How the invasion of Ukraine became part of the debate over copper-nickel mining in northern Minnesota
Both supporters and opponents of two potential copper-nickel mines have used the war in Ukraine to underscore their stances on the projects.
Walker Orenstein
Walker Orenstein reports on the state Legislature for MinnPost, with a particular focus on covering issues affecting Greater Minnesota. He can be reached at worenstein@minnpost.com, and you can follow him on Twitter at @walkerorenstein.
Minnesota lawmakers outline plan to divest state assets tied to Russia, Belarus
The divestment of funds won’t cause a massive hit to Russia’s bottom line. But lawmakers and Ukrainian Americans said no Minnesota money should help Vladimir Putin’s government.
Why an effort to automatically expunge low-level convictions in Minnesota faces an uphill battle at the Legislature
In a year where Republicans are promoting a “tough on crime” posture, the expungement bill is one of the few criminal justice reform measures that Democrats hoped some in the GOP-led Senate would support.
Can the state of Minnesota take economic action against Russia?
Gov. Tim Walz has asked the state’s Board of Investment to review holdings in Russia-linked companies.
With no agreement in the Minnesota legislature, farmers suffer from last year’s drought
More than three-quarters of the state experienced severe or extreme drought last year, which farm groups said was particularly tough on cattle and dairy farmers who can’t rely on crop insurance in the same way farmers for commodity crops like corn and soybeans can.
Latest police recruitment proposal reveals DFL split on public safety issues
While helping police fill open jobs has drawn bipartisan support at the Capitol this year, a key Democratic lawmaker on Monday criticized a bill proposed by fellow DFL House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler.
Why the Legislature is considering carving out exceptions for no-knock entries that already exist
A new bill backed by many House DFLers would end most no-knock search warrants.
What redistricting means for Greater Minnesota politics
Outside the metro, Minnesota’s new political maps aren’t likely to spark a huge shift in power. But that doesn’t mean redistricting won’t lead to some important political developments.
Why a plan to spend $1 million on a pro-cop advertising campaign has roiled the Minnesota Senate
The debate has turned into a proxy fight over broader issues expected to play a role in the fall elections.
State data show which Minnesota law enforcement agencies reported the most no-knock warrants, who they target and why
Of the 94 people listed in the data who were targeted with no-knock warrants, 66 were Black.
Minneapolis’ policy on ‘no-knock’ search warrants — before and after the killing of Amir Locke — explained
As both the Minneapolis City Council and the Minnesota Legislature scrutinize how and when ‘no-knock’ warrants are used, a look at what we know about the policies governing the search warrants, before and after the killing.
Legislative push for more body cameras could hinge on how, and when, police are required to release footage to families
Following the killing of Amir Locke in Minneapolis, lawmakers are once again debating the issue.
Why anti-violence nonprofits have become a focal point of DFLers plans to address crime in Minnesota
So far, the plans have been met with skepticism from Republicans and some police groups. And judging the success of earlier spending on such nonprofits has been difficult, since very little of it has actually been sent to anti-violence organizations.
Will new study on wakesurfing cause the sport to wipeout on some Minnesota lakes?
New research from the University of Minnesota suggests wakesurf boats would need to run at least twice as far from shorelines, docks and other lake-goers for their waves to have the same impact as other common recreational boats used for sports like tubing, waterskiing and wakeboarding.
Minnesota Dems and Republicans agree on more money for police but plans differ
Bigger cities that once got hundreds of applicants might now only have dozens. Smaller cities, especially in Greater Minnesota, might be getting three or four applicants instead of 10 to 15.
Minnesota Republicans seek to limit prosecutorial discretion in charging crimes; push for tougher sentences
Ramsey County Attorney John Choi and Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman say the concerns with some of their policies and decisions are overblown, misunderstood, or have more police support than Republicans are letting on — even as they concede there might be some cause for common ground among county attorneys, cops and the GOP.
Court of Appeals rescinds key PolyMet permit, says project must get new groundwater analysis
The ruling wasn’t a total victory for mine opponents, however. The court ruled in favor of PolyMet and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on several other issues.
Why an independent report says Minnesota should close half its driver’s license exam stations
The panel also recommended the state raise application fees for Minnesota driver’s licenses and extend the validity of licenses to eight years.
What (if anything) does a deal with Tesla mean for the controversial Tamarack mining project in northern Minnesota?
Talon Metals Corp. wants to build an underground mine that would operate for nine years and primarily extract nickel, but also some copper, cobalt, platinum group metals and iron.
The 2022 Minnesota Legislature doesn’t start for a couple of weeks, but the debate over how the state should address crime has already begun
Lawmakers in both parties often argue public safety should not be politicized, yet crime is also expected to be a potent campaign issue later this year, a situation that could fuel a rancorous and partisan debate at the Capitol.
