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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 staff drops in on 2026 ATH Roman Voss

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Minnesota staff drops in on 2026 ATH Roman Voss


The Minnesota coaching staff was on the road on Monday dropping in on top in-state prospects. Among those that the Gophers spent time with is elite in-state prospect Roman Voss.

The four-star prospect is ranked as the top prospect within Minnesota and a top-15 athlete nationally. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Voss does a little bit of everything for Jackson County Central, playing quarterback, tight end, linebacker, and safety.

At the next level, many programs are looking at Voss as a likely tight end or linebacker where his 4.6 speed would be best utizilzed. The Gophers are among those teams and currently view him as a tight end.

Voss is among the Gophers’ top targets in the 2026 recruiting cycle and has already amassed a strong offer sheet with offers from Cal, Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State, Wisconsin, and of course the Gophers.

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Minnesota high school sports: Scores and results for Monday, Jan. 6

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Minnesota high school sports: Scores and results for Monday, Jan. 6


• Orono 218.5, Benilde-St. Margaret’s 189, Bloomington 147.5. Medalist: Bennett Erickson, Benilde-St. Margaret’s, 49.71.

• Benilde-St. Margaret’s 190, St. Louis Park 170, Bloomington 169. Medalist: Ava Krueger, St. Louis Park, 50.28.

EASTERN MINNESOTA ATHLETIC

• Avail Acad. 68, Twin Cities Acad. 55

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Minnesota task force recommends decriminalization of magic mushrooms

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Minnesota task force recommends decriminalization of magic mushrooms


MINNEAPOLIS — A task force is recommending the decriminalization of magic mushrooms.

A nearly 200-page report from the Minnesota Psychedelic Medicine Task Force said psilocybin mushrooms show evidence they may improve mental health.

Logan Fleischman co-owns Wonderland Mushroom Dispensary in St. Paul, a shop specializing in mushroom-infused gummies and drinks that tout supposed real-life health benefits.

“We’re not saying that this certainly will give you energy or will give you focus, but for some people, it does help,” Fleischman said.

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Fleischman does not sell “magic mushrooms,” also known as psilocybin mushrooms, that cause hallucinations and are still illegal.
However, news of a state task force report that lays out potential health benefits, gives Fleischman hope.

“Really helping combat things like depression, anxiety, PTSD,” Fleischman said.

By a two-thirds supermajority, members of the Psychedelic Medicine Task Force are recommending the Minnesota Legislature create a state-regulated clinical program for the therapeutic administration of psilocybin-containing mushrooms, while removing criminal penalties for their use, and allocating for more funding for research on psychedelics, like psilocybin mushrooms.

The task force also looked at a clinical program for synthetic drugs like MDMA and LSD, but that didn’t garner enough support. There also was not enough support for a recreational market for magic mushrooms.

“The report itself is meant to be a long-term resource for the state,” said Jessica Nielson, chair of the task force. “We do need someone in the legislature to actually introduce the bill and move it through the system.”

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Minnesota Sen. Mark Koran, R-North Branch, a member of the task force, is optimistic.

“If we can get a true environment to have some research done and find an effective way to administer it, and we have the resources to do it here, then I would be all for moving it forward,” Koran said. 

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