Cole Sands was cruising on Saturday. The Minnesota righty set down the first six Pittsburgh Pirates he faced after starting what would eventually be a 12-4 Twins win, and needed just 19 pitches to do so. Even though Sands was designated in an opener role, did the early success and low pitch count have Twins manager Rocco Baldelli considering giving Sands a third inning of work?
Not a chance.
“He hasn’t thrown, really, more than an inning and two-thirds or two innings is a rarity for him, so no, that wasn’t a consideration,” Baldelli said, looking back on a day that was dominated by Byron Buxton becoming the first player to hit for the cycle at Target Field.
But after a game in which practically no one was focused on the pitching, Baldelli singled out the men on the mound for their success in giving the Twins some momentum headed into the All-Star break.
“We’ve played well in every way. I would say we’ve pitched really well, and I think everything is going to start there, always,” he said. “You’re not going to beat good teams, and you’re not going to play consistently good baseball unless your pitchers are going out there and giving you a great chance.”
Baldelli noted that the Twins have won two bullpen games recently, and specifically praised pitchers like Sands for being willing and happy to take on the opener role, knowing that he was going to have two innings, tops.
“He’s pitched good when we’ve asked him to do it,” Baldelli said. “And I think part of it is the mental side of when you’re told that you’re opening, you’re up for it. You’re not just thinking negatively, because not every pitcher wants to do it.”
OK being overshadowed
With a big crowd on hand for Saturday’s meeting with the Pirates, Twins infielder Kody Clemens had himself a day. Clemens, who came over in a trade from Philadelphia early in the season, went 2-for-4 with his sixth multi-hit effort of the season, and just his second multi-hit game at Target Field.
In the second inning, Clemens brought the big crowd to life by turning the first pitch he faced into a three-run homer – his 12th of the season – to give Minnesota an early 3-0 lead. And on a day where Buxton’s heroics have his batting helmet being shipped to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Clemens’ early offense became an afterthought.
And Clemens was fine with that.
“I’m always down to watch somebody hit for the cycle. That was obviously extremely impressive and fun to be a part of,” said Clemens, who entered Sunday’s game after putting up a .308 batting average with five homers in his previous eight Twins home games. “(Buxton is) just so impressive to watch. He’s so dangerous when he gets in the box and he has a plan. And when he gets his pitch, he’s gonna do damage.”
Smoke not a factor
Soccer pictures for Baldelli’s young daughter were cancelled on Saturday due to the persistent smoke from Canadian wildfires drifting into Minnesota, which had some folks in the Twin Cities wearing facemasks to filter the unhealthy air.
The manager said it was maybe because they’re so focused on what’s happening on the field, but he and the players did not take note of the haze until they were done with work on Saturday.
“Mostly when I got out of the stadium is when I felt it, more than in the stadium,” he said, noting that none of the players or trainers expressed any concern or performance issues from the smoke.
Related Articles
Making a splash: Byron Buxton hits for cycle in Twins’ win against Pirates
Why the Twins nearly had to pull Joe Ryan after one inning Friday
Joe Ryan survives early struggles as Twins beat Pirates ace Paul Skenes
Baldelli says marquee pitching duel is “must-see TV”
Twins prep for all scenarios ahead of Sunday’s first round of the MLB Draft
Minnesota United are negotiating the moves of two players to St. Louis City, the Pioneer Press confirmed Sunday.
GiveMeSport said winger/wingback Sang Bin Jeong is expected to leave on a permanent move to St. Louis, in exchange for an undisclosed amount of cash, while defender Devin Padelford will head out to the Western Conference foe on a loan.
A source emphasized to the Pioneer Press emphasized that the deals were not final.
Neither player were on the 20-man team for MNUFC’s 4-1 win over San Jose at Allianz Field on Saturday and this move appears to be groundwork transactions heading into the summer transfer window, which opens July 24.
