>>School resource officer use-of-force “fix” headed for MN Senate floor
(St. Paul, MN) — A compromise bill to “fix” the brand-new law on use-of-force by school-based resource officers awaits a vote in the Minnesota Senate after clearing its final committee today (Thurs). Questions were raised about whether it applies to contracted security officers, Commissioner Bob Jacobson saying the Public Safety Department’s interpretation is that “security officers are agents of the school, therefore we believe that they are not allowed to use prone restraints.” But Minneapolis Democrat Bobby Joe Champion asked for clarity, because of what happened last summer after the legislature passed the law now being fixed. Champion says, “The allies and everyone around the table, they all got together and they said, you know, this is good. And the moment that it got into the marketplace, there was confusion that happened all over, because of what? Different interpretations of the same language.” But a majority on the committee apparently felt the bill is clear as-is, so it moves to a Senate floor vote. The Minnesota House passed a companion bill Monday.
>>State Rep. Frazier is Congresswoman Omar’s guest at tonight’s State of the Union address
(Washington, DC) — Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minneapolis will host State Representative Cedrick Frazier of New Hope as her guest at tonight’s (Thurs 8pm CT) State of the Union Address. Omar says Representative Frazier led the charge last year to pass Minnesota’s historic “Restore the Vote legislation,” which restored voting rights to over 55-thousand Minnesotans with past felony convictions. Omar says Frazier’s work in Minnesota shows the rest of the country what is possible. Omar says an estimated 4.5 million Americans remain unable to vote due to a felony conviction, while millions more face confusing laws and systemic barriers.
>>Class 2A Boys State Hockey Tournament Continues in St. Paul
(St. Paul, MN) — Chanhassen and Cretin-Derham Hall are moving on to the semifinals of the Minnesota State Boys High School Hockey Tournament. Chanhassen skated past Rochester Century/John Marshall 7-0 today (Thurs) in the first Class 2-A game. Cretin-Derham Hall outlasted Centennial 4-3 in double overtime this afternoon. Perennial powerhouse Edina plays Elk River/Zimmerman at 6 pm and White Bear Lake faces Grand Rapids in the late game tonight (8pm) . The Class A and 2-A semifinals are tomorrow (Fri) at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
>>Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar Did Not Vote In Tuesday’s Election
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(Undated) — Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar says she did not vote in the primary election held on Tuesday. In an interview with Politico, the 5th District Democrat noted some votes chose the “uncommitted” option on their ballots. About 46,000 Minnesotans voted that way to protest against President Biden’s handling of the Hamas-Israel conflict. Omar says people are angry, frustrated and sad — and want the president to modify his policies.
>>MN Senate committee passes bill requiring insurance companies cover cost of wigs for cancer-related hair loss
(St. Paul, MN) — State Senator Kari Dziedzic’s bill requiring insurance companies to cover the cost of wigs for cancer-related hair loss passed a Senate committee almost immediately today (THURS). Dziedzic told colleagues, “When my hair fell out, it was like a cold slap in the face. It was, okay, now you look like a cancer patient.” 61-year-old Dziedzic was treated last year for ovarian cancer, but stepped down as Senate majority leader just days before the 2024 Legislative session began due to a recurring diagnosis. Dziedzic says, “I really didn’t want to show up on the Senate floor bald, so I just went to buy a wig. I had the resources to buy the wig, but not everybody does.” Dziedic notes nearly 38-thousand Minnesotans will get cancer this year.
>>Bill in MN Senate would require all health insurance plans cover gender-affirming care
(St. Paul, MN) — A bill is moving forward in the Democrat-controlled state Senate that would require all health insurance plans in Minnesota cover what’s called gender-affirming care. Republicans tried unsuccessfully to exempt religious groups, Fergus Falls Senator Jordan Rasmusson pointing to “organizations who have sincerely-held religious beliefs that would prevent them from wanting the resources that they have to go to pay for the services described.” But Minneapolis Democrat Scott Dibble warns that would create two classes of people in Minnesota and determine who has a fundamental civil and human right to “affirm who they are as a human being and access what they need to live lives of dignity and worth.” A companion bill is moving forward in the Democrat-controlled Minnesota House.
>>Xcel Energy Admits to Possibly Being Involved in Texas Wildfire
(Minneapolis, MN) — Minnesota-based Xcel Energy said today (THURS) that its facilities appeared to have played a role in igniting the biggest wildfire in Texas history. The Smokehouse Creek fire burned nearly 1,700 square miles and destroyed hundreds of structures. Xcel disputes claims that “it acted negligently” in m