Minnesota
Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns doesn’t know what Minnesota greeting will be with trade emotions still raw
ORLANDO — NBA seasons are like dog years.
And nine with the same team is rare, especially in Adam Silver’s era of player empowerment/movement.
To put it in local perspective, the last Knick to play nine seasons with the franchise was Allan Houston — roughly 20 years ago — and he missed 94 of his last 164 games.
It translated to a run of 16 years and counting as a Knicks executive for Houston, a position with excellent job security, having survived several regime changes.
Karl-Anthony Towns returns Thursday to the Target Center in a similar context.
He was drafted first overall by the Timberwolves in 2015 and sits No. 2 on the franchise’s all-time list of points, rebounds and blocks.
Until Anthony Edwards alters the order, the list of greatest Timberwolves starts No. 1 Kevin Garnett and No. 2 Towns, without much debate.
Despite this history, Towns said he’s unsure how Thursday’s crowd will react to his return.
He also passionately defended his commitment to the franchise that traded him in October.
“I don’t know (how they will embrace me). But I know that every single day that I put on that Timberwolves jersey I gave the absolute best of me even when I wasn’t 100 percent,” Towns said after his latest double-double with the Knicks, a victory Sunday over the Magic. “I gave them all of me mentally, physically, spiritually. I was there nine years, so I go there with a lot of pride and joy for the memories that I have.”
Towns then referenced his final moment with the organization in May, when the T-Wolves were eliminated in the conference finals and he emotionally blew kisses to the crowd.
On the eve of training camp, the 29-year-old was traded for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.
“I know the last time I was there, I looked myself in the mirror and I knew I gave the state, the city, the organization over there everything I could possibly give and even found myself giving more than I thought I had,” said Towns, who returned for the playoffs last season from a torn meniscus. “So I was proud of the man that I presented over there in a Timberwolves jersey. You never know how the fans will respond. But I know for me, my household, I know what I gave that organization, and I am happy and proud for what I was able to do.”
Towns’ stint was polarizing — there was a lot of losing packed into nine years — but there’s little doubt Minnesotans will give him a standing ovation with a video tribute.
His departure was about dumping payroll to avoid salary cap hell, not about his play or attitude.
He was also part of the organization’s only playoff appearances since 2004 and signed two extensions.
The better question is how Towns’ game will respond to the extra layers of distractions.
“We’ve got a win to get so I better handle it accordingly, for sure,” Towns said. “Like I said, I don’t know, I can’t imagine myself even in a situation like this but here we are.”
Underscoring Towns’ surprise about being traded, he had slimmed down in the offseason with the belief he’d again play power forward next to Rudy Gobert.
But then he was abruptly shipped to New York to play center and, unsurprisingly given the Knicks’ lack of depth, is now averaging his most minutes since 2018.
“What you’re seeing now is a lot of hours in the summer I put in,” said Towns, who is averaging 24.8 points with 13.9 rebounds and is easily on pace for his fifth All-Star selection, perhaps in his first start. “Instead of having fun, I was in the gym working on my body, working on my game, working on my cardio. I’m happy I put that work in because obviously things got real crazy to start the season.”
Towns added: “You’re a four and then the next thing you know you’re a five. I had to do whatever I had to do. I’m not going to say I got heavier but I definitely knew what I had to do.”
The emotions on the other side of the trade are a little more complicated and tinged with animosity.
After helping resurrect the franchise from two decades of mostly misery, Randle never got his second contract extension and was instead shipped off just days after helping open a school in The Bronx.
The last time he was at the Garden, Randle said his chapter with the Knicks was closed.
“It’s finished now,” he said. “I got unfinished business where I’m at.”
DiVincenzo was shocked and upset about being traded just a year into a four-season contract.
His preseason return to the Garden included a couple heated moments with the Knicks bench.
Thursday is the rematch with regular-season implications.
“I think [Donte] is going to try to come in and kick our ass,” Josh Hart said. “I think Julius is going to try to come in and do the same. As they should. I think KAT will probably come in with a chip on his shoulder also.
“You know that is going to happen. You know it is going to be a fun game.”
The very early returns of the trade have certainly been positive for the Knicks, who are getting elite scoring and defensive rebounding production from Towns while sitting third in the East at 16-10.
The Timberwolves (14-11) have also started to pick it up with six wins in their past seven games.
Randle is playing well with averages of 20.1 points on 48 percent shooting in 33 minutes — especially considering he missed most of last season with a dislocated shoulder — while DiVincenzo is struggling mightily with a 35 percent field-goal rate.