Jeong, a 23-year-old South Korean who recently acquired his U.S. Green Card, has struggled in front of goal this season. He hasn’t gotten on the scoresheet in 319 MLS minutes this year; he started but was mostly ineffectual in 45 minutes during the Loons’ 3-1 win over Chicago in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday.
Jeong was linked in a move to Malmo, but reports had the Swedish club declining United’s $2 million transfer fee. The fast winger also drew interest from at least one MLS club in the Eastern Conference earlier this year.
In his first season after a transfer from Grasshopper in Switzerland in 2023, Jeong had two goal contributions (one goal, one assist) in 962 minutes for Minnesota. He more productive in 2024 with six goals and one assist in 2,171 minutes last season.
Jeong has bounced between wingback and his preferred position of forward during his last two years in Minnesota and that factored into his inconsistency.
Padelford, a homegrown player from Maplewood, has struggled to crack the first team this year.
The 22-year-old received 1,589 minutes a year ago, but in a switch from left wingback to center back, he has found himself buried on the depth chart in 2025 and has played only 105 minutes across four matches this season.
The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs announced the appointment of Dr. Sean Ercan-Fang as chief medical officer. Ercan-Fang most recently practiced at the Minneapolis VA Healthcare System serving as a staff physician in the Extended Care and Rehabilitation Department.
EDUCATION
Junior Achievement announced that two teams of teen entrepreneurs from Minnesota high schools will compete in Atlanta for the title of Junior Achievement Company of the Year against other student-run business: Green Garden Bakery, a maker of vegetable-based desserts, was created by a group from various north Minneapolis high schools through the nonprofit Urban Strategies; and EARTHA, which creates fashion accessories from recycled glass beads, was started by a team of female entrepreneurs from Mounds View High School. … The Goddard School, a national early childhood education franchise, announced plans to open a campus at 2364 Valleyhigh Drive NW, Rochester, in September; the franchise owner is Callie Voelz.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
TopLine Financial Credit Union, Maple Grove, announced the opening of a branch at 7015 Alvarado Lane North, Maple Grove. … Holmes Murphy, an Iowa-based insurance brokerage, announced the following shareholder additions in Minneapolis: Abby Zipoy, Annie Bushey, Erin Velo, Michael Roane, Nathan Cassin and Nick Karls. … Merrill Lynch Wealth Management announced that Minnetonka-based financial adviser Krystal Julius was named to Forbes‘ 2025 “Top Women Wealth Advisors”, Forbes’ 2025 “Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State”, Barron’s “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors”, and Financial Planning’s “Top 40 Brokers Under 40” lists.
HEALTH CARE
Health insurer UnitedHealth Group, Eden Prairie, has promoted Mike Cotton to lead the company’s Medicaid insurance segment; Bobby Hunter, head of the Medicare insurance division, will take on an expanded role as chief executive officer of government programs, overseeing both Medicaid and Medicare. In UnitedHealth’s Optum unit, Dhivya Suryadevara, a former chief financial officer at General Motors, becomes CEO of Optum Insight, and Roger Connor, who previously held that role, is now CFO of the broader Optum division. The changes were reported by Bloomberg News. … MNsure, the Minnesota state health insurance exchange, announced the appointment of Yusra Arab to its board of directors and the reappointment of Dr. Daniel Trajano to a second term. Arab previously served as a policy aide for the Minneapolis City Council. Additionally, the board elected David Fisher as chair and Trajano vice chair.
LAW
Janet Dorr has been elected secretary/treasurer of the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Section. Dorr is a shareholder at Fredrikson, Minneapolis, which announced the election.
