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Young adults apathetic about MN elections, survey finds
A month before elections for governor, U.S. House and other key races, a new survey from MinnPost and Embold Research finds that younger Minnesota adults are considerably less enthusiastic about voting than their older peers. Seventy-two percent of registered voters age 18 to 34 said they would “definitely” vote this November, compared to 97 percent […]
Workplace injuries loom behind recent rise in union activity
From strikes to union drives, the state of Minnesota has seen a flurry of labor activity in 2022. Those actions mirror what’s happening nationwide – workers, particularly those with demanding service industry jobs, are seeking better pay and conditions after years of pandemic-era turmoil. Low pay and outrageous policies, like Amtrak workers’ inability to take […]
Don’t look now, but homicide is actually down in Minneapolis
Violent crime in the Twin Cities has become a key issue in this year’s Minnesota governor’s race. Just last week, Republican hopeful Scott Jensen released a video calling Gov. Tim Walz “the godfather of the nationwide crime wave.” In reality the drivers of crime are complex and well beyond the control of any individual politician. […]
What Biden’s marijuana announcement means for Minnesota
President Biden announced today that he is pardoning all people with federal convictions for simple marijuana possession, and is calling on state governors to do the same for those with a state conviction. He also said he is asking the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services to initiate a formal […]
Minnesota overdose deaths up sharply last year, driven by fentanyl
Minnesota drug overdose deaths hit a record high in 2021, according to provisional data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The sharp uptick in fatal overdoses mirrors a pandemic-era trend also seen in other so-called deaths of despair, like suicide and alcoholism. Nearly 1,500 Minnesotans lost their lives to drugs last year, […]
Interest rate hikes send new home payments sharply upward
Soaring interest rates, driven by the Federal Reserve’s efforts to tamp down inflation, are sending costs skyrocketing for new homebuyers in the Twin Cities region. With a 20% down payment, the typical home purchase in the area now comes with a nearly $2,000 monthly price tag, almost doubling since 2021 — and that’s before you […]
Minnesota used to be a pioneer on ballot access, but new data suggests that’s no longer the case
Minnesota is a high-turnout state, with 80% of the eligible population going to the polls in 2020 – the highest rate in the nation. Traditionally, that’s been explained in part by the relative ease of voting here. New data comparing states on barriers to ballot access, however, paints a somewhat different picture: After factoring in […]
Minnesotans are drinking themselves to death at an unprecedented rate
More than 1,100 Minnesotans died due to excessive drinking in 2021, according to data recently released by the CDC. The number is a record high for the state, representing a doubling of the mortality rate since 2014 and a continuation of a pandemic-era spike in alcohol deaths. Last year more Minnesotans died of alcohol-induced causes […]
Minnesota gun deaths hit 20-year high
The number of Minnesotans dying from gunfire in 2021 rose to the highest level in over 20 years, according to preliminary mortality data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The 570 gun deaths in Minnesota last year include 164 homicides, 393 suicides, and 13 additional deaths that were either accidental or of […]
Control of Minnesota Legislature is a toss-up, data show
Minnesota Republicans had hoped the usual midterm advantage for the party not in the White House — as well as elevated inflation and violent crime — would translate into majorities in the state House and Senate in November. Redistricting following the decennial census, however, has given Democrats hope they can hold the House and maybe […]
Minnesota House Republican’s name appears on Oath Keepers membership roster
The names of 514 Minnesotans appear in a leaked membership roster of the Oath Keepers, a violent extremist group thought to play a key role in the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, according to a new report released by the Anti-Defamation League. Among those names: Six law enforcement officers, three members of the […]
Minnesota’s Black marijuana users far more likely to face arrest than white ones
Black Minnesotans are nearly five times as likely to be arrested on marijuana charges as white ones, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. It’s a disparity that has persisted for years, despite data showing that Black and white residents use cannabis at similar rates. The recent statewide legalization of certain […]