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Pearl Harbor attack gun may leave Minnesota Capitol grounds for new museum home

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Pearl Harbor attack gun may leave Minnesota Capitol grounds for new museum home


For 66 years on the Minnesota Capitol grounds, a 50-caliber gun with a barrel mouth 4 inches wide has served as a reminder of the distant Pearl Harbor attack on Dec. 7, 1941 that drew the United States into World War II.

Minnesota’s connection to that event in history is that a St. Paul-based reservist crew helped man the gun on the USS Ward destroyer that day. They’re credited with firing the first shots in defense of Pearl Harbor, sinking a Japanese midget submarine.

The gun, which sits on the south end of the Capitol Mall near the Veterans Service Building, was installed as part of Minnesota’s centennial celebration. It includes a stone monument added in 2007 listing the names of those Minnesota sailors, the last of whom died in 2015.

Now, the naval artillery could be on the move again.

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A relocation petition that gets its initial airing on Dec. 19 seeks to transfer the USS Ward Gun Number Three to an under-construction military museum near Little Falls and Camp Ripley, the Minnesota National Guard training facility.

There, petitioners say, it would fit in with other military artifacts and get the care and preservation it deserves.

Navy photo of USS Ward’s number three gun and its crew. They were Minnesota reservists, credited with firing the first shot in defense of Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941. The gun, displayed for decades on the Minnesota Capitol grounds, may move to a new museum near Little Falls, Minn.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command

“This new facility, dedicated to veterans of all service branches, will be a more appropriate location for this military artifact,” Randal Dietrich, executive director of the Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum, wrote in an application to the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board. 

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The museum isn’t slated to open on its new site outside Camp Ripley until 2026. The public review and comment period about the USS Ward gun relocation is part of an extensive process.

The surprise attack on the U.S. Navy’s Hawaii base at Pearl Harbor 83 years ago killed more than 2,400 service members and civilians and more were wounded. About two dozen people from Minnesota were killed or wounded.

Competing interests for Gun Number Three

Capitol planning board officials wrote in a memo this fall that there are competing interests that need to be sorted through. They acknowledged that the gun has fallen into disrepair. Peeling paint over the steel armament shows the rust forming underneath and other wear caused by exposure to the elements. 

The Capitol architectural board has been upfront that it has no current plans or funding dedicated to future maintenance and cautions that “will inevitably result in continued degradation.”

But public access is also a consideration.

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“In addition to information related to the history of the gun, its ownership and its siting here at the Capitol, CAAPB staff is aware of the particular importance of the gun to veterans groups and veterans families based in St. Paul, the long process of establishing the gun in its site on the Capitol Mall, and the process of maintaining the gun over the years,” the memo written in September says.

The USS Ward Gun

The USS Ward Gun Number Three which was manned by St. Paul reservists on a Navy warship during the Dec. 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor attack, now sits on the state Capitol Mall, showing visible rust and wear. An effort to move the monument is the subject of a public hearing on Dec. 19.

Kerem Yücel | MPR News

The warship gun technically doesn’t belong to the state. Since 1958, the USS Ward Gun Number Three has been on loan from the U.S. Navy under an agreement that the state properly maintains it.

In May 2024, state lawmakers approved $275,000 in outdoor and legacy heritage funding for relocation and restoration of the USS Ward gun display. Additional legislation could be discussed in 2025 to help financially support the transfer, museum leaders have said.

The Navy League of the United States, Minnesota Council backs the effort to move the monument to an indoor location at the new museum.

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Then-council president William James III wrote to Capitol planning officials in June 2022 to say a move “will preserve this important part of Minnesota’s Naval history.”

Plans currently call for the artifact to be the centerpiece of a World War II exhibit where “visitors will be immersed in the sights and sounds” of what sailors went through as Pearl Harbor was under siege in 1941, Dietrich’s application says.

The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs also supports relocation. Commissioner Bradley Lindsay wrote in a January letter to an admiral in the Naval History and Heritage Command that he was eager to see a new chapter for the artifact at the 40,000-square foot military museum.

Lindsay asked that the loan agreement be therefore modified to allow its transfer.

“The prominent placement it will enjoy at the heart of the WWII Exhibition Gallery is befitting  of the service of the Minnesota Naval Reservists who made history the morning of December 7, 1941,” Lindsay wrote. 

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If the move is ultimately made, it would be up to state Capitol grounds planners to decide what happens with the empty spot. One possibility on the table is to simply seed it with grass.



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Caribou Coffee in Minnesota launches value menu

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Caribou Coffee in Minnesota launches value menu


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  • Caribou Coffee has launched a new value menu, with items priced as low as $2.
  • The coffee chain made the change to expand the options for customers and create more flexibility, a company officer said.
  • Check the list for Caribou Coffee locations in central Minnesota.

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. 

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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.”

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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.

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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



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3M faces new lawsuit over ‘forever chemicals’ pollution in Minnesota

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3M faces new lawsuit over ‘forever chemicals’ pollution in Minnesota


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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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A full copy of the complaint can be found below:

3M responds to lawsuit

The other side:

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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.

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The Source: Information provided by Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and 3M court filings.

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Minnesota Senate approves bills to rein in ICE agents

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Minnesota Senate approves bills to rein in ICE agents


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  • The Minnesota Senate passed a package of bills in response to a large-scale ICE operation.
  • The bills would allow Minnesotans to sue federal agents for constitutional violations in state court.
  • The legislation also aims to ban federal immigration agents from schools and hospitals.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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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