Welcome back to The Flyover, your daily noontime(ish) digest of what local media outlets and Twitter-ers are gabbing about.
She Doesn’t Even Go Here
But what will happen to Lakeville and Eagan if the Minneapolis public safety charter amendment passes? That’s apparently what’s on the mind of U.S. Rep. Angie Craig (DFL-Not Minneapolis). Craig, who represents a swath of the south metro suburbs, issued a statement yesterday saying the ballot initiative would “create confusion and uncertainty around public safety” (as opposed to our current system, which merely preserves confusion and uncertainty around public safety). Craig’s messaging was, let’s say, very familiar to anyone who’s been following the campaign against the ballot question, right down to worries about the job security of Chief Arradondo.
Let’s Keep Worrying About the State Fair
Let’s! Federal health officials are saying to mask up in “crowded outdoor settings ... where COVID-19 transmission levels are high,” which certainly sounds like a description of a certain state fair to me. With new cases linked to WE Fest and the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Minnesota Health Director Jan Malcolm says, "Any large events with lots of people … do pose a risk with this much virus circulating.” If you decide to go to the fair, you’ll have to order that Swedish egg coffee to go—both Hamline and Salem church dining halls are closing for indoor seating this year. But hey, at least Governor Tim Walz announced that if you get a vaccine shot at the fair you can get a $100 Visa gift card.
Lazzaro, Come Forth
Anton Lazzaro, the high-level donor to the Minnesota Republican Party who's facing charges of child sex trafficking, remains in jail after a federal judge denied his request for home detention. Lazzaro appeared in court yesterday, where more details of the alleged crimes emerged. (Not for the squeamish.) Meanwhile, there hasn’t exactly been a rush to fill Jennifer Carnahan’s vacated role as chair of the state party; there will be a vote to pick someone (anyone) in an October 2 meeting.
From Afghanistan to Minnesota
As the August 31 deadline to evacuate refugees and U.S. citizens from Afghanistan nears, more than 1,000 Minnesota National Guard troops have been re-stationed in Kabul. Governor Tim Walz has already stated that Minnesota will accept Afghan refugees, and the Sahan Journal has some tips on how you can help them even before they arrive. One Minnesota-based organization that’s already invoiced is Alight, which spoke to KARE 11 about its radio-based education program.
The Week in Protests
The Minnesota State Capitol will be closed to the public this week, guarded by state troopers and encircled in protective fencing as a slew of protests head to St. Paul. The big one begins this afternoon with a march to Stop Line 3; tipi villages have already been set up on the Capitol grounds. This will be followed by a miscellany of demonstrations on Saturday, including anti-maskers and voting rights advocates. (Guessing there’s not a lot of overlap there.)
