The St. Paul Public Works page was updated May 29. The notice says the work is tied to sanitary tunnel infrastructure under the corridor, making this a long construction stretch rather than a short repair.

State funding adds another West 7th layer

Separately, Minnesota’s enacted Chapter 130 directs $13 million to the Trunk Highway 5/West 7th Street Improvement Project. The money is split evenly: $6.5 million for the Kellogg Boulevard-to-St. Clair Avenue segment and $6.5 million for the St. Clair Avenue-to-I-35E segment.

A May 17 statement from the House Saint Paul delegation said the bonding bill included West 7th among Saint Paul investments. For people who use the corridor every day, the key point is simple: the city’s sewer work is about to begin, lane space will tighten, and the state funding suggests more West 7th construction remains ahead.

Sources

• City of St. Paul Public Works: West 7th Sewer Tunnel Work
• Minnesota Session Law Chapter 130
• House Saint Paul delegation statement on infrastructure investments

The dispute centers on plate programs that can help keep certain government vehicles from being easily identified. According to the Justice Department, the states’ actions are unconstitutional and violate the Supremacy Clause because they interfere with federal enforcement work. The states say their policies are aimed at limiting secretive civil immigration enforcement, not blocking all law enforcement activity.

That distinction matters. The filings and state responses described this as a narrow fight over undercover or confidential plates for specific federal operations, especially immigration-related work, not a blanket refusal to recognize every federal vehicle. The federal government argues the plates help protect officers and preserve operational effectiveness. State officials say they do not want their motor vehicle systems used to quietly expand immigration crackdowns.

Oregon has said it temporarily paused new undercover plate issuance while reviewing its program, but existing unexpired plates remain usable. Massachusetts and Washington have publicly defended their policies. In Maine, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said the state would stand by its decision.

No court ruling has been issued yet, so this is still a filing-stage dispute, not a final result. The next steps will likely include court responses, state legal defenses and the possibility of preliminary rulings that could affect whether the states keep their current limits while the cases move forward.

Why it matters

The cases could shape how much control states have over tools that federal agents say are needed for safety and discretion. They also raise a broader question that could reach beyond these four states: whether a state can deny a federal agency a vehicle-identification tool when the state says the work tied to it conflicts with local policy.

If the Justice Department prevails, other states with similar restrictions could face pressure to change course. If the states hold their ground, they may gain more room to limit cooperation tools they see as connected to hidden immigration enforcement. Either way, the lawsuits are an early test of the balance between federal authority and state discretion in an area that has already become politically and legally charged.

Sources

• U.S. Department of Justice press release
• Associated Press national report
• OPB report on Oregon and Washington

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says the range is being built on Roscommon State Forest land in St. Helen. The project is in St. Helen, not the village of Roscommon, and the state is treating it as a countywide recreation asset.

What residents should expect during construction

The DNR says access to the site will be restricted while work continues for the safety of workers and the public. The range is expected to open in fall 2026.

The agency says the project is being built with federal Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration funds and will be leased and operated by the Ogemaw Hills Sportsmen Association once it opens.

The DNR also says the range will be staffed and designed to meet or exceed ADA accessibility guidelines. That makes it different from an informal practice spot and part of the state’s public shooting-range system.

Why it matters locally

For Roscommon-area residents, the practical takeaway is simple: the site is not open yet, and nearby access will stay limited until construction is finished. When it opens, the new range should give local shooters and hunters a public place to practice closer to home.

Sources

• Michigan Department of Natural Resources: Construction on new DNR shooting range in Roscommon County underway
• Manistee News: Michigan DNR I-75 shooting range report