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POLYMET MINE

EPA recommends against reissuing permit for PolyMet mine

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Federal regulators are recommending that the Army Corps of Engineers decline to reissue a key permit for the proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine. The Environmental Protection Agency says the project could raise levels of mercury and other pollutants downstream from the site in northeastern Minnesota. It’s just a recommendation, but Minnesota Public Radio reports it could deal a severe blow to the $1 billion mine if the Army Corps accepts the advice. The EPA announced its position at the start of a three-day hearing in Carlton. PolyMet says it’s confident the Corps will affirm the permit after it considers all the evidence.

ABORTION-MINNESOTA

Minnesota prepares to be abortion destination if Roe falls

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota could become a destination for abortion services for women from other states if the U.S. Supreme Court throws out the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. The state’s abortion providers say they’re already preparing for a surge. Abortion would remain legal, at least for now, under a 1995 Minnesota Supreme Court ruling. Minnesota has some significant restrictions in place, including a 24-hour waiting period and a requirement that minors notify both parents before they can get an abortion. But a lawsuit by abortion rights advocates that’s due to go in trial next month seeks to remove those barriers.

REFINERY EXPLOSION-WISCONSIN

Report: Wisconsin refinery knew about issues before blast

SUPERIOR, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Public Radio reports that officials at the Superior oil refinery knew about equipment issues years before a 2018 explosion, citing hundreds of pages of documents from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. WPR secured nearly 1,300 pages of documents from OSHA that shed new light on what those officials knew in the days leading up to the explosion at the refinery, then owned by Husky Energy Inc., as well as what equipment issues they were aware of years earlier. They include problems with a critical valve malfunctioning days before the explosion and documented erosion on that key piece of equipment dating back to 2008.

CRIME CRACKDOWN

US attorney orders entire staff to work on violent crime

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota’s top federal attorney says he’s ordering his entire staff to work on violent crime cases. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that U.S. Attorney Andy Luger announced Tuesday that he’s directed all 42 prosecutors in his office to work on violent crimes. He said he will oversee every case from indictment to sentencing. He promised that all adult carjackers will do federal time and prosecutors will devote more resources to enforcing gun purchasing laws. The announcement comes as Minneapolis and St. Paul are facing a violent crime wave. Minneapolis saw 97 homicides last year, the most since 1995. St. Paul recorded 38 homicides in 2021, breaking the city’s record of 34 set in 1992.

SPRING FLOODING

National Guard helping stabilize ND dam in danger of failing

CAVALIER, N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota National Guard is helping to stabilize a dam in Cavalier County that is in danger of breaking and causing even worse flooding in the area. Gov. Doug Burgum, at the request of the Pembina County Emergency Management officials, authorized the National Guard to send two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to place sandbags weighing 1 ton to help stop the Bourbanis dam from failing. The Cavalier County Sheriff’s Department says Highway 5 east of Langdon from Highways 1 to 32 in Pembina County is closed until further notice. The National Weather Service continued a flood warning Tuesday for parts of northeastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota.

ELECTION 2022-MINNESOTA-GOVERNOR

Minn. GOP candidate suggests jail for Dem elections chief

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A leading Republican running for Minnesota governor has suggested that the state’s Democratic secretary of state should go to prison, though he provided no legal basis for why. Scott Jensen is a doctor and former state senator known for his skepticism of the COVID-19 vaccine and the state’s response to the pandemic. Jensen attacked Secretary of State Steve Simon at a recent district GOP convention over how he’s run the state’s election system. He said Simon should see if he looks good in “in stripes.” Simon called it a “bizarre and irresponsible” attempt to use conspiracy theories to radicalize supporters. Courts have found that steps Simon took during the 2020 elections were legal.

AP-US-APPEALS-COURT-TRUMP-FLAG

Minnesota appeals court: Trump flag protected free speech

BUFFALO, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Court of Appeals has sided with a man who said he shouldn’t have been fined for flying a huge Donald Trump flag over his business, calling it a protected expression of free speech. The Buffalo City Council had found the flag that Jay Johnson flew over his construction business in 2020 violated a local sign ordinance because of its size and because he didn’t have a permit. The flag read: “TRUMP 2020 Keep America Great.” The council fined Johnson $600. The Star Tribune reports that the appeals court reversed the council’s decision Monday. The court says the ordinance doesn’t apply to noncommercial speech and “impermissibly creates a content-based regulation of speech.” It is unclear if the city will appeal to the state Supreme Court.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE-MINNESOTA

667K Minnesota workers to get pandemic ‘hero pay’ bonuses

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Officials say 667,000 Minnesota workers who were on the front lines of the pandemic can expect to claim their $750 bonus checks in 10 to 12 weeks. Cabinet commissioners laid out some details Monday as Gov. Tim Walz held a ceremonial signing ceremony for a $2.7 billion bill passed Friday that grants the bonuses — and rolls back a tax increase that had been needed replenish the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund. The governor actually signed the bill Friday to beat a deadline. But he held Monday’s event to celebrate the biggest bipartisan success so far of the 2022 legislative session.