Lyft and Uber say they will leave Minneapolis after city council forces them to pay drivers more
Lyft and Uber say they will cease operations in Minneapolis after the cityโs council voted Thursday to override a mayoral veto and require ride-hailing services to increase driver wages to the equivalent of the local hourly minimum wage of $15.57.
Family of a Black man killed during a Minnesota traffic stop asks the governor to fire troopers
Racial justice groups and relatives of a Black man shot and killed this week by a Minnesota State Patrol trooper demanded that the governor fire three officers who were involved in stopping the man on a Minneapolis freeway.
Pipeline foes gear up for large northern Minnesota protests
Environmental and tribal groups opposed to Enbridge Energyโs ongoing effort to replace its aging Line 3 crude oil pipeline are planning large protests in northern Minnesota as the Canadian-based company gears up for a final construction push.
Minnesota House pulls $35M security fund for officer trials
FILE - This undated photo provided by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office in Minnesota on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, shows, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. AdDemocratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman, of Brooklyn Park, acknowledged at a news conference that House Democrats, who hold just a 70-64 majority, werenโt united. She said they needed โa few Republican votes" to pass the bill but were told they werenโt getting any. Republican Sen. Bill Weber, of Luverne, also cited the city's $8 million cut to its police budget. Hortman told reporters she is already in discussions with Gazelka and House Republican leaders about what comes next.
Minnesota officials clash on security plan for Chauvin trial
โActions to defund the police have consequences.โHouse Republicans echoed Gazelka's statement at a news conference of their own, saying the proposed fund does not address what they see as the increasing demonization of law enforcement. The governor was criticized by Republicans last summer for not sending in the National Guard sooner to quell unrest that turned violent in Minneapolis and St. Paul after Floyd's death sparked worldwide protests. AdPublic Safety Commissioner John Harrington said the state is coordinating with the FBI and the federal Joint Terrorism Task Force, in addition to more than 200 chief law enforcement officers across the state, to prepare for next month's trial. Harrington said the proposed fund would help reimburse law enforcement agencies from other parts of Minnesota, which he said are willing to send personnel but concerned about the extra costs. The House public safety committee approved the proposal Tuesday, with an additional provision requiring law enforcement agencies to follow a model policy created by the state's police licensing board for responding to protests.
Journalists prepare for protests where they could be targets
Though details remain murky, demonstrations are expected at state capitols beginning Sunday and leading up to President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)NEW YORK โ While monitoring online chatter about protests at state capitols in advance of next week's presidential inauguration, the Seattle Times came across a chilling description for journalists: soft targets. Radnovich will cover demonstrations at Oregon's statehouse, bringing a significant advantage to the job. In many war zones, journalists make sure they are clearly identified as press so they are not mistaken for enemy combatants. โWe will revisit that if things go south.โA six-foot fence has been installed around the State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan.
Governors complain over pace of COVID-19 vaccine shipments
FILE - In this Dec. 15, 2020, file photo, a droplet falls from a syringe after a health care worker was injected with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Women & Infants Hospital in Providence, R.I. Uncertainty over the pace of federal COVID-19 vaccine allotments triggered anger and confusion Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, in some states where officials worried that expected shipments would not be forthcoming. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)Governors bitterly accused the Trump administration Friday of deceiving the states about the amount of COVID-19 vaccine they can expect to receive as they ramp up vaccinations for senior citizens and others. Late Friday, Oregon health officials said a case of the variant had been diagnose in the Portland area in a patient who had no travel history. โWhat weโre seeing is fully in line with the dysfunction that has characterized the Trump administrationโs entire response to COVID-19.
The Latest: Alaska reports 2nd adverse reaction to vaccine
Nurse Banu Mufale administers a Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine to physical therapist Becca Mamrol on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020, at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News via AP, Pool)JUNEAU, Alaska -- Health officials in Alaska have reported that a second health care worker had an adverse reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine. ___THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:A health worker in Alaska suffered a severe allergic reaction after receiving the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. โ-JUNEAU, Alaska โ Health officials in Alaska reported a health care worker had a severe allergic reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine within 10 minutes of receiving a shot. The governorโs office announced Wednesday that the state has received all of its initial allotment of coronavirus vaccine doses.
Planning to travel this holiday season? Governors across the Midwest are urging you to reconsider
LANSING, Mich. โ A group of bipartisan governors from states across the Midwest are urging people to do their part to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 this holiday season. As of Monday, the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Michigan had risen to 437,985 -- and 10,752 deaths had been reported, according to state officials. Tony Evers released a video on social media pushing for residents to be safe as we head into the holiday season. If you are planning to travel or gather with other households for the holidays โ we urge you to reconsider. Bipartisan Governors from Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Ohio, and WisconsinThe group of governors released a similar video before Thanksgiving asking families to reconsider traveling for the holiday.
