Smoke, Sweat, and a Shot at the Western Conference Finals 🐺

This week’s edition covers stories 
from May 8th to May 14th, 2025.
Today’s issue is 714 words, a 7-minute read.

Hey folks, Mateo here.

Massive wildfires in northeastern Minnesota have burned through tens of thousands of acres, destroyed homes, and pushed communities to the brink. With containment still at zero, crews are relying on community support and the promise of rain to bring some relief. Meanwhile, in lighter news, the Timberwolves are heading to the Western Conference Finals for the second consecutive year after a thrilling win at home last night. And in downtown Minneapolis, Katy Perry fans endured a scorching and chaotic delay before finally getting inside the Target Center. Here’s what we’re following this week:

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Minnesota Wildfires Burn Over

37,000 Acres, Evacuations

Continue

Wildfires continue to burn out of control in northeastern Minnesota, with more than 37,000 acres scorched and at least 140 structures destroyed. The Camp House and Jenkins Creek fires (now referred to as the “Brimson complex) along with the Munger Shaw fire, remain at zero percent containment. Evacuation orders are in effect for over 100 homes, and additional federal aid, including the National Guard and a federal incident management team, is being deployed. Firefighters are struggling with the extreme heat, wind, and dense, dead trees acting as fuel. Despite the destruction, communities are rallying: local bars like Hugo’s in Brimson have become donation hubs for evacuees and crews. Rain is forecast later in the week, which could help slow the fires.

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History, Healing, and Hope in The Chrysalis

The Chrysalis (La Crisálida), making its debut at Mixed Blood Theater later this month, is a powerful new play by Dr. Miguel Fiol, a U of MN neurologist and professor whose humanitarian work speaks volumes both on and off the stage. Set in 1990s Puerto Rico, this family drama explores what it means to stand up for truth, dignity, and each other in the face of political and personal pressures. When 21-year-old Raul turns to his late grandparents for guidance, he sets off a chain of events that force his family to confront secrets, silence, and the courage it takes to transform.

Directed by Joe Moses, The Chrysalis is a timely and resonant call for empathy and change. Click here to learn more.

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Katy Perry’s Minneapolis Show

Hit by Major Delay

Many fans headed to Katy Perry’s Lifetimes Tour show at the Target Center Tuesday night found themselves stuck in the heat following an unexpected delay. Doors, which were supposed to open at 6 p.m., remained shut until around 8:15 p.m. – leaving fans in very long lines with limited information about the cause of the delay. As the wait stretched on, those hoping to get inside the venue were crammed into skyway corridors, entrance lobbies, and definitely not cooling off.

The delay was attributed to “technical difficulties” with no further details provided. The concert’s opening act, Rebecca Black, was set to perform at 7 p.m., but ended up taking the stage just before 8:30 p.m., setting up for a much later-than-expected finish for Katy Perry’s set. As usual for artists when encountering concert delays, Katy Perry gave no updates, though she did post online just minutes before the scheduled door opening time, unaware of the chaos to come. Fans, of course, took to social media to explain their displeasure.

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Wolves Advance to Conference Finals

Last night, in downtown Minneapolis, the Minnesota Timberwolves fended off the Warriors for the last time, finalizing the series, winning 4-1. They will now look forward to playing against the winner of the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets series, with each team featuring a top MVP candidate. The Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, won a league-leading 68 games in the regular season. The Nuggets, led by three-time MVP Nikola Jokić, lost to the Wolves in the western conference semifinals last year. Either way, we should be in for a competitive series, and likely the toughest so far.

Also, it’s impossible to ignore the Twins recent success, as they are now on a 10 game win streak after beating the Orioles twice in Wednesday’s doubleheader. While their streak may be overshadowed by the importance of the Wolves’ playoff games, they have managed to stay in the fight for the AL Central after a very slow start. There’s still work to do, though, as at 23-20, they’re still in fourth place in the division.

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Stay informed, stay connected. 

See you next week! 

–
Mateo and the NewPrensa team

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Hi, friend: Isabella and Mateo here! 
We’re Communications Specialists by day and
embracing the heat

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