>>Supreme Court Denies Request to Keep Former Presiden Trump Off of MN Presidential Primary Ballot
(St. Paul, MN) – Former Secretary of State Joan Growe says there’s no decision yet on whether to return to court before next November’s general election after the state Supreme Court denied her group’s request to keep Donald Trump’s name off Minnesota’s presidential primary ballot in March. The question is whether Trump incited an insurrection on January 6th, which could disqualify him from holding office. Trump backers say that should be voters’ decision but Growe disagrees, saying candidates for public office must meet certain stipulations. Growe says, “And this is just one additional stipulation that hasn’t been — and hasn’t needed to be, probably — brought to the attention of candidates or the public for some time.” Minnesota G-O-P leaders say the Supreme Court’s ruling should tell President Biden’s allies that Minnesota courtrooms will not be used to prevent voters from fully participating in elections.
>>MDR Says Thousands of Uncashed Rebate Checks to Expire This Month
(St. Paul, MN) – According to the Minnesota Department of Revenue, thousands of uncashed rebate checks are set to expire this month. Around 150,000 paper checks sent in September are expected to hit the 60-day expiration point and will need to be reissued. The department says some reasons for the checks not being cashed include people returning the check due to personal beliefs, not having an updated address, and people destroying the check under the belief it was junk mail or fake. Reissued checks will go out in two batches, one in mid-November and the other in the first week of December. The state says the reissues are not the last opportunity for eligible Minnesotans to receive the rebate and it will continue to provide outreach to taxpayers who have not yet claimed the payment.
>>Man, Three Dogs Dead in Aurora Home Fire
(Iron Range, MN) — A man and three dogs are dead after a home on the Iron Range caught fire Thursday night. Fire crews responded to an Aurora home around 6 p.m. Thursday, finding it fully engulfed in flames. A neighbor tried to enter before fire crews arrived but couldn’t, due to how severe the fire was. Firefighters eventually found an adult man and three dogs dead inside the home, who were reported to have lived there. The Midwest Medical Examiner is performing an autopsy for ID and cause of death; the state Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.
>>MN Applications Now Being Accepted for LIHEAP Program
(Undated) – More than two million Minnesotans received direct deposits or paper checks from the state. Officials with the state Commerce Department are reminding Minnesotans applications are now being accepted for heating assistance through the LIHEAP program. (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program) State Energy Assistance Program Director Michael Schmitz says, “If you’re struggling to pay your energy bills or if you know somebody who’s struggling it might be a neighbor, a friend, or a relative I really encourage you to apply yourself or help those folks that you know who are struggling to apply.” Schmitz says the state’s Cold Weather Rule protects homeowners and renters from disconnection during the winter, but you have to set up a payment plan with your utility.
>>Retailers to Sell More Returns as Open-Box Products, U of M Expert Comments
(Minneapolis, MN) – Retailers are looking to sell more open-box products for a price cut instead of liquidating or throwing mass amounts of gift returns during the holidays. U of M Carlson School of Management Professor Necati Ertekin says especially during the holiday season, behavior is different because most purchases are for gifts. Ertekin says, “The increase in sales is directly correlated with an increase in returns, especially in the presence of lenient return policies. As a result, the problem to handle becomes larger as well.” Ertekin’s research shows selling open-box products separately from new products actually increased new product sales by 3.6%, compared to selling them side-by-side.
>>Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Beacon Lighting at Split Rock Lighthouse
(Two Harbors, MN) — The ceremonial lighting of the beacon at the Split Rock Lighthouse is this afternoon at 4:15 p.m. on Lake Superior’s North Shore. The annual gathering commemorates the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald and the loss of the 29 crew members aboard on November 10th, 1975. The names of the crew will be read to the tolling of a ship’s bell, with a rendition of the Naval Hymn before the beacon is lit. The event also honors all the lives lost.