News from the Battleground States at The Minnesota Sun

Minnesota School Denies Concealing Gender Transitions from Parents

February 3, 2023February 2, 2023 Minnesota Sun Staff

A Hopkins principal accused Libs of TikTok of spreading “false and hateful claims towards LGBTQ youth” after a report from the popular Twitter account said the school is offering chest binders to students without parental knowledge.

The Libs of TikTok report begins with a picture of a flier that is hanging in a hallway at Hopkins West Junior High School. The flier includes the contact information for the school’s “health mentor,” Caroline Hickey, who offers to talk with students about “gender norms,” “gender and identity,” and “circles of sexuality.”

State Democrats Consider Repealing More of Minnesota’s Abortion Restrictions

February 1, 2023January 31, 2023 Admin

Democrats just passed the Protect Reproductive Options Act, which critics are calling the most radical abortion law in the nation, if not the world. But they’re not done yet.

Next on the Minnesota DFL’s agenda is HF 91/SF70, which would essentially repeal what remains of Minnesota’s regulations on the abortion industry, including medical protections for infants who survive abortions and a ban on using public funds for the procedure under MinnesotaCare.

Minnesota U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach Introduces Bill to Defund Planned Parenthood

January 31, 2023 Minnesota Sun Staff

U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach of Minnesota introduced two pro-life bills in the U.S. House of Representatives this month.

The Republican congresswoman’s proposed pieces of legislation include the Defund Planned Parenthood Act (H.R. 371) and the Protecting Life and Taxpayers Act (H.R. 372), according to a press release.

Minnesota House Passes 100 Percent Clean Energy Bill

January 29, 2023January 28, 2023 Admin

The Minnesota House passed legislation after seven hours of debate late Thursday night that would require the state’s electricity grid to be 100% carbon-free in 17 years.

This is an unrealistic timeline that could endanger the lives of Minnesotans if it fails while causing their electricity bills to skyrocket, Republicans argued throughout the night.

Minnesota Republicans Criticize Scope of Universal School Meals Program as Price Tag Revealed

January 28, 2023January 27, 2023 Admin

A universal school lunch bill that’s fast-tracking its way through the Minnesota Legislature received an official price tag this week.

HF5/SF123 would ensure all K-12 students are served free breakfast and lunch in public schools, regardless of family income. It would also cost the state $387 million over the next two years and nearly $419 million in the subsequent two-year budget cycle. That’s according a non-partisan fiscal analysis provided to legislators in the House Education Finance Committee on Wednesday.

Minnesota Court of Appeals Rules Unvaccinated Man Can Be Denied Unemployment Benefits

January 27, 2023January 26, 2023 Minnesota Sun Staff

The Minnesota Court of Appeals has ruled that a college instructor is not entitled to unemployment benefits after he was fired for refusing “to abide by his employer’s COVID-19 vaccination and testing policy.”

Three appeals court judges agreed last Tuesday that Michael Larson, an English teacher for Minnesota State College Southeast-Winona (MSCS), committed employee misconduct by failing to follow its COVID vaccine and testing requirements, which means he is not eligible for unemployment benefits per state law.

Commentary: EV Mandates Could Mean California-Style Backouts in Minnesota

January 27, 2023January 26, 2023 Minnesota Sun Staff

California recently announced a ban on all gas-powered vehicles by 2035. This is a decision that will have wide ranging negative implications for Minnesotans.

Residents in the Gopher state may be curious how an administrative decision made halfway across the country will affect them, but the answer is relatively simple: last year Governor Tim Walz and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) unilaterally finalized a rule to cede their regulatory authority over automobile emissions to regulators in the Golden State.

County Residents in Minnesota Take Issue with Vulgar, Sexually Graphic Books in School Libraries

January 26, 2023January 25, 2023 Minnesota Sun Staff

Residents in a Twin Cities suburb are voicing concerns about the vulgar language and sexually explicit content in pro-LGBT and “anti-racist” school library books.

