SATURDAY, February 23
HEADLINES
With strike imminent, security officers appeal to building owners
by Barb Kucera, Workday Minnesota
Facing an imminent strike, security officers and supporters took their case directly to the owners of downtown buildings. Some 200 people, led by faith leaders, marched through the Minneapolis skyway system Thursday. Members of the Workers Interfaith Network and ISAIAH – two organizations of faith communities focused on social justice – were turned away when they attempted to address a meeting of BOMA, the Building Owners and Managers Association.
Arts advocates celebrate the approval of the Great Outdoors and Heritage Amendment bill
by Betsy Mowry, TC Daily Planet
On February 14, the Great Outdoors and Heritage Amendment bill was approved as the first piece of business in this year’s state legislative session. Nearly ten years in the making, the initiative asks voters to amend the state constitution to dedicate a small portion of the state sales tax to protect clean water, wildlife, natural areas and cultural heritage projects.
Independence Party tries to stay strong in a partisan age
by Jeff Fecke, Minnesota Monitor
They say that numbers don’t lie. If so, then there are three numbers that tell a dismal tale for the Independence Party: 37, 16 and six. That’s the share of the vote Independence Party gubernatorial candidates won in 1998, 2002 and 2006. The numbers tell the tale of a party that has waned significantly in importance since the surprise victory of former Gov. Jesse Ventura in 1998.
INSIDE THE DAILY PLANET
Pastor Albert Gallmon, Jr. leaving the Twin Cities
by Simon Anderson, One Nation News
Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church Senior Pastor Albert Gallmon, Jr. is leaving the Twin Cities. The public is invited to join the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church congregation for a community-wide celebration.
Students work to end Sudan child abduction
by Riham Feshir, Minnesota Daily
The Save Yar and Ajak campaign held a fundraiser for the students’ trips to Juba, Sudan over spring break.
West Broadway developments take shape
by Gail Olson, Northeaster
The 94-year old building at 2119 West Broadway Ave. N. that formerly housed the once-popular Delisi Bar and Grill (near the Penn Avenue/West Broadway intersection), might be getting new owners and an extreme renovation this year.
NEW IN VOICES
Biology only a part of LGBT equality struggle
by Andy Birkey, Minnesota Monitor
Star Tribune columnist Katherine Kersten penned a Tuesday blog entry titled, “The Uneasy Relationship between ‘Gay Rights’ and Biology,” raises two questions: Is the biological science surrounding sexual orientation solid? And is it possible for a left-leaning, gay rights activist like me to agree with something Katherine Kersten wrote on the topic of gay rights? The answer to both is a surprising “yeah, kind of.”
NEW IN BLOGS
The ‘true’ act of a Muslim
by Heba Abdel-Karim, 2/20/08 • Engage Minnesota • Sitting at Borders on an early Saturday morning, I noticed an elderly couple coming to sit in an area near me. It was crowded, and the only two seats were quite far apart. One of them was right next to me. Being raised to respect the elderly, I happily gave up my seat for the man to sit by his wife. Not expecting a response, I started walking away to find another seat. He stopped me, however, and said something that amazed me, yet left me feeling cheerful until today. He said: “By the way, that was a true act of a Muslim.”
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