“It’s a big trade, so you expect people to be comparing it until the end of time,” Towns said. “It’s just my job to do what I can control, which is be the best version of myself possible for this team and helping this team succeed. Obviously the comparisons will be up to ya’ll. My job will be making sure I take care of my end.”
And on Thursday, the extra task is navigating the unpredictable emotions of returning to a very familiar place.
“You say this like I’m used to this s–t,” Towns smiled. “I’ve seen people traded. I’ve never been traded.”
Minnesota
Caribou Coffee in Minnesota launches value menu
How much should you tip when you go out.
If you’re heading out to a restaurant, bar or coffee shop you may leave a tip. Here’s some advice on how much to give.
Caribou Coffee, a coffeehouse known for its handcrafted beverages made with real ingredients, is rolling out a new value menu at participating locations nationwide.
Beginning May 7, a company release stated, Caribou Coffee is serving Caribou Everyday Value Menu items, including to-go favorites and barista-made beverages.
The Everyday Value Menu features a curated lineup of Caribou classics now offered at prices starting at $2, the release stated. Guests will be able to enjoy signature items such as a small, specialty-grade brewed coffee, streusel-topped blueberry muffins and Caribou’s Cold Press, its version of cold-brewed coffee.
The value menu also introduces a new a bacon breakfast sandwich. It features crispy bacon, a cage-free scrambled egg patty and melted cheddar cheese layered on a toasted English muffin for $4. These prices are before tax.
“For many of our guests, their daily coffee ritual is a meaningful part of their day, and we know how much it matters that it delivers on quality, convenience and value,” Matt Reiter, chief commercial and strategy officer for Caribou said in a release. “At Caribou, we’re committed to creating a consistent, high-quality experience every time someone walks into one of our coffeehouses, with a range of options that fit into their day. The Everyday Value Menu expands the ways we do that and creates even more flexibility and value for guests.”
Caribou’s Everyday Value Menu includes:
- $2 small brewed coffee: A rotating selection of regular and seasonal coffees, brewed every hour to ensure maximum freshness
- $3 Blueberry Muffin: A blueberry muffin topped with streusel
- $3.50 small Cold Press coffee: Caribou’s cold brew coffee served over ice
- $4 Bacon Breakfast Sandwich: Crispy bacon, cage-free scrambled egg patty and melted cheddar cheese layered on a toasted English muffin
Caribou is also offering non-dairy customization at no extra charge, the release stated. Also, the Caribou Perks loyalty program allows guests to earn points with every Caribou purchase. These points are redeemable for free handcrafted beverages, bakery items and more.
Guests can order items from the Everyday Value Menu in-store, at the drive-thru and through the Caribou Coffee app for pickup or delivery.
Caribou Coffee serves handcrafted beverages and food items in more than 800 coffeehouses worldwide. It opened its first location in 1992. Focused on smart growth, the coffee shop operates and franchises coffeehouses across 11 countries.
Caribou Coffee locations in central Minnesota
- 2423 Division Street West, St. Cloud
- 4135 W. Division Street, St. Cloud
- 2510 W. Division St., St. Cloud
- 310 Lincoln Ave., St. Cloud
- 900 Cooper Ave. S, St. Cloud
- 201 Second Ave. S, Cold Spring
- 18157 Carson Court, Elk River
- 19425 Evans St. NW, Elk River
- 324 Lowell Ave. NW, Elk River
- 533 12th St. S, Sauk Centre
- 701 Third Ave. NE, Buffalo
- 800 Hwy 55 E, Buffalo
- 630 Ryans Way, Buffalo
- 110 First St. S, Sauk Rapids
- 880 18th St. NW, Sauk Rapids
- 2319 First St. S, Willmar
- 620 First St. S, Willmar
- 12495 Fifth Ave. N, Zimmerman
- 703 Northland Drive, Princeton
- 1500 Elm St. East, St. Joseph
- 520 Jefferson Blvd. NW, Big Lake
- 705 County Road 75 NW, Clearwater
- 1725 Pine Cone Road S, Sartell
- 113 S. Waite Ave., Waite Park
Minnesota
3M faces new lawsuit over ‘forever chemicals’ pollution in Minnesota
3M PFAS documentary: What the company knew about PFAS
The 3M Company has vowed to stop manufacturing PFAS chemicals by the end of 2025. The FOX 9 Investigators reviewed hundreds of hours of video depositions that shed new light on how company executives and scientists responded after first learning about the widespread contaminations.
(FOX 9) – The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is taking 3M back to court, saying the company hasn’t done enough to stop PFAS pollution in local water.
