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Minnesota Senate primary heats up as ICE backlash boosts Flanagan among DFL delegates

But many insiders say her DFL rival still has a strong path to the primary.

News

Sharp-elbowed attacks over ICE, fraud and electability are flying in the high-stakes U.S. Senate primary between <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="U.S. Rep. Angie Craig" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/04/29/angie-craig-running-minnesota-senate-2026" data-vars-content-id="9e3101ca-afec-4a8d-a624-410e801bf0ff" data-vars-headline="Minnesota Senate primary heats up as ICE backlash boosts Flanagan among DFL delegates" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/04/29/angie-craig-running-minnesota-senate-2026" target="_self">U.S. Rep. Angie Craig</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/02/13/walz-flanagan-us-senate-tina-smith-race-democrats" data-vars-content-id="9e3101ca-afec-4a8d-a624-410e801bf0ff" data-vars-headline="Minnesota Senate primary heats up as ICE backlash boosts Flanagan among DFL delegates" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/02/13/walz-flanagan-us-senate-tina-smith-race-democrats" target="_self">Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan</a>.Why it matters: Political fallout over Operation Metro Surge has stoked a race that was already seen as a proxy battle over the future of the Democratic Party.

Kado No Mise chef is Minnesota's only James Beard finalist

Shigeyuki Furukawa is up for the Midwest's best chef.

Food and Drink

Kado No Mise chef Shigeyuki Furukawa was named a James Beard Award finalist Tuesday for the Midwest&#x27;s best chef.Why it matters: Out of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="10 Minnesota restaurants and chefs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/01/21/minnesota-james-beard-semifinalists" data-vars-content-id="21195618-766b-4272-b977-0f77534a08a2" data-vars-headline="Kado No Mise chef is Minnesota&#x27;s only James Beard finalist" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/01/21/minnesota-james-beard-semifinalists" target="_self">10 Minnesota restaurants and chefs</a> who were previously named semifinalists in the Oscar awards of the foodie world, Furukawa is the only nominee who made the shortlist.

What's behind Minnesota's bad January jobs report

While DEED blames the ICE surge, others suggest different factors are slowing job creation

The Twin Cities metro lost 2,000 jobs in January, a development that a top state official partly blamed on the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="federal immigration crackdown" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/02/12/ice-surge-minnesota-businesses-covid-flashbacks" data-vars-content-id="7d8b2dea-8f1c-4569-827e-6e4cba88b79f" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s behind Minnesota&#x27;s bad January jobs report" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/02/12/ice-surge-minnesota-businesses-covid-flashbacks" target="_self">federal immigration crackdown</a>. Why it matters: The latest Minnesota jobs report shows that the state is losing ground, with 4.4% unemployment, topping the national rate (4.3%) for the first time since May 2007.

Twin Cities weekend guide: Easter egg hunts, psychic fair, dessert contest

If you're looking to branch out from your neighborhood's egg hunt, we know where to go.

Things to Do

Easter is on Sunday, and if you&#x27;re looking to branch out from your neighborhood&#x27;s egg hunt, we know where to go.<ul><li>Here are six unique Easter activities for all ages — and several species.</li></ul>

More Minnesota women over 40 choosing solo motherhood

The share of unmarried mothers over 40 has roughly tripled since 2007.

More new moms in Minnesota are having kids solo in their 40s, with births to unmarried women 40 and over roughly tripling since 2007.State of Labor and Delivery: Just over 1% of babies in Minnesota were born to women who met that criteria in 2024, per CDC data.<ul><li>That small but growing group translated to about 700 births that year.</li></ul>

New playground coming to Loring Greenway this fall

Kids in the Minneapolis neighborhood can thank Austin, Texas, for the replacement.

Loring Park kids have Austin, Texas, to thank for a new playground coming to the Minneapolis neighborhood. State of the slides: The popular Loring Greenway playground was dismantled last November with little notice due to safety concerns raised during an inspection.<ul><li>City officials initially said the costly replacement set wouldn&#x27;t be installed until next spring. </li></ul>

Young boaters may need a permit under new law

Those under age 21 will need a permit to operate a boat starting July 1

Young boaters heading up to the lake next week may need a permit to get behind the wheel on their own.Driving the news: A new state law that takes effect July 1 will require those under age 21 to to pay a $35 fee and pass an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="online boater&#x27;s safety exam" data-vars-click-url="https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/boatwater/education.html" data-vars-content-id="b68a9e4e-1605-4149-957f-db643356539e" data-vars-headline="Young boaters may need a permit under new law" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/boatwater/education.html" target="_blank">online boater&#x27;s safety exam</a> before being allowed to operate a boat with over 75 horsepower.

