Bloomington Archives - The Minnesota Sun

Minnesota County Fires Election Worker After Republican Spots Ballot Security Lapse in Realtime

October 22, 2024October 22, 2024 Daily Caller News Foundation

Hennepin County, Minnesota, fired an election worker who left several boxes of mail-in ballots unattended after a local GOP group exposed the alleged negligence, according to a statement from county officials released Friday.

Minnesota Senate District 50 Republicans — the Republican Party’s official political unit for portions of Minnesota cities Edina and Bloomington — snapped a photo outside of Edina City Hall Friday showing a courier vehicle’s “rear door ajar with ballot transfer cases inside.” A review of parking lot surveillance footage found the ballots were not tampered with, and a comparison of the votes with the statewide voter registration system for absentee ballots found a perfect match.

DFL Raises White Flag on Statewide Ranked Choice Voting Push this Session

April 11, 2023April 10, 2023 Admin

A well-funded push to make Minnesota a ranked choice voting state appears to have run out of steam — at least this session at the Minnesota Legislature.

On Monday, State Sen. Jim Carlson, DFL-Eagan, told his colleagues in the Senate Elections Committee that a bill introduced last month that would implement ranked choice voting for statewide and legislative races by 2026 “is much more complicated than we originally thought.”

Minneapolis-Area Pride Celebration Billed as ‘Family-Friendly’ Featured Drag Queens Accepting Cash Tips, Condom Giveaways

August 16, 2022August 15, 2022 Minnesota Sun Staff

The city of Bloomington’s second annual “Pride Celebration” — billed as a family-friendly event — saw drag queens receiving cash tips from young children and a giveaway of condoms and “Plan B” pills.

Minnesota photojournalist Rebecca Brannon posted to Twitter several pictures from the Saturday event, including three pictures showing kids tipping drag performers with cash.

Bloomington Residents Look to Repeal Ranked-Choice Voting

July 8, 2022July 7, 2022 Minnesota Sun Staff

A group of Bloomington residents have filed a petition with the city clerk to initiate the process of repealing ranked-choice voting (RCV) in the city.

Voters in Minnesota’s fourth-largest city voted in favor of transitioning to the ranked-choice voting system in November 2020. The measure passed by two percentage points, but turnout was reportedly above 85%.

Protest over ‘Occupying Native Land’ Erupts at Mall of America

November 28, 2021November 27, 2021 Hayley Feland

A protest allegedly over “occupying native land” erupted at the Mall of America on Black Friday. In video of the incident obtained by The Minnesota Sun, protesters can be heard banging native drums and chanting while standing in the mall’s rotunda.

Protesters Gather at Bloomington Pride Festival in Minnesota

August 15, 2021August 15, 2021 Hayley Feland

BLOOMINGTON, Minnesota – About 75 protesters gathered at the scene of the Bloomington Pride Festival on August 14 at the Bloomington Civic Plaza. The city-sponsored Pride Festival had been the subject of scrutiny from taxpayers who disagreed with the use of government money and were opposed to the sexualization of children at an event that was advertised for all ages.

Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association Calls for Response From City of Bloomington for Commissioner’s ‘Divisive’ Comments

August 3, 2021August 2, 2021 Hayley Feland

The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA) called for a “response” and “potentially further action” from the City of Bloomington following comments made by Bloomington Human Rights Commissioner Anita Smithson. In a letter, the MPPOA called Smithson’s comments “grossly inappropriate” at best and “appalling, divisive, and bring suspicion to the Human Rights Department” at worst.

Bloomington Hosts Pride Event with Drag Performances for All Ages

July 31, 2021July 30, 2021 Hayley Feland

The city of Bloomington is hosting a pride event with drag performances, saying that the event is for all ages. A local group has called out the city for spending taxpayer money on drag performances, saying that is not an appropriate use of money. The Bloomington Patriots Facebook page has questioned the city for participating in “sexually grooming little children.” Human Rights Commissioner Anita Smithson called its concerns about the event “homophobic.”

Bloomington Human Rights Commissioner Calls Back the Blue Event ‘Fascist Radicalization’

July 29, 2021July 28, 2021 Hayley Feland

The City of Bloomington’s Human Rights Commissioner Anita Smithson called a Bloomington Back the Blue Rally “fascist radicalization.” While Smithson’s Twitter account is private, a member of the Bloomington Patriots Facebook group was able to provide screenshots of the tweets she sent regarding the event. Smithson tweeted out that “these people stuck in a cycle of fear and division don’t define us and don’t speak for us.”

Mother of Minneapolis Man Who Threw Boy from Mall of America Balcony Says Her Son Doesn’t Belong in Jail

May 16, 2019May 16, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

Emmanuel Deshawn Aranda, the 24-year-old man who was “looking for someone to kill” when he threw a five-year-old boy from a balcony at the Mall of America, entered a guilty plea Tuesday that will send him to prison for 19 years. Aranda’s mother, Becky Aranda, however, told reporters outside…

Phillips Caves Into Pressure from Audience, Expresses Doubt About Legitimacy of Trump Election

December 19, 2018December 18, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

Rep.-elect Dean Phillips (D-MN-03) hosted his first town hall Monday night in Bloomington, where he was booed by supporters for claiming that “half of the country” voted for President Donald Trump. “It doesn’t matter what any one of us thinks of him, he was elected by people in this country.…

Dean Phillips Schedules Town Hall After Minnesota Sun Report

December 11, 2018December 11, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

Rep.-elect Dean Phillips (D-MN-03) announced that he will be holding a town hall December 17 after a Sunday Minnesota Sun report found that he had yet to schedule a public meeting that he promised for “early December.” “To that end, Phillips announced his first public town-hall meeting will be held in…