Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis Veterans Affairs research workers laid off amid federal cuts

Published

1 year ago

March 2, 2025

Minneapolis Veterans Affairs research workers laid off amid federal cuts

Veterans Affairs impacted by government spending cuts

Veterans Affairs is being impacted by government spending cuts implemented by President Donald Trump. In Minneapolis, at least 12 employees at the Veteran’s Affairs Healthcare System in Minneapolis got laid off.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The Veterans Affairs Healthcare System serves about 100,000 veterans in the Minneapolis area. The VA is assessing how it will be impacted by government spending cuts.

Cuts at Minneapolis VA health care system

What we know:

No medical staff are impacted by these cuts, but 12 other employees are being laid off. FOX 9 is told some of the jobs impacted are researchers, engineers, and technicians. A former employee, who did not want to be identified, has worked at the Minneapolis VA for about six years in a variety of roles.

How grant researchers laid off impact VA

What they’re saying:

That employee was laid off on Monday. She researched medical grant funding. It was a job she started six months ago, so she was considered a probationary employee. She told FOX 9 that these research jobs can bring in critical dollars for veterans.

“Without having a grants manager to assist in applying for healthcare-related funds, we won’t have any health research funds coming into the Minneapolis VA. In fiscal year 24 we had $30 million plus come into the Minneapolis VA for healthcare-related research,” said the anonymous employee.

FOX 9 obtained the termination email the research employee received on Monday. She was told to turn in her computer and badge. In the email, it says it was performance-based. She also sent us her performance review and she received all exceptional.

Veterans also laid off

Veteran experience:

Another employee who was laid off last month and is a veteran was only with the Department of Veterans Affairs for a month and a day. He worked in the Debt Management Center, and he’s disappointed to be part of the cuts.

“As somebody who believes in fiscal responsibility, yes, I believe in managing it, but doing it from a little more of a thought-out method where you understand what the tactical impacts are with regard to administrative decisions,” said John Helcl who was laid off by the VA.

According to the Associated Press, the VA temporarily stopped billions in cuts for contract services.

The AP added that the VA is concerned that it would hurt veteran health services.

We reached out to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to find out the basis of the layoffs that are federally mandated. They were unable to grant our request for an interview or provide a statement.

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Minneapolis, MN

San Antonio visits Minnesota with 2-1 series lead – WTOP News

Published

9 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

San Antonio Spurs (62-20, second in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33, sixth in the Western Conference) Minneapolis; Sunday,…

San Antonio Spurs (62-20, second in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33, sixth in the Western Conference)

Minneapolis; Sunday, 7:30 p.m. EDT

LINE: Spurs -4.5; over/under is 215.5

WESTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND: Spurs lead series 2-1

BOTTOM LINE: The San Antonio Spurs visit the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference second round with a 2-1 lead in the series. The Spurs won the last meeting 115-108 on Saturday, led by 39 points from Victor Wembanyama. Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 32.

The Timberwolves are 31-21 against Western Conference opponents. Minnesota is sixth in the Western Conference with 33.0 defensive rebounds per game led by Rudy Gobert averaging 7.5.

The Spurs are 36-16 against Western Conference opponents. San Antonio is fourth in the Western Conference with 16.3 fast break points per game led by Julian Champagnie averaging 3.0.

The Timberwolves’ 13.8 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.8 more made shots on average than the 13.0 per game the Spurs allow. The Spurs average 13.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.5 more made shots on average than the 12.1 per game the Timberwolves allow.

TOP PERFORMERS: Julius Randle is averaging 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and five assists for the Timberwolves. Naz Reid is averaging 1.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Wembanyama is averaging 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.1 blocks for the Spurs. De’Aaron Fox is averaging 18.6 points and 6.2 assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 6-4, averaging 111.1 points, 47.3 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 6.1 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.1 points per game.

Spurs: 7-3, averaging 116.9 points, 46.5 rebounds, 25.9 assists, 7.7 steals and 7.7 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.5 points.

INJURIES: Timberwolves: Donte DiVincenzo: out for season (leg).

Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Copyright
© 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

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Minneapolis, MN

‘The power of truth:’ How high school students reported on the ICE surge in their front yard

Published

21 hours ago

May 8, 2026

Press Room

‘The power of truth:’ How high school students reported on the ICE surge in their front yard

Student journalists at Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis witnessed federal agents shove staffers and students and deploy pepper spray on school grounds last January. That inspired them to report stories of how that event and the ICE surge impacted their colleagues and communities.

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