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…

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…

15:50News StoryLt. Bob Kroll called the video showing the police killing of George Floyd “horrific” but denied racism played a role in his death. Photo by Max Nesterak/Minnesota Reformer.Xby Rilyn Eischens, June 24, 2020by Rilyn Eischens, June 24, 2020Minneapolis Police Federation President Lt. Bob Kroll criticized civilian oversight of police and offered advice on defeating civilian review proposals on a March police podcast. When “The Skirmish Line” podcast host and Tulsa Police union leader Jerad Lindsey said sarcastically that civilian oversight must have had positive effects on...…15:50News StoryLt. Bob Kroll called the video showing the police killing of George Floyd “horrific” but denied racism played a role in his death. Photo by Max Nesterak/Minnesota Reformer.Xby Rilyn Eischens, June 24, 2020by Rilyn Eischens, June 24, 2020Minneapolis Police Federation President Lt. Bob Kroll criticized civilian oversight of police and offered advice on defeating civilian review proposals on a March police podcast. When “The Skirmish Line” podcast host and Tulsa Police union leader Jerad Lindsey said sarcastically that civilian oversight must have had positive effects on...WW…

Prosecutors of the former Minneapolis police officer charged with murdering George Floyd a memorandum on Monday to introduce body camera footage showing a similar incident in 2017.They say the body cam video shows Derek Chauvin hitting a 14-year-old boy in the head with a flashlight twice before kneeling on his back for 17 minutes, despite the boy’s pleas that he couldn’t breathe.Prosecutors previously filed motions to seven other incidents involving Chauvin, one involving J. Alexander Kueng, and nine involving Tou Thao as evidence against them. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder...…Prosecutors of the former Minneapolis police officer charged with murdering George Floyd a memorandum on Monday to introduce body camera footage showing a similar incident in 2017.They say the body cam video shows Derek Chauvin hitting a 14-year-old boy in the head with a flashlight twice before kneeling on his back for 17 minutes, despite the boy’s pleas that he couldn’t breathe.Prosecutors previously filed motions to seven other incidents involving Chauvin, one involving J. Alexander Kueng, and nine involving Tou Thao as evidence against them. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder...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…

Every weekday morning, J. Patrick Coolican delivers hot political news out of the Minnesota Capitol and Washington, along with fresh insights on what’s really happening and why it matters to Minnesotans.XRepublishing Guidelines ▪ You must give Minnesota Reformer credit, including https://www.minnesotareformer.com/ and author.▪ If you publish online, include the links from the story, and a link to Minnesota Reformer.▪ Stories may be edited for in-house style or to shorten. More substantial changes should be noted as additional and conducted by your publication.▪ You can publish our graphics...…Every weekday morning, J. Patrick Coolican delivers hot political news out of the Minnesota Capitol and Washington, along with fresh insights on what’s really happening and why it matters to Minnesotans.XRepublishing Guidelines ▪ You must give Minnesota Reformer credit, including https://www.minnesotareformer.com/ and author.▪ If you publish online, include the links from the story, and a link to Minnesota Reformer.▪ Stories may be edited for in-house style or to shorten. More substantial changes should be noted as additional and conducted by your publication.▪ You can publish our graphics...WW…

14:20News StoryU.S. Representative Jim Hagedorn has spent roughly $280,000, or about 19% of his entire annual budget, just on printing and sending mail to constituents between Jan. 1 and March 31.Correction: The story has been updated to correct Bryson Morgan’s previous employer. He is a former investigator with the Office of Congressional Ethics. Xby Daniel Newhauser, August 15, 2020by Daniel Newhauser, August 15, 2020WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn likes to boast on mail he sends to his constituents that his postcards are, “Proudly printed in Minnesota!”What the Minnesota...…14:20News StoryU.S. Representative Jim Hagedorn has spent roughly $280,000, or about 19% of his entire annual budget, just on printing and sending mail to constituents between Jan. 1 and March 31.Correction: The story has been updated to correct Bryson Morgan’s previous employer. He is a former investigator with the Office of Congressional Ethics. Xby Daniel Newhauser, August 15, 2020by Daniel Newhauser, August 15, 2020WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn likes to boast on mail he sends to his constituents that his postcards are, “Proudly printed in Minnesota!”What the Minnesota...WW…

18:02News StoryThe George Floyd was covered with a blue tarp that says “Under conservation.” Photo by Deena Winter/Minnesota Reformer.The now famous mural of George Floyd on the side of Cup Foods in south Minneapolis was defaced with spray paint Tuesday night and is now covered by a tarp.Floyd was killed at the hands of Minneapolis police outside the store at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue after an employee called 911 to report he allegedly passed a fake $20 bill. The colorful mural, painted soon after, became the backdrop to Floyd’s memorial service, nearly daily rallies and countless...…18:02News StoryThe George Floyd was covered with a blue tarp that says “Under conservation.” Photo by Deena Winter/Minnesota Reformer.The now famous mural of George Floyd on the side of Cup Foods in south Minneapolis was defaced with spray paint Tuesday night and is now covered by a tarp.Floyd was killed at the hands of Minneapolis police outside the store at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue after an employee called 911 to report he allegedly passed a fake $20 bill. The colorful mural, painted soon after, became the backdrop to Floyd’s memorial service, nearly daily rallies and countless...WW…

14:56BriefPhoto by Max Nesterak/Minnesota Reformer.More than 75 small businesses in Minneapolis have calling on city and county leaders to create a mental health emergency response team that can respond to 911 calls around the clock without an armed police officer.If the city and county agree, Minneapolis could join a short but growing list of cities that are offloading mental health crises from police departments.“Many small business owners and staff are put in the unfortunate position of being forced to call the police for interactions that do not truly require an armed response, simply...…14:56BriefPhoto by Max Nesterak/Minnesota Reformer.More than 75 small businesses in Minneapolis have calling on city and county leaders to create a mental health emergency response team that can respond to 911 calls around the clock without an armed police officer.If the city and county agree, Minneapolis could join a short but growing list of cities that are offloading mental health crises from police departments.“Many small business owners and staff are put in the unfortunate position of being forced to call the police for interactions that do not truly require an armed response, simply...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…