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59 Minnesota lawmakers aren’t seeking re-election, most since 1970

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59 Minnesota lawmakers aren’t seeking re-election, most since 1970


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It will be a new-look Minnesota Legislature in 2023.

A complete of 59 members between the Home and Senate are usually not in search of re-election to their present seats this yr, greater than one-fourth of the Legislature’s 201 members. That’s the highest quantity since no less than 1970, in response to Legislative Reference Library knowledge.

The breakdown of retirements is mostly evenly cut up between the events – 32 Republicans, 27 Democrats and two independents are usually not operating for his or her present seats. Not all are leaving politics: a number of members of the Home are operating for Senate seats, whereas a handful are operating for native workplaces.

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Redistricting is the largest motive for the wave of exits. The Minnesota Supreme Courtroom’s particular panel paired a number of lawmakers into new districts. Not like members of Congress, Minnesota lawmakers should reside of their districts, forcing these paired lawmakers into a call: run towards a fellow member, transfer, or retire.

Senate DFL Chief Melisa Lopez Franzen was amongst those that determined to retire. The Edina lawmaker was paired in redistricting with state Sen. Ron Latz, DFL-St. Louis Park.

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“It’s been an honor to get to know you over the past 10 years,” Lopez Franzen mentioned to her constituents throughout Senate retirement speeches final week, “and I’m not transferring.”

Redistricting has at all times led to extra retirements, however this yr’s wave is greater than in earlier a long time. In 2012, 49 members did not search re-election. There have been 47 in 2002, 33 in 1992, 50 in 1982, and 54 in 1972.

Retiring lawmakers famous further strains lately in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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“This place is about relationships, and I believe the final two years it’s been very troublesome for us to construct these relationships,” mentioned Senate President Dave Osmek, R-Mound.

The 23 senators who aren’t in search of re-election have greater than 107,000 days of collective service time within the Legislature, Osmek mentioned.

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Subsequent yr’s freshman class might be the largest in current historical past, relying on what number of lawmakers who’re operating for re-election lose this fall. 
 



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Minnesota

Minnesota vs Illinois: Who are the projeced starters for both teams?

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Minnesota vs Illinois: Who are the projeced starters for both teams?


Minnesota vs Illinois: Who are the projeced starters for both teams?

The Minnesota Golden Gophers will take on the Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday afternoon at 11:00 a.m. CT in Champlain. The Gophers are seeking their fourth straight win and their sixth win of the season to officially become bowl eligible.

Illinois on the other hand will look to get back in the win column after suffering their second loss of the season last week to Oregon 38-9. The Illini entered this week ranked No. 24 in the AP Poll.

With that being said, who are the projected starters for the Golden Gophers and Illini on Saturday and are there any injury concerns amongst the starters for both teams?

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In terms of offensive injury concerns, Minnesota enters this game healthy, Illinois, however, will be potentially without starting wide receiver Pat Bryant. Bryant left last week’s game against Oregon with a head injury. He’s expected to be a game time decision on Saturday afternoon.

Both sides are rather healthy on the defensive side of the ball entering this week. While not a starter, safety Darius Green would likely be considered questionable at this moment. He was questionable in the Gophers win last week over Maryland and did not appear in the game. The Illini enter this week healthy on defense.

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Blue Cross of Minnesota agrees to legal settlement for better mental health coverage

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Blue Cross of Minnesota agrees to legal settlement for better mental health coverage


Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota has reached a settlement with the state attorney general over concerns the Eagan-based health insurer failed to comply with laws insisting that health plans cover mental health services the same as they cover treatments for physical health problems.

The Minnesota Blues plan denied any wrongdoing, but agreed to a series of new oversight provisions. In addition, the insurer will operate under new mental and behavioral health care rules that call for prompt decisions on prior authorization requests as well as applications by health care providers to join the health insurer’s network.

Blue Cross will be required to pay a $300,000 civil penalty if a court finds the insurer has violated terms of the settlement, which was announced Friday. In addition, Blue Cross is contributing $600,000 to a center for rural behavioral health at Minnesota State University-Mankato.

“Mental and behavioral health care is health care, period,” Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a statement. “We expect someone with a broken leg to be able to get the care they need, and the same should be true of Minnesotans struggling with conditions like depression or substance use disorder.”

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Blue Cross said in a statement that it shares Ellison’s commitment to ensuring patients have timely access to “high quality and affordable mental health care.”

“Blue Cross has enhanced our practices related to addressing mental health benefits and access to care to ensure we are meeting the high expectations of members and other stakeholders,” the insurer said. “Today, our strategy is focused on transforming all mental health solutions in ways that can set new industry standards for equitable access to optimal care.”

The settlement is the latest in a series of agreements over the past 18 months between the state and Minnesota health insurers for improved coverage of mental health.

The earlier agreements were prompted by alleged violations of mental health parity laws, which have been adopted over the past two decades to improve patient access to mental health and behavioral health treatments.



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Minnesota Vikings Week 9 playbook: What to know ahead of Colts matchup

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Minnesota Vikings Week 9 playbook: What to know ahead of Colts matchup


The Vikings have lost back-to-back games after starting 5-0. Now they will turn to Cam Robinson, 29, to help protect quarterback Sam Darnold’s blindside after losing standout LT Christian Darrisaw to a torn ACL and MCL. Can they get a win this week against a Colts team that has benched Anthony Richardson in favor of Joe Flacco?

Week 9 vs. Indianapolis Colts, Sunday at 7:20 p.m. CT (NBC)

Catch up on what you need to know from this week on the Vikings:

Vikings trade for Jaguars LT Cam Robinson
The Vikings addressed their massive void at left tackle by trading for Jaguars offensive lineman Cam Robinson.

Vikings not sweating rookie’s quiet start
“I think Dallas (Turner) is going to be just fine. I think everybody wants everything right now, and he does, too. We’ll get him out there.”

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Meet the former Vikings visionary known as the grandfather of NFL analytics
Retired analyst Mike Eayrs was “so far ahead of the curve” that he is credited with popularizing data science in the NFL in the 1980s.

What Christian Darrisaw’s injury means
Losing their talented left tackle will make it harder for an inconsistent Vikings offense that has already had trouble sustaining drives.

• 📈Power Rankings: Vikings at No. 8
The No. 17 pick in this year’s draft has one sack and three quarterback pressures through seven games.

Scouting the Colts

Joe Flacco will be Colts starting QB ‘going forward’
The decision to bench Anthony Richardson and start Joe Flacco at quarterback is not a temporary one, coach Shane Steichen said.

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Anthony Richardson has hard lesson to learn from the bench
Richardson’s time in Indianapolis may not be over, but his path back to being the Colts starting QB will be a big challenge.

NFL execs debate Colts benching Richardson
“He hasn’t had many live reps in his football career. This season should have been presented as that development and growth across the board.”

Richardson’s benching goes far beyond his play
“What a fascinating management dilemma to be in,” a former executive from one of the Colts’ division rivals said.

Colts GM Chris Ballard has failed to live up to bold promises
Technically, Ballard still has personnel control in Indy, but the chances of him fulfilling the promise proclaimed by his owner are dwindling by the day.

How good are the Vikings?

Check out Austin Mock’s 2024 NFL projections, where you will find each team’s probability of conquering its division, advancing through the playoffs and winning the Super Bowl. The projections are based on 100,000 simulations of the remainder of the season, which factors in each team’s projected strength, current health as well as its remaining schedule.

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(Photo of Justin Jefferson: Harry How / Getty Images)





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