9/25/2023 --Twins Win! Cannabis Czar Ousted. Early Voting Begins

Good morning. Today is Monday, September 25th. Here is everything you need to know to start your day in the Twin Cities.

Twins Win! Twins Win!

The Summary: The Minnesota Twins clinched the American League Central Division title on Friday with an 8-6 win over the Los Angeles Angels. This marks the Twins’ ninth time winning the division and their third time in the last five seasons.

The Infamous Playoff Losing Streak: It didn’t take long after all the champagne was cleaned up for people in the baseball media to bring up the Twins’ 18 game losing streak in the playoffs. The losing streak isn’t just the worst in baseball, it is the worst in all of North American major professional sports. The last time the Minnesota Twins won a playoff game was in 2004 when a guy by the name of Joe Mauer was just a rookie on the Twins’ roster.

Looking ahead: The Twins will likely be the #3 seed in the American League heading into the playoffs. If the season ended today, the Twins would match up against the Houston Astros who they went 4-2 against in the 2023 season. They will host all of the games in the best of three wild card series. The Twins are hopeful to have a playoff roster that includes key players like Byron Buxton, Royce Lewis, and Carlos Correa who have all struggled with injuries this season.

Homer Hanky is Back: The beloved symbol of a successful Twins season is back and has the phrase “We Believe” printed across the red hanky. The Homer Hanky made its original debut in 1987, the same year the Twins won their first World Series. You can buy the Homer Hanky at the Twins store in person or in the Star Tribune online store. Fans who attend any home playoff game will receive one upon entering the stadium.

MN Cannabis Czar Resigns After One Day. Walz: “We got this wrong.”

The Summary: On September 21^st , Erin DuPree was appointed by Governor Tim Walz to lead the newly created state Office of Cannabis Management. Shortly after being appointed, reports came out from the Star Tribune and MPR revealing DuPree’s hemp store, Loonacy, sold multiple cannabis products that are illegal under state law. Soon after, DuPree announced that she would be resigning from the position before her official start date of Oct. 2.

What They’re Saying: Dupree denied having knowingly sold any illegal product in her store. In a statement, she said: “It has become clear that I have become a distraction that would stand in the way of the important work that needs to be done.”

Failed Background Check: Questions have been raised to the Walz administration about the vetting that went into the appointment of DuPree. In addition to selling illegal products in her own hemp store, MPR News also found that Dupree has a history of not paying taxes and her own employees. This is the second time in 2023 that a major Walz appointment has stepped down before starting their role. At a public engagement, Walz took responsibility saying, “the process did not work and we got this wrong.”

Early Voting Begins in Minnesota

The Summary: Early voting for Minnesota’s fall 2023 elections began Friday and ends November 6. Minnesota residents who have not registered to vote can do so anytime on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website. MN residents can also fill out an absentee ballot application to vote early by mail.

What is on the ballot: Every seat on the Minneapolis city council is up for grabs this year. St. Paul residents will be asked whether the city should raise sales tax by a full percent. Nearly 200 candidates are running for open school board seats across Minnesota and they are spending more than they have in the past. St. Louis Park will be voting whether to elect the state’s first Somali mayor.

✔Quick hits

🏈 It was a tough weekend for Minnesota Football fans with the Gophers (1-2) blowing a 31-20 lead to Northwestern and the Vikings (0-3) losing at home to the LA Chargers.

🌱 The City of Minneapolis plans to sell two lots off Lake Street to the Red Lake Nation. The lots will be used to build a healing center and garden focused on serving Indigenous people. (MPR)

🍕 Too Good To Go app is partnering with Minneapolis restaurants to sell unused food at steep discounts. (BringMeTheNews)

🚗 Auto thefts in Minneapolis continue to rise at record setting pace (KSTP)

🚘 The United Auto Workers Strike has expanded to the Twin Cities area (Star Tribune)

🥼 Catholic student group at University of Minnesota Duluth Medical School causes divide (Star Tribune)

🏥 Walz appoints members to U of M healthcare task force to determine future of U of M health system (MN DOH)

👷‍♂️ A new report from analytics firm Lightcast says Minnesota is facing a 168,000 worker gap (TCB)

In Other News: Original Bob Ross Painting For Sale In MPLS Gallery For $10M

The Minneapolis Gallery, Modern Artifact, is selling the first of more than 400 paintings that Bob Ross produced on-air for his TV series “The Joy of Painting.”

Owner of The Modern Artifact, Ryan Nelson told the Star Tribune, “It’s what you would call the rookie card of his career.” The painting could be yours for $9,850,000.

The Final Word…don’t shoot the messenger🏈

In the modern Super Bowl era, only six teams have made the NFL playoffs after starting 0-3.

-Patrick

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