Minnesota
Mother turns grief into art;
The mother of a teenager who donated his eyes and tissue after death is now directing a play as a way to raise awareness about being a donor.
The Tin Woman is the story of a woman who received a heart transplant. It explores loss and new life. Some of the storyline mirrors real life for director Joy Donley and her husband Michael.
We visited rehearsal for they play as they get ready to bring the story to the stage.
“I was immediately drawn to it because of the subject matter,” Donley said.
Donley is directing the play about a woman who has a heart transplant. And the emotions that surround the profound experience for the recipient and the donor family.
“It really captures a lot of the grief, a lot of the regret. a lot of the just this sadness over the situation. But what’s interesting, and what drew me to the play, was that there’s a lot of humor in it as well,” Donley said.
Donley’s family found that in their own journey of loss and donation.
“Lewis was a creative kid. So he would tinker with things. He loved music. He loved to play guitar,” Donley said.
Days after his 16th birthday, Lewis died by suicide leaving his family grief-stricken 8 years ago.
“What I wanted to focus on was something good that could come out of this tragedy, something that could be recycled for good, which really is organ donation, recycling for good. And to talk about that, and because of the fact Lewis was such a, he always wanted to be a superhero. And so, you know, having him be an organ donor, an eye and tissue donor, he is that superhero,” Donley said.
“We just found out, like this month, that Lewis’s gifts went to 60 people that we know of. It just shows the miracle that is that is donation,” Joy’s husband Michael Donley said.
A recipient of Lewis’ great gift reached out to the Donley’s. They’ve exchanged a few letters.
“This is the first one that we got from him. ‘Dear donor family, I’m so sorry for the loss of your family member. I tore my ACL during my high school basketball practice. During my knee surgery, I received tissue from your family member. After a year of recovery, I am back on the basketball court, and my high school team just won the district championship,’” Donley read.
“And it’s Lewis literally was in the pile. And that’s really cool. We’d much rather he was there in real life. But, you know, that’s a pretty good,” Michael Donley said.
“Just knowing that a part of Lewis is still living on this earth is so comforting,” Donley said.
They hope you find comfort in the play, along with the humor, as they do.
“And he said your son seemed very handsome and kind. I also love country music. It helps getting girls,” Donley laughs as she reads another part of the letter.
“Even though the show itself is not our story, but connects in so many ways that’s just really meaningful and gives life a whole lot of meaning,” Donley said.
The Tin Woman is playing at the Historic Mounds Theatre in St. Paul Sunday night at 7:30 p.m. Then it runs next Thursday through Sunday.
April is National Donate Life Month. There will be a table set up where people can sign up to be an organ donor.
If you or someone you know is struggling, there is help available. You can call or text 9-8-8 to speak to a real person 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Minnesota
Minnesota legislators enter final week of session without a budget deal. Here’s where things stand.
The standoff also extends to the state’s essential infrastructure projects.
Lawmakers didn’t pass legislation to authorize bonding last year. Now, they’re in agreement that the state needs to invest in its roads and bridges, repair dams, and clean up its drinking water. But with the looming deficit, they’re in stark disagreement over how much to spend.
The House GOP and DFL have agreed to a $700 million bonding target.
Sen. Sandy Pappas, a Democrat who chairs the Senate Capital Investment Committee, is urging fellow lawmakers to authorize almost twice that much. In a hearing Thursday to go over a $1.35 billion suite of potential projects, Pappas warned it would be difficult for lawmakers to pass a bonding bill two years in a row. She said the state should invest now rather than trying to pass smaller bonding packages this year and next.
“I just don’t know what will happen with interest rates; that’s another concern,” Pappas said. “Construction costs are constantly going up. And the fact that we didn’t do one last year — there’s just a lot of need out there.”
Sen. Karin Housley, the ranking Republican on the committee, emphasized that $1.35 billion is the Senate DFL’s proposal. The GOP, she said, wants to stick to $700 million.
Minnesota
Minnesota United vs. Inter Miami live updates: Is Lionel Messi playing? Time, how to watch
Tyler Adams on AFC Bournemouth season, USMNT struggles, 2026 World Cup
Soccer star Tyler Adams talks about AFC Bournemouth’s season and the Premier League Summer Series coming back to America.
Lionel Messi is in Minnesota with Inter Miami, and likely to play in May 10’s game against Minnesota United at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Messi has already posted his matchday Instagram story previewing the match, a sign he intends to play.
It will be Messi’s first game in the state and against the club since joining Inter Miami in July 2023. And it’s a matchup between two of the best clubs in Major League Soccer.
Minnesota is second in the MLS Western Conference, while Inter Miami is fourth in the Eastern Conference after winning the MLS Supporters’ Shield a season ago.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Minnesota United vs. Inter Miami match, and stay tuned here for live updates from USA TODAY Sports:
The match is available on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
Messi’s status will be confirmed when Inter Miami announces its starting lineup an hour before the match.
Luis Suarez won’t play vs. Minnesota
Messi will be missing his longtime running mate in Luis Suarez — the Uruguayan star did not travel with the club to Minnesota due to personal reasons.
Messi scores goal in Inter Miami’s last match
Messi scored a goal, while Luis Suarez scored and assisted another in Inter Miami’s 4-1 win on May 3 vs. New York Red Bulls. It was a bounce-back victory for Inter Miami after they lost three straight matches for the first time since Messi joined the club.
