Union employees at Stillwater Medical Group voted Monday to ratify an agreement with HealthPartners, just a week after voting to authorize another unfair labor practices strike.

Ninety-five percent of the members of SEIU Healthcare MN & IA, which consists of more than 80 workers including licensed practical nurses, certified medical assistants and other service-unit health care positions in the family medicine, OB/GYN, pediatrics and specialties departments at the clinic, voted to ratify the agreement. SEIC officials said the new agreement includes 10.5% raises over the three-year life of the contract, the largest across-the-board wage increase the group has ever won; increases in longevity bonuses; increased differentials when members pick up open shifts; and new nondiscrimination language.

In July, the workers went on strike for four days.

“We are proud of today’s vote that ratifies our new contract,” said Ellie Conway, a certified medical assistant and member of the SEIU bargaining team at Stillwater Medical Group. “Because we stuck together and showed our collective power, we were able to win real gains that will benefit both ourselves and our patients. As we look forward, we know that we still have more work to do and will begin right away to build towards our next contract fight to be ready to win even more.”

A spokesman for HealthPartners said last week that the company was “pleased to have reached a fair and financially responsible resolution. We value our SEIU-represented colleagues and their commitment to our patients.”

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The smile said everything that needed to be said.

Asked before the exhibition game against the Houston Texans if he was looking forward to playing against somebody else, quarterback J.J. McCarthy flashed a grin, then replied, “I’m very excited to play against another defense.”

There seemed to be some solace from McCarthy knowing he’d be able to walk up to the line of scrimmage and not be faced with the shapeshifting group of defenders that defensive coordinator Brian Flores deploys seemingly without rhyme or reason.

It’s something safety Josh Metellus certainly took note of while watching McCarthy perform under center over the weekend.

“It probably felt weird for him to see guys just sitting there,” Metellus said. “There’s nobody flying around before the snap and stuff like that.”

All of it is by design to make sure McCarthy is ready to lead the Vikings moving forward.

“It gets crazy out here when we’re trying to put in new stuff,” Metellus said. “He has been handling it really well while still focusing on everything he needs to do to get better.”

Here are more takeaways from Day 13 of training camp:

How is McCarthy?

It wasn’t the most intense workload on Monday afternoon at TCO Performance Center. That said, McCarthy still managed to get better, putting together a practice devoid of any notable errors.

There was a simple check down to running back Aaron Jones out of the backfield that displayed his willingness to exhaust his progression. There was a dart to tight end T.J. Hockenson in the middle of the field that showed his ability to operate in the rhythm and timing of the play call. There was a bullet to receiver Jordan Addison on the sideline that showcased his arm strength.

All of it led up to the final play of the practice, when McCarthy found receiver Jalen Nailor for a touchdown in the low red zone. That capped a very efficient performance from McCarthy and the starters on offense.

Who stood out?

The best throw of practice without a doubt belonged to rookie quarterback Max Brosmer. He connected on a 40-yard deep pass to receiver Tim Jones, dropping it into a bucket over cornerback Isaiah Rodgers.

That highlight from Brosmer helped make up for the fact that he fumbled an exchange with reserve center Vershon Lee, then nearly threw an interception to linebacker Blake Cashman.

It should also be noted that backup quarterback Sam Howell parlayed a nice outing in the game against the Texans into a very good showing in practice. Maybe he has turned a corner as he continues to get acclimated to what the Vikings are asking of him.

Quote of the day

“Just going head to head with another football team really puts us in position to find out who we are and what we’re about. It’s fun to come out and see a different face across the ball. I think everybody out here is excited for it.”

— Hockenson, on the Vikings getting to hit somebody else with the New England Patriots coming to town for joint practices

Injury report

Nothing too notable on the injury front in practice. The biggest headline was that edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel was spotted on the sideline in street clothes. There was no update on receiver Rondale Moore after he suffered what seemed to be a serious injury over the weekend.

What’s next?

After the Vikings get some more rest on Tuesday, the joint practices with the Patriots will start Wednesday.