The Latest: Kansas mayor resigns over mask mandate threats
(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, Pool, File)KANSAS โ A western Kansas mayor announced Tuesday that she is resigning, effective immediately, because of threats she has received after she publicly supported a mask mandate. Brian Kemp and Public Health Commissioner Kathleen Toomey visited Savannah as the first four shots were administered to local health care workers. ___TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Floridaโs largest hospital system said it was on track to immunize nearly 20,000 health care workers against COVID-19 as Gov. He traveled to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., on Monday and was given the first dose of Pfizer-BioNTechโs coronavirus vaccine. Several health care workers at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in the eastern part of the state also received injections.
Minnesota gives final green light to disputed oil pipeline
FILE - In this June 29, 2018, file photo, pipeline used to carry crude oil is shown at the Superior, Wis., terminal of Enbridge Energy. A significant permit has been granted to Enbridge's plan to replace its aging Line 3 oil pipeline across northern Minnesota. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)MINNEAPOLIS โ Minnesota regulators approved the final permit Monday for Enbridge Energyโs Line 3 crude oil pipeline replacement across northern Minnesota, giving the company the green light to begin construction on the $2.6 billion project. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the independent Minnesota Public Utilities Commission gave their final approvals last week. The replacement segments in Canada, North Dakota and Wisconsin are already complete, leaving only the 337-mile (542-kilometer) stretch in Minnesota.
The Latest: Japan's virus cases hit record for fourth day
___HEREโS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:โ US reaches 12 million total coronavirus casesโ Italy hits nearly 35,000 new daily virus casesโ Calif Gov. ___PORTLAND, Ore. -- Oregon has reported a record number of coronavirus cases for the second day in a row. California had a record 13,000 new cases on Thursday and more than 1 million total confirmed cases. Overall, Russia has recorded more than 2,064,000 confirmed cases and 35,778 confirmed deaths. ___NEW DELHI โ India has reported 46,232 new confirmed coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, with the situation particularly alarming in New Delhi.
Study: Motorcycle rally sparked COVID-19 cases in next state
NEW YORK โ When nearly a half-million motorcycle enthusiasts gathered in South Dakota this summer, health experts worried the gathering would ignite new outbreaks of coronavirus cases. Minnesota officials counted 86 cases that they said were related to the rally โ 51 people who went to Sturgis and 35 who came into contact with those people later. The rally has been a source of contention between the governors of Minnesota and South Dakota. Tim Walz criticized South Dakota Gov. Walz, a Democrat, said the Sturgis rally was โabsolutely unnecessary."
Virus surge breaking infection records across the US
Cases per day are on the rise in 49 states, and deaths per day are climbing in 39. A month ago, the U.S. was seeing about 730 COVID-19 deaths per day on average; that has now surpassed 970. He said this summerโs Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota was โabsolutely unnecessaryโ and helped spread the virus beyond that state. โ North Carolina reported its highest single-day increase in coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic, with 3,119 people โ 8% of those tested โ testing positive for the virus. โ Kentucky posted a record daily high for new confirmed cases, at 2,700, as the governor implored people to wear masks to counter the accelerating outbreak.
As cases rise, states say they'll work with Biden on virus
Gary Herbert speaks as he joins state epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn at a press conference at the Capitol in Salt Lake City, clarifying the state's mask mandate on Monday, Nov. 9, 2020. Minnesotaโs per-capita new case counts are better than neighboring Wisconsin and the Dakotas, which have some of the countryโs highest transmission rates, but have still raised alarm with the state's health officials. In Idaho, where 1 of every 223 residents tested positive for the virus over the last week, Republican Gov. With Trump still not conceding the race, some Republican governors have greeted Bidenโs efforts in a more measured way. In Oklahoma, where cases also are on the rise, Republican Gov.
The Latest: Biden: I've learned from Clinton campaign errors
WASHINGTON โ The Latest on the presidential campaign (all times local):9:20 p.m.Joe Biden says he has learned from the mistakes that Hillary Clinton's campaign made four years ago in the Midwest. After her stunning loss to Donald Trump in 2016, many Democrats criticized her campaign as overconfident and too complacent. President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden are campaigning hard to win both states, where Trump scored narrow victories in 2016. The campaign announced in addition to his Monday trip to the state, Biden will campaign in Philadelphia on Sunday. The Minnesota Department of Health has linked 28 coronavirus cases to other recent Trump campaign events in the state.
The Latest: US extends ban on cruise ships through October
(AP Photo/YK Chan)WASHINGTON โ Federal health officials are extending the U.S. ban on cruise ships through the end of October amid reports of recent outbreaks of the new coronavirus on ships overseas. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday that it was extending a no-sail order on cruise ships with the capacity to carry at least 250 passengers. In the 24 hours since 10 a.m. Tuesday, the state reported 1,048 new confirmed cases, bringing the total to 88,555. Oklahoma is in the red zone for virus cases, meaning 101 or more new cases per 100,000 population, with a rate of 201 new cases per 100,000. The number of reported coronavirus cases in the state increased by 980 on Wednesday and there were 13 additional deaths due to COVID-19, the health department said.