They were eliminated by Vancouver in the semifinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup in two matches, and dropped a home match to FC Dallas.
Inter Miami is led by coach Javier Mascherano, who played at FC Barcelona with Inter Miami stars Messi, Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
Minnesota looking up at Vancouver in MLS standings
Minnesota is second in the MLS Western Conference with 19 points from five wins, two losses and four draws – trailing Vancouver (26 points). Forward Tani Oluwasey leads Minnesota with five goals, while Designated Player Joaquín Pereyra leads with four assists. They are led by second-year coach Eric Ramsay, a former Manchester United assistant coach.
Messi, Inter Miami upcoming schedule
- May 10: Minnesota United vs. Inter Miami, 4:30 p.m. ET
- May 14: San Jose vs. Inter Miami, 10:30 p.m. ET
- May 18: Inter Miami vs. Orlando City, 7 p.m. ET
- May 24: Philadelphia Union vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET
- May 28: Inter Miami vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m. ET
- May 31: Inter Miami vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m. ET
Messi, Inter Miami schedule for Club World Cup
- June 23: Inter Miami vs. Palmerias, 9 p.m. ET (Hard Rock Stadium in Miami)
- June 14: Inter Miami vs. Al Alhy, 8 p.m. ET (Hard Rock Stadium in Miami)
- June 19: Inter Miami vs FC Porto, 3 p.m. ET (Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta)
News of the new pope drew crowds of Minnesota Catholics to the Cathedral of Saint Paul.
“Thank you God, this is a great day,” said Jeanne Buckeye of St. Paul, while walking into mass on Cathedral Hill.
The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis says the cathedral welcomed between five and six times the number of worshipers during a normal daily mass on Thursday.
“I got in the car and drove here,” said worshipper Jean Houghton.
It was pure joy as Chicago native Pope Leo XIV was elected as the new pontiff.
“This is my first conclave I’ve been through as a Catholic. It’s all new to me. It’s pure excitement,” said John May.
The first American pope also has strong ties to Peru.
“Oh my God, it was amazing just to hear him send a special salutation for all the Peruvian people,” said Maria Rugel, of Cottage Grove.
Rugel says it gives her another reason to feel connected to the new leader of the Catholic Church. She spoke with her family in Peru all day Thursday as they share in celebration and pride for their new pope.
“The pope is part of both of us American people and the Peruvian people,” said Rugel. “So now we’re together in this area. Oh, my God, it’s very exciting.”
Local Catholic leadership are joining the excitement. Archbishop Hebda of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis celebrated at mass, as did his colleague from the Diocese of Duluth, Bishop Daniel J. Felton, who says the connection to America makes it even more special.
“I think that anytime that someone is selected from an area that is familiar not only to that person, to us there’s always rejoicing in that,” Felton said.
Statements were received from two other Minnesota-based bishops: Bishop Patrick M. Neary of the Diocese of Saint Cloud, and Bishop Chad W. Zielinski of the Diocese of New Ulm.
“I am so pleased that we have such a worthy successor to Pope Francis in Cardinal Prevost. There is hardly a more challenging or important role of leadership in our world,” Neary said. “May the Holy Spirit fill the heart of our newly appointed shepherd with wisdom and courage as he leads the Church. May he be a prophetic witness to the Gospel of unity, hope, peace and justice for peoples of every land and nation. May God grant him a long and fruitful tenure as the Successor of Peter.”
“I am filled with hope and anticipation for the future of the Church under his leadership. He will carry forward the missionary fervor that Pope Francis ignited, and I am eager to hear more from our newly elected Holy Father,” Zielinski said. “The faithful of the Diocese of New Ulm and I join the Universal Church in our prayers for Pope Leo XIV. His election as the first pope from the United States of America is a historic moment and a wonderful blessing for our nation.”
If you’re driving past the Cathedral of Saint Paul, there’s a new celebratory banner outside its front entrance.
Pope Leo XIV will be the new leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
A mass of Thanksgiving will be held May 14 at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis.
DHS says Massachusetts city council member 'incited chaos' as ICE arrested 'violent criminal alien'
Top 10 'allergy capitals' of the US, plus 4 tips to manage symptoms
NBA reporter slams Draymond Green after Warriors star's 'angry Black man' comments
Sending a text the wrong way could cost you money and trouble
Insurance commissioner signals possible probe into State Farm's handling of L.A. wildfire claims
-
Cleveland, OH1 week agoWho is Gregory Moore? Former divorce attorney charged for murder of Aliza Sherman in downtown Cleveland
-
News1 week agoU.S. and China Dig In on Trade War, With No Plans for Formal Talks
-
Politics1 week agoTrump posts AI image of himself as Pope amid Vatican's search for new pontiff
-
Politics1 week agoRep. Mikie Sherrill suggests third Trump impeachment as she campaigns to be next New Jersey governor
-
News1 week agoFamily of 8-Year-Old Migrant Girl Who Died in U.S. Custody Seeks $15 Million
-
News1 week agoAre Politicians Too Old? California Democrats Want to Debate an Age Cap.
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago‘Thunderbolts*’ review: Marvel’s most entertaining movie in ages
-
News1 week agoFamily statement: Rodney Hinton Jr. walked out of body camera footage meeting with CPD prior to officer death