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These Iowans got their first caucus experience in Minnesota
Thirty-two Iowans gathered in St. Paul Monday night. Between excited moments of recognition — “Oh, you’re from Cedar Rapids? Me too!” — they had important political business to finish. For the first time ever, Iowans unable to caucus for Democratic presidential candidates in their home state had the option to attend a number of satellite […]
Minnesota school choice advocates look to landmark SCOTUS case
A United States Supreme Court case could boost Minnesota’s school choice movement after years of failed legislative attempts to create state grants, tax credits and tuition programs for families whose children attend private schools. Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue is a landmark case with the potential to upend school funding across the United States […]
Minnesota gets top rating in LGBTQ equality report
Minnesota received the highest ranking in an annual assessment of state policies affecting LGBTQ people, released today by the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights organization. The state is one of 17 categorized as “working toward innovative equality” by the State Equality Index, which takes into account each state’s nondiscrimination, criminal justice, health and safety […]
Nearly 40% of Minneapolis schools segregated by race
This year, nearly 40% of Minneapolis Public Schools fall into the category of more than about 86% white or students of color. That’s 25 of the district’s 63 schools that are at least roughly 86% white or students of color, according to Minneapolis Public Schools enrollment data. Minneapolis Public Schools released several plans this month […]
About 500 children are using cannabis as medicine in Minnesota. Here’s a breakdown.
Some Minnesotans whose sick children depend on CBD and other cannabinoids for medical use are pushing for schools to allow those products on their campuses, according to the Star Tribune. State law bans medical cannabis from school property but says nothing about CBD, the Star Tribune reported. Many schools have banned the products, meaning some […]
What happens in Minnesota if Obamacare gets struck down by the courts?
At least 300,000 Minnesotans may lose health coverage if the Affordable Care Act is overturned, which is the entirely possible outcome of a lawsuit winding its way through the courts. The 2018 election hinged on the largely successful Democratic message that they would keep in place protections afforded by the Affordable Care Act, sometimes known […]
Here’s how the pay of CEOs of Minnesota’s biggest companies compares to their average workers
CEO pay at Minnesota’s Fortune 500 companies was 278 times more on average than the pay of median workers at their companies in 2018, an analysis of data from company proxy statements shows. The Dodd Frank Act’s requirement that public companies report ratios of CEO-to-median worker pay, effective in 2018, was met with protest by […]
D’oh! Wisconsin beat us last time in Census participation. Come on Minnesotans!
Bad news, Minnesota: Wisconsin has us beat on Census participation last time. Take consolation in the fact that at least they didn’t best us by much. Wisconsin had the nation’s highest participation rate in 2010; 82% of households mailed back the Census questionnaire, compared to 81% in Minnesota. Minnesota was thoroughly embarrassed in 2000, when […]
Newest phase in opioid epidemic: Mix of opioids and stimulants like coke and meth
Minnesota health officials and researchers are tracking a troubling trend in the opioid crisis, even amid a decline in the total number of opioid-involved deaths. A recent rise in overdose deaths involving multiple drugs — like methamphetamine and opioids together — signals that we’ve potentially entered a new phase in the epidemic, due in part […]
Minnesota students are missing out on federal aid for college
On average, nearly half of 12th graders at most Minnesota high schools didn’t submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid last year, according to data from the University of Wisconsin. The FAFSA — a lengthy, complicated form required to receive federal aid for higher education, as well as to access aid from many states […]
Some prominent Minnesotans want to amend the state constitution for education
Former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page and Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari want to amend the state’s constitution to say “all children have a fundamental right to a quality public education.” The proposal has garnered mixed reaction, with both the state teachers union and state Sen. Carla Nelson, R-Rochester, coming out […]
Minnesota Republicans say they’re going to make urban crime an issue. Here’s the data.
Minnesota Republicans are taking a cue from President Donald Trump ahead of the 2020 election by raising an incendiary issue: Urban crime. Although there’s not a single Republican in the state Legislature representing either St. Paul or Minneapolis, GOP leadership are already signaling they will try to leverage fear of urban crime to win support […]