Minnesota
Minnesota House candidates vie for 8A seat
DULUTH — The race to fill
former Rep. Liz Olson’s District 8A seat
in the Minnesota House heated up on Tuesday as the candidates answered questions in a debate hosted by the News Tribune and Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce at The Garden in Canal Park.
Both candidates leaned into their backgrounds in public service as evidence of their fitness for the office.
Pete Johnson
has been a firefighter for 23 years, 19 of those in Duluth. He’s been the union officer for the Local 101 firefighters union for the past 16 years. He said his experiences “responding to folks when they’re at their most vulnerable times” is a big driver for his political perspective.
Mark McGrew
is a lifelong Duluthian, born and raised in the Piedmont Heights neighborhood. He retired last spring after 28 years in law enforcement, 24 with the Minnesota State Patrol. He’s also a Navy Reserve veteran. He said he brings experience with “meeting people at difficult times,” and he’s running to “hold the government fiscally responsible” as his top priority.
Steve Kuchera / 2020 file / Duluth Media Group
“The Legislature last session spent $17.5 billion in a matter of five months,” McGrew said. “I think we need to be able to curb spending and bring it down, which will hopefully help with inflation.”
Johnson’s top priorities are to “focus on the core issues tied to housing, education, health care and paying jobs.”
“A lot of the things we get called to are rooted somewhere else. … They’re not something I can solve in a couple of minutes,” Johnson said. “I really feel focusing on those four key pieces will lift everybody out, including those who are in the middle class and folks on the margins.”
Both agreed that they could work to foster bipartisanship based on their experiences. Both served as negotiators for contracts with their public safety organizations and said the skills earned there would help them compromise as representatives. Both candidates were disappointed with the lack of a bonding bill from the last legislative session and said they’d support one in the next session.
Regarding education investment, McGrew stated he supported funding education, though not at the risk of seeing the state going into deficit, but that “we need to bring local control back to the school districts.”
“Let the local school boards handle that money and use it however they feel,” McGrew said.
Johnson agreed with funding education, which he said has been “chronically underfunded for decades.”
“Even with the investments made in the last few years, they’re still underfunded,” Johnson said.
Both candidates agreed on the existence of a housing crisis but cited different causes. Johnson served on the Center City Housing Corp. for nine years.
“It’s more than just units,” he said. “It’s the support that’s tied to those units, such as mental health, physical health support, child care, a controlled door for 24 hours. That has a huge impact on those folks remaining stably housed.”
McGrew said the issue is more closely related to the high cost of homes, high property taxes and over-regulation.
“I think we need to deregulate some of the housing things and move forward from there to let people buy cheaper houses,” McGrew said.
When it comes to population growth or lack thereof, McGrew said the state’s high corporate tax rates and mandates were pushing businesses away.
“If you’re trying to attract business, and you have the highest corporate tax rate, and you have all these mandates on different companies and businesses that want to come here,” McGrew said. “Why would they come to Duluth when they could go to Superior, Wisconsin, across the bridge, and maybe have lower tax rates and lower fees and all these other things?”
Johnson said having a highly trained workforce, access to child care and accessible housing would attract population growth.
“If workers here are highly skilled and motivated, they’ll draw those businesses here, regardless of the tax rates. If we can produce those best workers and keep them here, it’s going to be a huge piece of that,” Johnson said.
When it comes to allowing
copper-nickel mining,
Johnson said the issue was about building trust.
“The folks on the labor side don’t necessarily trust the corporations to take care of their workers and that their conditions will be safe unless they have contracts in place,” Johnson said. “The folks on the clean-water side are the same way in that they want things in place to make sure that it’s done safely and, if not, that there’s money set aside to make that cleanup possible.”
McGrew said he was “absolutely in favor” of copper-nickel mining but also wants it to be “environmentally safe.”
“I was out talking to door knocking, and I ran into somebody who brought up this, and I said, ‘Do you want to do that in Minnesota, where we have regulations, we have OSHA, and probably the highest working standards around?’” McGrew said. “Would you rather have that done in Africa or child workers being used and no regulation? The person said they’d rather see it done here where we can monitor it.”
McGrew said he did not support abortion and that he wished there was a Roe v. Wade standard in Minnesota.
“I think that where we’re at right now is that you have basically abortion … up until the point of birth. And I think that that is on the same level as North Korea and China. And I think we need to draw that back,” McGrew said.
