The St. Thomas women’s hockey team knew Friday was going to be a big-picture day as it prepared to host the Providence Friars in the inaugural event at Anderson Arena, St. Thomas’ new on-campus home for hockey and basketball.

Then the details took a little shine off a special day.

In a game that will be hard to top in terms of the number of twists and turns, the 13th-ranked Tommies rallied from a 5-2 deficit only to lose 7-6 before an announced crowd of 1,456.

“There are so many emotions, and excitement and gratitude that goes into opening a building like this,” Tommies head coach Bethany Brausen said. “Of course, you want to be on the winning side of that, and we talked about that after the game. It’s not the results we wanted, but I think it’s the information we needed about where our team is. To see them climb back in the third period gives me a lot of promise about the direction of our program this year.”

The Tommies scored four straight goals in the third period to take a 6-5 lead. The Friars pulled their goaltender in the final minute and got the equalizer with 32 seconds to play. Providence’s Reichen Kirchmair then scored midway through the 5-minute overtime — her fourth goal of the game — to drop the Tommies to 6-3-0.

“We expected a crazy game today,” Brausen said. “We’re moving into this brand new facility, energy is high, emotions are high. So, I was trying to play out what every scenario could look like. I didn’t play this one out.”

Brausen remained upbeat despite the loss.

“As we entered into the third period, I challenged our team to be a different program than we’ve ever been in the past,” she said. “ And that was a tall order under those circumstances. I am very encouraged by the response that they had.

“Over the years we’ve had good hockey teams. This is a different group now; they truly believe they’re never out of a game. When you start to get that in your locker room and on your bench, that’s when championship culture starts to develop.”

The opening of the arena coincides with Tommies teams being eligible for the NCAA postseason for the first time, signally a start of a new era in Tommies athletics.

Athletics director Phil Esten was all smiles prior to the game, proud of what the athletic department has accomplished and eager to see what tomorrow will bring.

“One of the greatest rewards for me was moving our student athletes in over the last two or three weeks,” Esten said. “The looks on their faces, the sheer joy that they had in their eyes — It’s been a long journey for them, too. They came to St. Thomas at a time we weren’t eligible for postseason and they took a chance on it, which I greatly appreciate. So the greatest reward has been that.

“Secondly, I would say that, as beautiful as this facility is, it’s more than just bricks and mortar. It’s about the memories we’re going to make here. We’re in the business of building people in personal and professional development, and how we can grow affinity for St. Thomas and make sure people have memories that last lifetimes.”

The arena, which seats 4,000 for hockey and 5,300 for basketball, became a reality in large part to a $75 million donation by Lee and Penny Anderson. A fundraising campaign eventually raised over $131 million for the project.

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The university’s decision to build on campus was met my stiff opposition from some nervy residents who were —and remain —concerned about traffic and a shortage of parking.

School officials are hopeful the two sides can more than simply co-exist.

“We’re neighbors, and it is important that we find mutually beneficial solutions,” Esten said. “I think we work together to mitigate what I think are going to be some traffic and parking concerns and challenges. Any time you go to a large event there is some traffic. We’ve been hosting football games on campus for 10 years. Last week, we had 4,200 people at O’Shaughnessy Stadium. Three weeks ago, we had 5,500 people there and parking and traffic were handled just fine.”

The building features a second ice surface, which Esten said will do more than serve as a practice site for the Tommies.

“We’re able to provide the St. Paul Capitals and other youth organizations the opportunity to play in their community,” Esten said. “So, I think this is a an asset both for college hockey and for our community. We’re going to welcome high school hockey. We’ll welcome youth hockey. We’ll welcome public skating. We’ll welcome anybody who wants to use that auxiliary ice sheet because we do think it is important to engage with the community in that way.”

By KEVIN FREKING

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is rejecting the idea of using roughly $5 billion in contingency funds to keep food aid flowing into November amid the government shutdown, according to a Department of Agriculture memo that surfaced Friday. States temporarily covering the cost of benefits next month will not be reimbursed, the memo says.

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Democratic lawmakers and various advocacy groups have been calling on the administration to use the contingency fund to provide partial benefits into November though the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly referred to as SNAP.

But the two-page document states that “contingency funds are not legally available to cover regular benefits.”

The prospect of SNAP benefits running out as a result of the shutdown has become a major concern in the states. Lawmakers from both political parties are blaming the other for the hardship that would ensue. The program helps about 1 in 8 Americans buy groceries.

The document states that the contingency fund is reserved for such things as helping individuals in disaster areas. It cited Tropical Storm Melissa, which could become a major hurricane in the coming days, as an example of why it’s important to have funds available to mobilize quickly in the event of a disaster. The document was obtained by The Associated Press and was first reported by Axios.

The document blames Democrats for the government shutdown that began Oct. 1 and states that November SNAP benefits would be paid on time “if not for Congressional Democrats blocking government funding.”

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries earlier Friday told reporters the administration has the resources to ensure than not a single American goes hungry on Nov. 1. He accused Republicans of “trying to weaponize hunger” and called it unconscionable.

