Jensen’s announcement makes him the first major candidate to run against first-term Democratic-Farmer-Labor Gov. Tim Walz. The press release doesn’t say Jensen would pursue the Republican Party endorsement or nomination, and doesn’t mention that he’s been a Republican.Jensen was known for his independent streak at the Capitol, including joining DFL colleagues in — a history that could cost him delegates in any Republican endorsement battle.Other potential Walz challengers include Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake, who has said he is considering entering the race but...…Jensen’s announcement makes him the first major candidate to run against first-term Democratic-Farmer-Labor Gov. Tim Walz. The press release doesn’t say Jensen would pursue the Republican Party endorsement or nomination, and doesn’t mention that he’s been a Republican.Jensen was known for his independent streak at the Capitol, including joining DFL colleagues in — a history that could cost him delegates in any Republican endorsement battle.Other potential Walz challengers include Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake, who has said he is considering entering the race but...WW…

11:17BriefState Rep. Erik Mortensen, R-ShakopeeXby Ricardo Lopez, March 1, 2021by Ricardo Lopez, March 1, 2021A Shakopee GOP lawmaker on Sunday night posted the personal cell phone number of a DFL colleague, encouraging his followers to call her to “make (their) voice heard” on a bill he is sponsoring. Freshman state Rep. Erik Mortensen, R-Shakopee, has drawn attention for controversial actions and statements in the few weeks he has been in office, filed against him with the Minnesota House human resources department.  Now, he could face an ethics complaint. State. Rep....…11:17BriefState Rep. Erik Mortensen, R-ShakopeeXby Ricardo Lopez, March 1, 2021by Ricardo Lopez, March 1, 2021A Shakopee GOP lawmaker on Sunday night posted the personal cell phone number of a DFL colleague, encouraging his followers to call her to “make (their) voice heard” on a bill he is sponsoring. Freshman state Rep. Erik Mortensen, R-Shakopee, has drawn attention for controversial actions and statements in the few weeks he has been in office, filed against him with the Minnesota House human resources department.  Now, he could face an ethics complaint. State. Rep....WW…

11:13BriefCapitol police officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC. Congress held a joint session to ratify President-elect Joe Biden’s 306-232 Electoral College win over President Donald Trump. A group of Republican senators said they would reject the Electoral College votes of several states unless Congress appointed a commission to audit the election results. Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images.Xby Ricardo Lopez, February 8, 2021by Ricardo Lopez, February 8,...…11:13BriefCapitol police officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC. Congress held a joint session to ratify President-elect Joe Biden’s 306-232 Electoral College win over President Donald Trump. A group of Republican senators said they would reject the Electoral College votes of several states unless Congress appointed a commission to audit the election results. Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images.Xby Ricardo Lopez, February 8, 2021by Ricardo Lopez, February 8,...WW…

6:03News StoryPhoto courtesy of Minnesota History Center.Xby Ricardo Lopez, December 14, 2020by Ricardo Lopez, December 14, 2020At least 23 Minnesota lawmakers received nearly $1.4 million worth of low-interest, forgivable loans from the federal Paycheck Protection Program, according to newly released data from the Small Business Administration.Democratic-Farmer-Labor and Republican legislators alike received economic assistance from the federal program, approved in late March at the height of draconian stay-at-home orders that temporarily shuttered many businesses and led to an immediate...…6:03News StoryPhoto courtesy of Minnesota History Center.Xby Ricardo Lopez, December 14, 2020by Ricardo Lopez, December 14, 2020At least 23 Minnesota lawmakers received nearly $1.4 million worth of low-interest, forgivable loans from the federal Paycheck Protection Program, according to newly released data from the Small Business Administration.Democratic-Farmer-Labor and Republican legislators alike received economic assistance from the federal program, approved in late March at the height of draconian stay-at-home orders that temporarily shuttered many businesses and led to an immediate...WW…

14:06News StoryState Sen. Jerry Relph, R-St. Cloud, died Friday from complications of COVID-19. He was 76. Photo provided by Dana RelphThrough a spokeswoman, Gazelka declined to say whether he bore any responsibility for Relph’s death.“Jerry was a beloved friend and we are all saddened by his passing,” Senate GOP spokeswoman Rachel Aplikowski said. “We are in contact with the Relph family about Dana’s concerns; they have asked for privacy and we will be respecting their request.”Xby Ricardo Lopez, December 21, 2020by Ricardo Lopez, December 21, 2020The daughter of the late state Sen. Jerry...…14:06News StoryState Sen. Jerry Relph, R-St. Cloud, died Friday from complications of COVID-19. He was 76. Photo provided by Dana RelphThrough a spokeswoman, Gazelka declined to say whether he bore any responsibility for Relph’s death.“Jerry was a beloved friend and we are all saddened by his passing,” Senate GOP spokeswoman Rachel Aplikowski said. “We are in contact with the Relph family about Dana’s concerns; they have asked for privacy and we will be respecting their request.”Xby Ricardo Lopez, December 21, 2020by Ricardo Lopez, December 21, 2020The daughter of the late state Sen. Jerry...WW…

