Interim Hennepin Healthcare leader steps down



The person who was recently appointed as an interim leader of Hennepin Healthcare resigned Wednesday, according to an internal email obtained by MPR News.

The Hennepin Healthcare Board appointed Dr. Kevin Croston as co-interim administrator in January after Hennepin Healthcare's previous interim CEO, Dr. Thomas Klemond, stepped down.

Croston worked as a co-interim administrator along with David Hough, who is remaining in the role of administrator, according to an email sent Wednesday.

MPR News obtained the internal email Thursday. Hough and hospital board chair Jeffrey Lunde sent the email to Hennepin healthcare employees to announce Croston’s resignation.

“Over the last three months, both Co-Administrators have worked closely with your Executive Leadership Team to stabilize finances, find operational efficiencies, and guide a strategy to support this organization’s long-term viability. This work will continue as we advocate to repurpose and expand the ballpark sales tax to sustain your work,” the email said.

The email refers to efforts from the hospital to use sales tax money to cover health care costs, requiring legislative approval. The existing sales tax currently serves to pay off the bonds for Target Field’s construction debt, which is expected to be settled by 2027.

Health care workers were at the Capitol Wednesday to call on elected officials to prioritize legislative solutions to protect HCMC from closing. HCMC health care workers, nurses, residents, paramedics, interpreters and frontline staff from across the Twin Cities demanded action from Minnesota policymakers to secure funding for the safety-net hospital.

They said without legislative action, HCMC will close, disproportionately affecting patients who are underinsured or uninsured.

So far, no significant action has been taken this legislative session to address HCMC’s financial concerns.

Due to a projected $50 million budget shortfall, Hennepin Healthcare announced in January it would cut five medical programs and about 100 full-time positions and reduce its number of patient beds by 100, capping the total at 390.

Hospital administrators have also frozen retirement contributions, eliminated over $1.2 million in travel expenses and paused $24 million in infrastructure projects.



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A Republican lawmaker charged in an alcohol-related driving offense won’t have to appear in court again until after the Legislature adjourns for the year.

A June 10 arraignment hearing is set for Rep. Elliott Engen, a Lino Lakes Republican who faces three misdemeanor charges following an arrest early Friday. He was stopped for speeding and other infractions in White Bear Lake; officers detected alcohol and he later tested well above the legal limit for driving, according to a citation.

Engen has apologized for a lapse in judgment; he promised to learn from his actions and “do better.” Aside from being a second-term legislator, he is also a candidate for state auditor.

A second lawmaker, GOP Rep. Walter Hudson, was in Engen’s truck at the time of the stop and an open bottle of alcohol was found in a rear seat. Hudson, a second-term legislator from Albertville, was in possession of a permitted handgun, which could cause him legal problems if he is determined to have been intoxicated.

Police officers wrote in their report that Hudson disclosed he had the gun as the truck was being searched. The report said police took the firearm for safekeeping and said he could pick it up at a later time, which Hudson agreed to.

“I regret the poor decisions that were made during this incident, and commend the White Bear Police Department for their professional response,” Hudson said in a written statement. “I’m grateful that no harm was done to ourselves and others.”

Two lawmakers stand and look around
Rep. Walter Hudson, R-Albertville, (center) and Rep. Bidal Duran, R-Bemidji, (right) join other Republican lawmakers gather in the House chambers Jan. 27, 2025.
Tim Evans for MPR News file

A third, unidentified passenger was in the truck as well, according to police. Hudson and that person were transferred to the police department until they could arrange rides.

The Minnesota lawmakers had been at the Capitol late into the evening Thursday as the House debated procedural motions on gun, immigration and social media legislation. The motions failed on 67-67 votes.

There is no indication yet that either Hudson nor Engen had been drinking on Capitol grounds, which would be a violation of a House rule against consumption of alcohol or drugs in spaces under that chamber’s control.

According to a White Bear Lake Police report, Engen initially said he had not been drinking when asked by the police officer who pulled him over — “nothing at all,” he is quoted as saying. He performed a field sobriety test, which the report says showed signs of impairment.

Engen gave a preliminary breath sample there, the report says, which estimated a 0.142 blood alcohol level. After he was taken by squad car to the police department “Engen spontaneously stated, ‘Sir, I had a drink three hours ago,’” the report says.

He told the Minnesota Star Tribune in an interview Monday that he had also consumed alcohol in the afternoon on Thursday as well.

Engen is charged with two impaired driving offenses and speeding. White Bear Lake police also said he was driving a vehicle with expired registration and an inoperable headlight.

Engen has not returned calls from MPR News. A court docket lists a “notice of appearance” on Tuesday.

He is being represented in the criminal case by Chris Madel, an Excelsior attorney who waged a brief Republican campaign for governor.



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