Minnesota officials are reckoning with local tributes to César Chávez in light of explosive new sexual abuse allegations against the late labor leader.

Why it matters: Chávez's role as a central figure in the fight for farmworker rights prompted the naming of schools, streets and holidays in his honor.

• That legacy is now in question following accusations from several minors and women, including fellow civil rights icon Dolores Huerta.

Driving the news: Top state lawmakers from both parties said yesterday that they'll act to repeal a state law designating the labor leader's March 31 birthday as César Chávez Day.

What they're saying: "The pain and trauma survivors carry is a weight that can't be erased by replacing signs and names on buildings or repealing this state holiday," said Rep. Maria Pérez-Vega (DFL-St. Paul). "But it's a step forward for healing." 

• A spokesperson for House Republicans said the caucus is "absolutely in support of renaming the day" and looks forward to passing the legislation "as soon as possible."

Gov. Tim Walz told WCCO Radio that he supports the effort and will not issue a proclamation recognizing the day in light of the "horrific" allegations.

Context: A blockbuster New York Times investigation published this week found extensive evidence that Chávez groomed multiple young girls while leading the farmworkers movement.

• Chávez died in 1993, and his family told Axios that they are "devastated" by the NYT's reporting, which is "deeply painful" to the family.

Zoom in: Chávez's namesakes in the Twin Cities include a busy thoroughfare on St. Paul's West Side, a one-block street that runs through the Minneapolis Farmers Market, and an East Side St. Paul charter school, per the Star Tribune.

What we're hearing: Officials in Minneapolis and St. Paul said any push to rename the streets would need to go through their established processes.

• The board of Academia Cesar Chavez told the Star Tribune that members are "taking time to fully understand" the "deeply troubling" allegations.

Between the lines: St. Paul Council President Rebecca Noecker, who represents the West Side, told Axios that the issue isn't removing Chávez's name, it's settling on a new one.

• Both of those decisions should probably be made at the same time, Noecker said — but gathering community feedback takes time.

Zoom out

Steve Sack, the Pultizer-winning cartoonist who retired from the Star Tribune in 2022, is back with a new gig drawing for MinnPost.

Flashback: As Racket first reported, Sack was forced into retirement after a 42-year career by carpal tunnel in his right hand.

• He taught himself to draw with his left, with assistance from an iPad that allows him to zoom in for detailed strokes.

Between the lines: Sack came out of retirement this winter because, as he told Racket, he was "pissed off" about the ICE surge.

The latest: Sack's cartoons will publish Thursday afternoons on MinnPost.

• His first dropped yesterday.

Share with someone who needs a chuckle

⚖️ An immigration judge denied asylum claims for the family of a Columbia Heights 5-year-old whose ICE detention went viral. (MPR News)

• A lawyer for Liam Conejo Ramos and his family said they will appeal.

🕯️A memorial service for Army Reserve Sgt. Nicole Amor, the White Bear Lake mom killed in a drone strike in Kuwait, will be held today. (Stars and Stripes)

• A second Minnesotan injured in the attack, Army Reserve Sgt. Cory Hicks, is still recovering.

🔮 A top election forecaster changed its rating for Minnesota's open governor's race from "likely Democratic" to "safe Democratic." (Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball)

🐿️ The U of M paid $15 million to update the university's marketing slogan. The Internet has thoughts on the result: "Leave a Future." (Star Tribune)

📺 Hennepin County Libraries will discontinue its partnership with streaming platform Kanopy this spring, citing infrequent use and high costs. (Bring Me The News)

🎭 Another play with Broadway aspirations will debut in the Twin Cities, with the summer of 2028 premiere of "Happy Feet." (Star Tribune)

• In other theater news: The Guthrie's 2026-27 season will include takes on "Waiting for Godot" and "Pirates of Penzance." (Pioneer Press)

"The people of the Twin Cities responded with extraordinary courage and resolve. Tens of thousands took to the streets to peacefully protest federal overreach and threats to immigrant families and constitutional protections, while others documented enforcement activity and alerted neighbors to federal agents' presence."

Go deeper via The Star Tribune.

The Wild will try to break a four-game home losing streak tomorrow when they host their likely first-round playoff opponents: the Dallas Stars.

Why it matters: On the ice, it's a litmus test for both teams.

• Off the ice, the craziness of this all-but-locked first-round matchup is fueling broader debate about the NHL's quirky playoff format.

Catch up quick: The Wild, Stars and Colorado Avalanche are currently the top three teams in the Western Conference by far — meaning they'd never face off in the first round of a traditional No. 1-versus-No. 8 playoff bracket.

• But all three teams are in the same division, and the Stanley Cup playoff format is set up to create intra-division matchups. That means two of the likely top three finishers in the West will be eliminated before the conference final.

GM Bill Guerin speaks out…

A robin of spring — in addition to the rapidly melting snow — arrives tomorrow, as Conny's Creamy Cone reopens for the 2026 season.

• The St. Paul walk-up ice cream stand has dozens of sweet treats, including 30+ flavors of soft serve, and a food menu priced at $10 and under.

Audrey's tip: Fried pickles pair well with a Butterfinger flurry. Don't judge!