The Gophers football program declined to host a spring game to conclude practices this month, so there is no formal bow to put on how the 2024 team is beginning to take shape. Head coach P.J. Fleck said last month the decision to forego the glorified, open-to-the-public scrimmage came down to a rash of cancelations and location changes that the U had to deal with in recent years. Fleck also acknowledged a desire to keep new personnel and schematic changes to his team under wraps — primarily new quarterback Max Brosmer, possible wrinkles to the passing game and what new defensive coordinator Co ..read more

The first of two men convicted in the murder of 22-year-old Alex Becker, who was shot as he returned to his St. Paul home from work, received a 30-year sentence Friday. Jurors convicted Detwan Cortell Allen, now 20, of St. Paul, in December of aiding and abetting second-degree intentional murder in the killing of Becker. Prosecutors argued he was ambushed in an apparent attempted robbery by Allen and two accomplices. Alex Becker (Courtesy of Hidy Hammarsten) The prosecution had argued for the maximum sentence allowed under state sentencing guidelines, 367 months, which is what Judge Paul Yang ..read more

By ELLEN KNICKMEYER, FARNOUSH AMIRI and MATTHEW LEE (Associated Press) WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. has determined that an Israeli military unit committed gross human-rights abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank before the war in Gaza began, but it will hold off on any decision about aid to the battalion while it reviews new information provided by Israel, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson. The undated letter, obtained by The Associated Press on Friday, defers a decision on whether to impose a first-ever block on U.S. aid to an Israeli milita ..read more

By RYAN J. FOLEY, CARLA K. JOHNSON and SHELBY LUM (Associated Press) Demetrio Jackson was desperate for medical help when the paramedics arrived. The 43-year-old was surrounded by police who arrested him after responding to a trespassing call in a Wisconsin parking lot. Officers had shocked him with a Taser and pinned him as he pleaded that he couldn’t breathe. Now he sat on the ground with hands cuffed behind his back and took in oxygen through a mask. Then, officers moved Jackson to his side so a medic could inject him with a potent knockout drug. “It’s just going to calm you down,” an offic ..read more

Minnesota United vs. Sporting Kansas City When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday Where: Allianz Field Stream: Apple TV Season Pass Radio: KSTP-AM 1500 ESPN Weather: 59 degrees, cloudy, 8 mph south wind Betting line: MNUFC plus-100; draw plus-250; SKC plus-250 Series history: While nicknamed the “nicest rivalry,” Kansas City has dominated it with 11 wins or four draws in all 20 MLS matchups since 2017,  including a plus-16 goal differential. Sporting won all three games last season by a combined 7-1 scoreline. Form: MNUFC (4-2-2, 14 points) ended a three-game winless spell with an emphatic 3-0 road win ..read more

By MICHAEL R. SISAK, JENNIFER PELTZ, JAKE OFFENHARTZ and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER (Associated Press) NEW YORK (AP) — After prosecutors’ lead witness painted a tawdry portrait of “catch-and-kill” tabloid schemes, defense lawyers in Donald Trump’s criminal trial on Friday sought to dig into an account of the former publisher of the National Enquirer and his efforts to protect Trump from negative stories during the 2016 election. David Pecker returned to the witness stand for the fourth day as defense attorneys try to poke holes in his testimony after he described helping bury embarrassing stories th ..read more

By Melissa Lambarena | NerdWallet Taking that much needed vacation while on a debt payoff journey may seem impossible, but it doesn’t have to be. By planning a vacation that suits your budget and keeps goals on track, you can transport yourself somewhere new and recharge. Related Articles Business | Retirement could come sooner than you think — how to plan for it Business | Survey: More than 1 in 3 American travelers plan to go into debt for their summer vacations this year Business | Is financial trauma holding you back from living your best life? Business | How couples can share the men ..read more

Cinematic memoir can be a complex creative endeavor. Film is a collaborative medium, and memoir requires a certain acknowledgement of the author’s creation. Without that self-reflection, memoir can slip into murky, confusing territory. This space is where the new film “Unsung Hero” exists, which is billed as “A For King + Country Film.” If you’re not yet aware of the Grammy winning Christian pop duo For King + Country, comprised of brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone, “Unsung Hero” will introduce you to their folksy family lore, if not their musical successes. The film is a biographical drama abo ..read more

The outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza among U.S. dairy cows, first reported on March 25, has now spread to at least 33 herds in eight states. On Wednesday, genetic evidence of the virus turned up in commercially available milk. Federal authorities say the milk supply is safe, but this latest development raises troubling questions about how widespread the outbreak really is. So far there is only one confirmed human case. Rick Bright, an expert on the H5N1 virus who served on President Joe Biden’s coronavirus advisory board, told me this is the crucial moment. “There’s a fine line between one per ..read more

This month, 21 current and former Major League Baseball players invested their own money in youth baseball. If that sounds like a feel-good story in which baseball’s past paves the way for baseball’s future, think again. The MLB team invested in Perfect Game, a company that holds pricey tournaments and prospect showcases for college and professional scouts. But those events aren’t for everyone. For example, at a recent weekend tournament for Houston-area 8-year-olds, the company charged a $750 entry fee. Can’t pay? Find somewhere else to play. And good luck with that because free or cheaper op ..read more