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Wild uncover their nemesis, as Kings beat Minnesota a second time

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Wild uncover their nemesis, as Kings beat Minnesota a second time


LOS ANGELES – On an evening when they celebrated Star Wars Night at a hockey rink a few miles south of the iconic Hollywood sign, the Minnesota Wild may have found their arch-nemesis. And fittingly, the Los Angeles Kings come clad in all black, Darth Vader style.

For the second time this season, the Kings had their way with Minnesota, using the force to take a first-period lead and rendering the Wild mostly powerless to mount a comeback. The Kings’ 4-1 win was just the second regulation road loss suffered by the Wild this season, as they fell to 11-2-3 in games played outside of St. Paul.

Minnesota goalie Marc-Andre Fleury suffered his first regulation loss of the season despite 30 saves and the Kings were the aggressors right from the start. Coupled with a 5-1 win by Los Angeles on Election Night at Xcel Energy Center, the Wild have clearly found a weak spot in their otherwise impressive run over the season’s first two months.

Yakov Trenin scored Minnesota’s only goal with just 1:13 remaining, and the Kings got a pair of empty net goals in the win.

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The Wild offered few excuses and credited Los Angeles for their style of playing with a lead, but it was noted that Saturday’s game was an early start after playing a late game against the Ducks the night before.

“Twenty-two hours. I don’t know who does the scheduling crap, but they have a tough job,” Wild forward Marcus Foligno said. “I get it, but being so close to Anaheim. I think they take that into consideration. We have to be up for these games. Effort, I think it’s there. It’s just, pucks were bouncing and we weren’t as crisp as we usually are.”

Darcy Kuemper, the Kings goalie who started his career in Minnesota a decade ago, had 23 saves and was within 73 seconds of becoming the first puck-stopper to turn in a shutout versus the Wild this season.

Both goalies were busy in the first period, with Kuemper thwarting a solo rush by Foligno, and Fleury leaning over the back of his net to grab a deflection that was coming hard off the glass.

The Kings finally broke through with 43 seconds remaining in the opening period, as Adrian Kempe redirected a cross-ice pass from Anze Kopitar. Kempe was crashing the crease and missed the puck with his stick, but it deflected off Kempe’s skate and past Fleury.

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The Wild have now gone five games without a first-period goal, last scoring in the opening 20 minutes the night before Thanksgiving in a 1-0 win at Buffalo. But their coach says that’s just the way trends go sometimes, and there is not a reason for concern.

“If you looked at today’s game, I thought we had some prime-time looks right in the first and I think we start games on time. I think we’re ready to play,” John Hynes said. “I think sometimes that’s just how the games play out, but I think our starts have been good and strong, and sometimes you score early. Sometimes you score in the middle. Sometimes you score late. But it’s just finding ways to win games. But as far as the starts, I think we’ve been good.”

With Marcus Johansson in the penalty box for a knee-on-knee collision with Kings forward Vladislav Gavrikov, Los Angeles doubled the lead when Alex Laferriere ripped a wrist shot past Fleury on the power play.

After Fleury denied Kevin Fiala with a toe save early in the second, Foligno dropped the gloves with Kings forward Tanner Jeannot. Both men got a five-minute rest mandated by the officials as a result. Minnesota managed just three shots on Kuemper in the second period, despite two abbreviated power plays.

With Fleury pulled for an extra attacker in the third, Trevor Moore hit the empty net with 1:54 left to put the home team up by three before Trenin spoiled the shutout bid with his second goal of the weekend, and of the season. Moore hit a second empty-netter on the next shift.

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After Friday night’s 5-1 win in Anaheim, Hynes elected to run it back, assembling the same 12 forwards and six defensemen and starting Fleury in goal as the only lineup change.

During a third period media timeout, the Kings gave a video board salute to Fleury, who has announced this season will be his last. The goalie gave a wave to the crowd to acknowledge their applause.

“Yeah, it’s expected,” Fleury said of the tough back-to-back schedule. “But we gotta find ways to still win. Still appreciate the boys, how they battle right till the end. Nobody quit. Kept trying. Gotta give (the Kings) a little credit. They shut it down pretty good back there.”

Kopitar was honored in the first period to mark the veteran forward playing in 1,400 career games — 700 at home and 700 on the road. He joined Luc Robitaille as the only players in Los Angeles franchise history to reach that milestone.

The Wild conclude their three-game road trip on Tuesday, making their first-ever visit to Salt Lake City to face the Utah Hockey Club. That franchise relocated from Arizona last summer, where they had been the Coyotes for more than 25 years.

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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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