Minnesota

Minnesota conservation efforts interrupted by changes to AmeriCorps

Published

6 months ago

June 28, 2025

Minnesota conservation efforts interrupted by changes to AmeriCorps

MOORHEAD — The future of a statewide conservation organization’s work in Minnesota is uncertain due to changes to federal AmeriCorps programs.

Conservation Minnesota, a nonprofit organization that works to protect Minnesota from the effects of pollution and climate change, has been a host site for AmeriCorps Climate Impact Corps members since 2022. This year, it had 11 AmeriCorps members in cities across the state, including Moorhead, Duluth, Bemidji, St. Cloud, Rochester and Winona.

However, due to “changes in federal priorities,” Climate Impact Corps is ending by July, according to Conservation Minnesota. The 11 AmeriCorps members will be out of jobs.

The members living and working in communities organized community conservation efforts, allowing Conservation Minnesota to tailor efforts to each city’s needs and characteristics, according to BreAnna Bemboom, public engagement director for Conservation Minnesota. The organization is still determining how to reach greater Minnesota cities after the program ends.

“With these positions ending, we don’t really know what’s next and how we’re going to fill that need, but we’re still really committed on that local level of work, because that’s really what touches everyone’s day-to-day experience,” Bemboom said.

AmeriCorps is a federal agency that runs stipend and volunteer work programs that address issues like poverty, disaster relief, the environment and education. Climate Impact Corps focuses specifically on environmental efforts.

AmeriCorps has been one of the agencies targeted by cuts during the Trump administration and its Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. According to a

lawsuit filed by attorneys general in dozens of states

against the Trump administration in response to the cuts, around $400 million worth of grant funding was terminated and 85% of AmeriCorps staff were laid off.

In early June, states in the lawsuit, which included Minnesota, were

granted a preliminary injunction

that restored AmeriCorps programs terminated in those states, according to the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office.

Bemboom said the reasons for Climate Impact Corps ending are not clear. Ampact, the organization that manages AmeriCorps programs in Minnesota, told Conservation Minnesota that “federal priorities and the funding landscape” have led to the shutdown of Climate Impact Corps, she said.

“If you asked me, like, exactly what that means, I honestly don’t know,” Bemboom said.

Representatives from Ampact did not return calls or emails requesting comment.

In Moorhead, AmeriCorps members organized events to get community members interested in the outdoors and involved in improving natural areas. Events over the years included fishing and foraging tutorials for children, birdhouse and bird feeder building classes, trash clean-ups and invasive plant removal.

One member organized a glass recycling collection event at Harold’s on Main, a bar in Moorhead, to educate people about how to recycle glass in Moorhead since it

cannot be included in mixed recycling.

AmeriCorps members in Moorhead also organized an outdoor recreation table for organizations in the Fargo-Moorhead area doing outdoor recreation work to connect with each other.

“They started a get-together to just be able to collaborate a little bit more, share things that are happening, you know, get help, which just increases access to the outdoors for everyone,” Bemboom said.

AmeriCorps members at Conservation Minnesota declined to comment for this story since they were still a part of the federal government program.

Crystal Rayamajhi, an outreach specialist for the University of Minnesota Extension Northwest Regional Sustainable Development Partnership, collaborated with Conservation Minnesota AmeriCorps members on events in Moorhead. She said the members in Moorhead added capacity for different initiatives — spreading the word about events, tabling and organizing volunteers for activities.

“Communities need folks that can do boots on the ground work, getting things done, and that’s a huge asset that AmeriCorps is able to provide,” Rayamajhi said.

Bemboom expects to see other organizations affected by the end of the Climate Impact Corps program.

“In general, the conservation movement across the state is hurting a little bit,” Bemboom said. “This is just some added pressure to those organizations that are still in the community and doing similar work — they’re already strapped a little thin, and this just kind of makes that worse.”

The city of Moorhead hosts one AmeriCorps member. A spokesperson for the city declined an interview request, instead sending a written statement.

“While the position is hired and funded through AmeriCorps, the City serves as the worksite and provides valuable on-the-job experience,” the statement read. “The role is expected to stay active through the 2024-2025 program year.”

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Minnesota

EXCLUSIVE: From NFL Sidelines To U.S. Senate? Michele Tafoya Considers Minnesota Run

Published

2 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

EXCLUSIVE: From NFL Sidelines To U.S. Senate? Michele Tafoya Considers Minnesota Run

The former NFL sideline reporter has met with top Republican committees as she weighs a 2026 bid and a rare GOP pickup attempt in Minnesota.

PublishedDecember 15, 2025 8:00 PM EST•UpdatedDecember 15, 2025 8:51 PM EST

Michele Tafoya, the former NFL sideline reporter turned political analyst, is considering a run for the United States Senate in her current home state of Minnesota, OutKick has learned. Sources familiar with the situation say she is expected to make a final decision in early 2026.

