Crashing the party. The AP reports (via WCCO): “Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon is asking legislators to change a state law that requires voters to declare a party preference in the state’s 2020 presidential primary and makes that information public data.”
St. Paul shakeup. The Pioneer Press’ Frederick Melo reports: “After 22 years in office, the longest-serving member of the St. Paul City Council stunned colleagues on Wednesday by announcing his retirement. … ‘It’s my deepest honor to have earned your respect and trust,’ said Dan Bostrom, addressing the seven-member council.”
Bean bloat. The Star Tribune’s Adam Belz reports: “Soybeans have been harvested across the Midwest, but tens of millions of bushels are sitting in bins on farms and at grain elevators. … Unwilling to sell at current prices and hopeful that progress on trade talks with China will be a boost to the market, farmers have decided to hold on to their crop as long as they can.”
Rising tide lifts all boats. MPR’s Martin Moylan reports: “Doors are opening wider lately for many ex-offenders, people who’ve historically had the hardest time landing jobs. With Minnesota’s near-record jobless rate and more openings than people looking for work, observers say employers’ attitudes are shifting on the value of the roughly 320,000 Minnesotans — about 8 percent of the state’s adults — with felony records.”
In other news…
Minneapolis 2040 is the year’s best Christmas gift: “The most wonderful plan of the year” [Brookings]
National media can’t get enough of this thing: “Minneapolis, Tackling Housing Crisis and Inequity, Votes to End Single-Family Zoning” [New York Times]
Look who has a problem with powerful Muslim women: “Saudi Arabia Declares War on America’s Muslim Congresswomen” [Foreign Policy]
Line 3 flowing along: “Minnesota regulators reject attempt to stop Enbridge line” [KSTP]
Package thieves, beware: “St. Paul police launch decoy operation to deter package thieves” [KARE]
Is this thing happening? “St. Paul City Council supports legalizing recreational cannabis” [Pioneer Press]
Symphony in steel: “Classically trained musician is making music with her violin, taconite pellets and trumpeter swans” [Duluth News Tribune]
Thin Boo line: “Viral video: St. Paul Police called for noise complaint, stay for a game of Super Smash Bros.” [City Pages]
