A project labor agreement signed today specifies that entirely union workers will build the proposed upgrade to Enbridge’s Line 3 pipeline through northern Minnesota. Leaders of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49 have lobbied for the project for a number of years and say union labor means the project will not only be […]
Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge still stuck, de-icing operations under way
Crews began de-icing operations late this morning on Duluth’s Aerial Lift Bridge, which is stuck in the “down” position because of ice build-up from last weekend’s massive storm. Jayson Hron with the Duluth Seaway Port Authority says they’re hopeful the lift bridge will be back in operation tomorrow — or even tonight if everything goes […]
Human Services head advises lawmakers not to split troubled agency into separate departments
Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead says Governor Tim Walz will have an announcement later this week about restructuring in that troubled state agency. But on Monday Harpstead advised lawmakers not to break the department into several separate agencies. She says, “When you split departments and people over time — not in a planful way, but […]
Duluth/Superior continues digging out after major storm
The dig-out continues in Duluth after a major storm dumped nearly two feet of snow on the Twin Ports over Thanksgiving weekend. The city’s Kate Van Daele says plows cleared main streets Monday and started on residential streets. She says, “Duluth has the largest grader fleet in the state of Minnesota, and so we are […]
Thanksgiving weekend shootings in Mpls spark renewed calls for gun background checks, red flag law
Five shooting deaths in Minneapolis over the Thanksgiving weekend have anti-gun-violence advocates renewing calls at the State Capitol for universal background checks on gun sales plus a “red flag” law. The Reverend Nancy Nord Bence with Protect Minnesota says, “Senate leadership is blocking votes on bills that could be saving lives, bills that passed in […]
Minneapolis man charged in murder of his child’s mother
A court appearance today for a Minneapolis man charged with second-degree intentional murder in the Thankgiving night shooting death of his child’s mother. Officers arrested 41-year-old Randall Watkins at the front door of a north Minneapolis residence. Inside they found 27-year-old Raven Gant on the floor with a gunshot wound as her two-year-old daughter stood […]
Human Services commissioner gives lawmakers progress report 90 days after taking helm
Commissioner Jodi Harpstead gave lawmakers a progress report 90 days after taking the helm at the troubled state Human Services Department — and Willmar Republican Dave Baker asked, “Has anybody yet been reassigned or disciplined for the mistake that obviously was made?” Harpstead said, “What has changed is the Operation Stopgap, so that people have […]
Walz administration wants more low-emission and electric vehicles in MN
More low-emission and electric vehicles in Minnesota — that’s one objective of an advisory council on climate change that Governor Tim Walz is setting up. Pollution Control Agency Commissioner Laura Bishop says beginning with 2023 models, manufacturers would be required to offer a certain percentage of low-emission or electric vehicles in Minnesota. And what about […]
New state budget forecast due out later this week
As most Minnesotans keep an eye on the weather forecast, lawmakers are waiting for the latest state *budget* forecast that comes out later this week (Thurs). Among other important information, it tells legislators whether they’ll have a continued surplus in the 2020 session or will have to deal with a deficit. Governor Tim Walz predicts […]
Lawmakers to get 90-day progress report from new state Human Services Dept. head
Commissioner Jodi Harpstead gives lawmakers a progress report this morning, 90 days after taking the helm at the troubled state Human Services Department — and Harpstead could outline her plans for restructuring the state’s largest agency. Governor Tim Walz says, “Probably makes sense, because these problems have been there for decades, that there will be […]