Top Minnesota lawmakers said they were on the cusp of a deal on police accountability measures that gained steam after the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers.The pact, which had yet to appear in written form, could be voted on later Monday. As described by Republican Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, it would ban chokeholds like the one used in the deadly Floyd encounter, bar warrior-style police training, revise arbitration procedures in disciplinary cases and set up an advisory board to consult with a law enforcement licensing entity."At this point, I would say that...…Top Minnesota lawmakers said they were on the cusp of a deal on police accountability measures that gained steam after the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers.The pact, which had yet to appear in written form, could be voted on later Monday. As described by Republican Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, it would ban chokeholds like the one used in the deadly Floyd encounter, bar warrior-style police training, revise arbitration procedures in disciplinary cases and set up an advisory board to consult with a law enforcement licensing entity."At this point, I would say that...WW…

A lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court is challenging the constitutionality of Minnesota’s mask mandate.DFL Gov. Tim Walz last month through an executive order to help stop the spread of COVID-19. But a group of Republican lawmakers and voters, including the watchdog group Minnesota Voters Alliance, is suing Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison and other officials. They want the mask requirement halted ahead of next week’s primary election.The mask mandate conflicts with an existing state law that prohibits mask-wearing in public, said Erick Kaardal, the plaintiffs’ attorney.“With the...…A lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court is challenging the constitutionality of Minnesota’s mask mandate.DFL Gov. Tim Walz last month through an executive order to help stop the spread of COVID-19. But a group of Republican lawmakers and voters, including the watchdog group Minnesota Voters Alliance, is suing Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison and other officials. They want the mask requirement halted ahead of next week’s primary election.The mask mandate conflicts with an existing state law that prohibits mask-wearing in public, said Erick Kaardal, the plaintiffs’ attorney.“With the...WW…

Minnesota Democrats are criticizing a Republican state senator for golfing during an online committee hearing. Minnesota DFL Party Chair Ken Martin said Republican Sen. Scott Jensen, of Chaska, owes the state an apology for his behavior.The DFL Party circulated video clips from Thursday’s Health and Human Service Finance and Policy Committee meeting that show Jensen participating remotely from a golf course and sitting in a golf cart. At one point, a fellow committee member in another location, DFL Sen. Jeff Hayden of Minneapolis, asks Jensen how he’s hitting.Martin said Jensen’s actions...…Minnesota Democrats are criticizing a Republican state senator for golfing during an online committee hearing. Minnesota DFL Party Chair Ken Martin said Republican Sen. Scott Jensen, of Chaska, owes the state an apology for his behavior.The DFL Party circulated video clips from Thursday’s Health and Human Service Finance and Policy Committee meeting that show Jensen participating remotely from a golf course and sitting in a golf cart. At one point, a fellow committee member in another location, DFL Sen. Jeff Hayden of Minneapolis, asks Jensen how he’s hitting.Martin said Jensen’s actions...WW…

A suburban mayor announced Thursday that he will be a Republican candidate for governor next year.Mike Murphy has served as mayor of Lexington, Minn., a small north metro suburb located between Blaine and Circle Pines, since 2019. He previously served on the City Council.Murphy is the first Republican to enter the race, although several big names have circulated as potential candidates.DFL Gov. Tim Walz is expected to seek a second term.In announcing his campaign, Murphy said he has grown frustrated by the direction of politics in the state. He wants lawmakers to do more to work...…A suburban mayor announced Thursday that he will be a Republican candidate for governor next year.Mike Murphy has served as mayor of Lexington, Minn., a small north metro suburb located between Blaine and Circle Pines, since 2019. He previously served on the City Council.Murphy is the first Republican to enter the race, although several big names have circulated as potential candidates.DFL Gov. Tim Walz is expected to seek a second term.In announcing his campaign, Murphy said he has grown frustrated by the direction of politics in the state. He wants lawmakers to do more to work...WW…

Republicans have spent months arguing for an end to the peacetime emergency that allows Gov. Tim Walz to issue orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. During a series of special sessions last year, the Republican-controlled Senate voted to end the emergency while the DFL-led House did not.Now they’re trying to enact new laws to chip away at Walz’s power. Sen. Dave Osmek, R-Mound, wants to change the law to require a legislative vote each time the governor orders a 30-day extension of the peacetime emergency. Such a move would restore the Legislature’s coequal power, Osmek said. “The...…Republicans have spent months arguing for an end to the peacetime emergency that allows Gov. Tim Walz to issue orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. During a series of special sessions last year, the Republican-controlled Senate voted to end the emergency while the DFL-led House did not.Now they’re trying to enact new laws to chip away at Walz’s power. Sen. Dave Osmek, R-Mound, wants to change the law to require a legislative vote each time the governor orders a 30-day extension of the peacetime emergency. Such a move would restore the Legislature’s coequal power, Osmek said. “The...WW…

Gov. Tim Walz criticized Republican legislative leaders Monday for not taking a strong enough stand against the political violence in Washington and recent threats made in Minnesota. Republican leaders have compared the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol last week to protests here after the police killing of George Floyd.Walz remains upset about the assault on the Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump.The president incited his supporters to storm the building, Walz said, noting during a legislative preview event that a rally in St. Paul the same day included people making...…Gov. Tim Walz criticized Republican legislative leaders Monday for not taking a strong enough stand against the political violence in Washington and recent threats made in Minnesota. Republican leaders have compared the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol last week to protests here after the police killing of George Floyd.Walz remains upset about the assault on the Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump.The president incited his supporters to storm the building, Walz said, noting during a legislative preview event that a rally in St. Paul the same day included people making...WW…

State officials say they are starting to make payments to teenagers who lost jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is making the payments to student workers who qualify for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program — or PUA.“We are moving as quickly as possible to issue those retroactive PUA payments and encourage any high school student whose job has been impacted by COVID-19 to apply at , immediately,” said Steve Grove, the state's employment and economic development commissioner.High school workers were deemed eligible for...…State officials say they are starting to make payments to teenagers who lost jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is making the payments to student workers who qualify for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program — or PUA.“We are moving as quickly as possible to issue those retroactive PUA payments and encourage any high school student whose job has been impacted by COVID-19 to apply at , immediately,” said Steve Grove, the state's employment and economic development commissioner.High school workers were deemed eligible for...WW…

Republicans in the Minnesota House and Senate are pledging to lift COVID-19 restrictions on businesses, churches and schools if they’re put in charge next year.With just over two weeks before Election Day, Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake, and House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, R-Zimmerman, outlined Monday what they call their “Contract To Open Minnesota.”Gazelka said he wants schools fully opened across the state, including sports and other extracurricular activities.“We now trust Minnesotans to look at the data, look at the science, follow the CDC guidelines and live...…Republicans in the Minnesota House and Senate are pledging to lift COVID-19 restrictions on businesses, churches and schools if they’re put in charge next year.With just over two weeks before Election Day, Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake, and House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, R-Zimmerman, outlined Monday what they call their “Contract To Open Minnesota.”Gazelka said he wants schools fully opened across the state, including sports and other extracurricular activities.“We now trust Minnesotans to look at the data, look at the science, follow the CDC guidelines and live...WW…