Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who welcomed the destruction of a Christopher Columbus statue, chairs the board responsible for Capitol artwork and monuments.
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GOP State Senators Ask Minnesota Historical Society to Return Columbus Statue to Capitol
Two Republican state senators asked the Minnesota Historical Society to repair and restore a Christopher Columbus statue that was torn down outside the Minnesota Capitol three weeks ago.
Although the incident took place in broad daylight and was recorded by countless news stations and reporters, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety said last week the investigation remains ongoing.
Read MoreThree More Charged with Arson in Connection to Twin Cities Riots
Three more Minnesotans are facing federal arson charges in connection to the late May riots in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Both Matthew Scott White, 31, and Mohamed Hussein Abdi, 19, were arrested on June 29 and charged with one count of arson.
Read MoreThree More Charged with Arson in Connection to Twin Cities Riots
Three more Minnesotans are facing federal arson charges in connection to the late May riots in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Both Matthew Scott White, 31, and Mohamed Hussein Abdi, 19, were arrested on June 29 and charged with one count of arson.
Read More‘Train Wreck’ Special Session Cost Estimated $108,000
The Minnesota Legislature’s recent special session ended with no major accomplishments, but the eight-day session will still cost taxpayers an estimated $108,000.
The special session concluded on June 20 after Republicans in the Senate and Democrats in the House failed to reach an agreement on police reform legislation, the allocation of federal coronavirus relief funds, and other leftover business from the regular session, such as a borrowing package for public infrastructure projects.
Read MoreTwo Weeks Later, Investigation Into Toppling of Minnesota’s Christopher Columbus Statue Still Ongoing
It’s been two weeks since a Christopher Columbus statue was toppled outside the Minnesota Capitol, but the Minnesota Department of Public Safety said the investigation remains ongoing.
A spokesperson for the agency told KSTP chief political reporter Tom Hauser that the “investigation continues as the [Bureau of Criminal Apprehension] works to identify other participants in the incident, beyond the leader.”
Read MoreSt. Paul Saints to Play Season in Sioux Falls for Now Because of ‘Capacity Restrictions’
The St. Paul Saints announced Friday that the team will be participating in a 60-game season beginning July 3, but all games will be played in Sioux Falls, South Dakota until “capacity restrictions for outdoor events have relaxed.”
The American Association of Independent Professional Baseball said the shortened season will run from July 3 to September 10, concluding with a championship series between the top two teams. The league will consist of six teams based in three separate hubs.
Read MoreResolution to End Walz’s Peacetime Emergency Fails to Pass, But Receives Bipartisan Support
Yet another resolution to end Gov. Tim Walz’s peacetime emergency declaration was rejected Friday, but this time the proposal received bipartisan support in both the House and Senate.
The resolution passed the Republican-controlled Senate in a vote of 38-29, with three Democratic senators joining Republicans in voting to end the governor’s emergency powers, which first took effect March 13 in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Read MoreRamsey County Board Wants COVID Morgue Relocated, Worried About ‘Taboo of Dead Bodies’
The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners expressed its “alarm and concern” regarding the state’s recent purchase of a commercial facility in St. Paul for the storage of deceased COVID-19 patients.
“On behalf of the Ramsey County Board, we are writing to express our alarm and concern regarding your decision to purchase the former Bix site for use as a morgue during the COVID-19 emergency. We fear that this location will only exacerbate the challenges facing the surrounding community, which is already one of the poorest, most vulnerable, and most disinvested in Minnesota,” the board said in a letter sent last week to Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Joe Kelly.
Read MoreAfter Protesters Tear Down Columbus Statue, Minnesota Lt. Governor Welcomes Removal
The protesters and activists who tore down a statue of Christopher Columbus outside the Minnesota Capitol Wednesday faced virtually no resistance from state leaders or law enforcement.
In fact, after the statue was toppled over, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan said Minnesota “is long overdue for a hard look at the symbols, statues, and icons that were created without the input of many of our communities.”
