Minneapolis is allowed to require paid sick leave for employees in the city, even those who work for businesses based outside of Minneapolis, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.The 5-2 rejects by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, which argued that state law preempted cities such as Minneapolis from enacting paid leave. It also rejected the Chamber’s argument that Minneapolis could only regulate businesses that were based in the city.“A business does not need to have an office location within Minneapolis to be subject to the city’s regulatory powers,” wrote Justice Natalie Hudson...…Minneapolis is allowed to require paid sick leave for employees in the city, even those who work for businesses based outside of Minneapolis, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.The 5-2 rejects by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, which argued that state law preempted cities such as Minneapolis from enacting paid leave. It also rejected the Chamber’s argument that Minneapolis could only regulate businesses that were based in the city.“A business does not need to have an office location within Minneapolis to be subject to the city’s regulatory powers,” wrote Justice Natalie Hudson...WW…

Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, normally a safe Democratic seat, is shaping up to be the most expensive election in the state this year.First-term U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar’s national profile has helped inspire a flood of donations to both her challenger in August’s DFL primary, Antone Melton-Meaux, as well as the most prominent Republican running for the seat, Lacy Johnson.Melton-Meaux raised an eye-popping $3.2 million from April to June, several times more than Omar’s $471,000. He has twice as much money in the bank as Omar for the final month before the August primary.His support...…Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, normally a safe Democratic seat, is shaping up to be the most expensive election in the state this year.First-term U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar’s national profile has helped inspire a flood of donations to both her challenger in August’s DFL primary, Antone Melton-Meaux, as well as the most prominent Republican running for the seat, Lacy Johnson.Melton-Meaux raised an eye-popping $3.2 million from April to June, several times more than Omar’s $471,000. He has twice as much money in the bank as Omar for the final month before the August primary.His support...WW…

Republicans in the Minnesota House of Representatives are playing hardball in their effort to end the emergency powers Gov. Tim Walz has assumed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt announced Saturday that House Republicans will block passage of a package of infrastructure projects unless Walz’s emergency powers end. Walz declared a “peacetime emergency” on March 13 in response to COVID-19, which . These emergency powers are authorized by a decades-old law, with two key restrictions: the emergency powers need to be ratified by the of senior statewide...…Republicans in the Minnesota House of Representatives are playing hardball in their effort to end the emergency powers Gov. Tim Walz has assumed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt announced Saturday that House Republicans will block passage of a package of infrastructure projects unless Walz’s emergency powers end. Walz declared a “peacetime emergency” on March 13 in response to COVID-19, which . These emergency powers are authorized by a decades-old law, with two key restrictions: the emergency powers need to be ratified by the of senior statewide...WW…

On Aug. 11, Minnesota voters will choose the DFL and Republican nominees for U.S. Senate, most of the state’s U.S. House seats and dozens of state legislative seats.The deadline for candidates to file for, or withdraw from, state-level races has passed, setting the ballot for the summer primary and, in some cases, the November general election.At the top of the ticket, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, a Democrat, will face off against challengers Steve Carlson, Ahmad Hassan, Paula Overby and Christopher Seymore in the August primary, as she seeks her first full six-year term in office. Smith was...…On Aug. 11, Minnesota voters will choose the DFL and Republican nominees for U.S. Senate, most of the state’s U.S. House seats and dozens of state legislative seats.The deadline for candidates to file for, or withdraw from, state-level races has passed, setting the ballot for the summer primary and, in some cases, the November general election.At the top of the ticket, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, a Democrat, will face off against challengers Steve Carlson, Ahmad Hassan, Paula Overby and Christopher Seymore in the August primary, as she seeks her first full six-year term in office. Smith was...WW…

COVID-19 continues to take a brutal toll on Minnesota. The Health Department on Thursday reported 92 more deaths tied to the disease. The three highest daily death counts in the pandemic have all come in the past week, pushing the seven-day average to 58 deaths reported daily, a record high in the pandemic.New hospital admissions retreated from Tuesday’s record seven-day average, but hospitalization levels remain high. More than with COVID-19 as of Wednesday; more than 350 needed intensive care.The latest numbers come as officials brace for another expected wave of cases, hospitalizations...…COVID-19 continues to take a brutal toll on Minnesota. The Health Department on Thursday reported 92 more deaths tied to the disease. The three highest daily death counts in the pandemic have all come in the past week, pushing the seven-day average to 58 deaths reported daily, a record high in the pandemic.New hospital admissions retreated from Tuesday’s record seven-day average, but hospitalization levels remain high. More than with COVID-19 as of Wednesday; more than 350 needed intensive care.The latest numbers come as officials brace for another expected wave of cases, hospitalizations...WW…

