Quick Hits

• Devastating Earthquake in Colombia: A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Colombia, causing a children's hospital in Cali to collapse. According to Al Jazeera, rescue teams are battling time as hope fades for survivors.
• Minneapolis Budget and Tax Hikes: Facing a budget gap, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has proposed a $2.6 billion budget that cuts spending and staffing while raising property taxes by 11.3 percent. (MPR News)
• Middle East Escalations: Yemen's Houthis announced a new naval blockade threatening Saudi Arabian shipping, while Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon as a violation of international law. (Al Jazeera)
• Tragedy in Minnesota: A child and two adults were killed in an apparent murder-suicide at a Hopkins daycare, a case Burnsville police believe is connected to a 78-year-old woman found dead the same morning. (MPR News)
• US Anti-Cartel Strategy: US Defense Secretary announced that drug cartels will be "targeted like ISIS," signaling an aggressive shift in tactics. (Al Jazeera)

Top Stories

• Colombia Earthquake Rescue Efforts: Rescuers in Colombia are digging through rubble following a deadly 7.4 earthquake. Al Jazeera reports that security cameras captured the moment part of a children's hospital collapsed, and photo galleries show hopes dwindling as the search for survivors continues.
• Minneapolis and St. Paul Budgets: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey's proposed budget aims to address a looming financial gap through departmental staffing cuts and an 11.3 percent property tax increase. Meanwhile, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her is preparing to present her first city budget amidst ongoing controversies. (MPR News)
• Middle East Flashpoints: Beyond the Houthi blockade announcement, Al Jazeera reports that a US diplomat has labeled an Israeli settler siege of West Bank homes in Qusra—where three Palestinian families were cut off from food and supplies—an "act of terror." Additionally, a Palestinian family's home in the West Bank was demolished despite a court order, leaving them homeless.

Left Perspective

• Immigration Enforcement Tactics: MPR News reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is planning to outfit its officers with electric shock gloves. This development follows the fatal shooting of Renee Macklin Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis last January.
• Minnesota Senate Race Dynamics: MPR News highlights the contrasting backgrounds of the candidates in the upcoming U.S. Senate race, noting that DFL Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan brings a history rooted in Minnesota politics, while Republican Michele Tafoya offers a vastly different approach and experience base.
• Community and Social Issues: MPR News focuses on local community challenges, including the Brainerd school district's urgent efforts to prevent student suicides after recent tragedies, and a voluntary relocation plan being considered for 83 of 211 households at the embattled Heritage Park housing complex in Minneapolis.

International View

• US-Brazil Relations: In an opinion piece for Al Jazeera, analysts assert that the United States' designation of Brazilian groups PCC and CV as "terrorists" is a mechanism to interfere in Brazil's upcoming election by expanding Washington's reach into the country's security and politics.
• Climate and Agriculture: Al Jazeera reports that UK farmers are facing their toughest test due to an "exceptionally serious" drought and soaring temperatures, stating that even the best planning is insufficient against extreme weather.
• Global Sports: Bangladesh dismissed Australia for their lowest total against the team in a stunning Day One Test victory featuring Hasan Mahmud's 6-55. In football, Lionel Messi hinted at retirement before playing in Inter Miami's defeat by Leon. (Al Jazeera)

Underreported

• Media Ethics and Objectivity: AllSides features a conversation with commentator Tim Pool exploring journalistic standards, specifically questioning whether reporters should explicitly label politicians as "liars" in their coverage.
• Simultaneous State Executions: Al Jazeera notes a historical anomaly in the US criminal justice system: three states are scheduled to hold executions on the same day for the first time since 2010.
• Cultural Milestones: MPR News celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Tilt-A-Whirl, invented by Herbert Sellner in Faribault, Minnesota, during the 1920s. Also in sports history, the Ghost Players continue to keep the legacy of the 1989 film "Field of Dreams" alive through traveling baseball in Iowa.

Sources

• MPR News
• Al Jazeera
• AllSides