Tafoya met with the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), Senate Leadership Fund, and other stakeholders in Washington, D.C. last week. The NRSC has been recruiting her to run for the Senate race in Minnesota, where the Democratic primary has pitted progressive favorite Peggy Flanagan against Chuck Schumer-backed Angie Craig.

Tafoya gave up her NBC career so she could speak more openly about her conservative political beliefs. The breaking point for Tafoya at the media giant came in December 2021 when she appeared on “The View” and served as the conservative panelist. The rest of the cast on the show supported Colin Kaepernick’s national anthem protest, and his assertion that the NFL resembled the slave trade, while Tafoya raised some important counterpoints.

“I’ve been covering the NFL for 25 years,” Tafoya said at the time. “Nobody forces these guys to play. I thought comparing it to the slave trade was a little rough. These guys enter willingly, they are the most well cared for people. Yes, they play a hard sport. And every one of them — black, white, Latino, whoever’s playing the sport — will tell you how much they love it, and they’re willing to do it, and they make a damn good living.”

Former NFL reporter Michele Tafoya is weighing a Minnesota U.S. Senate bid after meetings with GOP groups, with a final decision expected early next year.

(Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports via Imagn Images)

Tafoya nnounced in February 2022 that she wanted to pursue other career opportunities. Shortly after, she became the co-chair for Republican Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Kendall Qualls when he ran against Tim Walz in 2022.

Tafoya’s Rise in Minnesota Politics

Since then, Tafoya has become more active politically, particularly in Minnesota. Tafoya has taken Walz and Rep. Ilhan Omar to task many times over their policies and rhetoric. Most recently, Tafoya has railed against a $1 billion fraud scheme in Minnesota that she linked to Walz and Omar.

Tafoya grew up in California and attended UC Berkeley for her undergraduate degree and USC for her master’s degree. She moved to Minnesota after graduation to pursue a career in sports broadcasting and has lived in the state since.

According to sources familiar with the situation, Tafoya has been receiving calls from supporters in Minnesota encouraging her to run, and she’s had ongoing conversations with South Carolina Sen. and NRSC Chairman, Tim Scott.

Minnesota hasn’t had a Republican senator since Norm Coleman, who left office in January 2009. Should Tafoya choose to run, she’d look to reverse a trend that has continued for over 15 years.

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Minnesota

Week begins with warm-up, quiet conditions in Minnesota

Published

14 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

Week begins with warm-up, quiet conditions in Minnesota

Updated on: December 15, 2025 / 11:16 AM CST
/ CBS Minnesota

After a frigid weekend, Monday will bring warmer temperatures across Minnesota.

In the Twin Cities, highs will climb into the mid-20s under brighter skies. Temperatures will continue rising on Tuesday, briefly reaching the upper 30s.

A weak system Tuesday night will cool things slightly, but conditions will stay quiet. Wednesday mostly stays mild, but a mix of rain and snow may develop late and continue into Thursday.

Cooler, more seasonable air returns heading into next weekend.

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Hughes scores in debut for Wild, who defeat Bruins for 4th straight win | NHL.com

Published

1 day ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

Hughes scores in debut for Wild, who defeat Bruins for 4th straight win | NHL.com

The 26-year-old defenseman finished with three shots in 26:55 of ice time in his first game since being traded to Minnesota by the Vancouver Canucks on Friday for defenseman Zeev Buium, forwards Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren, and a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

“It’s been a whirlwind for sure,” Hughes said. “I’m just looking forward to kind of getting my feet on the ground and get with the team here and get in a day-to-day lifestyle here. But definitely the last 48 hours have been a lot, but I was excited to go play the game.”

Kirill Kaprizov had two goals and an assist, Hartman had a goal and two assists, and Matt Boldy had a goal and an assist for the Wild (19-9-5), who extended their winning streak to four games and home point streak to 12 games (10-0-2). Filip Gustavsson made 29 saves.

“The crowd was electric I think just from the … I would say warmups to the introduction and then throughout the game,” Minnesota coach John Hynes said. “So, it was great to see the building like that and the guys perform the way that they did. So, it was a great combo.”

Alex Steeves and Andrew Peeke scored, and Swayman made 25 saves for the Bruins (19-14-0), who had won four straight.

“They’re a very good hockey team,” Boston coach Marco Sturm said. “They’re built pretty big, they play the right way, they play pretty hard, and they go to the net really hard, too. So, that’s something I mentioned, even between periods. That’s something we have to learn. And even if teams like that, we have to learn from that, and that shows we’re not there yet, and that’s a good thing, I think.

“Do we like the end results? No, but we had our chances in the first, even in the second period, and those are the chances that you have to use, otherwise it’s going to get hard against a team like that.”

Jared Spurgeon put Minnesota ahead 1-0 at 10:11 of the first period with a wrist shot through traffic as Swayman was screened by Marcus Johansson on a power play.

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