After Minnesota closed within 102-100, Victor Wembanyama, as part of a 16 point fourth quarter masterpiece, captained a 13-8 finish, and San Antonio righted the wrongs of their earlier free throw shooting woes to put away the Wolves 115-108. With Anthony Edwards inserted into the starting lineup for game 3, it was a tale of two first quarters as the Spurs surged to an 18-3 advantage and promptly ceded nearly all of it back to the Wolves in the closing four minutes. Despite the teams being knotted at 51 at the half, San Antonio was able to grab a hold of the lead through most of the second half before Wembanyama’s crunchtime takeover.
Minnesota
Minnesota moose population is holding steady
DULUTH — Minnesota’s moose population has remained stable for another year, though it remains about half the size as two decades ago.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said its annual aerial survey, conducted with the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the 1854 Treaty Authority,
estimated
that approximately 4,470 moose remain in St. Louis, Lake and Cook counties, the animal’s typical range in the state.
That’s up about 400 from last year’s estimate.“Despite recent estimates suggesting relative stability in the population and reproductive success, Minnesota DNR researchers point out that Minnesota moose remain at risk,” the DNR said in a news release. “Climate change, parasites, habitat loss and predator impacts on calf survival all play a part in the long-term survival of the moose population.”
Jimmy Lovrien / Duluth Media Group
Northeastern Minnesota’s moose numbers crashed rapidly nearly two decades ago, from a modern high of 8,840 moose estimated in 2006 to just 2,700 by 2013. Their numbers have remained low but fairly stable since.
That rapid decline spurred an effort to reestablish moose habitat in the region. Now in its 15th year, there are promising signs that it is working.
Bringing moose habitat back
Moose thrive in young forests where they can reach and eat deciduous trees and brush while also having access to a few larger trees to shade under.
But most of Northeastern Minnesota is covered in mature forest that hasn’t been touched by processes that can produce such environments in a long time, namely, wildfires and logging.
“Across Minnesota over the past few decades, the forest is getting older, and so seeing this older forest and these lower moose numbers kind of get you thinking more critically about what needs to happen with habitat,” said Alyssa Roberts, forest wildlife specialist at the Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society.
So, over the last 15 years, a collaborative of government agencies, Indigenous tribes and conservation groups has been allocated nearly $9 million from Minnesota’s Outdoor Heritage Fund through the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council to restore some 24,000 acres of moose habitat. Another 3,000 acres or so will be restored through an America the Beautiful grant over the next two years.
The Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society has served as sponsor of the collaborative since 2021.
“Historically, routine medium- or variable-intensity fires would have maintained this deciduous browse available on the landscape,” said Scott Johnson, the group’s forest conservation coordinator for Minnesota. “But with that lacking, mechanical treatments need to come in.”
When fire suppression snuffed out the naturally occurring fires, commercial logging operations could still leave landscapes in ways that benefit moose.
But with the decline in the region’s wood products industry over the last 15 to 20 years, there are fewer places that need timber from Northeastern Minnesota.
Still, the collaborative can “piggyback” off wildfires and timber harvests that do occur, and begin to maintain those areas as moose habitat going forward, Johnson said.
“In a sustainable fashion for this to persist over a long period, ultimately, what we’re looking at is following up disturbances, or creating disturbances on purpose — prescribed fire, timber harvest, mechanical site preparation, brush sawing — to maintain and produce on these disturbed sites a mosaic of new conifers growing in, through planting or seeding, with a mix of accessible, high-quality browse,” Johnson said.
It seems to be working, said Chris Dunhum, associate director of resilience forestry at the Nature Conservancy, which is also part of the collaborative.
Moose are showing up and eating their way through the areas, as are juvenile moose, some of which were collared this winter and could offer researchers more insight into how the sites are used, he added.
In a long list of factors negatively affecting moose, Dunham said it is nice to have something that helps.
“If we think about climate change impacts, that’s really concerning and we can kind of feel sort of helpless at times … but then when we’re talking about moose habitat, we’ve seen that we can go out there and we can manipulate the habitat, and we know how to do that,” Dunham said. “And we’ve seen from the early monitoring that moose are actually using those sites.”
Climate change and parasites
Mike Schrage, the wildlife program manager for the Fond du Lac Band, said he’s of the camp that most of the moose decline is due to habitat loss now that there’s less logging and wildfires are suppressed.
But, he said, climate change represents “a long-term threat to our moose population” in a number of ways.
For one, moose are designed for cold climates and deep snow, making them ill-adapted for warmer climates and likely to face more heat stress, he said.
Contributed / Michigan Technological University
Additionally, climate change can boost parasites.
Thousands of winter ticks can latch onto a moose, causing it to scratch off its protective coat of hair in an attempt to rid itself of the ticks. “Certainly longer, warmer falls and earlier springs make for better conditions for winter tick survival and transmission to a moose host,” Schrage said. “So that’s not helpful.”