Read MoreSt. Paul Man Charged with Attempted Murder for Shooting at Police During Riots
One Minnesota man has been charged with attempted murder for allegedly shooting at police officers during unrest in Minneapolis last week, while two others face federal charges for allegedly throwing Molotov cocktails into a suburban government building, according to charges made public Tuesday.
The charges are the latest to stem from unrest following the death of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man who died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for several minutes, ignoring Floyd’s cries that he couldn’t breathe.
Read MoreJail Records Contradict Claims That Most Rioters Are from Out of State
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, and Gov. Tim Walz all have suggested that many of the rioters wreaking havoc on the Twin Cities are from out of state, but jail records seem to show otherwise.
“We’ve seen long-term, institutional businesses overridden. We’ve seen community institutions set on fire. And I want to be very, very clear, the people that are doing this are not Minneapolis residents. They are coming in largely from outside of the city, from outside of the region, to prey on everything that we have built over the last several decades. The dynamic has changed over the last several days,” Frey said during a joint Saturday press conference.
Read MoreVIDEOS: Businesses Across Twin Cities Burned to the Ground, Residents Work to Clean Up
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota – More than 200 businesses across the Twin Cities have been vandalized, looted, or burned in response to the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who was allegedly murdered Monday night by a Minneapolis police officer.
After setting fire to the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct Thursday night, rioters made their way to the Fifth Precinct Friday, reducing a nearby Wells Fargo and U.S. Post Office to rubble.
Read MoreA City in Ruins: Three Nights of Riots Leave South Minneapolis Looking Like War Zone
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota – Three consecutive nights of rioting in response to the alleged murder of an unarmed black man at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer have left stretches of the city in ruins, producing scenes most accurately described as a war zone.
Officer Derek Chauvin, the man filmed pressing his knee into the neck of a handcuffed George Floyd, was arrested Friday on charges of murder and manslaughter. He and three colleagues involved in the incident were fired from the Minneapolis Police Department Tuesday.
Read MoreTwin Cities Mayors Don’t Want to Let Churches Reopen, Archbishop Hits Back
The mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul, both Democrats, said in a recent statement that they want churches in their cities to continue to “hold services remotely.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter issued a join statement Saturday after Gov. Tim Walz announced he would allow churches to resume in-person worship.
Read MoreBonfire Restaurants Latest COVID Casualty, Announces Permanent Closure of All Locations
Bonfire Restaurants announced Friday that it will permanently close all five of its Minnesota locations because of the economic damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The company said in a statement that its locations in Blaine, Eagan, Mankato, Savage, and Woodbury will not be reopening.
Read MoreSt. Paul Barber Reopens for Business in Defiance of Stay at Home Order: ‘We Can’t Survive’
The owner of a St. Paul barbershop reopened for business Monday in defiance of Gov. Tim Walz’s stay-at-home order.
Read MoreIzzy’s Ice Cream Permanently Closes St. Paul Location
The coronavirus pandemic has taken out another Minnesota business, this time the famous Izzy’s Ice Cream in St. Paul.
Read MoreTrump Tweets Support for Hundreds of Minnesotans Who Gathered Friday to Protest Gov. Walz
President Donald Trump expressed his support Friday for the hundreds of Minnesotans who gathered outside the Governor’s Residence in St. Paul to protest Gov. Tim Walz.
Read MoreMinnesotans Plan Friday Protest of Walz Outside Governor’s Residence: ‘Lives Are Being Destroyed’
More than 400 Minnesotans plan to participate in a protest Friday of Gov. Tim Walz outside the Governor’s Residence in St. Paul.
Read MoreMinnesota Group Wants Unemployment Insurance for Illegal Immigrants
A progressive group in Minnesota wants state and national lawmakers to pass a “stronger unemployment insurance package” that includes benefits for illegal immigrants.
