9/16/2024 -- Early Voting Begins In Minnesota

Politics

Early Voting Begins In Minnesota This Week. Here’s What You Need To Know

The Summary: Early voting for the 2024 election begins on Friday in Minnesota. You can register by mail, online or in person.

Did You Know: Minnesota led the country in voter turnout at 79.5% in the 2020 elections.

What Is On The Ballot: If you’re in the Twin Cities, you’ll be voting for U.S. President, U.S. Senate race between Amy Klobuchar and Royce White, U.S. House race between Ilhan Omar and Dalia Al-Aqidi, state representative, and school board.

Constitutional Amendement Vote: Minnesotan’s will also be voting to add a constitutional amendment to use state lottery proceeds for protecting drinking water, conserving wildlife habitats, improving air quality, and expanding parks and trails.

Key Information

· Register to vote here.

· Find out what’s on your ballot here.

· You can vote early by mail or in-person.  

Key Dates:

• Deadline to register to vote: Tuesday, Oct. 15

• Deadline to return an absentee ballot: Tuesday, Nov. 5,.

• Early voting schedule: Friday, Sept. 20, to Monday, Nov. 4

• Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 5

Crime

Hit-And-Run Vehicle Plows Into Crowd In Downtown Minneapolis, Kills 16-Year-Old Girl

The Summary: A 16-year-old girl was killed, and five others were injured after a driver plowed into a crowd in downtown Minneapolis early Saturday morning. The driver, a 22-year-old woman, was arrested after fleeing the scene and is currently in custody awaiting potential charges.

Police Response: Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara described the incident as "tragic and senseless." He stated that the driver intentionally drove in reverse on Hennepin Avenue and then the wrong way on Fifth Street North before striking a group of people.

Ongoing Investigation: The incident followed a fight between teenagers and young adults, which may have led to the attack. O'Hara confirmed that video footage indicates the attack was not random, and more arrests may follow.

Business

❯ Protest at Optum: Around 50 people gathered outside Optum’s headquarters in Eden Prairie to protest the practices of pharmacy benefit managers, accusing them of inflating drug costs and forcing independent pharmacies out of business. Optum denies these claims, stating it works to ensure fair pharmacy payments and help them operate more efficiently.

❯ Twin Cities Inflation: According to a new study from WalletHub, Minneapolis/St. Paul was found to have the biggest inflation issues among 23 major cities. The study primarily used changes in consumer price index (CPI) to determine the rankings.

❯ MN Entrepreneurs Shine: Five Minnesota entrepreneurs were honored through EY's Entrepreneur of the Year Awards program. The companies include Bizzy Cold Brew, Digi International, Ellie Mental Health, Granite Equity Partners, and nVent.

What Else We’re Reading…

New Star Tribune Investigation Finds Most Minnesota Charter Schools Are Not Living Up To Expectations 🏫

The Summary: A new Star Tribune investigation revealed that Minnesota's charter schools, established to foster educational innovation, have grown significantly but face ongoing challenges. Despite their diverse offerings and rapid expansion, many are struggling with financial constraints, inadequate facilities, and leadership issues. The lack of state support and stringent policies have further complicated their operations, leading to a mixed record of success and failure.

What Else To Know: A charter school in Rochester is set to close in October while a North Minneapolis charter school closed earlier in 2024 due to financial concerns.

Read the full Star Tribune article here.

GAME — Mini Crossword

The last time the Vikings were 2-0 was 2016. Five down in today’s crossword is the name of the QB at that time. Think you know the answer? Solve the entire crossword puzzle here.

Sports

Vikings Defeat 49ers In Huge Early Season Upset 🏈

The Summary: The Minnesota Vikings secured a home-opener win against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday by a score of 23-17.

Darnold Continues To Roll: Sam Darnold threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns including a 97-yard TD to Justin Jefferson.

Take a Deep Breath: Justin Jefferson left the game early with a quad injury but after the game he told reporters that he “isn’t overly concerned.”

Kings Of The North: With a Lions loss, the Minnesota Vikings are the only undefeated team remaining in the NFC North. They will play the Texans at home next week.

Other Sports

⚾ The Minnesota Twins salvaged their series against the Cincinnati Reds by winning the final game. They now sit 2.5 games above the Tigers for the final wild card spot with just 13 games remaining.

🏀 The Minnesota Lynx knocked off the NY Liberty who have the best record in the WNBA. They are looking to stay in the #2 spot with just two games remaining.

⚽ The Minnesota Loons defeated St. Louis on Saturday and continue to hold the final playoff spot with six games left.

🏈 The Gopher football team improved to 2-1 on the season after a convincing win over Nevada.

Quick hits

Headlines From Around The Twin Cities ✔

❯ Washington State officials canceled a use-of-force training event led by former officer Kim Potter, who killed Daunte Wright in 2021, after concerns arose about her involvement (Bring Me The News)

❯ A new MinnPost poll shows Harris has narrow lead over Trump in Minnesota (Minnpost)

❯ Minneapolis residents are expressing concerns about proposed Blue Line extension plan (MPR)

❯ A Minneapolis group is beginning their 2nd attempt for community-controlled police commission (KSTP)

The Final Word: Hot Travel Tip

Starting this week, you’ll be able to reserve a spot in the security line at MSP Terminal 1 using MSP RESERVE. The service is free and you’ll have a number of times to choose from when completing your booking.

If anyone uses the service, let me know how it goes!

-Patrick