MEDIA
Minnesota Public Radio, St. Paul, announced two additions to its board of trustees: Sarah Karon, board president of the Library Foundation for Sarasota County, Fla., and District 5 Town Commissioner in Longboat Key Fla.; and Brian Harrison, political scientist and author, who most recently taught at the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
NONPROFITS
Old School by Steeple People, a thrift store, announced that it will take over the former Huge Improv Theater/Art Materials space at 2728 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis, with an expected opening date of July 18. … Project for Pride in Living, a Minneapolis-based affordable-housing and employment services provider, announced Pauleen Le has joined as the director of communications and marketing. Le most recently was a news anchor and reporter at WCCO-TV.
REAL ESTATE
HomeServices of America, a Minneapolis-based Berkshire Hathaway franchised real estate agency, announced the appointment of Renee Gonzales as vice president-core services integrations, a newly created role. Gonzales will remain as CEO of Long Realty, Tucson, Ariz.
UTILITIES
Xcel Energy, Minneapolis, announced the appointment of Ryan Long as executive vice president and chief legal and compliance officer, succeeding Rob Berntsen. Long will continue is his current role as president of Xcel Energy – Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Long previously served as interim general counsel in late 2023 and early 2024.
Related Articles
Ramsey County hires new human resources chief
Business People: New Brighton Mayor Kari Niedfeldt-Thomas to lead regional BBB
Business people: Jenna Ray named to lead GiveMN
Business People: Dunn Brothers Coffee names Benjamin Anderson president
Business People: Suresh Krishna takes over as CEO at Proto Labs
LOS ANGELES — Inside a bright new building in the heart of Skid Row, homeless people hung out in a canopy-covered courtyard — some waiting to take a shower, do laundry, or get medication for addiction treatment. Others relaxed on shaded grass and charged their phones as an intake line for housing grew more crowded.
The Skid Row Care Campus officially opened this spring with ample offerings for people living on the streets of this historically downtrodden neighborhood. Pop-up fruit stands and tent encampments lined the sidewalks, as well as dealers peddling meth and fentanyl in open-air drug markets. Some people, sick or strung out, were passed out on sidewalks as pedestrians strolled by on a recent afternoon.
For those working toward sobriety, clinicians are on site to offer mental health and addiction treatment. Skid Row’s first methadone clinic is set to open here this year. For those not ready to quit drugs or alcohol, the campus provides clean syringes to more safely shoot up, glass pipes for smoking drugs, naloxone to prevent overdoses, and drug test strips to detect fentanyl contamination, among other supplies.
As many Americans have grown increasingly intolerant of street homelessness, cities and states have returned to tough-on-crime approaches that penalize people for living outside and for substance use disorders. But the Skid Row facility shows Los Angeles County leaders’ embrace of the principle of harm reduction, a range of more lenient strategies that can include helping people more safely use drugs, as they contend with a homeless population estimated around 75,000 — among the largest of any county in the nation. Evidence shows the approach can help individuals enter treatment, gain sobriety, and end their homelessness, while addiction experts and county health officials note it has the added benefit of improving public health.
“We get a really bad rap for this, but this is the safest way to use drugs,” said Darren Willett, director of the Center for Harm Reduction on the new Skid Row Care Campus. “It’s an overdose prevention strategy, and it prevents the spread of infectious disease.”
Despite a decline in overdose deaths, drug and alcohol use continues to be the leading cause of death among homeless people in the county. Living on the streets or in sordid encampments, homeless people saddle the health care system with high costs from uncompensated care, emergency room trips, inpatient hospitalizations, and, for many of them, their deaths. Harm reduction, its advocates say, allows homeless people the opportunity to obtain jobs, taxpayer-subsidized housing, health care, and other social services without being forced to give up drugs. Yet it’s hotly debated.
Politicians around the country, including Gov. Gavin Newsom in California, are reluctant to adopt harm reduction techniques, such as needle exchanges or supervised places to use drugs, in part because they can be seen by the public as condoning illicit behavior. Although Democrats are more supportive than Republicans, a national poll this year found lukewarm support across the political spectrum for such interventions.
