The Week at a Glance
100 days in office:
April 29, 2021: “President Joe Biden’s address to Congress and the Republican response by Sem. Tim Scott”, via the Minnesota Public Radio Staff
Minnesota State Fair 2021:
April 26, 2021: ‘Planning is proceeding’, via Emily Haavik of Kare11
The Census:
April 27, 2021: “Minnesota retains all 8 congressional seats”, via KARE Staff of Kare11
April 27, 2021: “The 2020 census: Nice job, Minnesota”, via the Editorial Board of the Star Tribune
April 27, 2021: “Another suit asks Minnesota courts to oversee redistricting” via The Associated Press
Police Reform:
April 22, 2021: “Minnesota police oversight board votes to ban white supremacists, update crowd control tactics”, via Theo Keith of Fox 9
April 28, 2021:“North Dakota law enforcement halts aid in Minnesota over new deadly force law. Fargo-area sheriff writes Gov. Walz seeking ND officer Exemption”, via April Baumgarten for the Twin Cities Pioneer Press
April 29, 2921: “Gov. Tim Walz joined bipartisan leaders in the Minnesota Legislature Thursday to call for action on Police Reform”, via Forum News Service for Pine Journal,
April 29, 2021: via A.J. Lagoe and Steve Eckert of Kare11, “Innocent MN family held at gunpoint in SWAT no-knock warrant raid
COVID-19:
Seven-day rolling average is 1,648 cases per day. Positive test rate is 4.6%. Over 2.5 million Minnesotans have received at least one vaccine dose.
Latest on COVID-19 in MN: Trends still solid; vaccination pace flat, by the MPR News staff at Minnesota Public Radio.
Three things to note: (1) Active cases trending down; Walz plans more loosening of COVID-19 curbs (2) More than 57% of Minnesotans 16 and older have received at least one dose; 43% fully vaccinated (3) 22 COVID-19 cases linked to recent protests in Brooklyn Center over the police killing of Daunte Wright; 11 among law enforcement
COVID vaccines are getting easier to find in Minnesota, by Lauren Leamanczyk of Kare11 “‘Public health experts explain why vaccine hesitancy can put even those who’ve gotten their shot at risk”
Date night is finally returning to Minnesota, thanks to vaccinated babysitters, by Erica Pearson of the Star Tribune
Key Events, Court Rulings & Executive Branch Developments
April 22, 2021: via Faiza Mahamud of the Star Tribune, “Among Minnesota’s refugees, military presence in Twin Cities stirs painful memories. Many reminded of was, violent conflict in the troubled lands they fled”
April 26, 2021: via Will Englund of the Washington Post, “Minnesota gasps at the financial damage it faces from the Texas freeze
April 28, 2021: via Tanner Curl of MinnPost, “Get your free ticket to our conversation with Sen. Amy Klobuchar on May 4”
April 29, 2021: via Peter Aitken of Fox News, “Minnesota man fined $12 million for police station fire at George Floyd protests.”
April 29, 2021: via Jennifer Bjorhus of the Star Tribune, “Federal regulator steps in to protect Minnesota’s wild rice stands. EPA is forcing Minnesota to add 30 polluted waterways for cleanup”
April 29, 2021: via Erin Golden of the Star Tribune, “Minnesota schools brace for big budget cuts amid pandemic fallout. Pandemic has tightened budgets, but changes could leave districts short”
April 29, 2021: via Jennifer Bjorhus of the Star Tribune, “Minnesota Supreme Court hits pause on PolyMet permit to mine. The DNR must hold a contested case hearing on the permit to mine”
Update from the Minnesota Legislature
April 28, 2021: via Tim Pugmire of Minnesota Public Radio, “Legal pot bill moving in MN House despite Senate GOP opposition”
April 26, 2021: via Brian Bakst of Minnesota Public Radio, “4 weeks left and $1billion to bridge for Minn. lawmakers”
April 29, 2021: via Cathy Wurzer and Tim Nelson of Minnesota Public Radio, “State aid for Twin Cities businesses uncertain as end of session looms”
April 30, 2021: via Andy Mannix of Pine Journal, “Lawmakers enter final battles over a budget”.
April 30, 2021: via Jennifer Lewerenz of KNSI Radio / USA, “Eviction Moratorium Off-Ramp Legislation Passes Minnesota House”