Johnson took issue with McGrew’s statement on late-term abortions.
“The reality is that those late-term abortions make up a very tiny percent of abortions, and often when there is new information found,” Johnson said. “Such as fetal viability, the health of the mother or other issues which delayed getting treatment. I fully support everyone’s right to choose.”
Teri Cadeau is a features reporter for the Duluth News Tribune. Originally from the Iron Range, Cadeau has worked for several community newspapers in the Duluth area, including the Duluth Budgeteer News, Western Weekly, Weekly Observer, Lake County News-Chronicle, and occasionally, the Cloquet Pine Journal. When not working, she’s an avid reader, crafter, dancer, trivia fanatic and cribbage player.
Kirill Kaprizov had a goal and two assists, and Ryan Hartman had a goal and an assist for the Wild, who are the No. 3 seed in the Central Division. Wallstedt made 27 saves in his Stanley Cup Playoff debut, and Zuccarello had three assists.
“I was definitely nervous,” said Wallstedt, a rookie. “I think it shows that it means something to you. I like a little bit of nerves. I think it’s something good. There were definitely some nerves throughout the day and then a little bit extra rolling into the game. But after the national anthem was over and the first couple pucks started coming, you’re good.
“I wanted to play and I felt like I have been going good. I was a little surprised (to get the start). But I was very excited as soon as I got the news. I just wanted to make sure I was ready today.”
Jason Robertson scored, and Jake Oettinger made 23 saves for the Stars, who are the No. 2 seed in the Central.
“We didn’t deserve to win,” Dallas forward Mikko Rantanen said. “I think two power-play goals for them, two a little-bit bounces for them where we had guys in the right spot. Just even keel. Playoffs are like this. Sometimes you lose a game, you can feel like you’re done. But that’s the mentality you need to have, you’ve got to reset and learn from mistakes.
“First 30 minutes, we didn’t win enough battles. They were just that little bit stronger in the battles and that’s why they were able to make us defend more than we want to. Just got to be stronger.”
Game 2 is here on Monday (9:30 p.m. ET; FDSNWI, FDSNNO, Victory+, ESPN, TVAS2, SN360).
“We prepped for a couple days coming into this one. Now, we will gather information from this game and continue to move forward,” Minnesota coach John Hynes said. “For me, it’s game to game and day to day. We want to continue to get better. We won and they [Dallas] lost. It’s not so much being satisfied where you’re at or that’s what it is. We need to continue to find ways to get better.”
Eriksson Ek gave the Wild a 1-0 lead at 5:35 of the first period on the power play. He scored on a one-timer from the left hash marks to finish a tic-tac-toe passing play with Zuccarello and Boldy, who found an open Eriksson Ek with a pass from the goal line.
“I think every team in the playoffs talks about not getting too high or too low. Just enjoy every day and each game and then we will go from there,” Eriksson Ek said. “I think we played pretty good today. The next game is a new game, so we just have to do it over and over every game. We know they are probably not the happiest with that game, so I am sure it’s going to be hard next game.”
Minnesota prosecutors charged a federal immigration agent with assault accusing him of involvement in a February road-rage incident.
Trump administration ends Minnesota immigration operation
Border Czar Tom Homan announced the end of Minnesota’s immigration operation after fatal shootings heightened tension and community backlash.
Minnesota prosecutors charged a federal immigration agent with assault, saying the agent was involved in a February road-rage incident during the Trump administration’s Operation Metro Surge.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr., 35, faces two counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, according to April 16 Hennepin County court records. He has a nationwide warrant for his arrest.
On Feb. 5, prosecutors said Morgan allegedly drove illegally on the shoulder of a congested Minnesota highway in an unmarked SUV and pointed his weapon at two people in another car.
Morgan is the first agent charged in Operation Metro Surge, the controversial Minneapolis-area federal immigration operation that resulted in two American citizens fatally shot by federal officials, according to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
The charges “reflect an important milestone in our efforts to seek accountability for the harms inflicted on our community during Operation Metro Surge,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in an April 16 video statement.
Second-degree assault with a gun has a presumptive sentence of 36 months in prison if convicted, she said.
“Mr. Morgan’s conduct was extremely dangerous,” she said, adding his actions could have led to “another disastrous incident” in the community.
Neither ICE nor the Department of Homeland Security immediately responded to email requests for comment. A cell phone listed for Morgan, identified as a Maryland resident, didn’t immediately respond to a call or text message.