TakeAction Minnesota, a progressive community organizing group, released a list of policy proposals that it would like to see included in any stimulus package passed in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Read MoreShelter in Place Order Now in Effect in Minnesota: Here’s What You Need to Know
Gov. Tim Walz has issued a statewide shelter-in-place order for Minnesota to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The order took effect Friday at midnight and will remain in effect until 5:00 p.m. on April 10. As opposed to a complete lockdown, a shelter-in-place order still allows for many everyday activities and permits numerous industries to continuing working.
Read MoreStar Tribune Was Refusing to Run Ad Warning of Economic Consequences of Walz’s Coronavirus Response
The Star Tribune initially refused to run an advertisement in its print edition that was critical of Gov. Tim Walz’s “severe reactions” to the coronavirus pandemic.
Read MoreMinnesota Had 116,000 New Unemployment Claims Last Week
Minnesota has seen 182,000 workers apply for unemployment insurance since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Commissioner Steve Grove said Thursday.
Read MoreGov. Walz Self-Quarantines After Contact with COVID-19 Patient
Gov. Tim Walz announced Monday morning that he is in self-quarantine at the Governor’s Residence after contacting someone with the coronavirus. “After learning I had contact with someone who has COVID-19, I plan to lead by example and work from home. I currently have no symptoms and will continue…
Read MoreSenate Leaders Signal Disagreement with Walz’s ‘Unilateral and Unchecked’ Coronavirus Actions
Gov. Tim Walz has issued 12 executive orders in response to the coronavirus pandemic, but Senate Republicans think some of his actions aren’t within his constitutional authority.
Read MoreMinnesota House Confirms COVID-19 Case, Governor Walz Cancels State of State
State lawmakers said Wednesday that an employee of the Minnesota House of Representatives has tested positive for COVID-19.
Read MoreMinnesota Legislature Will Meet on As Needed Basis for Next 30 Days, Bars and Restaurants Ordered Shut
The Minnesota Legislature will be meeting on an “on-call” basis for the next 30 days, leaders announced Monday morning.
During that time, much of their legislative work will focus on responding to the coronavirus outbreak, which reached 54 confirmed cases in the state as of Monday afternoon.
“Over the next few weeks, the Minnesota Legislature will continue to work, but by alternative means. We expect to operate efficiently and safely to aid Minnesotans with COVID-19 preparedness and response, and to continue our work to address other pressing needs of the state,” leaders of both the House and Senate said in a joint statement.
Read MoreMinnesota’s Saint Paul Teachers End Strike
Minnesota Teachers in Saint Paul were on strike from March 10th to March 13th. They announced their intentions beforehand to both warn parents to find childcare and for their children and to pressure the Saint Paul school district into signing a new contract.
Read MoreRepublicans Ask for Ethics Investigation of Kurt Daudt for Accepting Position with Lobbying Firm
Members of Minnesota’s New House Republican Caucus called for an ethics investigation into House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) in a Thursday letter.
Read MoreArchbishop Condemns Twin Cities Leaders for Celebrating Abortion Providers: ‘Abortion Kills Children’
Archbishop Bernard Hebda said he was “profoundly saddened” after learning that elected officials in both St. Paul and Minneapolis declared Tuesday “abortion provider appreciation day” in their cities.
Read MoreMinneapolis Mayor Declared Tuesday ‘Abortion Provider Appreciation Day’ to ‘Celebrate’ Local Abortionists
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey followed St. Paul’s lead in declaring Tuesday “abortion provider appreciation day” in the city.
Read MoreMinnesota Republicans Introduce Bill to Strip Funding from Libraries That Host ‘Drag Queen Story Hour’
A bill introduced Monday in the Minnesota House would pull public funding from libraries that host “drag queen story hour” performances for children.
Read MoreSt. Paul City Council Passes Resolution Recognizing ‘Abortion Providers Appreciation Day’
The St. Paul City Council unanimously approved of a resolution Wednesday night to recognize March 10 as “Abortion Providers Appreciation Day” in the city.
