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The Topline: Minnesota’s long drought is finally over
Welcome to The Topline, a weekly roundup of the big numbers driving the Minnesota news cycle, as well as the smaller ones that you might have missed. This week: Minnesota out of drought for the first time in two years; the Lower 48’s blizzard capital; taxpayers on the hook for questionable addiction services; year-over-year shootings […]
The Topline: New air quality data, straight from outer space
Welcome to The Topline, a weekly roundup of the big numbers driving the Minnesota news cycle, as well as the smaller ones that you might have missed. This week: Minnesota’s exceptional championship drought; the state’s biggest companies; misinformation superspreaders; record-breaking heat deaths; and a new source of real time air quality data. One Minnesota Redditor, […]
Daily alcohol, cannabis use on the rise in Minnesota
A recent study published in the journal Addiction found that for the first time, daily marijuana users outnumber daily alcohol drinkers in the United States. Public health experts are keeping a close eye on the trend, as daily marijuana users are at higher risk of suffering negative health effects like heavy vomiting episodes, cardiovascular disease, […]
More than one-third of adults may qualify for social equity cannabis licenses
Between 30% and 40% of Minnesota adults could plausibly qualify as “social equity” applicants for cannabis business licenses, according to a Reformer estimate based on the new equity rules approved by the Legislature this year. Lawmakers initially created the social equity category as a way to prioritize business applications from Minnesotans who have been harmed […]
Four years after George Floyd, Minnesota’s racial gaps remain stark
Four years ago this week, Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd. The event was captured on video, inspiring protests and riots in Minnesota and beyond. Floyd’s killing brought newfound attention to Minnesota’s longstanding racial disparities, some of the nation’s worst. In the days following Floyd’s death, politicians and business leaders vowed to reckon […]
All military veterans are social equity applicants under new changes to cannabis law
More than 327,000 military veterans live in Minnesota, comprising about 6% of the state population. Starting this summer they’ll be able to get a leg up on competitors in applying for cannabis business licenses under changes to legalization passed by the Legislature at the end of this session (pending the signature of Gov. Tim Walz). […]
The Topline: When innumeracy ruins lives
Welcome to The Topline, a weekly roundup of the big numbers driving the Minnesota news cycle, as well as the smaller ones that you might have missed. This week: innumeracy; Stearns County home prices; Twin Cities population change; income stagnation; and homeowners insurance losses. Last week the New Yorker reported on the case of Lucy […]
Angie Craig wants to make it easier for cops to get armored vehicles
U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, Democrat of the 2nd Congressional District, has introduced legislation to make it easier for police departments to obtain armored, military-style vehicles. The bill, which would roll back some of the Biden administration’s modest restrictions on armored vehicle acquisition, is a response to the fatal February shootings of three first responders in […]
UnitedHealthcare fined $450,000 for illegal barriers to mental health coverage
The Minnesota Department of Commerce has issued a $450,000 fine and entered a consent order with Eden Prairie-based UnitedHealthcare after finding the company illegally made it harder for customers to get reimbursed for mental health care. According to the consent order, UnitedHealthcare made mental health reimbursements harder to obtain than regular medical or surgical reimbursements, […]
Minneapolis 2040 plan can once again go forward, appeals court rules
The city of Minneapolis can once again proceed with its 2040 housing plan after the Minnesota Court of Appeals reversed an injunction against the plan issued last year by a lower court. The Court of Appeals ruled that the lower court erred in granting the injunction and abused its discretion by imposing unnecessary hardship on […]
The Topline: How well does Minnesota represent the United States?
Welcome to The Topline, a weekly roundup of the big numbers driving the Minnesota news cycle, as well as the smaller ones that you might have missed. This week: Minnesota representativeness; wage vs. rent hikes; firearm deaths; and a welcome relief from drought. The Washington Post’s Andrew Van Dam recently took a stab at using […]
Summer air quality ‘will not be as catastrophic as 2023,’ state meteorologist says
Air quality in Minnesota this year is expected to be slightly worse than average but still better than last year’s record-breaking numbers, according to the latest forecast from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. “We have increasing confidence that the season will not be as catastrophic as 2023,” MPCA meteorologist Matt Taraldsen said at a press […]