Meanwhile, Democrats in the House and Senate have written Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins requesting that she use the contingency fund to cover the bulk of November benefits.

“Choosing not to ensure SNAP benefits reach those in need this November would be a gross dereliction of your responsibilities to the American people,” said a letter sent Friday by 214 House Democrats.

The latest department guidance on the contingency fund appears to contrast in some respects with the department’s 55-page plan for operations in the event of a shutdown. That plan stated that it’s evident Congress has intended for SNAP operations to continue since the program has been provided with multi-year contingency funds to cover state administrative expenses and to pay for participant benefits should a funding lapse occur in the middle of the fiscal year.

The department guidance that surfaced Friday says the contingency fund is not available to support the current budget year’s benefits because “the appropriations for regular benefits no longer exists.”

The shutdown began when a short-term measure to fund the government failed to advance in the Senate. The current impasse is now the second-longest on record. The administration took steps leading up to the shutdown to ensure SNAP benefits were paid in October, with states and lawmakers looking for guidance from the administration for what would happen next month.

The SNAP program is administered by the states. Officials in Louisiana, Vermont and Virginia pledged Thursday to keep food aid flowing to recipients in their states, even if the federal program is stalled because of the shutdown. Other states have explored using their own funds to prop up the program but have run into technical roadblocks.

Some states have been telling SNAP recipients to be ready for the benefits to stop. Arkansas, for example, is advising recipients to identify food pantries and other groups that might be able to help, and to ask friends and family for aid.

A free event in the North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis on Saturday will take visitors on a journey through the Vietnam War and its lasting effects on Minnesota’s Southeast Asian and military veteran communities, organizers say.

The immersive digital exhibit, which is sponsored by the Minnesota Humanities Center and the Minnesota Historical Society, will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Royalston Square. It is part of a series of events funded by the Minnesota Legislature to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the war’s end.

“As Minnesota is home to the largest diaspora of Cambodian, Hmong, Lao, and Vietnamese people, we are grateful to work with these communities to host the first joint 50-year commemorative examination of the conflict in Southeast Asia,” MHC CEO Kevin Lindsey said in a news release. “This effort honoring Veterans and those who served is long overdue, and I hope that this joint commemoration will lead to more thoughtful tributes and spark more conversations.”

Floor to ceiling images projected onto the walls at Royalston Square will tell the stories of veterans and civilians “as they navigated war, refugee camps, and their eventual new lives in the United States,” the news release said.

The event is recommended for people no younger than 10, organizers said.

The events series sponsored by MHC and MNHS will continue next weekend with a two-day program at St. Paul’s Union Depot in Lowertown, which will include educational presentations, food and entertainment.

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By Kyle Ingram, The News & Observer (Raleigh)

RALEIGH, N.C. — Last week, North Carolina Republicans unveiled a plan, backed by President Donald Trump, to redraw the state’s congressional map in order to pick up another seat for the GOP in the 2026 midterms. Less than a week later, that map became law.

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During the intervening six days, lawmakers held no public forums in the affected areas, did no outreach to voters whose districts would be changed and heard roughly two total hours of public comment during committee hearings in Raleigh where each speaker was limited to one minute.

Despite that, the legislature received over 12,000 public comments via an online portal it set up.

A cursory review of the comments, which were released to the public by House Minority Leader Robert Reives, show an overwhelming opposition to the new map.

Commenters accused Republicans of bowing to Trump, disenfranchising Black voters and shutting out the public.

A smaller group of commenters supported the map, saying that Republicans deserved another seat in Congress.

Asked if he’d reviewed the comments, Republican House Speaker Destin Hall said he saw a few and had some sent to him.

“This issue, it’s obviously going to animate folks on the left a lot,” he told reporters. “… I just disagree with them.”

The News & Observer has compiled a sampling of the comments, organized by the key themes that motivated their responses.

‘Abuse of power’

A large portion of the reviewed comments criticized Republicans for openly drawing maps intended to help their own party and Trump in the midterms.

“This is a blatant and egregious abuse of power,” one commenter, who said they were from Wilson County, wrote. “… You are more worried about cheating for a dictator who doesn’t care about you or the American people … History will remember that you only win by cheating. I teach my students that CHEATERS never win in the long run. Don’t take away our voices because you’re scared. Win fairly or lose with dignity.”

Another commenter accused Republicans of being “afraid of fair elections.”

“Clearly, they know that they cannot win unless they rig the system by picking their own voters, because surveys show that more than half the voters disagree with their policies,” the commenter continued. “This cheating may work over the short term, but it will fail over time. It is very sad that the once-proud GOP has become a lapdog for a lawless, vengeful, power-mad president.”

Throughout the week’s hearings and votes, Republicans repeatedly and explicitly stated that they decided to redraw North Carolina’s map because Trump asked for it.

Senate leader Phil Berger, who faces a contentious primary election against Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page, has denied claims that he agreed to redraw the state’s map in exchange for an endorsement from Trump.

A deviation from process

Other commenters lambasted lawmakers for deviating from the traditional redistricting process, in which maps are drawn every 10 years after the census and voters are given ample time to provide public input on proposed changes.