Minnesota Republican Party Chair Jennifer Carnahan claimed Thursday night that the state’s 2020 election showed "extreme abnormalities and statistical variations from Minnesota's historic voter trends." But her examples are either off-base, vague or flat-out wrong. Carnahan begins with a general claim: It's "unusual" that President Donald Trump did worse in Minnesota in 2020 than 2016, despite putting much more effort into winning the state this year. This is relatively vague, so it's hard to firmly prove or disprove. Still, while it's true Trump put a lot more effort into Minnesota...…Minnesota Republican Party Chair Jennifer Carnahan claimed Thursday night that the state’s 2020 election showed "extreme abnormalities and statistical variations from Minnesota's historic voter trends." But her examples are either off-base, vague or flat-out wrong. Carnahan begins with a general claim: It's "unusual" that President Donald Trump did worse in Minnesota in 2020 than 2016, despite putting much more effort into winning the state this year. This is relatively vague, so it's hard to firmly prove or disprove. Still, while it's true Trump put a lot more effort into Minnesota...WW…

More than 635,000 Minnesotans have already voted in November’s election — with just over three weeks to go until Election Day.That compares to a total of 676,000 Minnesotans voting early in the entire 2016 election. Minnesota is likely to cross that threshold over the next week. On top of that, the Secretary of State’s office reports another 900,000 Minnesotans have requested absentee ballots but not yet sent them in. Some of those people won’t end up voting, and some will vote in person. But all indications are that absentee balloting in 2020 will shatter all historical records.So...…More than 635,000 Minnesotans have already voted in November’s election — with just over three weeks to go until Election Day.That compares to a total of 676,000 Minnesotans voting early in the entire 2016 election. Minnesota is likely to cross that threshold over the next week. On top of that, the Secretary of State’s office reports another 900,000 Minnesotans have requested absentee ballots but not yet sent them in. Some of those people won’t end up voting, and some will vote in person. But all indications are that absentee balloting in 2020 will shatter all historical records.So...WW…

Minnesota officials on Thursday reported the second-highest number of new COVID-19 hospital admissions in a single day in the pandemic, suggesting that some of the recent surge in newly confirmed cases is surfacing now in hospital beds.Health Department data showed 98 new hospital admissions, the highest total since May. Average hospitalizations are at their highest point since June. There were 22 newly reported intensive care admissions.Eight more deaths reported Thursday raised Minnesota’s toll to 2,107. Among those who’ve died, about 71 percent had been living in long-term care or...…Minnesota officials on Thursday reported the second-highest number of new COVID-19 hospital admissions in a single day in the pandemic, suggesting that some of the recent surge in newly confirmed cases is surfacing now in hospital beds.Health Department data showed 98 new hospital admissions, the highest total since May. Average hospitalizations are at their highest point since June. There were 22 newly reported intensive care admissions.Eight more deaths reported Thursday raised Minnesota’s toll to 2,107. Among those who’ve died, about 71 percent had been living in long-term care or...WW…

Minnesota’s yo-yoing COVID-19 case numbers in recent weeks have meant some drastic swings in school districts’ safe learning recommendations, but state health officials say they’re taking the data irregularities into account when working with schools to set learning plans.A formula produced by the Health Department generates guidance for districts to help decide whether to have in-person learning, distance learning, or a mix, based on the rate of COVID-19 cases in that district’s county over a two-week period.The most recent recommendations, released Thursday, cover cases from Aug. 23 to...…Minnesota’s yo-yoing COVID-19 case numbers in recent weeks have meant some drastic swings in school districts’ safe learning recommendations, but state health officials say they’re taking the data irregularities into account when working with schools to set learning plans.A formula produced by the Health Department generates guidance for districts to help decide whether to have in-person learning, distance learning, or a mix, based on the rate of COVID-19 cases in that district’s county over a two-week period.The most recent recommendations, released Thursday, cover cases from Aug. 23 to...WW…

After months of closed federal courtrooms in Minnesota due to COVID-19, federal jury trials are set to resume on Monday.The last time a defendant faced a federal jury in Minnesota was in early February, when jurors convicted 50-year-old Dwight Frederick Barnes of distributing methamphetamine. Monday’s case, in which Cristino Martinez Padilla faces methamphetamine charges, will unfold with a range of safety precautions in a St. Paul courtroom. Plexiglass panels have been erected between juror seats, and potential jurors have been screened for health risks."If they have underlying...…After months of closed federal courtrooms in Minnesota due to COVID-19, federal jury trials are set to resume on Monday.The last time a defendant faced a federal jury in Minnesota was in early February, when jurors convicted 50-year-old Dwight Frederick Barnes of distributing methamphetamine. Monday’s case, in which Cristino Martinez Padilla faces methamphetamine charges, will unfold with a range of safety precautions in a St. Paul courtroom. Plexiglass panels have been erected between juror seats, and potential jurors have been screened for health risks."If they have underlying...WW…