During the open forum portion of the Eastern Carver County School Board meeting in Chaska Monday evening, community members requested more transparency and input about the books that children and teenagers in the district can get their hands on.

A Planned Parenthood CEO Is Also Voting on Minnesota Abortion Legislation

January 25, 2023January 24, 2023 Admin

The CEO of Minnesota’s largest abortion provider is also a sitting legislator who is sponsoring and voting on bills to expand abortion access.

Rep. Ruth Richardson, DFL-Mendota Heights, voted in favor of the “Protect Reproductive Options (PRO) Act” last week, a bill that would enshrine the “fundamental right” to abortion in Minnesota law.

Minnesota State Agency Wants to Create Database to Track ‘Hateful’ Speech

January 22, 2023January 21, 2023 Admin

One Minnesota lawmaker is voicing his concerns about a proposed bill he says would allow the state government to keep track of “bias” incidents and “hate speech” in which no crime may have been committed.

On Tuesday the Minnesota House of Representatives’ Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee held a hearing on HF 181, a bill introduced Jan. 9 that proposes an expansion of reporting “crimes motivated by bias,” an update in peace officer training standards, and the appropriate funding thereto.

Minnesota House Passes ‘Most Extreme’ Abortion Law in Nation

January 21, 2023January 20, 2023 Admin

The Minnesota House passed the DFL’s keystone “Protect Reproductive Options Act” in a 69-65 vote after four hours of emotional debate Thursday night.

The bill will grant Minnesotans a “fundamental right” to abortion through all nine months of pregnancy, via any method and for any reason, with no age restrictions.

DACA Recipient to Minnesota Lawmakers: ‘We Are Voting’

January 18, 2023January 17, 2023 Admin

A DACA recipient had this to say to Minnesota lawmakers last week: “We are voting.”

“We are voting. Our people are voting. If you don’t pass this bill, people are going to vote you all out,” Angelico Bello, who said she is a DACA recipient, told the House Transportation Committee Jan. 10.

Minnesota Department of Corrections Expands Abortion Coverage for Inmates

January 17, 2023January 16, 2023 Admin

The Minnesota Department of Corrections will now pay for any inmate’s abortion, regardless of the reasons for seeking the procedure, according to a new policy.

The new policy, adopted January 10, replaces a 2018 policy that limited the department’s coverage of abortion to cases where the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest or if the life of the mother was at risk.

Hennepin County DA Moriarty Faces Criticism for Dismissing Rape Case During First Week in Office

January 16, 2023January 15, 2023 Admin

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty is facing criticism after she dropped a rape charge involving a 14-year-old victim during her first week in office.

Moriarty was sworn in Jan. 3, replacing longtime county attorney Mike Freeman. She ran on a progressive platform of “restorative justice programs” and “alternatives to incarceration.”

Minnesota State Senator Declines to State When an Unborn Baby Becomes a Person

January 15, 2023January 14, 2023 Admin

The author of a bill that would create a “fundamental right” to abortion through all nine months of pregnancy refused to state when she thinks an unborn baby becomes a human person.

Minnesota Democrats are expediting their Protect Reproductive Options (PRO) Act through the Minnesota Legislature, emboldened by an election victory that saw them recapture the Senate and take full control of state government.

Minnesota Licensure Board to Require All Teachers to Personally Affirm Critical Race Theory and Gender Ideology

January 14, 2023January 13, 2023 Susan Berry, PhD

Minnesota’s Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) has set new rules for aspiring teachers that require them to personally avow the tenets of Critical Race Theory (CRT) and gender ideology in order to be permitted to teach in government schools.

Governor Tim Walz’s (D) PELSB’s Adopted Permanent Rules Relating to Licensing and Academic Standards have been updated to require, as of 2024, that Minnesota teachers are committed to personally affirm what the licensure board considers the proper “diverse perspectives on race, culture, language, sexual identity, ability,” etc. with their students in order to maintain a license.

