Good morning, and welcome to a well-earned Friday.
We’re firing up our Politics Friday show again on the radio later today. Gov. Tim Walz will be on, and I’ll also talk to Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson. Tune in to MPR News at noon or catch the podcast.
The governor could soon see a bill on his desk designed to crack down on catalytic converter thefts. MPR’s Brian Bakst reports the Senate passed a bill 40-25, that must be matched up with a slightly different House version. But House lawmakers could opt soon to send it to Walz. The bill gives authorities more ability to arrest people caught with emissions devices that can’t be traced to a vehicle. And scrap metal dealers could face penalties if they buy stolen converters. There would be requirements that converters contain vehicle identification numbers to be legally transferred, which would allow law enforcement to flag stolen devices maintained in a database. Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, said his bill might not stop all converter thefts, but he believes it would make a dent. “I don't want people to have false hope. This will make a difference in a year from now when we have this database set up,” Marty said. “It will help law enforcement statewide track down converter theft. But I think there's an immediate chilling impact.” Insurance industry statistics show Minnesota is high on lists of states where converter theft is most common.
The Republican Party of Minnesota was fined more than $100,000 recently by the Federal Elections Committee. The Star Tribune reports: In the first situation involving the 2018 election cycle, the party was fined $53,000. A signed agreement in the case said the state GOP "failed to maintain employee logs in the amount of $297,945" and that it "failed to maintain records in sufficient detail to verify that $712,662 in disbursements for communications made through 13 different vendors were accurately reported." The filing also detailed other violations. An agreement from a 2020 election cycle case included a $58,500 fine, pointing to violations from "failing to timely and accurately report receipts and disbursements" and "accepting excessive contributions." "The FEC fines were levied for events that occurred under the previous Chair's leadership, the details of which have been public knowledge for some time," Republican Party of Minnesota executive director Mike Lonergan said in an email late last month. "The MNGOP has fully addressed the findings of the audit. The 2020 fine has already been paid; the 2018 fine will be paid in March."
As some states seek to ban transgender health procedures, the Minnesota Legislature is considering a bill that would make the state a safe haven for transgender youth seeking health care. MPR’s Nicole Ki and Sam Stroozas have a look at what gender-affirming care is: Trans youth traveling from other states would be protected in seeking health care in Minnesota. Parents Hao and Gretchen Nguyen, who have a 6-year-old trans daughter and spoke in support of the bill at a hearing last month, say it’s a big deal for trans youth in Minnesota and across the country. “It should be as simple as it is for Hao and I to take Asher to the doctor for every parent,” said Gretchen Nguyen. “It shouldn’t matter where they are. I also see this as helping to affirm those that are here and making sure that they’re secure in the fact that their representatives have their back.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and Attorney General Keith Ellison want the automakers Kia and Hyundai to recall and refit vehicles that don't have anti-theft devices. The Pioneer Press reports: In a joint letter to the automakers’ CEOs, the three officials said thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles have risen 611 percent in St. Paul and 893 percent in Minneapolis in the past year, largely due to the lack of engine immobilizer systems in certain models. An engine immobilizer prevents a vehicle from starting up without the presence of a key or fob. Prior to 2021, more than a dozen Kia and Hyundai models were sold without these systems, allowing thieves to hot-wire and steal unoccupied vehicles with relative ease. “Twin Cities drivers deserve to be and feel safe while operating and parking their vehicles,” the letter reads. “It’s clear that that very basic safety standard is not being met, especially for drivers and owners of Kia and Hyundai vehicles.” Hyundai spokesman Ira Gabriel said in an email Thursday that his company recently launched a free software upgrade for its vehicles designed to prevent a popular method of stealing its cars that spread on social media, adding that the company also plans to reimburse Hyundai owners who purchase steering wheel locks for eligible vehicles. “Hyundai is committed to the security of our customers and plans to continue our ongoing support of the communities affected by this theft issue,” Gabriel said. A Kia representative did not respond to an email seeking comment.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers is proposing a new board to deal with policies involving household pets. MPR’s Dana Ferguson reports: Right now, issues pertaining to cats and dogs fall under the Board of Animal Health, which was set up to deal with illnesses with herds and flocks in the state. Lawmakers supporting the bill, along with the Animal Humane Society and several animal welfare groups, on Thursday said issues specific to cats and dogs should fall to a panel that doesn’t spend as much time on agricultural issues. “The existing board that we have has done all it can do to deal with chronic wasting disease, with avian flu, with all the issues that are present in agriculture and animal husbandry,” said one of the bill’s authors Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis. “So we really need a group that's really, really focused on this particular sector. These animals have a very unique set of needs, as well as their families who need a lot of support, a lot of help in this area.”
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