Minneapolis voters may settle the minimum wage issue. The Star Tribune’s Erin Golden reports: “Supporters of a $15 minimum wage in Minneapolis say they’ll deliver 20,000 petition signatures to City Hall this week — and are confident they have the legal right to put the issue on the ballot this November. … Organizers need 6,869 verified signatures to get the issue on the ballot. But they’ll also have to convince the City Council of two key legal points: that the city has the legal standing to raise wages on its own, and that it can be done by amending the city’s charter, which lays out the framework for how city government operates.”
In other potential Minneapolis policy changes, NPR’s Martin Kaste has a story about a push for police to carry liability insurance: “In Minneapolis, longtime activist Michelle Gross says when cities pay damages, individual police officers often aren’t held accountable, which means they’re not likely to change their behavior. That’s why she and a group calling itself the Committee for Professional Policing are now pushing a completely different approach. … ‘We are working to get a measure on the ballot that would require police officers to carry professional liability insurance,’ she says.”
New justice in town. The Pioneer Press’ Rachel Stassen-Berger and David Montgomery report: “A Hennepin County judge first appointed to the bench by Gov. Tim Pawlenty will be the newest member of the Minnesota Supreme Court, Gov. Mark Dayton announced Tuesday. … Dayton will appoint District Judge Anne McKeig to fill the Supreme Court vacancy caused by Justice Christopher Dietzen’s upcoming retirement.”
At last. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Tricia L. Nadolny reports: “After the deaths of three toddlers, Ikea has agreed to immediately stop selling dressers that too easily tip over, and to offer full refunds to millions of customers who bought them. … The recall applies to 29 million dressers, some sold more than a decade ago, including the company’s popular, low-cost Malm line. By Monday, Ikea’s website no longer carried the Malm models blamed in the deaths, which fail industry stability tests.”
In other news…
How are you celebrating? “Today is National Paul Bunyan Day, honoring the legendary woodsman (from Bemidji?)” [Duluth News Tribune]
Rep. Josh Heintzeman is a Minnesota hero: “A lone baby loon: What should one do with orphaned animals?” [Brainerd Dispatch]
Just make sure you’re out by 10: “St. Paul invites Minneapolis to come over and play – in song” [Pioneer Press]
Minneapolis housing prices seem to have increased less than these other cities: “Americans are paying more to live in the very places they once abandoned” [Washington Post]
Pedal Pub haters take notice: “Amsterdam Bans Beer Bikes” [City Lab]
Start lining up now: “Travail team opening Northeast Minneapolis barbecue joint” [Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal]
See also: “Spoon and Stable chef Gavin Kaysen to open Wayzata restaurant” [Star Tribune]