Despite Projected $17 Billion Surplus, Minnesota DFL Pitches Payroll Tax Hike

January 14, 2023January 13, 2023 The Center Square

Despite a projected $17.6 billion surplus, Gov. Tim Walz pitched a future payroll tax hike to fund paid family and medical leave in his soon-to-be released budget plan.

Walz said $1.7 billion of surplus seed money would start the program, funded in the future by a payroll tax.

Minnesota Legislature Considers Bill to Give Driver’s Licenses to Illegal Immigrants

January 13, 2023January 12, 2023 Minnesota Sun Staff

Minnesota Democrats are moving forward with a bill that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses.

Sen. Zaynab Mohamed, DFL-Minneapolis, lead author of the bill in the Senate, said illegal immigrants were eligible for driver’s licenses in Minnesota until 2003, when Gov. Tim Pawlenty “unilaterally” established a requirement that applicants demonstrate proof of legal residence.

Minnesota’s Secretary of State’s Election Reform ‘Wish List’ Includes Automatic Voter Registration

January 12, 2023January 11, 2023 Minnesota Sun Staff

Those applying for driver’s licenses — or utilizing a plethora of other state agency services — could also automatically be registering to vote at the same time, if newly re-elected Secretary of State Steve Simon’s legislative priority wish list comes to fruition in the coming months at the Capitol.

Simon, a DFLer elected to his third term in November, held a press conference Monday announcing his support for automatic voter registration contained in HF3/SF3 along with a handful of other election-related “Legislative Priorities to Strengthen Our Democracy” that he said would continue to build on “Minnesota’s success story and reputation as a leader in elections and voting” and further expand access to voting.

Minnesota Representative Wants to Make January 6 ‘Democracy Day’

January 11, 2023January 10, 2023 Admin

Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota is one of three congressmen who intend to spearhead a bill enacting the observance of “Democracy Day” every Jan. 6.

According to a news release last Friday, Phillips will join Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado and Dan Goldman of New York in introducing a resolution to “permanently designate January 6th as ‘Democracy Day.’”

State Rep: Kids Are ‘Demanding’ Comprehensive Sex Ed

January 10, 2023January 9, 2023 Admin

A Minnesota state representative is renewing her push to require schools to teach students about “diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.”

State Rep. Sydney Jordan, a Democrat from Minneapolis, said Friday she has introduced a bill to bring comprehensive sex education, or CSE, to all Minnesota schools.

“Students are demanding access to information about their bodies, consent, and contraception and it’s time the [Minnesota Legislature] listens,” she said.

Minneapolis-Area Suburb Officials Ponder Replacing the Term ‘Manhole’ over Gender Neutrality Concerns

January 9, 2023January 8, 2023 Admin

The St. Louis Park city government acknowledged in a recent newsletter that the term “manhole” could be offensive because it’s not “gender-neutral.”

“The city acknowledges that ‘manhole’ is not a gender-neutral term. It’s used in this publication as a commonly understood term and as the current industry standard to describe these structures,” says a footnote in a December newsletter on city infrastructure.

Chicago School Audit Finds Nearly 500 Sexual Complaints Filed in 2022

January 9, 2023January 8, 2023 Just the News

Chicago school officials this week revealed that the school system recorded nearly 500 sexual complaints over the last year, with investigators stressing their inability to respond to a majority of all complaints they receive.

The Chicago Board of Education Office of Inspector General said in its 2022 annual report that it received 470 “sexual allegation” complaints over the course of FY2022.

Minnesota Moms Say Lack of Abortion Restrictions Will Lead to Abuse, Loss of Parental Rights

January 8, 2023January 7, 2023 Admin

A group of mothers defending “common-sense” and “bipartisan” abortion restrictions in Minnesota have made clear their belief that the state’s objections are legally flawed.

On Thursday a court hearing was held about the dispute between the attorney general’s office and the advocacy group Mothers Offering Maternal Support (MOMS). Judge Thomas Gilligan of the Ramsey County District Court presided over the hearing, the same judge who had struck down multiple abortion restrictions as “unconstitutional” in July.