14:13BriefSenate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake, rejected a request from state Sen. Matt Klein, DFL-Mendota Heights, to disclose the full scope of the COVID-19 outbreak among GOP senators and staff.Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake, declined a request to share the number of GOP state senators and staff infected with COVID-19 following an indoors post-election victory party for his caucus on Nov. 5 featuring little mask wearing.State Sen. Matt Klein, DFL-Mendota Heights, a physician, on Tuesday wrote to Gazelka to ask how many members and staff had been...…14:13BriefSenate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake, rejected a request from state Sen. Matt Klein, DFL-Mendota Heights, to disclose the full scope of the COVID-19 outbreak among GOP senators and staff.Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake, declined a request to share the number of GOP state senators and staff infected with COVID-19 following an indoors post-election victory party for his caucus on Nov. 5 featuring little mask wearing.State Sen. Matt Klein, DFL-Mendota Heights, a physician, on Tuesday wrote to Gazelka to ask how many members and staff had been...WW…

Republican prioritiesIf Republicans control one or both chambers of the Legislature, they will be mostly limited to stymying DFL Gov. Tim Walz’s agenda going into his 2022 reelection.But they will also offer a robust agenda of their own, said Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, who is on the GOP team working to take back the House.Republicans are pushing to remove barriers to precious metal mining and the Enbridge Line 3 pipeline in northern Minnesota,The constitutional amendment effort has also drawn the support of a small group DFLers, namely . Education Minnesota, the statewide teachers...…Republican prioritiesIf Republicans control one or both chambers of the Legislature, they will be mostly limited to stymying DFL Gov. Tim Walz’s agenda going into his 2022 reelection.But they will also offer a robust agenda of their own, said Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, who is on the GOP team working to take back the House.Republicans are pushing to remove barriers to precious metal mining and the Enbridge Line 3 pipeline in northern Minnesota,The constitutional amendment effort has also drawn the support of a small group DFLers, namely . Education Minnesota, the statewide teachers...WW…

A Minnesota Republican lawmaker is suing the state’s top elections official, seeking to block an extension to allow mail-in ballots to be counted up to a week after Election Day, Nov. 3. The extension has been granted and approved by the courts to accommodate the large volume of mail-in ballots because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.State Rep. Eric Lucero, R-Dayton, filed the lawsuit on Tuesday in federal court, reviving a months-long legal battle that has already played out in state courts.In August, a state judge between Secretary of State Steve Simon and several advocacy groups, which...…A Minnesota Republican lawmaker is suing the state’s top elections official, seeking to block an extension to allow mail-in ballots to be counted up to a week after Election Day, Nov. 3. The extension has been granted and approved by the courts to accommodate the large volume of mail-in ballots because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.State Rep. Eric Lucero, R-Dayton, filed the lawsuit on Tuesday in federal court, reviving a months-long legal battle that has already played out in state courts.In August, a state judge between Secretary of State Steve Simon and several advocacy groups, which...WW…

13:01BriefAdam Weeks was running for Minnesota’s 2nd congressional seat as the Legal Marijuna Now candidate.A cause of death was not immediately reported.Weeks is a farmer in Goodhue County, according to his biography posted on his campaign website. He also has expressed his support for the Black Lives Matter movement, saying on his campaign platform that “you need to strongly consider that the drug war is the weapon that police use most often to harass minorities.”In a statement, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, reacted to the news.“I was deeply saddened to hear the tragic news of Adam Weeks’...…13:01BriefAdam Weeks was running for Minnesota’s 2nd congressional seat as the Legal Marijuna Now candidate.A cause of death was not immediately reported.Weeks is a farmer in Goodhue County, according to his biography posted on his campaign website. He also has expressed his support for the Black Lives Matter movement, saying on his campaign platform that “you need to strongly consider that the drug war is the weapon that police use most often to harass minorities.”In a statement, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, reacted to the news.“I was deeply saddened to hear the tragic news of Adam Weeks’...WW…