And then there’s brainworm, called P. tenuis, which is spread through white-tailed deer and snails, and, while harmless to deer, is usually fatal to moose. Moose in areas of higher deer densities are more likely to pick up the disease. It’s considered one of the major factors in Minnesota’s severe moose population decline over the past 20 years.
And milder winters can lead to more deer, Schrage said, boosting chances of brainworm transmission. Milder winters also mean more wolves, which, along with parasites, are known to kill moose calves needed to rebuild the population, Schrage said.
Research by the DNR, 1854 Treaty Authority, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the National Parks of Lake Superior kicked off this winter to further understand survival rates of juvenile moose and determine causes of mortality.
But among all the factors stressing moose, reestablishing habitat might be the most tangible solution so far.
“There are a lot of things that affected that precipitous decline in our moose population back in the early 2000s … habitat is the thing we knew that we could start affecting positively immediately,” Johnson said.
San Antonio, despite its early success, struggled for some time to find sufficient support of Wembanyama (39 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 blocks). Running mates Stephon Castle (13 points, 12 assists, and 4 rebounds) and De’Aaron Fox (17 points and 5 assists) started slowly, but both of them worked through the kinks when it mattered most. Devin Vassell (13 points and 6 rebounds) made just the right plays on both ends. Rookie Carter Bryant (6 points and 2 rebounds) made the most of his first half minutes to help the Spurs stay ever so slightly ahead of the Wolves. Keldon Johnson (11 points) worked through an ineffectual playoffs thus far and had a much-needed burst late in the third quarter. Dylan Harper (8 points and 4 rebounds) figured meaningfully in the closing minutes.
Minnesota’s Edwards (32 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 assists) led the way as expected with Jaden McDaniels (17 points and 7 rebounds) reprising his standout role from the Denver series. Former Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid (18 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists) had an excellent effort off the bench, while Ayo Dosummu (11 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists) also helped the Wolves nearly pull off the upset.
San Antonio picked up where it left off from Wednesday night showcasing its defensive clamps – Edwards’ free throw was the only Minnesota scoring as they missed their first 11 shots. Wembanyama again set up shop in the paint and scored four early ones and netted 9 of the team’s first 11 points. The Wolves stayed glued to one point until the 5:09 mark when a Gobert tip-in roused the crowd from slumber. The Spurs reached zenith at 18-3. Despite the early San Antonio advantage, both teams shot a combined 9-for-36 (25%) over the first nine minutes, which was a foreboding lurch into Minnesota’s closing run. Gobert generated surprising offense, which emboldened Edwards to seek out his offense and the Wolves closed within 22-23 after one.
Three quick Minnesota field goals threatened to cause the Target Center to ’go crazy,‘ but the Spurs’ veterans – Wembanyama and Fox – stabilized them over several tense possessions. Bryant saw first half action and hit a pair of timely threes. Despite wresting the lead back, San Antonio left plentiful points on the board with its free throw misses. The teams fought and clawed to stay within 1-2 possesions of each other until fireworks from Minnesota and San Antonio resulted in a 51 tie at the half.
The teams put up a flurry of threes during a whirlwind third period. San Antonio remained ahead by a handful after the artillery exchange. The really interesting thing was that different players accounted for each three on both sides. The Spurs pushed their lead to as high as seven until Edwards and Dosummu connected on several quick field goals. Wembanyama, while having his left arm behind held by Gobert, swatted away Edwards’ floater with his right hand, and then the Wolves star held his right side as the center tried to run upcourt to join his tammates. After the pace slowed to a veritable crawl, San Antonio still found itself up seven going to the final 12 minutes.
- This was the second game this series where Randle made hostile contact to Castle, and the Spurs guard was whistled for the foul. Tonight’s call, however, was overturned after review.
- If Gobert continues to stay long stretches on the bench, that may effectively consume any meaningful Kornet minutes.
- My friend said, “remember when Ginobili would get fouled… his hair would fly everywhere? That’s Castle” And all I could reply with was “until 2007.”
- Does the Amazon arrow change directions depending on who’s leading?
- It makes sense why the Spurs tried to sell tickets to people within 150 miles of San Antonio in Round 1. The Philadelphia / New York game very much sounded like a pro-Knicks crowd.
- My three sisters and I ended our respective eulogies for my dad with ‘Go Spurs Go.’
- Sequence of the Game #1: Several minutes in, Wembanyama swatted away Randle’s attempt, sped past other Wolves down the floor, and and converted an and-1 over McDaniels. #wemblock
- Sequence of the Game #2: After a Reid three, Fox slithered down to the other end and got a layup over three Timberwolves.
Wembanyama dunked home successive lob passes from Vassell and Castle for San Antonio’s first four points. Fox deflected a pass on the first Wolves possession. (Wembanyama’s first block looked like a goaltend but we’ll keep that between you and me.) Wembanyama’s turnaround banker made it 11-1. The only negative for the Spurs was getting into the foul bonus in less than five minutes. Johnson’s catch-and-shoot triple made it 14-1. Reid’s three caused Mitch Johnson to burn his late period timeout. Gobert’s second and third buckets kickstarted a 9-0 run late in the stanza. Vassell’s floater salvaged a series of fraught moments. Edwards went on a personal twelve point explosion to draw Minnesota within one.
