it on a 40-acre section of land, featuring an ice rink, a 20,000-square-foot performance venue, a 30,000-square-foot museum, a hockey-themed restaurant and taproom and multiple event and community spaces.
“The City is thrilled that the Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame has selected Inver Grove Heights as its home, and we look forward to welcoming them to our community,” said Inver Grove Heights Mayor Brenda Dietrich. “The site is in our Northwest Area, which has long been envisioned for major development, and the Hall of Fame offers the opportunity for new amenities and attractions that will benefit Inver Grove Heights for years to come.”
MNHHOF plans to break ground in 2026, with a planned opening in late 2028.
Minnesota
KSTP/SurveyUSA poll results: Trump, Walz both below 50% approval in Minnesota
KSTP/SurveyUSA poll results: Trump, Walz both below 50% approval in Minnesota
The political feud between President Donald Trump and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is frequently documented.
While both try to score political points with their criticism of each other, neither has much in the way of bragging rights when it comes to approval ratings in Minnesota.
According to our exclusive KSTP/SurveyUSA poll, the president has a 42% approval rating in Minnesota with 55% disapproval. That 13-point difference is six points worse than our last survey three months ago.
Trump retains the approval of 89% of Republicans but just 35% of independents.
“Trump is always running a bit below the national average in job approval in Minnesota and that is the case here,” says Carleton College political analyst Steven Schier. However, the newest Associated Press/Reuters poll showed the president with a 39% approval rating and 59% disapproval, slightly better than his Minnesota results.
The president’s approval is bogged down by a 43% approval of his handling of the economy.
Gov. Walz doesn’t fare much better in our survey. For the second survey in a row, Walz is at 48% approval and 48% disapproval. Those ratings are his lowest in the 20 times we’ve surveyed his approval in the past four years. He’s seeking an unprecedented third four-year term as governor of Minnesota.
“Gov. Walz’s approval puts him in sort of a flashing yellow light zone,” says Schier. “There’s some danger ahead. He’s below 50% approval.”
The Walz approval numbers are weighed down by just 14% who say he’s done enough to stop state government fraud.
Our survey included 35% Democrats, 31% Republicans and 29% independents.
SurveyUSA interviewed 650 adults from the state of Minnesota 12/09/25 through 12/12/25. Of the adults, 578 were identified as being registered to vote and were asked the questions which follow. This research was conducted online, using nonprobability sample of online adult panelists chosen randomly by Cint USA. The combined pool of survey respondents was weighted to US Census ACS targets for gender, age, race, education, and home ownership.
Minnesota
Red Lake Nation signs cannabis cooperative agreement with state of Minnesota
ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management and
Gov. Tim Walz
recently announced the signing of a cannabis cooperative agreement with
Red Lake Nation.
According to a release, the agreement outlines how the state of Minnesota and Red Lake Nation will protect the public health, safety and well-being of all Minnesotans regarding adult-use cannabis and supports Red Lake Nation’s tribal sovereignty, cultural identity and heritage.
“This partnership opens a new outlet for state-licensed cannabis businesses to access and sell legal cannabis and honors the independence of the members of the Red Lake Band,” OCM Executive Director Eric Taubel said in the release. “We look forward to their cooperation in bringing more cannabis supply to the state and seeing their cannabis operations develop and thrive while respecting the Red Lake Band’s autonomy.”
In Minnesota’s cannabis law, the legislature directed Walz to negotiate intergovernmental agreements with tribal nations sharing territory with Minnesota to strengthen public health and safety, secure an equitable and well-regulated cannabis market, and provide financial benefits to both the state and tribal nations.
Red Lake’s NativeCare dispensary
was the first in the state to sell legal, adult-use cannabis after the law legalizing cannabis took effect in August 2023. With this agreement in place, Red Lake is able to collaborate with state-licensed cannabis businesses and create partnerships.
“Our goal from the beginning has been to produce the highest quality cannabis products that are free of all toxins and impurities. Consistent testing has verified that we have reached our goal,” Red Lake Nation Chair Darrell Seki Sr. said in the release. “Now that our cooperative agreement with the state has been finalized, we are looking forward to sharing our top-shelf products with the Minnesota market.”
Compact negotiations continue between the state and tribal nations sharing territory with the state of Minnesota. To date, the state has signed compacts with White Earth Nation, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, Prairie Island Indian Community, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.
The state expects to announce additional tribal-state cannabis agreements soon.
Copies of signed, executed tribal-state cannabis compacts and cooperative agreements can be found on
OCM’s website.
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