Marshall's LGBTQ community angered by flag settlement
| Aug. 5, 2021 Several stories out of the Minnesota State Capitol today: The question of who should be eligible for special pandemic hazard pay remains a difficult one for a Minnesota panel working to set parameters. The Frontline Worker Pay Working Group must decide how strict or how loose the criteria are. That recommendation to the Legislature will dictate the size of checks from a $250 million fund. The Department of Employment and Economic Development says categories of essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic range from hundreds of thousands to millions. Commissioner Steve Grove says the agency needs more information to determine who worked in the riskiest assignments.
The Minnesota Senate will hire an outside investigator to determine whether people or policies failed a former staffer who said she was sexually harassed. Senate Secretary Cal Ludeman told lawmakers today he will initiate the process. Senate DFL lawmakers requested the independent investigation after one of their former aides said her complaint against an ex-legislative staffer didn’t result in a probe. Senate Republicans said they support the review of the incident and the broader anti-harassment policy.
Minnesota’s COVID-19 outbreak continues to grow with up to an average of nearly 700 confirmed cases per day and a 4.2 percent positivity rate. A 5 percent rate is the level at which health officials say they are most concerned about coronavirus spread. Five more Minnesotans died from COVID-19. Subscribe to our Minnesota Today podcast to get up-to-date Minnesota news twice daily. — Nina Moini, MPR News | |
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Line 3: White Earth argues DNR water permit violates wild rice rights | The lawsuit faults state officials for letting Enbridge Energy pump up to 5 billion gallons of water for its Line 3 oil pipeline construction. It's believed to be the first case brought in a U.S. tribal court on behalf of the rights of nature — a recent movement gaining momentum around the globe. | |
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| Weekend forecast: Thunderstorm chances return! | It’s been rare this summer, but we actually have some rain and thunder in our weekend forecast. We have details on that, plus an update on drought conditions and a look at the air quality alert for portions of Minnesota through Friday. | |
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| Art Hounds recommend magical, challenging theater and art | A new play “Aquilarres” weaves a magical political fantasy set during the Spanish Inquisition. A contemporary Minneapolis art show cedes everyone “the right to their own dystopinion.” Screen prints by Mai Tran reflect images from Vietnam and Mankato, Minn. | |
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Photos: Minnesota Olympians return home | Teammates Sunisa Lee of St. Paul and Grace McCallum of Isanti returned from their successful Olympic journey Thursday. A crowd was already gathered at the airport to greet them. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said a parade is planned for Lee’s honor on White Bear Avenue Sunday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. | |
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How did Minnesota athletes fare on Day 12 of the Olympics? | Four days remain at the Summer Olympic Games. Teams with Minnesota ties in basketball, volleyball and baseball have moved a step closer to a medal opportunity. Here’s a roundup of how Minnesota athletes did in their recent competitions, and who you can watch next. | |
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