Another Wembanyama lob provided momentary relief from the Wolves’ onslaught – as Edwards, Reid, and McDaniels connected early on in the second period. Bryant hit a corner three to put San Antonio ahead for mere seconds. Bryant’s next one – a shotclock beating three – put the Spurs back up four. Minnesota again drew San Antonio into the foul bonus halfway through. Right as I was muttering to myself that he was settling for too many threes, Castle’s pull-up jumper in the paint put the Spurs up six. An offensive foul on Reid – who elbowed Kornet in the face – was overturned due to the Spurs’ center holding with his left hand. San Antonio challenged an offensive foul whistled on Castle and it was unfortunately upheld. Reid’s corner three put Minnesota back up. but Castle drew Reid’s third foul shortly after. After Castle swiped it clean from Randle, Fox hit his second straight field goal, but that was matched by a McDaniels three tying the game at 51.
Dosummu replaced Mike Conley in the starting lineup, and San Antonio made some decent stops to start the second half. Threes from Castle and Wembanyama put the Spurs up six. After the Wolves bigs used Wembanyama as a punching bag, the referees finally whistled Randle for an offensive foul on an elbow extension. Vassell threw down a thunderous lefty jam seconds later. Edwards hit two baseline floaters and Dosummi followed with a corner three. Castle and Kornet ran pick and roll action to get the center a runner. Harper took a shot to the head on a loose ball situation and stayed down on the court for minutes, while Castle and McDaniels were assessed technicals. San Antonio got into the foul bonus but continued to put up ‘1-for-2s.’ Johnson paired two freebies with a wing three and the Spurs were relieved to head to the fourth up 86-79.
For the Wolves fan’s perspective, please visit Canis Hoopus.
San Antonio stays in the Twin Cities for Game 4 with Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night at 6:30 PM CDT on NBC.
Police in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, are searching for a suspect after an individual was injured in a shooting following an altercation on Friday morning.
Officers responded to the 3300 block of 76th Street around 2:45 a.m. for a report of shots fired and a person who had been hit by gunfire, according to the Inver Grove Heights Police Department. They found the 911 caller, who was struck by a bullet. They were taken to a hospital and is expected to survive, officials said.
Investigators said the suspect was trying to get into the vehicle of the caller. Both individuals shot at each other after a short verbal altercation, according to police.
The suspect, whose description has yet to be disclosed by law enforcement, left the scene on foot.
Police are asking area residents who have video of the shooting or the suspect to email the footage to them.
Anyone who sees the suspect is urged not to approach them and to call 911. According to police, they are considered armed and dangerous.
Can you park in your own driveway with a pickup truck? HOA answers
Can you park in your own driveway with a pickup truck? HOA answers
A bipartisan bill limiting homeowners’ association fees, implementing new transparency and conflict-of-interest rules and establishing a path to dissolve some HOAs passed the Minnesota Senate Wednesday. The bill (SF1750) now heads to Gov. Tim Walz’s desk for final approval.
Homeowners in Minnesota have faced massive charges from their HOAs for questionable construction projects, like new roofs and siding. A 2025 Reformer investigation found that some HOA management companies hired their own subsidiaries to complete expensive construction projects. In at least one case, a homeowner wound up in foreclosure due to hefty assessments.
The bill passed by the Senate — and previously, by the House — would cap HOA fines at $100, with exceptions for repeat violations, health and safety risks, property damage or illegal rentals. It would require board members and property managers to disclose their financial relationships and recuse themselves from decisions from which they could financially benefit.
If signed into law by Walz, it would also require HOAs to make budgets available prior to meetings and to provide copies of contracts to residents upon request.
Multiple homeowners interviewed by the Reformer said that their questions for their HOA were referred to the board’s attorney — and then the resident was charged legal fees for the lawyers’ time.
The bill would bar HOAs from charging residents legal fees for questioning fines or charges unless a formal hearing is held and the fine or assessment is upheld.
The legislation is the product of years of collaboration and negotiations among homeowners, HOA board members, lawmakers and property management companies. In 2024, the Legislature created a working group tasked with proposing reforms to the state’s laws governing HOAs and similar organizations. Lawmakers on the task force held several listening sessions to hear homeowners’ horror stories (and support for HOAs via some dedicated board members).
The recommendations from that group became the foundation of the bill passed Wednesday.
“The reforms in this bill will rein in abusive HOAs by empowering residents with more information, more rights and more protections,” said Sen. Eric Lucero, R-St. Michael, the top Republican on the Senate housing committee and a member of the HOA working group. “This bill is a true bipartisan compromise — in addition to adding consumer protections, nearly every concern raised in good faith was addressed.”
Minnesota Reformer is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
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