Tick-borne disease law: U.S. Sen. Tina Smith’s Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act is now law, aiming to expand research, testing, and treatment for Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses—an issue Minnesota faces as reported Lyme cases reached 3,551 in 2024. Public health alert: Fillmore County confirmed three measles cases, all linked and unvaccinated, with officials warning more cases could surface soon. Care access & costs: A new discussion highlights how rural hospital closures and consolidation can drive up prices and affect access and quality of care. Health tech & trials: Nucleus Network rolled out an AI agent to pre-screen clinical trial volunteers 24/7, with Minneapolis clinics among its sites. Workforce stability: Mission Health Communities became 100% employee-owned through an ESOP, shifting ownership to an employee trust while keeping focus on senior care. Medicaid fraud: A Minnesota man was indicted in the Feeding Our Future scheme, accused of inflating meal counts and using funds for personal purchases. Cancer drug decision gap: A report warns that fast oncology approvals moving treatments earlier can leave clinicians with unclear next steps when first-line options fail. Food safety: PepsiCo recalled about 122,000 cases of 28-ounce Gatorade in multiple states due to missing yellow dye labeling. Mental health: Duluth held its first Out of the Darkness Walk, raising funds for suicide prevention programs across Minnesota.