Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued an emergency executive order on April 7, 2026, dispatching the Minnesota National Guard after Winona County requested assistance following a cyber attack disrupting its “critical systems and digital services.” The attack occurred on April 6, 2026, and is “significantly impairing the county’s ability to deliver vital emergency and municipal services.”
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Water Treatment Facility Downed with Ransomware Attack
Critical infrastructure operators at the water treatment plant in Minot, North Dakota, were forced to resort to manual processes when its Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system became inoperable as a result of a March 14, 2026, ransomware attack. The attackers are unidentified, but it comes in the wake of the war in Iran,…
Joint Advisory Warns of Iran Cyber Actors Attacking U.S. Critical Infrastructure
Iran has always been a formidable cyber threat to the United States, but after the war in Iran commenced, the attacks are coming frequently and in full force. According to the Joint Cybersecurity Advisory issued on April 7, 2026, by the FBI, CISA, NSA, EPA, DOE, and Cyber Command, Iranian-based hackers are targeting operational technology…
2026 Labor and Employment Outlook for Manufacturers
This post was co-authored by Labor + Employment Group lawyer Christopher Costain.
As we look ahead to 2026, several significant employment law developments and trends are on the horizon, especially with regard to local and state laws. Below are a few key issues likely to impact manufacturers in 2026:
Regulation of the Use of…
Is ChatGPT the New “WebMD” for Human Resources Professionals to Contend With?
This post was co-authored by Labor + Employment Group lawyer Christopher Costain.
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to quickly spread across the manufacturing industry, and employers are tasked with understanding and managing the impact and capabilities of this burgeoning technology. While manufacturers are using AI tools to streamline manufacturing processes, enhance productivity,…
Trump’s Drone Duet: Executive Orders Cracking Down on Threats While Boosting U.S. Drone Leadership
On June 6, 2025, President Donald Trump signed two executive orders aimed at significantly reshaping the future of drone policy in the United States. One focuses on protecting national airspace from malicious drone threats, while the other seeks to supercharge the U.S. drone industry at home and abroad.
Together, these orders paint a clear picture…
2025 Labor and Employment Outlook for Manufacturers: Employer-Friendly Skies on the Horizon
This post was co-authored by Labor + Employment Group lawyers Britt-Marie Cole-Johnson and Christopher A. Costain.
As we look ahead to 2025, several important labor and employment law changes, planned and potential, are on the horizon. With President Trump set to return to the Oval Office on January 20, 2025, labor and employment law…
Manufacturers Using AI In HR Practices Take Note – States Continue to Pass AI Laws with Colorado Recently Joining this Trend
This post was co-authored by Labor + Employment Group lawyer Madison C. Picard.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) can greatly benefit manufacturers in the workplace. That said, it should be handled with care. States across the country are attempting to regulate the use of AI in various contexts, from political campaigns to social media, and the…
How Manufacturers Can Use AI to Help Manage the Workforce Shortage
This post was authored by Artificial Intelligence Team member Sean Griffin and is also being shared on our Data Privacy + Cybersecurity Insider blog. If you’re interested in getting updates on developments affecting data privacy and security, we invite you to subscribe to the blog.
Manufacturers and other companies are facing a critical shortage of…
How AI Can Address Manufacturing Supply Chain Issues
The global market for artificial intelligence (AI) in manufacturing is valued at $3.2 billion in 2023 and is poised to grow to $20.8 billion by 2028. Used wisely, AI can help manufacturers solve many of their most intractable issues, including supply chain issues that have frustrated companies and their customers since the pandemic.…