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House OKs Minnesota elections bill addressing voter lawsuits, deep fake penalties
An election policy bill cleared the Minnesota House on a party-line vote. It includes technical updates to voting procedures and creates a new pathway to sue over election laws viewed as potentially discriminatory.
Uptown Art Fair in Minneapolis canceled due to road construction
The Uptown Art Fair in Minneapolis, marking its 60th year in 2024, has been canceled due to construction, offering instead a summerlong Uptown Art Experience with pop-up events and installations.
Minnesota’s new cannabis classes drawing a different kind of student
Minnesota’s move last year to legalize cannabis is cultivating a new market for education. Three public colleges offer noncredit classes now and they’re seeing a mix of retirees, career changers and other nontraditional students looking to take their lives in a new direction.
Study finds Minnesota state bee in tough shape
The first DNA analysis of the rusty patched bumble bee reinforces the precarious state of the endangered species. The data will help bee conservationists determine the best options for protecting and rebuilding the population.
St. Olaf election project drives turnout, primes students for more productive political conversations
St. Olaf College in Northfield has one of the highest voter turnouts in the country. In 2020, nearly 90 percent of eligible Oles cast a ballot. Getting out the vote is a big part of the school’s civic engagement work. But equally important is an effort to train students on better ways to discuss politics with people they disagree with.
Frey again pushes Minneapolis City Council to reconsider Uber/Lyft ordinance
Advocates for disabled people as well as downtown business backers joined Mayor Jacob Frey Monday to urge council members to “step back from the cliff.” They say if Uber and Lyft follow through on their promises to leave the city May. 1 people who rely on their services will be negatively impacted.
Minneapolis officials discuss possible next use for former 3rd Precinct site
Minneapolis city officials are recommending that the city’s Elections and Voter Services offices be housed in the former 3rd Precinct police station. However, some council members say the city needs to get more public input before it goes any further on the plan.
Minnesota veteran walks 1,000 miles to eclipse in Texas to spread hope
Daniel Crawford walked from Austin, Minn., to just outside Austin, Texas, to raise awareness and money for Duluth-based charity 23rd Veteran, which Crawford credits for helping him become sober.
Proposed bill seeks to curb copper wire theft in St. Paul
A proposed state bill aiming to curb copper wire theft would require any person selling copper metal to have a state-issued license.
A Republican and a Democrat make the case for civility in politics
Former North Dakota U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, a Democrat, and former North Dakota Gov. Ed Schafer, a Republican, encourage people to break out of a cycle of cultural divisions to work toward bipartisan civil discourse.