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Today’s newsletter is 972 words — a 3-minute read.

The hundreds of millions of dollars Meta agreed to pay Minnesota as part of a landmark social media safety settlement has started flowing into state coffers.

Why it matters: The cash could make a big difference in kids' lives — if lawmakers can agree on how to spend it.

Context: The money coming to Minnesota — expected to total between $214 and $307 million — stems from Meta's deal to pay up to $17 billion to settle claims that Facebook and Instagram were designed in ways that harmed children.

• The money, split into 10 payments over about eight years, is meant for public health initiatives like crisis intervention services, after-school programs, outdoor activities and youth mental health programming.

Yes, but: Without legislative action, the money will go into Minnesota's general fund, where lawmakers could use it for any purpose, Attorney General Keith Ellison's office tells Axios.

Between the lines: That dynamic sets the stage for a political debate over how to spend the cash.

What they're saying: Ellison's office is exploring whether the money can be used to pay restitution to individual Meta users, as Iowa is doing.

• Ellison also wants to see it used to address social media addiction and teen mental health issues.

Mental health is also top of mind for Sen. Erin Maye Quade (DFL-Apple Valley), who has authored several bills related to social media safety and privacy.

• Her ideas so far include hiring more school counselors and directing more funding to supporting places and programs where young people can gather IRL.
• "It is because the phones are addictive. It is because social media is addictive. But it's also because they have nowhere else to go," she said of teens spending more time online.

Rep. Peggy Scott (R-Andover) agrees that adding school counselors (for both public and private schools) and investing in mental health for kids should be priorities.

Yes, and: Scott, who has authored bipartisan social media safety bills, says she's also interested in funding a public ad campaign encouraging young people to connect offline.

• "I just think it needs to be cool again to not be on your phone," she tells Axios.

What we're watching: While key players appear aligned on the big-picture goals, there will be plenty of specifics to sort out when the session begins.

• Scott, for example, says she's open to Ellison's restitution idea, but says she would need to see more details before deciding whether to support it.

The bottom line

"SNL" comedian Michael Che's new Netflix special dropped this week, and true to its title, it was "Shot in Minnesota."

What they're saying: Che told MPR News he chose First Avenue because Twin Cities audiences "receive everything well, and I just think with the political climate of the past five years, so many things happening there that they would probably appreciate it."

Yes, but: Don't expect a heavy dose of Minnesota jokes. MPR notes that only about 60 seconds of the one-hour show are about the state.

• He does make nods to Operation Metro Surge as well as fraudulent daycare centers.

🔎 Top House Democrats are pledging to make the Trump administration's search of Rep. Ilhan Omar's home part of their sprawling 2027 oversight agenda. (Axios)

• The search, reportedly connected to an investigation into her immigration paperwork, set off alarm bells among Democrats that "more October surprises" could be coming.

Sources familiar with the investigation told NBC News that agents seized the congresswoman's phone and have issued over a dozen subpoenas. (NBC News)

🚓 Some progressive Minneapolis council members want to eliminate the Office of Community Safety, which was created in the wake of George Floyd's murder to oversee the police department and other emergency services. (MPR News/Background via Axios)

📚 A steep drop in students who are English language learners this fall translated to $4.9 million in lost revenue for St. Paul Public Schools. (Pioneer Press)

🏗️ A new development in Victoria set to include upscale condos, hot restaurants and retail will nearly double the size of the fast-growing suburb's downtown. (Star Tribune)

💼 A Wisconsin-based material-processing manufacturer plans to move its operation to Vadnais Heights, adding 100 local jobs. (Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal)

🎤 Country music star Zach Bryan will play U.S. Bank Stadium next spring, per a release. Tickets for the April 28 show go on sale a week from Friday.

68%: The share of likely Minnesota voters who say they are very or somewhat concerned that advanced AI could lead to the end of humanity.

Driving their dread: Fears about job impacts, deepfakes and what happens if superintelligent AI goes rogue and wreaks havoc on the world, voters surveyed as part of the Star Tribune/KARE 11 Minnesota Poll told the paper.

• "If we're not really teaching AI, it's learning by itself, and once it gets ahead on its own, we're going to kind of lose control of it," David Jones, a Republican from Belle Plaine, told the Strib. "I just don't trust the ultimate outcome."

What we're watching: Just over 70% of voters said they think the government should do more to regulate the technology.

Go deeper into the crosstabs

Torey spotted this piece of public art while out reporting on the campaign trail last week.

• Recognize it? Drop us a line with where it resides.

🎁 We'll send one reader who gets it right an Axios tote.

👋 Nick is off until Monday for MEA break.

💉 Torey is getting her flu shot tonight!

🦠 Kyle and his wife had their own vaccine date last night.

🤒 Audrey was out sick yesterday.

This newsletter was edited by Larry Graham.