Read MoreIlhan Omar Says She’s Tired of Being Called ‘Radical’ at Bernie’s St. Paul Rally
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05) spoke to a crowd of more than 6,000 supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) Monday night in downtown St. Paul.
Read MoreHouse DFL Unveils Bill to Use Nearly $500 Million of Budget Surplus for Early Childhood Education
Minnesota House DFLers unveiled their “Great Start for All Minnesota Children Act” this week, a nearly $500 million investment in early childhood education.
Read MoreMinnesota Democrats Introduce Bill Mandating What Drinks Restaurants Can Serve with Children’s Meals
A group of Minnesota House Democrats introduced a bill this week that would require restaurants to serve certain drinks as the “default beverage” for children’s meals.
Read MoreLight Rail Operators Say They No Longer Feel Safe at Work: ‘Am I Going to HCMC on a Gurney?’
Multiple operators for Metro Transit’s light rail system told lawmakers this week that they no longer feel safe at work.
Read MoreSt. Paul Experiences Overdose Spike over Last Few Weeks
St. Paul saw 34 suspected overdoses from December 27 through January 3. Two overdoses were fatal, Minnesota Public Radio reported.
Read MoreRepublicans Announce Bill to Repeal St. Paul’s New College Savings Account Program
Several Republican members of the Minnesota House announced a bill Thursday that would repeal the city of St. Paul’s new college savings program.
Read MoreSt. Paul Police Chief Plans to Spend 2020 Getting the Word ‘Slavery’ Removed from State Constitution
St. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell said he is “troubled by a clause” in the Minnesota Constitution that includes the world “slavery” and hopes to “ignite a movement” to get it removed.
Read MoreIt Took Just Two Hours for St. Paul to Have Its First Homicide of 2020
St. Paul saw its first homicide of 2020 just two hours into the new year, the city’s police department announced Wednesday morning.
Read MoreAnother Popular St. Paul Business is Closing
A beloved craft brew bar in St. Paul, the Happy Gnome, is closing. After being in business for 14 years, the bar and restaurant said its last day of business would be Sunday, December 22.
Read MoreMinneapolis-St. Paul Only Statistical Area to Lose Jobs on the Year
Minneapolis-St. Paul was the only Metropolitan Statistical Area to lose jobs on the year, according to numbers released by the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Read MoreLawmakers Thinking About Breaking Up Minnesota DHS After Latest Round of Errors
The latest round of reports out of the Minnesota Department of Human Services has some lawmakers thinking about breaking up the state’s largest agency.
Read MoreMacalester College President Wants to Remove Name of ‘Racist’ Founder From Building
The president of Macalester College in St. Paul wants to remove the name of founder Edward Duffield Neill from an on-campus building because of racist views he expressed in his writings.
Read MoreHouse DFL Caucus Hit With Wave of Retirements
Several DFL state representatives have announced in recent weeks that they won’t seek reelection, in part because of primary challenges from younger, more progressive candidates.
Read MoreOmar Slams Facebook and Twitter for Allowing ‘Hate Speech’ to Reach ‘Crisis Level’
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05) criticized Facebook and Twitter for allowing online “hate speech” to reach a “crisis level.”
Read MoreSt. Paul Police Chief Says Gun-Related Homicides ‘Most in History of Department,’ Officers ‘Absolutely Exhausted’
St. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell told the media this week that detectives in the homicide and special investigations units are “absolutely exhausted” and said he’s reaching out to the FBI for help in tackling the record homicide rates.
Read MoreEllison Suggests Creating ‘Countering Violent Extremism’ Program to Monitor Online Speech
Attorney General Keith Ellison hosted a day-long summit on hate crimes Wednesday at the Wellstone Center in St. Paul where he floated the idea of creating a countering violent extremism, or CVE, program for monitoring online speech.
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