Minnesota News Network

A number of Minnesotans are headed to the huge motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota that begins tomorrow (Fri), despite COVID warnings from state health officials. Commissioner Jan Malcolm says, “There are people coming in to the event from high-incidence states and… it’s just a pretty ripe environment for further spread and folks bringing the virus back to their home communities.”

Malcolm urges Minnesotans who attend the Sturgis rally to quarantine for 14 days when they get back, watch for symptoms, and be tested for COVID five to seven days after returning, even if no symptoms appear. Malcolm says a self-quarantine would be a “very thoughtful thing to do”, to ensure the safety of others.

A military investigation blames the December crash of a National Guard Blackhawk helicopter that took the lives of three soldiers on incorrect installation of an engine part… an inspector not catching the error… and the maintenance test pilot not taking proper action when critical problems developed during the test flight. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Charles Paul Nord, Chief Warrant Officer 2 James A. Rogers Junior and Warrant Officer Candidate Kort M. Plantenberg were killed when the chopper crashed in rural Stearns County. The investigation report recommends the National Guard take administrative action against the mechanic and the inspector, and provide additional emergency procedure training for all of its pilots.

A controversial city council proposal to replace the Minneapolis Police Department with a “Community Safety and Violence Prevention” agency will *not* be on the ballot this fall after the Charter Commission voted 10-to-5 Wednesday evening to further study the issue. Commissioner Toni Newborn voted against the delay, saying change must happen now: “I hear gunshots on my block,” she said.
“My first inclination is to call the police. But I worry that if I call them that my husband, who’s African-American Black, and if he goes out to meet them, he will be harassed, harmed or shot by Minneapolis police officers.” But Newborn also said she has serious concerns about the city council proposal.

Commissioner Gregory Abbott said the issue deserves “much more scrutiny and discussion.” “The question is not whether a referendum should be held, but when it should be held,” he said. “Should we hold it this year, or should we hold it next year in the general election in 2021?” The next Minneapolis mayoral election is in 2021.

Commissioner Jill Garcia said for an issue that involves the safety of Minneapolis residents, “This isn’t a popularity [contest]. This isn’t a bumper-sticker, slogan, soundbite debate.” Commission members have been under intense pressure from those who want to dismantle M-P-D and those who oppose doing that.

Fifth District Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is tapping support from community leaders and elected officials as she faces a tough primary election battle next Tuesday against fellow Democrat Antone Melton-Meaux. D-F-L Party leaders have filed a federal elections complaint, alleging his campaign set up mysterious shell companies to hide millions of dollars in spending.

A Melton-Meaux spokesman says it’s to distract from Omar’s own campaign finance issues. She responds, “The party didn’t do anything to benefit me. The party did what they think is right.” Omar adds she’s had many challenging primary elections.

State officials for budget reasons are closing Minnesota’s two smallest prisons, in Willow River and Togo, and will move inmates to two other facilities — either Stillwater, Faribault, Lino Lakes or Red Wing. And what about COVID concerns at those facilities? Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell says, “We will increase the density but we will manage this. We’re able to manage this a little bit better because our [prison] population is as low as it is. And we are really mindful and careful about how we do this.”

The American Civil Liberties Union plans to appeal after a judge threw out a lawsuit alleging the state is not properly protecting inmates from COVID at the prison in Moose Lake.

Don’t expect state lawmakers to try a fourth time to pass a bonding bill for state public works projects, when the legislature likely has another special session around the middle of this month. House Speaker, Democrat Melissa Hortman says because the state is selling previously-authorized bonds in August, that special session will be “a very quick in-and-out” with *no* action on a bonding bill. She says, “If we were to disrupt the state’s financial situation, that would make it more difficult to sell our bonds. It might even violate S-E-C regulations.

Hortman says the “do-or-die” time for a bonding bill will be in mid- to late-September. But the measure remains in limbo because House Republicans continue saying they won’t provide necessary votes unless Governor Tim Walz gives up his COVID emergency powers.

Officials said today they’ll look at other routes for a proposed Blue Line light rail extension in the northwest metro, after Burlington Northern Santa Fe said for years it won’t share its right-of-way with passenger service. Metropolitan Council Chairman Charles Zelle says a different route could actually serve the area better. “This area of the metro has a very high concentration of low-income and communities of color…. When we think about this now, the highest priority is to have inclusive growth for everybody in our metro area,” Zelle says.

Light rail expansion has seen strong opposition from Republicans at the legislature, who contend bus rapid transit is more cost-effective. Zelle responds he can make a strong case for a mix of different modes of transit.