Man re-arrested by ICE a second time. Copper mining ban may return to Legislature

Here’s a quick look at news across the state Tuesday morning.

A man who Immigration and Customs Enforcement released and instantly re-arrested has been released and re-arrested a second time. ICE’s lawyers argued in federal court Monday that instantly re-arresting a Guatemalan man twice at the Whipple building didn’t violate a judge’s release orders. U.S. District Judge John Tunheim already ruled the first re-arrest violated his release order. He’ll rule on the second re-arrest soon.

Backers of a state ban on copper mining near the Boundary Waters are optimistic following last week’s election. DFL state Rep. Alex Falconer of Eden Prairie says he plans to reintroduce a bill to ban mining at the state level. But supporters say Democratic legislative majorities don’t guarantee its passage. Republican state Rep. Roger Skraba of Ely hopes Democrats will collaborate.

The Spring Lake Park mayor’s race that ended in a tie during last week’s election now has a winner. After 2,802 votes, the city’s mayoral election came down to a film canister pulled from a bag on Monday. Incumbent Robert Nelson defeated challenger Halyn Roth after his name was selected.