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With a week to go until the end of the 2026 Minnesota legislative session, lawmakers will be busy trying to pass bills through a divided legislature. It's unclear what will get done over the next week as the DFL-controlled Senate is 34-33 while the House is tied. Since it is an even-year session, there is no requirement for the legislature to pass any bills.  "It's hard to pass anything in an era where there is really no bipartisanship," said David Schultz, a political science professor at Hamline University. "It's going to be difficult to do so. Among the most important things that most people would say needs to be passed in the next week are two things. One, it's the bonding bill, which generally funds major infrastructure projects in the state. That's looking unlikely because that's going to need a 60% vote to be able to pass. Additionally, most people say there needs to be a supplemental budget bill because things have changed since last year. Those are two critical ones." Another major issue lawmakers face is finding a solution to help keep Hennepin County Medical Center's doors open as it faces a financial crisis.  After the Senate passed a gun violence prevention package, there's been no movement in the House. On Thursday, the Minnesota House approved a bill to establish a statewide Office of Inspector General, putting one of the legislature's top anti-fraud bills one step closer to the finish line in 2026. Schultz said he could see some legislation passing this week to help small businesses impacted by Operation Metro Surge as he's heard from both Republican and Democratic mayors about how the surge has impacted their communities. According to state data analyzed by Schultz, so far this session, there have been 41 bills passed. When looking at previous even-year sessions within the past decade, there were 117 laws signed in 2018; 53 in 2020; 68 in 2022; and 52 in 2024.  "There are so many issues that I think both sides would like to not to resolve and use them as campaign issues at this point instead," Schultz said. "If you actually pass legislation that solves a problem, you lose it as a political issue." 

Little Falls Radio was informed on Monday that there will be a Goodbye and Farewell Party for Pastor Bill Smith and his wife Dorothy Smith on Saturday 2-5pm at Linden Hill. Bill had been the Pastor of Trinity Chapel Church of God for over 25 years in Little Falls. All are invited to come and wish the Smith's well as they are moving to Colorado to be with their daughter. 

Death Notices: Gregory E. Gammon, age 65 of Little Falls. 

Weather: sunny skies today and very windy, high 67 wind gusts 20-35mph from west northwest, Tonight clear and breezy, low around 41 wind gusts near 15-25mph. Wednesday sunny and less windy, high 71, clear Wednesday night low near 43. Thursday sunny skies, high 74 breezy conditions once again with afternoon rain showers, chance of showers and breezy Thursday night low near 50. Sunny and breezy Friday, high near 80, low around 47 and clear Friday night. Sunny Saturday high near 75, rain develops Saturday night low near 45. Showers and storms likely Sunday, windy, high 72, low around 42.  

Sports: Colorado beat the Wild last night 5-2 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs game 4. Avalanche now lead the series 3-1 and could wrap it up at home in Colorado on Wednesday night at 7pm, pregame 6:45pm on Q92 WYRQ and fallsradio.com if the Wild win Wednesday then game 6 would be Friday night in St. Paul. The Minnesota Vikings Monday announced they are adding running back Adrian Peterson to the Ring of Honor during the upcoming season. Timberwolves will be at San Antonio for Game 5 of the NBA playoffs tonight at 7pm, with their series tied 2-2. Game 6 will be Friday night in Minneapolis if a Game 7 is necessary that would be Sunday in Texas. Minnesota Twins open a series with Miami Marlins at Target Field tonight at 6:40pm, Wednesday 6:40pm, Thursday 12:40pm then the Brewers from Milwaukee are in town this weekend. Minnesota Lynx are at Phoenix tonight. Yesterday Erin Thesing pitched a no hitter for the Pierz Pioneer softball team as Pierz beat Osakis 12-0 in softball and Pierz Girls Golf broke school record with a team score of 338 and finished 1st at their invite in Pierz yesterday, while Imagine Hines of Little Falls shot a 77 and was the individual medalist at the golf invite. Good luck to the Pierz and Holdingford Track teams both boys and girls will compete at the State True Team Track Meet at Eden Prairie on Saturday.