Minnesota Democrats Reject Ban on Partial-Birth Abortions

January 7, 2023January 6, 2023 Admin

Democrats are one step closer to fulfilling their campaign promise to enshrine a woman’s “right” to an abortion in Minnesota law.

The Minnesota House Health Finance and Policy Committee passed what opponents are calling an “abortion-until-birth” bill Thursday morning.

Democrats Introduce Bill to Legalize Marijuana in Minnesota

January 6, 2023January 5, 2023 Minnesota Sun Staff

Minnesota Democrats introduced a bill Thursday to legalize the recreational use of marijuana for adults over the age of 21.

With control of both chambers of the Legislature, and a governor who is ready to sign it into law if passed, they are confident this is the year it will happen.

Minnesota DFL Announces Session Priorities Including Paid Family Leave, Clean Energy

January 5, 2023January 4, 2023 The Center Square

With more than a $17 billion projected surplus, the Democrats released their priorities at a capitol news conference Wednesday.

“We are moving swiftly because that’s what Minnesotans expect and deserve,” House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, said. “Although there were bipartisan wins over the last four years, many of Minnesotans’ priorities were blocked by the Republican Senate majority. With unified DFL control of state government, we now have an opportunity to work quickly to improve people’s lives. The DFL-led House and Senate are going to work hard and work together to meet the needs of Minnesotans and build a state that works better for everyone.”

Minnesota College Stands by Removal of Art Instructor

January 4, 2023January 3, 2023 Admin

Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn., is standing by its decision to punish an art instructor who shared two Renaissance depictions of the Islamic prophet Muhammad in class.

Reports of the instructor’s removal generated outrage among free-speech advocates, who called the school’s actions “one of the most egregious violations of academic freedom in recent memory.”

Minnesota’s ‘Let Them Play’ Founder and Mother of Five Heads to Legislature

January 3, 2023January 2, 2023 Admin

On the latest episode of “Liz Collin Reports,” Liz sat down with incoming Minnesota state representative Dawn Gillman to discuss Republican priorities for the new legislative session, advice for Minnesota parents trying to navigate left-wing ideology in their children’s schools, and more.

Gillman was the founder of Let Them Play Minnesota, a grassroots movement that successfully pressured Gov. Tim Walz into reopening schools and their athletic programs in the fall of 2020. She said the movement grew to a whopping 25,000 members and raised over $500,000 in under a year.

Tennessee, Georgia, and Virginia Among 18 States Banning Social Media App TikTok from State Devices

January 2, 2023January 1, 2023 Admin

Following South Dakota GOP Gov. Kristi Noem’s lead, nearly half of U.S. states have put restrictions on or banned the use of Chinese-based social media app TikTok.

At least 19 states have banned TikTok on government-issued devices – Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Idaho, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utha, Virginia and West Virginia.

Explosion of Mental Health, Academic Problems Among Minnesota Students

January 1, 2023December 31, 2022 Admin

Results of the 2022 Minnesota Student Survey have revealed that increasing numbers of middle and high school students are struggling with depression, anxiety, and poor “educational engagement.”

Conducted by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) every three years, the anonymous survey asks fifth-, eighth-, ninth-, and 11th-grade students various questions about their physical and mental health, bullying, school environment, and alcohol and drug use.

Report: University in Minnesota Removes Art Instructor for Sharing Depictions of Muhammad

December 31, 2022December 30, 2022 Admin

A Hamline University art instructor was removed from her position after sharing two Renaissance depictions of the Islamic prophet Muhammad in class, according to reports.

The professor has not been named in any reports on the incident but was identified as a female in the Pioneer Press.

Minnesota Pastor Accused of Sexual Relationship with Underage Intern

December 30, 2022December 29, 2022 Minnesota Sun Staff

A former pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Sleepy Eye, Minn., is facing charges of criminal sexual conduct after he allegedly had sex with an underage intern on multiple occasions.

