Welcome to Thursday. The Minnesota Legislature will be busy, as will the reporters who cover it: Some 18 committees are meeting -- plus several press conferences on everything from marriage regulations for minors to early child care and education. Here are the headlines.
1. After strong finish in New Hampshire, Klobuchar pivots to Nevada. "She will face new tests of organizational strength in a state with a much more diverse population than any she has campaigned in before. The Minnesota Democrat exceeded expectations in the first-in-the-nation primary Tuesday, seizing on a strong debate performance to win 20% of the vote, enough to jump ahead of top-tier candidates Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden. But Nevada, like South Carolina, which follows later in the month, will present a different set of challenges. After focusing on Iowa and New Hampshire, two relatively small, homogenous states, Klobuchar must compete in the South and West while building up a national campaign ahead of Super Tuesday on March 3. With her profile on the rise, she also will face a more intense level of national media scrutiny, which already has started with stories scrutinizing her record on racial justice as Hennepin County attorney." Star Tribune
2. Why is a meeting of the entire Minnesota Legislature closed to the public? "Normally, the only closed meetings of the Legislature are the party caucuses: the discussion and strategy sessions reserved to members of each party in each chamber. But committee meetings and floor sessions are all required to be open. So why is the 'One Minnesota' different? The first reason given by legislative leaders Tuesday for making the meeting closed-door was tradition, when not deferring about who was responsible for the decision. 'That’s the first time I’ve ever been asked that,' said Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-Nisswa, when asked about why the public and members of the media weren’t allowed. 'I’ve never thought about why you’re not welcome.' 'That is a really good question,' said House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park. 'I kinda wish you would be able to be there because it is a good day to get back to the basics.' She said the program includes talks about the budget and a demography refresher. But Hortman said the decision to keep private a gathering of every state lawmaker was 'not my call to make.'" MinnPost
3. Met Council announces plan to combat transit crime. "Acknowledging a troubling spike in crime, Metro Transit leaders plan to spend $1.8 million in 2020 on police overtime to make Twin Cities buses and trains safer. They’re also increasing other safety staff while requesting neighboring law enforcement agencies to help out. And they want state lawmakers to approve a new force of transit ambassadors to enforce fares, improve rider conduct and help with minor incidents. 'We will be upping our game, to have safety be the highest priority for our agency,' said Charlie Zelle, chair of the Metropolitan Council, which operates 95 trains and 850 buses in the Twin Cities. Zelle discussed increased safety efforts in front of a Green Line light-rail train at the operations and maintenance facility in St. Paul with Metro Transit Police Chief Eddie Frizell, general manager Wes Kooistra and Deb Barber, Met Council transportation committee chair." Pioneer Press
4. Minnesota health systems say they're prepared for new coronavirus. "At the University of Minnesota's Boynton Health Services office, ear-loop masks have been very popular since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, now known as COVID-19, in China. 'Lots of masks have been leaving our building,' said Dave Golden, director of public health and communication at Boynton. The university says that since Jan. 22, the Boynton pharmacy has sold more than 8,200 ear-loop masks. The U has suspended study-abroad travel to China and has been communicating with students and faculty about precautions to take while traveling. Golden said there are instructions greeting anyone coming into the Boynton offices about COVID-19. 'There's a notice on the door, that if you've been to China and you have symptoms we want you to actually call us and we'll meet you in our entry area,' he said." MPR News
5. Roseau County becomes 'sanctuary' for Second Amendment. "They join more than 400 sanctuary communities nationwide to adopt such resolutions and are the first county in Minnesota to do so.The resolution, passed unanimously to applause from the dozen residents in attendance, reads that the board 'wishes to express opposition to any law in the future, beyond existing laws to date, that would unconstitutionally restrict the rights of the citizens of Roseau County to keep and bear arms.' The motion goes on to resolve that 'public funds of the county not be used to restrict the Second Amendment rights of the citizens of Roseau County, or to aid federal or state agencies in the restriction of said rights.' Roseau County Sheriff Steve Gust said the resolution won’t change local law enforcement’s operations, since one of the resolution’s main intents is to oppose 'red flag' gun laws, which allow courts to temporarily remove guns from people who are found to be a risk to themselves or others. Red flag laws have been proposed in Minnesota but not passed." Forum Communications | 