Los Angeles is defying President Donald Trump’s agenda as he advocates for forced mental health and addiction treatment for homeless people — and locking up those who refuse. The city has also been the scene of large protests against Trump’s immigration crackdown, which the president has fought by deploying National Guard troops and Marines.
Trump’s most detailed remarks on homelessness and substance use disorder came during his campaign, when he attacked people who use drugs as criminals and said that homeless people “have no right to turn every park and sidewalk into a place for them to squat and do drugs.” Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reinforced Trump’s focus on treatment.
“Secretary Kennedy stands with President Trump in prioritizing recovery-focused solutions to address addiction and homelessness,” said agency spokesperson Vianca Rodriguez Feliciano. “HHS remains focused on helping individuals recover, communities heal, and help make our cities clean, safe, and healthy once again.”
A comprehensive report led by Margot Kushel, a professor of medicine at the University of California-San Francisco, this year found that nearly half of California’s homeless population had a complex behavioral health need, defined as regular drug use, heavy drinking, hallucinations, or a recent psychiatric hospitalization.
The chaos of living outside, she said — marked by violence, sexual assault, sleeplessness, and lack of housing and health care — can make it nearly impossible to get sober.
An unresponsive woman lies sprawled out on a sidewalk on Skid Row in Los Angeles on an afternoon in late May. (Angela Hart/KFF Health News/TNS)
Skid Row Care Campus
The new care campus is funded by about $26 million a year in local, state, and federal homelessness and health care money, and initial construction was completed by a Skid Row landlord, Matt Lee, who made site improvements on his own, according to Anna Gorman, chief operating officer for community programs at the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Operators say the campus should be able to withstand potential federal spending cuts because it is funded through a variety of sources.
Glass front doors lead to an atrium inside the yellow-and-orange complex. It was designed with input from homeless people, who advised the county not just on the layout but also on the services offered on-site. There are 22 recovery beds and 48 additional beds for mostly older homeless people, arts and wellness programs, a food pantry, and pet care. Even bunnies and snakes are allowed.
John Wright, who goes by the nickname“ Slim,” works as a harm reduction specialist at the new Skid Row Care Campus, a center that provides both harm reduction services and treatment for mental illness and substance use disorder. (Angela Hart/KFF Health News/TNS)
John Wright, 65, who goes by the nickname Slim, mingled with homeless visitors one afternoon in May, asking them what they needed to be safe and comfortable.
“Everyone thinks we’re criminals, like we’re out robbing everyone, but we aren’t,” said Wright, who is employed as a harm reduction specialist on the campus and is trying, at his own pace, to stop using fentanyl. “I’m homeless and I’m a drug addict, but I’m on methadone now so I’m working on it,” he said.
Nearby on Skid Row, Anthony Willis rested in his wheelchair while taking a toke from a crack pipe. He’d just learned about the new care campus, he said, explaining that he was homeless for roughly 20 years before getting into a taxpayer-subsidized apartment on Skid Row. He spends most of his days and nights on the streets, using drugs and alcohol.
The drugs, he said, help him stay awake so he can provide companionship and sometimes physical protection for homeless friends who don’t have housing. “It’s tough sometimes living down here; it’s pretty much why I keep relapsing,” said Willis, who at age 62 has asthma and arthritic knees. “But it’s also my community.”
Anthony Willis, who has an apartment on Skid Row, spends most of his time on the streets. (Angela Hart/KFF Health News/TNS)
Willis said the care campus could be a place to help him kick drugs, but he wasn’t sure he was ready.
Research shows harm reduction helps prevent death and can build long-term recovery for people who use substances, said Brian Hurley, an addiction psychiatrist and the medical director for the Bureau of Substance Abuse Prevention and Control at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The techniques allow health care providers and social service workers to meet people when they’re ready to stop using drugs or enter treatment.
“Recovery is a learning activity, and the reality is relapse is part of recovery,” he said. “People go back and forth and sometimes get triggered or haven’t figured out how to cope with a stressor.”