Witnesses first reported Pastor Nathan Van Alfred Luong to Sleepy Eye police in May of this year, according to a criminal complaint. Around that same time, Faith Lutheran Church in Dodge Center announced Luong as their new pastor, the Christian Post first reported.

Minnesota High School Scraps Race-Based Entry for ‘Police Encounters’ Training

December 29, 2022December 28, 2022 Minnesota Sun Staff

Following a civil rights complaint, Roseville Area High School scrapped “priority” entry for non-white students and members of its Black Student Union (BSU) to a “know your rights” training event.

The high school’s media center initially sent an email Dec. 16 informing parents about a Dec. 20 student training event that discussed “navigating police encounters involving yourself — or others, in a way that protects your rights and helps keeps you safe.”

Kari Lake Appeals Dismissal of Arizona Election Lawsuit

December 29, 2022December 28, 2022 Just the News

Kari Lake, the Arizona Republican nominee for governor, is appealing a Maricopa County judge’s dismissal of her lawsuit challenging her defeat to Democrat Katie Hobbs, who is currently serving as secretary of state.

In a notice of appeal filed Tuesday, Lake asked the Arizona Superior Court to reconsider all 10 counts that she brought up in her original lawsuit as well as the attorneys’ fees she was ordered to pay.

Almost 20,000 Residents Left Minnesota to Live in Other States in 2022

December 28, 2022December 27, 2022 Admin

Minnesota lost nearly 20,000 residents to other states in 2022.

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the state of Minnesota lost 19,400 residents to domestic migration from July 2021 to July 2022.

Kari Lake Says Appeal Coming Following Dismissal from Superior Court Judge

December 25, 2022December 24, 2022 Neil Jones

Arizona Republican gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake had her election challenge completely dismissed by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Peter Thompson Saturday. Following the ruling, Lake tweeted that an appeal would be coming.

“My Election Case provided the world with evidence that proves our elections are run outside of the law. This Judge did not rule in our favor. However, for the sake of restoring faith and honesty in our elections, I will appeal his ruling,” tweeted Lake.

Minnesota Economist: Broadband Grants Ought to Generate a Return on Investment

December 24, 2022December 23, 2022 The Center Square

Minnesota will award $27 million in state funding and $42.6 million in federal funding to broadband expansion projects across the state.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development on Monday launched a request for proposals for the funding. The funding supports the state’s goal that all homes and businesses have access `to broadband with download speeds of at least 100 megabits per second and upload speeds of at least 20 megabits per second by 2026, the news release said.

Parents Accuse Minnesota School Officials of Failing to Keep Students Safe

December 23, 2022December 22, 2022 Minnesota Sun Staff

Little Falls parents accused school officials of failing to keep students safe and attempting to “cover up” a recent incident involving a disabled middle-school student during a school board meeting this week.

Day Two of Kari Lake Election Challenge Trial Sees More Witnesses, Closing Arguments from Both Sides

December 23, 2022December 22, 2022 Neil Jones

The court battle challenging the validity of the certified outcome of Arizona’s 2022 gubernatorial election entered its second day Thursday under Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Peter Thompson, with attorneys for Republican Kari Lake, Democrat Katie Hobbs, and Maricopa County presenting their final arguments in the trial. Lake seeks to…

Sen. Ron Johnson Argues to Eliminate $9.8 Billion in Earmarks From $1.7 Trillion Omnibus Bill

December 22, 2022December 22, 2022 Susan Berry, PhD

Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson (R) joined with his colleagues Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), Mike Lee (R-UT), Mike Braun (R-IN), and Rand Paul (R-KY) to oppose the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill and argue for an amendment that would eliminate all earmarks.

“Thousands of individual projects here, both Democrat and Republican,” Johnson said Tuesday during a press conference

Day One of Kari Lake Election Contest Trial Sees Testimony from Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer and Election Integrity Expert Heather Honey

December 22, 2022December 22, 2022 Neil Jones

The first of two days of oral arguments from Arizona’s Republican gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake’s challenge of the 2022 general election outcome began Wednesday morning, overseen by Judge Peter Thompson in the Maricopa County Superior Court. Testimonies were heard from several officials and experts.

