⌛ HCMC in race against time

HCMC in a race against time

Hennepin County Medical Center is shifting leadership as the hospital faces potential closure. On Tuesday, the hospital board swapped in a new CEO – Dr. John Cumming. The previous administrator stepped down over concerns of “micromanagement.” Dr. Cumming was previously a Hennepin Healthcare trauma surgeon and interim CEO. On today’s show, we talked about how the hospital got into this “redline territory.” [🎧 City Cast Twin Cities / Star Tribune]

• “Minnesota’s safety net”: HCMC is the state’s busiest Level 1 trauma center, which handles complex and severe injuries. It also accepts patients regardless of their ability to pay. The hospital is in the hole for $50 million and facing $1.7 billion in losses over the next decade. If HCMC doesn’t get the funding, it could close in June. The legislative proposal is to repurpose the tax used to pay off the Twins stadium for the hospital. [MinnPost]
• Other hospital: This interesting column by policy researcher Alec Williams contrasts HCMC’s safety-net policy with Mayo Clinic’s patient selectivity. The Minnesota Attorney General’s investigation found that the hospital discouraged some patients from accessing charity care and engaged in "aggressive" debt collection. Mayo did invest significantly more in financial assistance after the investigation. [Minnesota Reformer]

Fine dining: Michelin is releasing a dining guide to the “American Great Lakes Region,” including Minneapolis. It’s a sign we’re getting international recognition from the high-brow culinary world. However, food critic and City Cast contributor Kirstie Kimball worries this will lead to skyrocketing prices and less accessibility. “Our history is not, and I hope it never will be, that our best restaurants are tasting menus with pomp and circumstance,” she writes. [Star Tribune / beyond beurre blanc]

Restaurant reno: Beloved Hmong restaurant Diane’s Place is getting bigger! They’re adding two private dining rooms and a grab-and-go cafe for the patio. All in all, the restaurant will be able to seat about 100 people indoors. [MSP Mag]

Scooter safety: Parents who lost their 14-year-old daughter to an e-scooter accident are urging people to wear helmets while riding a scooter or e-bike. On Tuesday, the parents of Stella Michels joined local doctors to warn riders ahead of the warmer season. Regions Hospital reported a “sharp and alarming” rise in e-scooter and e-bike injuries. [Pioneer Press]

“No requests”: Ja'mon Kimbrough, a.k.a. Aries Firebomb, posted on social media last year about his experience DJing at the Saloon. Kimbrough filed discrimination charges against the club, alleging that he faced racist behavior from patrons and retaliation from management when he brought it up. The Minnesota Department of Human Rights took up the case and served charges to AMPA Inc., which runs the Saloon. [Racket]

State Fair musical: The Children’s Theatre’s upcoming season includes a musical about the State Fair butter sculpture “Princess Kay of the Milky Way.” Get immersed in Midwest staples like butter and 4H. The line-up also includes musicals “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” and “School of Rock.” [Bring Me The News]

Thursday, April 9

• 🪩 Club Science | Science Museum of Minnesota
• 🆓 Art Club: Mini Felted Balls | Art Lab, Walker Art Center
• 🍻 Spring Fest 2026 | La Doña Cervecería
• 🆓 Wooden Boatbuilding Workshop | Sheer Craft
• 🆓 Misty L. Heggeness presents Swiftynomics | Magers & Quinn
• 🎤 Gifted Handz | Berlin
• 🎼 Damn Tall Buildings | The Parkway Theater
• 🌮 Save Mercado Central | Mercado Central

Friday, April 10

• 🎨 St. Paul Art Crawl | St. Paul Wards 1,3,4
• 🍴 West Bank Food & Culture Talks | Tamu Grill
• 🆓 Uŋči Said So Opening Reception | All My Relations Arts
• 🎭 Manners & Misconduct: Improvised Jane Austen | Bryant Lake Bowl
• 🧑‍⚖️ LAW & ORDER: The Unscripted Parody | Strike Theater
• 🎼 Happy Birthday, Merle Haggard! | Crooners
• 💃 Call of the Loon | Tapestry Folkdance Center
• 🎨 Art by MPLS Youth Affected by the ICE Occupation | May Day Cafe

• Executive Director at People Reaching Out to People (PROP) | $125k – $145k per year
• Director of External Relations at Children's Theatre Company | $130k – $150k per year
• Grants Manager at Minnesota Museum of American Art | $50k – $60k per year
• Metro Move Program Manager at Metropolitan Council | $96k – $155k per year
• Company Artist Assistant Director at Minnesota Opera | $44k per year (FT Seasonal)