“This is horrifying to me,” one comment said. “Redistricting happens every ten years after the census. Republicans know this. I am a registered Republican and as much as I hate the direction Democrats have gone, I will be voting Democrat if this happens. People are rapidly turning and will do the same as me. We know the law. Those who were ignorant to the law are now researching and seeing the laws being broken and are extremely hurt, angry and feel stabbed in the back.”

“You claim to accept public comments, but your actions betray you,” another wrote. “You release maps only at the eleventh hour, you schedule few public hearings, and you rush this process while almost every corner of the state is watching. That is disrespectful, dismissive, and undemocratic.”

One comment said the process “appears to be happening in the shadows, with the intent to rush through changes before voters can react.”

Allegations of racism

Other commenters noted that the redistricting plan primarily affects the 1st Congressional District, located in northeastern North Carolina, home to the state’s historic “Black belt.”

For over 30 years, the 1st district has elected Black members of Congress, including current Democratic Rep. Don Davis. But under the new map, the influence of Black voters is diminished as the 1st district is redrawn to include Republican-leaning counties along the coast.

“This new redistricting plan is intended to further dilute the Black vote in our state, which is racist and immoral,” one comment said. “We need fairly drawn districts to fairly represent all North Carolinians. Districts should not be drawn to benefit one party over another or to curb the voting power of any particular demographic. Proceeding forward with this redistricting plan is deeply undemocratic.”

Another comment called the map a “shameless discriminatory gerrymander, surgically diluting the power of Black voters and cracking communities apart.”

“They packed and cracked the state’s most urban and diverse communities, diminishing the voting power of these areas, despite the fact that they have driven population growth over the past decade,” they continued. “Towns and communities are senselessly split for no other reason than to give politicians an unfair advantage. Counties with vastly different issues and values are now grouped together in far-reaching districts. Residents in Rocky Mount and residents in the Outer Banks face very different problems — how can one lawmaker fairly represent both communities? They won’t.”

Support for independent redistricting

Many comments expressed support for establishing an independent redistricting commission, a process used in several states that is intended to take the politics out of the mapmaking process.

“I urge you to support and advocate for the establishment of an independent redistricting commission and ensure that any future redistricting efforts are guided by fairness, transparency, and the principle of ‘one person, one vote,’” one comment wrote.

North Carolina’s redistricting process has always been carried out by the state legislature, which has frequently been found to have illegally gerrymandered maps under both Republican and Democratic rule.

North Carolina state Sen. Warren Daniel, R-Burke (left and standing), presides over the Senate Committee on Elections while it considers legislation to redraw the state’s U.S. House district map at the Legislative Office Building in Raleigh N.C., Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Gary D. Robertson)

The state constitution also prohibits the governor from vetoing electoral maps, meaning they become law after achieving a simply majority in both chambers of the General Assembly.

“If North Carolina prioritized democracy, federalism, and political fairness, it would overhaul its redistricting process to ensure transparency, equity, and accountability,” another comment said. “First, it should establish an independent redistricting commission to remove partisan influence and draw maps based on nonpartisan criteria like compactness, community integrity, and compliance with the Voting Rights Act. The process should be open to public input, with hearings and online feedback tools… This isn’t a radical process, just a commonsense approach for a good democracy.”

Misguided priorities

Commenters consistently derided lawmakers for focusing on enacting a new congressional map instead of passing a comprehensive state budget.

Republican leaders in the House and Senate have been unable to reach a budget deal since the fiscal year ended over three months ago.

“This is just plain, flat out, despicable and amounts to election theft,” one commenter wrote. “The budget, which was supposed to be passed by July 1, is still not passed and teachers and other state employees have not been given a raise, but you have found time to rig the election for King Trump. You are nothing short of despicable and worthless.”

Lawmakers have passed some smaller spending bills this session, but have failed to enact across-the-board teacher raises or efforts to fund Medicaid.

“For the life of me, I do not understand the priorities of our legislature,” another comment said. “For the last year, I heard you consistently say that Bidenomics destroyed our state and that things were too expensive. So to me, I voted for the party that I believe would help reduce those costs and make things more affordable. But instead of doing that, here we are redrawing a map AGAIN. What are you scared of? If you are doing the right thing, you should not worry about losing power.”

Support for the map

While debating the bill on Wednesday, Democratic Rep. Pricey Harrison said that after reviewing most of the comments, her assistant was able to find only three in support of the map.

Likewise, The N&O found few comments in favor of the map in its review of the data.

“I am in total support of your proposed district changes!” one commenter wrote. “Thank you for your efforts! Now, let’s get it done! Districting should have never been race-based.”

Courts have historically interpreted Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act to require the creation of majority-minority districts in some circumstances. An upcoming case from the U.S. Supreme Court could gut that law, though.

Some comments in favor of the map were more general, such as “proud of you guys” or “Great! Keep going. I agree with the redistricting plan.”

Another commenter wrote that the new map “better reflects the values and voices of the majority of our state.”

“This adjustment would help ensure fair representation, strengthen conservative leadership, and keep North Carolina moving in the right direction,” they continued. “Thank you for standing up for our communities and for your hard work on this issue.”

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