Worker shortage? The Star Tribune’s Dee DePass reports: “Minnesota factory officials — especially those in rural areas — say severe worker shortages are increasingly impeding their growth and profits. … Nearly 50% of factory managers survey in March by Enterprise Minnesota said their inability to find qualified workers had hurt growth. That’s up 14 percentage points from 2017, according to the survey results released Tuesday.”

Guilty plea in Mall of America attack. MPR’s Tim Nelson reports: “A man who reportedly told investigators that he went to the Mall of America ‘looking for someone to kill’ pleaded guilty Tuesday to throwing a 5-year-old boy from a third-floor balcony and faces 19 years in prison.”

Lots of demand for services for homeless youth. The Pioneer Press’ Mary Divine reports: “When you’re homeless, it can be hard to keep up with personal hygiene. … That’s why Bryan Gallichant picked up a trial-size package of Right Guard Sport deodorant when he stopped by the Youth Connections drop-in homeless center in Stillwater last week. … The center, which is open to people aged 18 to 24, recently expanded to two days a week; it is open from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays. A second location is planned for Cottage Grove.”

In other news…

Bullish on re-election chances? “Another deal for Walz to strike? His Mankato house is for sale” [MPR]

To note: “KSTP traffic round-up: I-94 closure in Minneapolis rescheduled for Wednesday” [KSTP]

Heroes: “Thanks to U of M, gaseous sea turtle can dive again” [KARE]

One of the risks of homemade explosives: “Man blows hand off; is in serious condition” [Duluth News Tribune]

Capitol negotiations press stakeout has reached silly season:

By special request and with lots of millennial help from ⁦@bbierschbach⁩ #mnleg pic.twitter.com/66n8DAfLQY

— Brian Bakst (@Stowydad) May 14, 2019