Twin Cities Daily Planet (https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/category/government/page/18/)
Bluestem has been following the case of the Erickson mine in Houston County. Last week, we posted that the Minnesota EQB tabled Erickson Mine decision; in WI, Pattison Sand Bridgeport site suffered breach in April rain. Continue Reading
On Monday President Obama announced an unprecedented proposal to cut carbon emissions from power plants by 30% by the year 2030. This is one of the most significant steps the United States has taken so far to combat climate change. Continue Reading
My family is chock-full of military veterans, including myself, thus the word “VA” is a readily recognized acronym. Continue Reading
“I think the one thing that links most of my career in public service has been some type of advocacy or support for communities of color and low-income communities,” says Gregory Gray, looking back at his many years of life and service in the public sector. Gray’s service has included stints with the Minneapolis Urban League, the Minnesota House Minority Caucus, Community Action of Minneapolis, and the Legislative Commission to End Poverty By 2020, as well as working with former Minnesota State Representative Neva Walker on immigration issues.
As many readers of this post know since September of last year I have been doing data requests and lobbying for a bill at the Minnesota Legislature that would give greater protections for Minnesotans when government entities want access to your personal and sensitive location data. Well that bill passed and became law. Continue Reading
After months of lobbying and state legislators hashing out budget proposals, this year’s legislative session ended with parts of the University of Minnesota’s bonding request unfulfilled.
Among the notable shortcomings of the 2014 Minnesota legislative session was its bipartisan failure to tackle the serious infrastructure problems the state faces. Continue Reading
Summary: We need significant reforms to address the important issues surrounding transparency, managerial accountability and a valid process for meaningful stakeholder involvement.At Tuesday’s School Board meeting the district and the School Board did a masterful job of re-framing all of the concerns being brought forward as anti-racial equity. This was done for political purposes, to serve the interests of the adults to maintain the status quo and retain the power balance in favor of those with authority. I don’t know who the architect was of this PR maneuver, but at the very least the School Board was complicit with district administration in opposing and silencing any who question the district. The Board seems to have forgotten that they represent the citizens. Their job is to manage the administration, not the public. Continue Reading
As previously reported in the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, the legislative audit of the Minnesota councils of color created quite a stir, containing criticisms of the councils as well as the governor’s office and the legislature for lack of oversight and guidance. The audit suggested four options for improving the operations and efficiency of the councils. One of the suggested options, placing the councils under the auspices of the State Department of Human Rights, seems to have attracted the most attention and the most support.
The House on Friday passed the omnibus supplemental budget bill 75-55.