Houston Texans defensive end Casey Toohill (94) blocks a pass from Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Monday that he has nominated E.J. Antoni, chief economist at the conservative Heritage Foundation, to head the agency that compiles and publishes the nation’s employment and inflation figures.

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“Our Economy is booming, and E.J. will ensure that the Numbers released are HONEST and ACCURATE,” Trump said on social media late Monday.

Antoni, if approved by the Senate, would replace Erika McEntarfer, who was appointed commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics by former President Joe Biden. Trump fired McEntarfer Aug. 1 after the July jobs report showed hiring slowed sharply this spring, with job gains in May and June revised much lower than initially estimated.

Trump accused McEntarfer, without evidence, of rigging the jobs data for political reasons.

The announcement comes one day before the BLS is scheduled to release the latest inflation data, for July. It is forecast to show that consumer prices rose for the third straight month as tariffs are pushing up the cost of many imported goods.

Associated Press writer Josh Boak contributed to this report.

By EDITH M. LEDERER

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States and China clashed over the Panama Canal at the United Nations on Monday, with the U.S. warning that Beijing’s influence over the key waterway could threaten global trade and security and China calling U.S. accusations a pretext to take over the canal.

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The clash took place at a U.N. Security Council meeting where Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino stressed the neutrality of the canal and his country’s ownership of the waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Panama holds the council presidency this month, and Mulino was chairing a meeting on challenges to maritime security. Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza told members these include piracy, armed robbery, transnational crime and cyber criminals weaponizing artificial intelligence to attack ports where there is “minimal cyber security, maximum exposure.”

U.S. President Donald Trump thrust Panama into the spotlight even before winning election last November by suggesting that his country should consider retaking control of the Panama Canal and accusing Panama of ceding influence to China.

The U.S. built the canal in the early 1900s as it looked for ways to facilitate the transit of commercial and military vessels between its coasts. Control of the waterway transferred to Panama in 1999 under a treaty signed in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter.

China’s U.N. Ambassador Fu Cong emphasized to the council that “Panama has consistently and effectively managed the canal, making significant contributions to global shipping and trade.”

“China has always respected the permanent neutrality of the canal and firmly supports Panama in safeguarding its sovereignty over the canal to ensure its openness and smooth operation,” he said.

Acting U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea, who spoke afterward, went after China, expressing concern about its “outsized influence over the Panama Canal area, especially over critical infrastructure and port operations.”

Alluding to its claims in the South China Sea, she said, “China’s expansive and unlawful maritime claims and aggressive actions demonstrate its threat to maritime security and commerce.” She said the U.S. rejects these claims and supports countries opposing them.

“China’s influence in the canal area is not just a risk to Panama and the United States, but rather a potential threat to global trade and security,” Shea said.

The Trump administration has pressured China to have the Hong Kong-based operator of ports at either end of the canal sell those interests to a U.S. consortium that includes BlackRock Inc.

Panama has vehemently rejected a takeover of the canal, but in April, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Panama and agreed with Mulino to step up security coordination. The agreement also gives U.S. troops access to strategic air and naval facilities in the Central American nation, which sparked large protests in Panama’s capital.

China’s Fu asked for the floor to respond to Shea’s accusations after all council members spoke, this time lashing out at the Trump administration.

“The United States’ fabrication of lies and groundless attacks against China are nothing but a pretext for seeking control of the canal,” he said.

The Chinese envoy called the U.S. and its deployment of offensive weapons in the South China Sea area “the biggest disrupter of peace and stability” in the region, and he accused the administration of exacerbating risks to global maritime security.

“China firmly opposes economic coercion and bullying practices and urges the United States to stop fabricating rumors, lies and creating trouble,” Fu said.

Murillo then responded, saying he wanted to stress Panama’s sovereignty “in terms of the ownership of the canal” and the multilateral treaty governing its administration. He called the canal’s neutrality “the only and the best defense” to any specific or global threats.