The incident came less than two weeks after two Customs and Border Protection officers shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, during a protest in Minneapolis. Pretti would be the second American killed during Metro Surge after an ICE agent in early January fatally shot Renee Good, 37, while she drove her SUV in Minneapolis near an immigration operation.
Later in February, the Trump administration drew down Metro Surge, which officials called the largest immigration operation in modern American history.
Investigators said they interviewed Morgan, who identified himself as the driver. Morgan told investigators he and the other ICE employee were returning from a surveillance shift. Morgan said he feared for his life and others’ safety, so he pulled up alongside the vehicle and drew his Glock 19 firearm. He said he identified himself as police.
State investigators said neither Morgan nor the other ICE agent reported the incident to an ICE supervisor.
The April 16 warrant, signed by District Court Judge Paul Scoggin, said there was a “substantial likelihood” Morgan would fail to respond to a summons, and officials couldn’t locate him.
On April 18, Daniel Borgertpoepping, a spokesperson for the county attorney’s office, said there is no knowledge of Morgan being arrested yet.
Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Reach him by email at emcuevas1@usatoday.com or on Signal at emcuevas.01.
Reds’ Brandon Williamson talks Minnesota homecoming, beating Twins
Cincinnati Reds lefty Brandon Williamson pitched into the sixth inning to beat his home-state Minnesota Twins 2-1 in his first pro start in Minnesota.
MINNEAPOLIS – Brandon Williamson came to this ballpark as a kid, rooted for Joe Mauer and the Twins, maybe even dreamed a little of playing there one day.
“Oh, yeah. Joe Ma,” Williamson said. “That’s my guy.”
By the time that day came, Mauer had a statue outside the stadium, and Williamson had 29 career starts across three big-league seasons for the Cincinnati Reds.
And then the kid from tiny Trimont, Minnesota, came up big enough to beat the Twins in his first professional start in his home state – a 2-1 victory Friday in front of 200 or more personal friends and family from Trimont. And about 31,000 other people.
“It was awesome,” said Williamson, whose personal contingent at the game represented close to one-third of greater Trimont (pop. 705). “It was everything I thought it would be.”
The left-hander didn’t pitch especially deep into the game, getting two batters into the sixth. But on a night made for native Minnesotans, with a game-time temperature of 43 degrees, Williamson looked right at, well, home, pitching to the conditions and setting down the first six batters he faced – and eight of the first nine.
As one local press box wag quipped during the second inning, “These Minnesota boys know how to pitch in the cold.”
A pair of one-out runs in the fourth inning provided the scoring for a Reds team lineup still trying to break free from its early season woes – albeit with the twin obstacles of the weather and All-Star starter Joe Ryan’s presence on the mound for the Twins for the first six innings.
The only two hits off Ryan were doubles in the fourth by Elly De La Cruz and Eugenio Suárez, sandwiched around a throwing error by third baseman Ryan Kreidler. Suárez’s hit drove in two.
The only run against Williamson scored after he inexplicably followed four strong innings with three consecutive walks to open the fifth, including a four-pitch walk to No. 8 hitter Brooks Lee leading off the inning.
Austin Martin followed the three freebies with a sacrifice fly on a dying liner to the gap in right that Will Benson caught with a slide.
Williamson then rallied to get Luke Keaschall on an inning-ending, 5-4-3 double play started by Suárez, who got the rare start at third base.
“I thought he handled himself really good,” manager Terry Francona said. “He looked like he was having fun pitching. I know he didn’t like walking the bases loaded. But he looked like he was enjoying himself out there. I like that when guys are enjoying competing; then we’re OK.”
Williamson also left the bases loaded in the third after a hit batter and two-out single followed by a walk. He struck out Keaschall on a called third strike that was confirmed after Keaschall challenged.
“I could have kissed whoever was running the ABS,” Williamson said.
The Reds improved to 12-8 and remained tied for first place in the National League Central after their third win in four games – the second in that stretch by a 2-1 score.“That was cool,” said closer Emilio Pagán, who pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save in his first outing since experiencing hamstring tightness Tuesday.
“I don’t have a team in my home state (of South Carolina),” Pagán said, “so I don’t know what that feels like. But to pitch against probably his favorite team growing up in front of that many friends and family had to be a surreal feeling. And he handled it great.”
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