Trump and Biden hit unlikely battleground state of Minnesota
Since narrowly losing Minnesota in 2016, Trump has emphasized the state in hopes that a victory this year could offset losses in other states. David McIntosh, president of the conservative Club for Growth, which has produced anti-Biden ads, said Minnesota may help the Trump campaign build momentum. In 2016, Trump won that district, which includes the Democratic city of Duluth, by 15 percentage points. Duluth Mayor Emily Larson said the Trump campaign has far outpaced Biden in local yard signs โ which indicates enthusiasm but may not ultimately affect the outcome. "One of the things the Trump campaign has been very good about is visibility in Duluth, but also in areas around Duluth,โ Larson said.
Minnesota ends special session without deal on policing
(AP Photo/Jim Mone)MINNEAPOLIS A special session of the Minnesota Legislature ended Saturday without agreement on remaking policing in the state where George Floyd was killed. I'm deeply disappointed that Senate Republicans ended the special session before our job was done," Senate Minority Leader Susan Kent tweeted. Were not walking away from Minnesota here, but I think we could all benefit from a breather, Gazelka said just before adjournment, Minnesota Public Radio News reported. The special session was necessary for Democratic Gov. If Walz seeks to extend his emergency powers an additional 30 days, he's required to call another special session for July 12 to let lawmakers object.
Minnesota pardons black man in century-old lynching case
(Alex Kormann/Star Tribune via AP)Minnesota's pardons board on Friday granted a posthumous pardon to a black man imprisoned a century ago in the alleged rape of a white woman, part of a case that included the infamous lynchings of three other black men in Duluth. The board voted 3-0 to pardon Max Mason, one of several traveling circus workers accused in the 1920 case. According to the summary, the young man made no mention of any attack when dropping off Tusken at her parents house but related the story to his father early the next morning. Mason was allowed to travel to the circus next city, but was re-arrested the next day, and eventually identified as an attacker by Tusken and the young man. In recent weeks we have seen an injustice at the hands of those who are sworn to serve and protect in the murder of George Floyd, Tusken said.
Minnesota Senate GOP to block most policing overhaul plans
Minnesota State Troopers surrounded the statue of Christopher Columbus after it was toppled in front of the Minnesota State Capitol, Wednesday, June 10, 2020, in St. Paul, Minn. Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka and the chairman of the Senate judiciary committee, Warren Limmer, laid out their agenda shortly before the Legislature convened for a special session. Tim Walz and the House Democratic majority are backing a slate of proposals from the People of Color and Indigenous Caucus. Limmer said the five policing bills the Senate will pass before next Friday will include some of the noncontroversial Democratic proposals. But Democratic House Majority Ryan Winkler said the Senate Republican plan is too weak and falls short of what the moment requires.
Minnesota lawmakers pressed to make changes after Floyd
Democratic lawmakers and governors in several states, including Wisconsin, New Jersey, Arizona and Oregon, are hoping to harness the anger over Floyds death to remake law enforcement, including new restrictions on the use of force. Minnesota law requires him to call lawmakers back to the Capitol when he extends those powers when the Legislature is not in session. Republican lawmakers say Walz has governed by fiat instead of involving them in the decision-making. A bonding bill needs a three-fifths majority in both chambers, and Hayden has threatened to withhold Senate Democratic votes unless lawmakers agree on addressing racial inequities, giving his party some leverage. Minnesota, and America, is watching to see what our first step will be, said Democratic Senate Minority Leader Susan Kent, of Woodbury.
Minneapolis overwhelmed again by protests over Floyd death
Protests continued following the death of George Floyd, who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on Memorial Day. The rare step came as the violence spread to other cities: A man shot dead in Detroit, police cars battered in Atlanta and skirmishes with police in New York City. Minneapolis police said shots had been fired at law enforcement officers during the protests but no one was injured. Chauvin eventually pulled Floyd out of the car, and the handcuffed Floyd went to the ground face down. The doctor who will do the autopsy is Michael Baden, former chief medical examiner of New York City.
As Minneapolis burns, mayor takes heat for the response
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey speaks during a news conference Thursday, May 28, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minn. (Elizabeth Flores/Star Tribune via AP)MINNEAPOLIS First-term Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey appeared to be doing everything right. Tim Walz like Frey, a Democrat criticized the abject failure of the city's response and said the state had taken control. President Donald Trump took to Twitter to call Frey a very weak Radical Left Mayor and threatened to get involved. The black officer in that case was convicted of third-degree murder and is serving a 12 1/2-year term.
George Floyd protesters set Minneapolis police station afire
Protesters gather in front of the burning 3rd Precinct building of the Minneapolis Police Department on Thursday, May 28, 2020, in Minneapolis. Protests over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody Monday, broke out in Minneapolis for a third straight night. The 3rd Precinct covers the portion of south Minneapolis where Floyd was arrested. Assistant Fire Chief Bryan Tyner said fire crews could not safely respond to fires at the precinct station and some surrounding buildings. Much of the Minneapolis violence occurred in the Longfellow neighborhood, where protesters converged on the precinct station of the police who arrested Floyd.
Watch live: Minnesota governor holds press conference on George Floyd protests
MINNEAPOLIS Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is holding a press conference to address the states response to ongoing violence and riots in Minneapolis and St. Paul over the death of George Floyd. The press conference is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. Friday, May 29. Related headlines:WATCH THE PRESS CONFERENCE HERE: