The chorus pushing for more public restrooms in downtown Minneapolis has a new lead singer: Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea.

Catch up quick: While in town for Saturday's concert at U.S. Bank Stadium, the rockstar tweeted about his urgent search to find a bathroom after shopping at the downtown Target.

Why it matters: Flea's story highlights a problem downtown Minneapolis and other city centers are trying to solve: Visitors, residents and unsheltered people need more places to relieve themselves.

State of play: Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District used to keep a running list of bathrooms as part of the 100 Restrooms Project, which cataloged and encouraged more public bathrooms downtown.

• But the project is no longer "actively managed” because of pandemic impacts, a spokesperson said. DID estimates there are around two dozen in the area now, down from 29 in 2019.

What they’re saying: Council Member Michael Rainville, who represents part of downtown, told Axios that while he believes some public restrooms did close because of COVID, he hasn't heard complaints from constituents on the matter.

• When asked whether he thought there were enough public lavatories downtown, Rainville said he's "definitely the wrong guy to ask" because he knows "every bathroom in town" from his decades working in the neighborhood.

Yes, but: Finding a place to go can come down to knowing where to look.

• "You've got to know where to find them," Rainville acknowledged.

The other side: Some business owners have cited safety concerns about opening their restrooms to the public.

The intrigue: After several failed attempts, Flea made it "by the skin of [his] teeth" to a restaurant's restroom a few blocks away. But he didn't disclose the establishment's name.

• Our inbox is open to your guesses — and general public bathroom recommendations.

What other cities are doing

The Timberwolves will go head-to-head with LeBron James and the Lakers tonight with a playoff berth on the line.

Yes, but: They'll be without their two best defenders who "punched out" on Sunday.

Catch up fast: Center Rudy Gobert, whom the Wolves acquired for five first-round draft picks and four players nine months ago, was suspended by the team after punching teammate Kyle Anderson in the chest during the final game of the regular season Sunday.

• In the same game, promising young forward Jaden McDaniels punched a wall and broke his hand, ending his season.

The intrigue: It certainly seems like the wheels are falling off at the end of what has been a mediocre and disappointing season.

• But even after all the drama, the Wolves stormed back to beat New Orleans thanks to some fantastic play by Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards.

How to watch: The game airs on TNT at 9pm.

How the play-in works

🕳️ A giant sinkhole in Uptown was caused by a collapsed sewer main, officials say. (KARE11)

🗳️ Mike Murphy, who unsuccessfully ran for the GOP gubernatorial endorsement and re-election as Lexington mayor last year, has launched a bid for the 2nd Congressional District. (Torey via Twitter)

• He told Torey his family is "in the beginning stages" of considering whether to move from the North Metro to the district, which includes Scott, Dakota and Le Sueur counties.

🏀 The Lynx selected Maryland guard Diamond Miller with the second overall pick in last night's WNBA draft. (ESPN)

🏛️ The Legislature gets back to work today after a holiday break. Over the next six weeks, lawmakers will craft a budget and determine fate of high-profile bills on issues such as guns, marijuana and paid family leave.

🍂 Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling will resume collection of leaves, brush and other yard trimmings next week. (Info)

🎵 Broadway hits "Come from Away," "Peter Pan," "Hairspray," and "On Your Feet!" are coming to the Ordway. (Info)

Access to medication abortion will continue in Minnesota even if a federal judge's ruling against a widely used pill, mifepristone, stands, local reproductive health care providers and advocates say.

Driving the news: Texas district Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk's decision pausing the FDA's 2000 approval of the pill, one of the two drugs commonly used in medication-induced abortions, is set to take effect on Friday.

• If the ruling holds, manufacturing, selling and distributing of the pill will be outlawed, Axios' Adriel Bettelheim and Oriana González write.

The big picture: Mifepristone is the predominant form of abortion in Minnesota. It was used in close to 60% of the abortions in the state in 2021, per MDH data.

What they're saying: Planned Parenthood North Central States condemned the ruling but said it is prepared to offer an alternative medication regimen if needed.

• A spokeswoman told Axios that the organization does "not anticipate any disruption to patient care" at its clinic as a result.

Yes, but: Other advocates and legislators who support abortion rights argued yesterday that the alternative is "not the standard of care" because it can be more painful for the patient and take longer.

What we're watching: The Department of Justice appealed the Texas judge's ruling.

• That move, combined with a separate, conflicting decision issued by a Washington judge Friday, means the matter could ultimately be settled by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Share the full story

💼 Check out who's hiring on our Job Board.

1. Senior Associate at Insight Education Group.
2. Director of Customer Development at Civitas Learning.
3. Partnership Sales Director at Minnesota Timberwolves.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a job.

We got some beautiful garden pics in response to our Sunday piece on pollinator-friendly plants.

• The gorgeous landscapes above were courtesy of readers JoAnn H. and Natalia V.

🌸 Get more spring gardening inspiration, including some swoon-worthy tulips, via our Axios Twin Cities Instagram.