Minnesota sues 3M for ongoing PFAS contamination
What we know:
The MPCA filed the lawsuit May 1, alleging that 3M is responsible for ongoing groundwater and surface water contamination, including industrial and stormwater discharges into the Mississippi River near its Cottage Grove facility.
In its argument, the state says some locations tested for PFAS showed concentrations as high as 310,000 parts per trillion, far above the state standard. The agency claims that although the specific site “does not routinely discharge to surface waters,” a heavy rainfall could lead to contamination entering the river.
The MPCA also alleges that 3M has not completed required cleanup work under a 2022 order and that its groundwater extraction system is not sufficient.
Minnesota previously sued 3M over PFAS, resulting in a 2018 settlement where the company paid $850 million to help clean up drinking water in the east metro. In 2024, 3M also agreed to pay $10.3 billion over 13 years to address PFAS in drinking water systems nationwide.
3M settlement water projects
Minnesota-based 3M is required to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to clean up PFAS-contaminated drinking water in the Twin Cities after the company dumped chemical waste in the east metro for decades. But with money from a 2018 settlement agreement running out, the company is now pushing back on whether all of those projects are reasonable and necessary.
Dig deeper:
In the lawsuit, the state is seeking civil penalties of up to $30,000 per violation per day, as well as increased cleanup efforts and compensation for damage to wildlife and natural resources.
A full copy of the complaint can be found below:
3M responds to lawsuit
The other side:
In its own court filing, 3M argues that some of the PFAS pollution came from testing firefighting foam made for the U.S. military, following Department of Defense requirements. The company says it warned the federal government about PFAS risks and should not be held responsible for contamination tied to military work.
3M wants the case moved from state to federal court, saying the environmental damage cited by the state is linked to its role as a government contractor.
The company stated it completed its planned exit from all PFAS manufacturing at the end of 2025.
The Source: Information provided by Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and 3M court filings.
Minnesota
Minnesota Senate approves bills to rein in ICE agents
Anti-ICE demonstrators protest outside St. Cloud-area hotels. See video
Protesters on Jan. 12 voiced frustrations about Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents being in St. Cloud by protesting outside local hotels.
The Minnesota Senate on Monday approved a package of bills aimed at reining in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers after more than 3,000 federal agents descended on Minnesota for what the Department of Homeland Security called its largest immigration enforcement operation ever.
Swarming groups of federal agents racially profiled and arrested people in the streets during Operation Metro Surge, which ignited massive resistance and resulted in the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two U.S. Citizens.
“All we want are safe communities and the fair treatment under the law,” said Sen. Ron Latz, DFL-St. Louis Park, and chief author of the bill package. “The way ICE agents and Border Patrol agents went about (immigration) enforcement was an absolute abuse of our Constitution. It contravened our constitutional principles. It was without warrants. It was stopping people without lawful basis. It was arresting people without probable cause. It just crossed so many constitutional lines.”
The Minnesota Senate is controlled by Democrats, who have made Operation Metro Surge recovery and accountability a top issue. The Minnesota House is deadlocked between Republicans and Democrats, and Republicans have largely opposed Operation Metro Surge-related bills this session. The legislative session ends on Sunday.
The bill passed 34-33 in the Senate with no Republican votes.
The package includes a bill to allow Minnesotans to sue federal agents in state court if their constitutional rights are violated.
For much of American history, people have had the ability to sue federal agents, but the U.S. Supreme Court has rolled back that precedent. The high court has suggested that only Congress can authorize lawsuits seeking money from federal officials.
Some legal scholars believe state legislatures, too, can authorize lawsuits against federal officials for violating the Constitution. The Illinois Legislature last year passed such a law, and the Trump administration promptly sued, arguing the Constitution’s supremacy clause limits states from enacting policies that conflict with federal law.
The Trump administration has said that federal agents have “absolute immunity” if they are conducting immigration enforcement. Legal experts say that immunity doesn’t extend to unreasonable or excessive use of force. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty charged one ICE officer with assault for allegedly brandishing a weapon and is weighing charges against the agents who killed Pretti and Good.
The package of bills also includes banning law enforcement from wearing face masks, and it creates a “civil right of action” in shootings in which a person can be held civilly liable if they shoot someone and fail to provide aid to the victim.
It also prohibits federal immigration agents from schools, hospitals, childcare centers and courthouses.
Senate Republicans say the package would cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in potential litigation because the state will likely be sued. States cannot regulate immigration law, and Republicans argue the bill package does just that.
Minnesota Reformer is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
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