11/11/2024 -- Black Minnesotans Receive Racist Texts

Crime

Racist Texts Referencing Slavery Sent to Black Minnesotans, Investigations Underway

The Summary: Black Minnesotans received disturbing racist text messages, some referencing slavery and plantations, this past week. These messages prompted investigations by local authorities, the FBI, and the Minnesota Attorney General's Office.

Impact on Schools: The racist messages were also sent to Black students in the Hopkins School District, prompting the district to issue a statement condemning the messages and encouraging parents to discuss the incident with their children. The district acknowledged the heightened racial tensions following the recent election.

Ongoing Investigations: The FBI and other federal authorities are investigating the incident. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has called the messages "disturbing" and urged any affected Minnesotan to file a complaint.

Politics — Election 2024

Minnesota House Headed Toward Tie As Votes Continue To Be Counted 🗳

The Summary: The Minnesota House is trending toward a tie, as two elections are likely to go to recounts. If the current numbers hold, the House will be tied, but if one or both seats flip to the Republicans, the GOP could gain outright control.

Senate Results: Democrats maintained control of the Minnesota Senate with Ann John Stewart's victory in the only state Senate race on the ballot.

Impact on DFL Power: This shift could mark the end of the DFL’s monopoly on power at the capitol. If the House stays tied, the GOP will have the ability to block DFL proposals, effectively halting progressive initiatives that were pushed through in 2023.

Potential for Bipartisanship: Both Republican and DFL leaders have signaled a willingness to work together, with Rep. Lisa Demuth and Rep. Melissa Hortman emphasizing the importance of bipartisan cooperation in addressing Minnesotans' needs.

Historical Context : The Minnesota House was last tied in 1979, when a power-sharing agreement initially worked but eventually led to chaos and deadlock.

Election 2024

Final Election 2024 Headlines Driving The News 📰

📰 It has been about a week since the 2024 elections and the analysis continues each day. Here are some of the post-election headlines we have been paying attention to.

❯ Klobuchar Wins, But Less Convincingly: Sen. Amy Klobuchar won re-election with 56% of the vote, but her margin of victory was narrower than in previous elections, as GOP challenger Royce White flipped 29 rural counties and DFL state candidates saw a slight decline in statewide support.

❯ Twin Cities’ Trumpiest Neighborhoods: According to Axios, the Elliot Park neighborhood in Minneapolis and St. Paul's East Side had the highest percentage of votes for Trump in the city. Trump saw improved performance in urban areas, believed to be driven by majority BIPOC and immigrant neighborhoods.

❯ Walz Offers Vision of Hope: Speaking in the auditorium of Eagan high School, Governor Tim Walz encouraged his supporters to find common ground with those who voted differently, urging a spirit of cooperation and understanding while acknowledging the challenges ahead for Democrats.

❯ Strong Turnout: Minnesota saw strong voter turnout in the 2024 election, with 76% of eligible voters casting ballots, including a record 1.2 million early votes. Minnesota is expected to compete with Wisconsin and Colorado for the highest turnout in the nation.

What Else We’re Reading…

Thanks To New Genealogy Testing, A Man Has Been Arrested For Murdering A Minneapolis Woman 50 Years Ago

An 84-year-old man, Jon Keith Miller, was arrested in connection with the 1974 murder of Mary Schlais, a Minneapolis woman found dead in Spring Brook Township, Wisconsin. Miller was identified through genetic genealogy after decades of investigation, with DNA evidence linking him to the crime. He admitted to picking up Schlais while she was hitchhiking and fatally stabbing her, and he is now facing charges in Wisconsin.

Read the full article on Fox9

GAME — Mini Crossword Presented By The Hustle

Hunting for this animal started this past week in Minnesota. Think you know the answer? Solve the entire crossword puzzle here.

Sports 🏈

No Touchdowns, No Problem. Vikings Win Ugly Against Jacksonville 🏈

The Summary: The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 12-7 in a hard-fought Week 10 game, improving their record to 7-2. The Vikings relied on strong defense and kicker John Parker Romo, who made four field goals in his NFL debut.

Key Moments: The Vikings led early with a 45-yard field goal by Romo, but the Jaguars took the lead with a 1-yard touchdown from backup quarterback Mac Jones. Minnesota’s offense struggled, with Sam Darnold throwing three interceptions, all while targeting Justin Jefferson.

Defensive Stand: Despite offensive struggles, the Vikings’ defense forced turnovers on Jacksonville's final three possessions. A fumbled snap by Jones and two late interceptions, including one by Cam Bynum (check out his celebration), helped seal the victory for Minnesota.

In Romo We Trust: John Parker Romo’s four field goals were the Vikings' only points, with distances of 45, 33, 34, and 29 yards.

Up Next: The Vikings will travel to Tennessee next week to face the Titans.

Other Sports

🏒 The Minnesota Wild defeated the Anaheim Ducks on Friday by a score of 5-2. The Wild are 10-2-2 on the season.

🏒 The Gopher Men’s Hockey Team swept the Wisconsin Badgers to improve their record to 9-1 on the season. They are ranked #3 nationally.

🏈 The Minnesota Gophers lost a very winnable game against Rutgers, ending their 4 game win streak. They host #6 ranked Penn State next week.

🏀 The Gopher men’s and women’s basketball teams had good weekends securing wins against Omaha and Vermont, respectively.

Quick hits

Headlines From Around The Twin Cities ✔

❯ Two people were injured in a shooting at a south Minneapolis homeless encampment (WCCO)

❯ Police are increasing patrols after sexual assaults at Lebanon Hills Regional Park (Bring Me The News)

❯ Community members weighed in to help determine the design for a $2M Elliot Park improvement project (Downtown Voices)

❯ Minneapolis leaders held a town hall on Thursday to address homelessness issues (Fox9)

The Final Word: Wolves Back 🐺

Target Center is going to be the place to be this winter. The Timberwolves, and specifically Anthony Edwards, are must-watch. I attended Friday’s game against the Trailblazers and Ant Man’s playmaking was on full display.

I shared this tip already, but if you have a .edu email address or know someone who does, sign up for college deals here. My tickets to Friday’s game were just $10.

-Patrick