Minnesota’s GOP leaders continue to struggle with saying the 2020 election was legitimate
What two Minnesota Senate resolutions say about where the parties are, even as Joe Biden is sworn in as president.
Politics & Policy
What we know so far about COVID-19 spread among Line 3 workers in northern Minnesota
So far, there have been a modest number of cases among the thousands of workers on the pipeline, though the full scope of the project’s impact on disease spread isn’t clear.
Another year, another Legislature that’s unlikely to legalize sports betting in Minnesota
One reason for the lack of action is anti-gambling sentiment among some legislators. Another is opposition from Minnesota’s tribal nations.
New rule requires state senators to reveal if they’re voting from outside Minnesota
Since both the Minnesota House and Senate began allowing lawmakers to vote remotely, being “present” doesn’t require the 201 members to be, well, present.
Minnesota to receive at least $3 billion from federal COVID stimulus passed in December
An unemployment benefit bump makes up the largest amount of money, though there is also funds for rental assistance, public schools, higher education, child care, COVID testing, vaccination programs, transit and highways.
D.C. Memo: Most impeached president, ever
Minnesota’s delegation splits on impeachment vote; Klobuchar prepares to take the lead on Capitol riot investigation; and the feds tell Minnesota to expand COVID-19 vaccinations.
Emergency powers, elections and violent rhetoric: Why it may be hard to get anything done at Minnesota Legislature this year
A heated media forum Monday with the governor and the four legislative leaders featured a back and forth about the invasion of the U.S. Capitol and whether lawmakers’ rhetoric contributed to it. But it was sometimes hard to distinguish between anger over the attack and frustration over the state’s response to COVID-19.
In wake of U.S. Capitol riot, Walz, GOP leaders tried to discuss Minnesota’s 2021 Legislature. It didn’t go well.
Walz had been on the teleconference for more than 20 minutes before he spoke. When he did, he unloaded. “How do we find common ground when we have people who won’t say the election was fair?” Walz asked.
Georgia wins have big ramifications for Minnesota Democrats in D.C.
Democratic members of the state’s congressional delegation will now have far more power, especially Sen. Amy Klobuchar.
Talk of overhauling Minneapolis city government recalls a 120-year history of debate
If the Charter Commission moves ahead with a plan to revamp the city’s “creaky” municipal structure, the plan could come before the voters at next November’s city election.
D.C. Memo: All coup’d up
Omar drafts articles of impeachment; Fischbach sworn in; Emmer opposes $2,000 stimulus checks; and more.
State board proposals would change how lobbying activities are reported in Minnesota
Among other reforms, one proposal would require lobbyists — and groups that hire them — to say how much they spend on television or radio ads advocating for or against particular legislation.
‘Once you engage in political violence, it becomes easier to do it again’ – an expert on political violence reflects on events at the Capitol
Ore Koren: “What hugely contributed to all of this is misinformation. People mobilized based on a conspiracy with no evidence.”
‘I needed to find a place to shelter’: Minnesota’s congressional delegation describes pro-Trump mob overrunning U.S. Capitol
Hours after the Capitol was evacuated, lawmakers voted to certify Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential election, with Sen. Amy Klobuchar announcing the final results on the Senate floor.
What you need to know about the reopening of bars and restaurants in Minnesota
Gov. Tim Walz said Wednesday he will allow bars and restaurants to serve indoors starting Monday. The governor is also easing limits on the number of people who can attend religious services, gyms, sporting events, theaters and pools.
Meet the Minneapolis City Council candidate: Katie Jones
Jones is running for the Ward 10 council seat “to create a community where everyone knows they belong.”
Minnesota’s 2021 Legislature starts today. Here are five factors that will dominate the session
The bad news: Minnesota lawmakers will once again be sequestered from the public unless they venture out beyond the chain-link fence that now surrounds the Capitol. The good news? Parking shouldn’t be a problem.
‘An antidote to everything’: 2020 saw record number of Minnesotans help with voting
Because elderly people face a greater risk of complications from COVID-19, elections officials worried about a shortage of poll workers. Instead, local election officials were overwhelmed with applications.
Year in Review: Five big political stories overlooked amid the pandemic
As much as COVID-19 and the homicide of George Floyd dominated government and politics in 2020, there were other stories that seemed important at the time — and will likely return to prominence after the pandemic is over.
COVID relief bill offers Minnesota budget officials a deadline reprieve (for whatever that’s worth)
State and local governments didn’t get a hoped-for second infusion of money in the $900 billion COVID relief package passed by Congress earlier this week, but they did get word that they didn’t have to spend CARES Act money within the calendar year.
