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Cheers to Abbey Murphy
The Golden Gophers hockey captain’s assist in a game last weekend exceeded superlatives. There’s no hockey I.Q. needed to be dazzled by the top-speed finesse and skill in Murphy’s delivery to teammate Bella Fanale. In the first period on Saturday, Murphy brought the puck across the blue line, bounced it into the air, slid it between a defender’s legs and then sent it across the net to Fanale, who lifted it in for the goal. Murphy’s headed to the Winter Olympics on Team USA, so expect more opportunities to see her stick sorcery. Bonus: Watch this wizard recap and break down her play.
Jeers to Mike Lindell
The MyPillow CEO delivered a lecture about executive leadership during an interview at a Republican gubernatorial debate in Little Falls, Minn. Lindell was criticizing the vast social services fraud during Gov. Tim Walz’s tenure. “You’re the CEO of a company, you better pay attention to all your departments,” Lindell said. “Walz is either the worst governor in history, or he knew about it. Then it could cross over into how much did you know — and if you knew, it’s criminal.” Coming from Lindell, this statement is beyond rich, given that he’s driven his company into the ground and is awash in legal woes and liabilities related to his false claims about the legality of the 2020 presidential election. He’s also, by his own admission, in dire financial straits, so he’s hardly a model of sound fiscal management.
Cheers to Brian O’Hara
The Minneapolis Police chief cannot be getting any sleep right now. With an understaffed department, he’s trying to keep residents and protesters calm during the chaotic federal immigration enforcement operation that feels like a siege. In numerous televised interviews, O’Hara appeared pained, exhausted and worried about what will come next. “I would hope that everyone could recognize that the loss of human life is a tragedy and, in that situation, no one wins,” he said in an interview on TPT’s Almanac last week. When asked about the tactics of ICE agents, O’Hara was reasoned and candid, saying, “It looks crazy to me. A lot of the things happening, it’s like policing 101. ... These are poor tactics that are unsafe. They don’t appear to be taking measures to protect their own safety but also to try and de-escalate these situations.” The best way to support local law enforcement is to heed his words: Be careful, lawful and peaceful.
Jeers (and tears) for Grayson’s untimely loss
The beautiful arctic wolf who was the unofficial ambassador at the International Wolf Center in Ely, Minn., died suddenly at 9 last weekend, the center announced. Grayson had fans around the globe who watched him live in his enclosure or visited the center. “People were, my gosh, they felt that very personal connection with him and his personality. He was just so social, very observant, very aware,” said Giselle Narvaez Rivera, the center’s wolf curator. Long and free may he run. The center, which seeks to promote understanding and dispel myths about wolves, has been open since 1993. Head over to the center’s live feed for the soothing sights and sounds of the remaining wolves in their habitat. Nature is soothing.
Cheers to principled prosecutors
Several career federal prosecutors took their moral and legal obligations seriously by resigning from the Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office on Jan. 13 over the direction of the investigation into a federal ICE agent’s shooting of Renee Good. A day later, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that she fired the prosecutors, including former acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson, the lead on Minnesota’s social services fraud investigations and the No. 2 in the office. It’s not immediately clear how someone who has previously resigned can also be fired but, if true, Bondi’s move could cost these principled public servants by terminating their health care and wiping out earned comp time. The world is upside down, but all of these prosecutors deserve our deepest gratitude. Their courage in the face of tyranny deserves more than applause.
Jeers to fat salaries for health care admin
As many working Americans drop health insurance altogether or struggle to pay higher premiums and copays, those in charge at some nonprofits are raking in the dough. No passing of the hat is needed for UCare’s Hilary Marden-Resnik, who banked $1.27 million in 2024 as the nonprofit she led was beginning its descent toward liquidation. It’s interesting to see how somebody in the nonprofit health care industry can lose their job but not their shirt. The top 10 nonprofit CEOs earned more than $30 million in 2024, according to a Star Tribune review.