Black Militia Members Claim Minneapolis Police Unlawfully Arrested Them at Protest

December 22, 2022December 21, 2022 Minnesota Sun Staff

Several members of an armed black militia known for their ad hoc security at Minneapolis protests are accusing city police officers of violating their constitutional rights by arresting them without probable cause.

According to a complaint filed two months ago in U.S. District Court, eight members of the Minnesota Freedom Fighters are suing 10 officers from the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD), claiming they engaged in “unreasonable seizure in violation of the Fourth Amendment” to the U.S. Constitution at a protest last year.

Minneapolis Doctors Defend Gender Transitions for Kids

December 21, 2022December 20, 2022 Admin

Earlier this month Minneapolis doctors defended what they perceive as the moral and scientific legitimacy of child gender transitions, which typically involve puberty blockers, “hormone therapy,” and even surgical intervention.

Their remarks came at a Dec. 2 press conference where Mayor Jacob Frey signed an executive order that protects access to “services, supplies, drug therapies, and other care that an individual may receive to support and affirm their gender identity,” including minors who do not live with their parents.

Judge Rules Kari Lake Election Contest Will Go to Trial

December 20, 2022December 20, 2022 Michael Patrick Leahy

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Peter Thompson ruled late Monday that Kari Lake’s election contest lawsuit will go to trial on Wednesday.

The judge’s ruling came hours after attorneys for the defendants–Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, and the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors–and the plaintiff, GOP gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, delivered oral arguments in court on both sides of the defendants’ motion to dismiss all ten counts set forward in Lake’s 70 page lawsuit.

Report Exposes Shocking Details on DFL Sheriff’s Behavior During and After Drunk-Driving Crash

December 20, 2022December 19, 2022 Admin

The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners voted to censure Democratic Sheriff Dave Hutchinson Thursday and made public the results of a human resources investigation into his behavior.

Hutchinson’s career imploded in December 2021 when he was involved in a drunk-driving accident in his county-issued vehicle.

Minnesota Teacher Claims ‘Capitalist Indoctrination’ Underlies Cell Biology Instruction

December 19, 2022December 18, 2022 Admin

Middle-school students learning about the biology of the cell are unknowingly assimilating “capitalist indoctrination,” according to a Minnesota science teacher.

Illegal Entries into Vermont Surge in November

December 19, 2022December 18, 2022 The Center Square

Foreign nationals illegally entering the U.S. are increasingly entering through Vermont at an unprecedented rate.

In October, the Swanton Sector of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which includes all of Vermont, saw a 676% increase in apprehensions of illegal foreign nationals compared to last year, according to Border Patrol data. Agents apprehended 334 people from 19 countries in October, and the “upward trend continues,” Swanton Sector Chief Border Patrol Agent Robert Garcia said.

Minneapolis Mayor Convenes Workgroup After String of Downtown Closures

December 18, 2022December 17, 2022 Admin

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey convened a “Vibrant Downtown Storefronts Workgroup” this week following a string of recent high-profile closures.

“Cities that see the most success post-pandemic won’t cling to the old ways that are now changed forever,” Frey said in a press release. “Here in Minneapolis, we will step boldly into the future, guided by the top experts in our region, prepared to innovate and adapt. Minneapolis has always been a hub of commerce and innovation, and I am confident that this workgroup will help ensure we continue carrying that legacy forward.”

Minnesota Department of Health Pushes COVID-19 Vaccine for Infants but Parents Are Resisting

December 17, 2022December 16, 2022 Admin

The Minnesota Department of Health is once again urging parents to get children as young as six-months old vaccinated against COVID-19, citing low vaccination rates among kids.

According to MDH, fewer than 17% of children between the ages of 6 months and 4 years have received at least one dose and fewer than 5% of kids in this age group are up to date on their vaccines.