Bloomington debuts "challenge course" playground

Bloomington's "challenge course" opened to the public in late April.

Bloomington&#x27;s newest <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="playground" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2022/05/20/best-playgrounds-twin-cities" data-vars-content-id="94653bb3-0f7a-4eff-8927-5a82497cc526" data-vars-headline="Bloomington debuts &quot;challenge course&quot; playground" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2022/05/20/best-playgrounds-twin-cities" target="_self">playground</a> could double as a training ground for aspiring &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="American Ninja Warrior" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2023/09/17/test-drive-american-ninja-warrior-gym" data-vars-content-id="94653bb3-0f7a-4eff-8927-5a82497cc526" data-vars-headline="Bloomington debuts &quot;challenge course&quot; playground" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2023/09/17/test-drive-american-ninja-warrior-gym" target="_self">American Ninja Warrior</a>&quot; champs. The big features: In addition to the typical slides and play structures, Smith Park&#x27;s just-debuted &quot;Challenge Course&quot; incorporates elements like <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="floating boards" data-vars-click-url="https://www.gametime.com/products/floating-boards-pro" data-vars-content-id="94653bb3-0f7a-4eff-8927-5a82497cc526" data-vars-headline="Bloomington debuts &quot;challenge course&quot; playground" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.gametime.com/products/floating-boards-pro" target="_blank">floating boards</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="agility trainers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.gametime.com/products/agility-trainer-13608" data-vars-content-id="94653bb3-0f7a-4eff-8927-5a82497cc526" data-vars-headline="Bloomington debuts &quot;challenge course&quot; playground" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.gametime.com/products/agility-trainer-13608" target="_blank">agility trainers</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="vault walls" data-vars-click-url="https://www.gametime.com/products/vault-walls-13655" data-vars-content-id="94653bb3-0f7a-4eff-8927-5a82497cc526" data-vars-headline="Bloomington debuts &quot;challenge course&quot; playground" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.gametime.com/products/vault-walls-13655" target="_blank">vault walls</a>, and &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ninja steps" data-vars-click-url="https://www.gametime.com/products/ninja-steps-13654" data-vars-content-id="94653bb3-0f7a-4eff-8927-5a82497cc526" data-vars-headline="Bloomington debuts &quot;challenge course&quot; playground" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.gametime.com/products/ninja-steps-13654" target="_blank">ninja steps</a>.&quot;

C-section births increase in Minnesota

About 18,800 Minnesota babies were born via c-section in 2023, a rate of 30.2%.

Parenting

The rate of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cesarean" data-vars-click-url="https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/cesarean-birth" data-vars-content-id="1b67281d-9381-4dcd-a682-0698d8fb0490" data-vars-headline="C-section births increase in Minnesota" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/cesarean-birth" target="_blank">cesarean</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="births" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/07/13/the-costs-of-having-a-baby" data-vars-content-id="1b67281d-9381-4dcd-a682-0698d8fb0490" data-vars-headline="C-section births increase in Minnesota" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/07/13/the-costs-of-having-a-baby" target="_self">births</a> in Minnesota is rising, according to new data from the Centers for Disease.Why it matters: While generally safe — and often necessary for the health of the baby or the mom — a C-section is a major abdominal surgery that tends to require a longer short-term <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="recovery" data-vars-click-url="https://www.theskimm.com/wellness/c-section-recovery-tips" data-vars-content-id="1b67281d-9381-4dcd-a682-0698d8fb0490" data-vars-headline="C-section births increase in Minnesota" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.theskimm.com/wellness/c-section-recovery-tips" target="_blank">recovery</a> for the mother.

More Minnesota babies are being born to women in their 30s

Close to 60% of babies born in the state in 2023 had birth mothers who were 30-plus,.

Health

Women giving birth in Minnesota are getting older. The big picture: Close to 60% of babies born in the state in 2023 had birth mothers in their 30s or older, according to preliminary CDC data.

A set of area charts showing the share of babies born in the U.S. to unmarried women ages 40+ between 2007 and 2024. Each state has its own chart, along with one for the national total. Nationally, the share rose from 0.5% in 2007 to 1.1% in 2024. Every state also saw an increase, with those on the coasts having the highest share. In 2024, the areas with the highest share were D.C. (2.2%) and New York (1.9%). The states with the lowest share were North Dakota and Wyoming (both 0.6%).

Axios Visuals: 2026-01-27-single-moms-over-40

Data: CDC Wonder; Note: California stopped providing marital status of mothers in 2017; Chart: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals