Gov. Tim Walz’s order for state employees to return to the office at least half-time went into effect this week as Minnesota government workers started receiving warnings of potential layoffs if the Legislature fails to pass a budget by the end of June.

Parking lots around the state Capitol complex appeared slightly fuller than usual Monday as the requirement kicked in for the main offices of some agencies based in St. Paul, though many agencies won’t have to return to the office more until later this summer.

John Wilson, an economist with the state Department of Transportation, said he had already been working at the office most days, but his office has gotten much busier.

Work hasn’t changed much for Wilson for now. But the prospect of temporary layoffs next month looms over his head. He’s worked for MnDOT for 15 years and remembers the 20-day government shutdown in 2011, when the GOP-controlled Legislature and Democratic-Farmer-Labor Gov. Mark Dayton couldn’t reach an agreement on the budget.

“Everybody says, well, you know, there’s no sign it will come to that, but I remember it felt like that last time,” Wilson said. “ I certainly wouldn’t place my bets now.”

Session ended without budget passing

The Department of Transportation is one of many state agencies that will run out of funding after June 30. It’s been two weeks since state lawmakers ended the regular legislative session without passing all of a roughly $66 billion two-year budget. Areas that make up two-thirds of the budget — Health, Human Services and K-12 Education don’t have new funding yet either. However, corrections and public safety budget bills have been passed.

Legislative leaders from the DFL majority Senate and the House tied between the DFL and Republicans say a final budget is close and could pass in a special session by the end of the week. Most conversations have been happening in private meetings, though lawmakers have provided signed agreements for big spending areas like education and health.

It comes after several delays. When the regular session ended on May 20, House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman said she hoped to get a budget done before layoff notices went out. But the process has already started.

Minnesota has already told 700 employees that they could be temporarily out of a job a month from now if the Legislature doesn’t pass a new two-year budget, according to Patrick Hogan, a spokesman with Minnesota Management and Budget. The first group to get notices was represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association, and more could follow.

If there isn’t any action by June 9, thousands more will receive messages, according to MMB.

Union opposes return to office order

The Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, which represents around 18,000 state employees, opposes the return to office order and is holding informational rallies at the Capitol on Tuesday and Wednesday this week as it continues to negotiate a new contract with the state.

MAPE, which has said a strike is not off the table over the return to work order, also called on state leaders to overcome “political gridlock” and pass a budget amid continued uncertainty about funding at the federal level as well.

“These notices may be conditional, but the harm is real. Workers will have to prepare for lost income, disrupted lives and a government shutdown that would impact every Minnesotan who relies on public services,” union president Megan Dayton said in a recent statement. “We hoped our elected officials in Minnesota would serve as a barrier to the dysfunction and chaos coming out of Washington.”

MAPE has said it’s concerned about disruptions to families who have adjusted to flexible schedules and caring for children at home. They’re also concerned about whether there will be enough office space after years of remote work. Agencies, including the Department of Human Services, Health and Revenue, have gotten exemptions to the June 1 return date.

Oder intended to boost ‘collaboration,’ organizational culture

This spring, Walz ordered government workers to report to the office at least 50% of the time if they live within 50 miles of their workplace in a move that state employee unions claimed caught them by surprise. Originally, the range was 75 miles, but the governor reduced the distance in April.

Around 60% of state employees already worked in person and did so throughout the pandemic, according to the governor’s office. The state has about 50,000 employees.

The governor has said his order aims to boost “collaboration” and help state agencies build better organizational cultures. The move is also supported by businesses in downtown St. Paul, who say they’ve struggled from the post-pandemic shift in work styles.

It’s yet to be seen just how much the return to office order will affect downtown, but St. Paul Downtown Alliance president Joe Spencer said businesses are excited to have more workers back.

“There are a lot of great things about working in downtown, especially in the summertime,” he said. “So, hopefully, they find a welcome reception, and they indeed feel our enthusiasm to have them back in the office.”

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After signing a massive contract extension last summer that made among the highest paid players in the NFL, Justin Jefferson was voted a team captain by his teammates on the Vikings.

What did the standout receiver learn about himself stepping into that position?

“That I actually can do it,” Jefferson said with a smile on Monday afternoon at TCO Performance Center. “I had to learn to be vocal and know that I have some type of influence on this team.”

That influence has been on display this spring as Jefferson has been an active participant in organized team activities. Though the Vikings actually made it a point to ask him to be in attendance, Jefferson said he was always planning to be at the voluntary workouts.

“To build that connection with my teammates,” Jefferson said. “Especially with my quarterback.”

The fact that Jefferson has already started to familiarize himself with new starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy bodes well for the Vikings moving forward.

Not only does it help Jefferson learn what to expect whenever the ball is in the air, maybe more important, it helps McCarthy understand how much he can rely on his best weapon whenever he drops back to pass.

Just throw it up anywhere,” Jefferson said with another smile. “I’m going to go get it.”

That’s a common refrain Jefferson has used throughout his tenure, regardless of it’s been former franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins, journeyman quarterback Sam Darnold, or McCarthy taking snaps under center.

“It really doesn’t matter who’s throwing the ball,” Jefferson said. “As soon as the ball gets close to my face, I’m going to try to catch it.”

What’s the biggest thing he has learned about McCarthy so far?

“He definitely has an arm,” Jefferson said. “He can definitely zip it whenever he needs to.”

What’s the biggest thing Jefferson wants McCarthy to learn about him?

“The difference between me and another receiver is what I put on the top of my routes,” Jefferson said. “Just the flavor I have and the stride length that I have.”

There are certain routes, for example, that Jefferson might break off at a different depth than some of his peers

“All of that goes into it,” Jefferson said. “So the more we’re out here having those reps, the better we’re going to be.”

That’s why it was important for Jefferson to be an active participant in organized team activities.

“Just being here makes a difference,” Jefferson said. “It feels great to be around the team earlier than normal and carrying on that leadership role.”

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) takes part in drills during an NFL football team practice Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Eagan, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

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With the Walter Cup staying in Minnesota for the second consecutive year, cries of “Break up the Frost!” surely have echoed throughout the PWHL in recent days.

And while that was not the league’s intention when it announced the addition of new teams in Seattle and Vancouver next season, it will be one of the results that come from the PWHL expansion draft, which will be held next Monday.

The original six teams are allowed to protect three players who are under contract for next season. Each teams will lose four players. The expansion teams also will have an exclusive window to negotiate with free agents on Wednesday through Saturday.

The six teams submitted their lists on Monday, and the lists will be made public on Tuesday.

“When they announced that teams can only protect three and they are going to lose four, our mouths dropped, because that’s a lot,” Frost coach Ken Klee said.

Teams have no choice but to role with the (gut) punches.

“We know we are going to lose four great players, and so is everyone else,” Klee said. “We have no idea how these new franchises are going to put together their team. Afterward, we’re going to look at what we lost, we’re going to have to add through the draft and maybe add through free agency.

“And promote from within; maybe some of our players can have a bigger role than they had this year.”

The Frost have 11 players under contract for next season. Taylor Heise surely will be protected, leaving Klee and general manager Melissa Caruso to choose two more among the likes of defensemen Lee Stecklein, Sophie Jaques and Claire Thompson and forwards Grace Zumwinkle, Britta Curl-Salemme, Kelly Pannek and Kendall Coyne Schofield.

As for their goaltenders, Nicole Hensley is under contract for next season and Maddie Rooney is a free agent. There would appear to be a good chance that Rooney will sign a new deal with the Frost, which means at least one of them is a good bet to remain in Minnesota.

The Frost — as well as the other five original teams — will have to find a balance of protecting young players while also remaining competitive in the short term.

“The situation we are in with the league right is that there could be more expansion,” Caruso said. “So it’s almost like we are planning for very short periods of time right now, knowing that we are going to be experiencing change again in the next couple of years.

“We have some players who are toward the end of their careers and some who are just getting started. We’ll be approaching finding the best mix of those groups that will allow us to succeed next season.”

With a look toward next season, Caruso said that the team would add more of a physical presence, which suggests that the rugged Curl-Salemme is someone the Frost would like to hold onto. Do they protect her over Zumwinkle?

Do they protect the veteran Stecklein over Thompson, who excelled in her first season?

“Anything can happen,” Stecklein said, “and I don’t think there is a wrong choice. Its’ so crazy to picture losing anybody. It will be a crazy time, but no matter what I am so lucky to have had these two years with the Frost.

“I would love to have more, but if it’s out west for me, that’s a great experience.”

Coyne Schofield, the team captain, led the Frost in goals (12) and points (24), but she’s 33 years old. She’s committed to play next season, and will know soon where that will be.

“I’ve been doing this long enough to know that you can only control what you can control,” Coyne Schofield said, “and not letting things that I can’t control bother me. Everyone’s a little bit stressed about what’s to come, whether it’s how it’s going to impact you, how it is going to impact your friend, how it is going to impact your team.”

A St. Paul man who threw a fatal punch outside an East Side bar following a birthday celebration was sentenced Monday to nearly a year in the workhouse and five years of probation.

Pheng Vang, 39, had pleaded guilty in Ramsey County District Court to the sole count of first-degree manslaughter for throwing a single punch that killed Peter Nguyen, 38, outside the Far East Bar & Restaurant in the Payne-Phalen area on March 23, 2024.

Peter Nguyen, 30, of Coon Rapids, died March 23, 2024, after being found unresponsive on a sidewalk in the area of Arcade Street and Case Avenue. (Courtesy of GoFundMe)

Nguyen, of Coon Rapids, was found unresponsive on the sidewalk outside the bar at Arcade Street and Case Avenue just before 1 a.m. He died soon at Regions Hospital of a head injury.

Vang reached an agreement with the prosecution in March that included the 360-day sentence. His attorney, however, argued in court Monday that he should serve the time under house arrest.

“To put it bluntly,” Judge Edward Sheu said in handing down the sentence, “I don’t know how you can kill someone and not spend some time in jail.”

An 8½-year prison sentence was stayed as part of the plea agreement, which includes that Vang complete 100 hours of community service. The state and defense agreed Monday on the length of his supervised probation.

With Vang’s 16 days of custody credit, Sheu noted, and the state’s rule where offenders serve two-thirds of a sentence in custody, Vang will be in the workhouse for about 7½ months.

‘Terrible choice’

According to the criminal complaint, a witness told police that Nguyen “had some kind of issue with people who had been attending a birthday party at the bar” and was “squaring up to fight” with a man outside.

The witness said that another man, later identified as Vang, came up along the side of the man Nguyen was going to fight and struck Nguyen with his fist, causing Nguyen to fall to the ground.

Vang then left the area.

“He made the decision to sucker punch someone who wasn’t even looking at him,” Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Maureen Cleary said Monday in arguing against electronic home monitoring. “And, after that, he left immediately.”

Pheng Vang (Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)

Vang was arrested 12 days after Nguyen’s killing. He told police in an interview he was starting to leave the bar when “an argument began to escalate” on the corner and that he walked up to defuse the situation. He said he punched Nguyen when Nguyen reached down to pick up a shot glass.

Vang’s attorney, Heather Sia of the St. Paul nonprofit Neighborhood Justice Center, said Monday in court that Nguyen was an aggressor and had “squared up” to engage in a fistfight with Colin Vue, Vang’s cousin, in the middle of the street. She said Vang acted in the defense of his cousin.

In her presentencing memo to the judge, Sia wrote that Nguyen had become intoxicated throughout the night resulting in a blood alcohol level of 0.17. She said he also had cocaine in his system.

“(Vang) wasn’t out there inciting people to fight,” Sia said. “He was actually out there trying to stop it. He made a terrible choice in the way that he tried to stop it.”

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Vang is known by his family and friends as a protector and peacemaker, Sia said. She noted how in 2013, Vang, at age 27, was seriously injured while fighting off a man who had stabbed, beaten and choked Vang’s girlfriend. The attacker was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Prosecutor Cleary acknowledged in court the defense’s claim of Vang being a peacemaker, that he tried to de-escalate the situation outside the bar.

“Peacemakers do not throw punches,” Cleary said. “And while what happened that night was tragic and unforeseen … he did intend on punching him. He did intend on getting involved. He did make those choices. And those choices cost Peter his life.”