Swaying Public Opinion
Under harm reduction principles, officials acknowledge that people will use drugs. Funded by taxpayers, the government provides services to use safely, rather than forcing people to quit or requiring abstinence in exchange for government-subsidized housing and treatment programs.
Los Angeles County is spending hundreds of millions to combat homelessness, while also launching a multiyear “By LA for LA” campaign to build public support, fight stigma, and encourage people to use services and seek treatment. Officials have hired a nonprofit, Vital Strategies, to conduct the campaign including social media advertising and billboards to promote the expansion of both treatment and harm reduction services for people who use drugs.
The organization led a national harm reduction campaign and is working on overdose prevention and public health campaigns in seven states using roughly $70 million donated by Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York.
Related Articles
Rice Street clinic celebrates 100 years
Workplace mental health at risk as key federal agency faces cuts
Making healthy snacks a habit when afternoon energy slumps strike at work
Strike to end Saturday for health care workers at Stillwater clinic; issues not resolved
Ramsey County investigating alleged role of 2 directors in hotel business caring for homeless
“We don’t believe people should die just because they use drugs, so we’re going to provide support any way that we can,” said Shoshanna Scholar, director of harm reduction at the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. “Eventually, some people may come in for treatment but what we really want is to prevent overdose and save lives.”
Los Angeles also finds itself at odds with California’s Democratic governor. Newsom has spearheaded stricter laws targeting homelessness and addiction and has backed treatment requirements for people with mental illness or who use drugs. Last year, California voters approved Proposition 36, which allows felony charges for some drug crimes, requires courts to warn people they could be charged with murder for selling or providing illegal drugs that kill someone, and makes it easier to order treatment for people who use drugs.
Even San Francisco approved a measure last year that requires welfare recipients to participate in treatment to continue receiving cash aid. Mayor Daniel Lurie recently ordered city officials to stop handing out free drug supplies, including pipes and foil, and instead to require participation in drug treatment to receive services. Lurie signed a recovery-first ordinance, which prioritizes “long-term remission” from substance use, and the city is also expanding policing while funding new sober-living sites and treatment centers for people recovering from addiction.
Cindy Ashley recovers from surgery on her hand and arm on Skid Row on an afternoon in late May. (Angela Hart/KFF Health News/TNS)
Cindy Ashley recovers from surgery on her hand and arm on Skid Row on an afternoon in late May. (Angela Hart/KFF Health News/TNS)
1 of 2
Cindy Ashley recovers from surgery on her hand and arm on Skid Row on an afternoon in late May. (Angela Hart/KFF Health News/TNS)
State Sen. Roger Niello, a Republican who represents conservative suburbs outside Sacramento, says the state needs to improve the lives of homeless people through stricter drug policies. He argues that providing drug supplies or offering housing without a mandate to enter treatment enables homeless people to remain on the streets.
Proposition 36, he said, needs to be implemented forcefully, and homeless people should be required to enter treatment in exchange for housing.
“I think of it as tough love,” Niello said. “What Los Angeles is doing, I would call it harm encouragement. They’re encouraging harm by continuing to feed a habit that is, quite frankly, killing people.”
Keith Humphreys, who worked in the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations and pioneered harm reduction practices across the nation, said that communities should find a balance between leniency and law enforcement.
“Parents need to be able to walk their kids to the park without being traumatized. You should be able to own a business without being robbed,” he said. “Harm reduction and treatment both have a place, and we also need prevention and a focus on public safety.”
Just outside the Skid Row Care Campus, Cindy Ashley organized her belongings in a cart after recently leaving a local hospital ER for a deep skin infection on her hand and arm caused by shooting heroin. She also regularly smokes crack, she said.
She was frantically searching for a home so she could heal from two surgeries for the infection. She learned about the new care campus and rushed over to get her name on the waiting list for housing.
“I’m not going to make it out here,” she said, in tears.
