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Primary day is looming in Minnesota. Here are the key races to keep an eye on.

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Primary day is looming in Minnesota. Here are the key races to keep an eye on.


MINNEAPOLIS — Lost in the overwhelming developments in the presidential race, including the ascension of Gov. Tim Walz to a vice presidential nominee, is the looming Aug. 13 primary. 

It’s an open secret that both the DFL and Republican state parties aren’t fans of the August primary because it’s a time when most voters are focusing on vacations, planning a Minnesota State Fair trip or even starting to think about getting back to school. In 2022, voter turnout was less than 30% statewide. 

Some key primaries include a rematch in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District between Rep. Ilhan Omar and former Minneapolis City Council Member Don Samuels. In 2022, Omar almost lost that race to Samuels. 

Omar says that last time she underestimated Samuels and she is not doing that this year.

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Key races to watch in the 2024 Minnesota primary election (part 2)

06:52

“It’s a huge difference. Ilhan Omar has got a following. She’s got an organization that she’s been building over the last half dozen years or more, and it wasn’t really mobilized two years ago. Now, she is a presence in the district. She’s working hard, and Don Samuels has been unable to really match or exceed that,” said Professor Larry Jacobs with the University of Minnesota.

There is an unusual race for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate between Royce White and Joe Fraser. The winner will take on Sen. Amy Klobuchar in November.

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In June, Republicans nominated White, a former Gopher and NBA basketball player who still plays in a professional three-on-three league. White has a controversial past and has seen major pushback from former Sens. Rudy Boschwitz and Norm Coleman as well as former Gov. Tim Pawlenty. All three signed a letter endorsing the challenger Fraser.

Democratic strategist Abou Amara says this shows a divide in the Republican party.

“At the grassroots level, you’ve got Royce White, who’s endorsed by Steve Bannon and other kind of far extreme right-wing folks, but he won the endorsement. I think Joe Fraser represents kind of the Tim Pawlenty lane, if you will, of the Minnesota Republican Party. And so they’re on a collision course,” said Amara. “I do think Royce White presents deeper problems for the Republican ticket, whether it be the state house or the congressional seats because some of the things he said have been really out there, extreme stuff that I think the vast majority of Minnesotans would reject.”


Key races to watch in the 2024 Minnesota primary election (part 3)

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Meanwhile, in the 7th Congressional District, Rep. Michelle Fischbach faces challenges from the right in Steve Boyd.

Endorsed by former President Donald Trump,  Fischbach faces criticism for her lack of presence in her congressional district.

“When your district starts to feel that you are not paying attention, it can, it can be problematic. I mean, we saw that Michelle Bachman had a very high national profile and was seen as too much, right? I think that that haunted Ilhan Omar in the last primary, where Don Samuels got very close because the district was feeling that Ilhan was not paying attention and mining business at home,” said Amy Koch, a Republican analyst.

Meanwhile, eyes will be on Minnesota’s closest congressional race with incumbent Rep. Angie Craig and the primary for her Republican challenger.  It’s an odd situation. While GOP-endorsed candidate Tayler Rahm has dropped out of the race, some Republicans are urging voters to still cast their ballots for him instead of the better-funded Joe Teirab.

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Caribou Coffee in Minnesota launches value menu

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Caribou Coffee in Minnesota launches value menu


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  • Caribou Coffee has launched a new value menu, with items priced as low as $2.
  • The coffee chain made the change to expand the options for customers and create more flexibility, a company officer said.
  • Check the list for Caribou Coffee locations in central Minnesota.

Caribou Coffee, a coffeehouse known for its handcrafted beverages made with real ingredients, is rolling out a new value menu at participating locations nationwide. 

Beginning May 7, a company release stated, Caribou Coffee is serving Caribou Everyday Value Menu items, including to-go favorites and barista-made beverages. 

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The Everyday Value Menu features a curated lineup of Caribou classics now offered at prices starting at $2, the release stated. Guests will be able to enjoy signature items such as a small, specialty-grade brewed coffee, streusel-topped blueberry muffins and Caribou’s Cold Press, its version of cold-brewed coffee.

The value menu also introduces a new a bacon breakfast sandwich. It features crispy bacon, a cage-free scrambled egg patty and melted cheddar cheese layered on a toasted English muffin for $4. These prices are before tax.  

“For many of our guests, their daily coffee ritual is a meaningful part of their day, and we know how much it matters that it delivers on quality, convenience and value,” Matt Reiter, chief commercial and strategy officer for Caribou said in a release. “At Caribou, we’re committed to creating a consistent, high-quality experience every time someone walks into one of our coffeehouses, with a range of options that fit into their day. The Everyday Value Menu expands the ways we do that and creates even more flexibility and value for guests.”

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Caribou’s Everyday Value Menu includes:

  • $2 small brewed coffee: A rotating selection of regular and seasonal coffees, brewed every hour to ensure maximum freshness
  • $3 Blueberry Muffin: A blueberry muffin topped with streusel 
  • $3.50 small Cold Press coffee: Caribou’s cold brew coffee served over ice 
  • $4 Bacon Breakfast Sandwich: Crispy bacon, cage-free scrambled egg patty and melted cheddar cheese layered on a toasted English muffin

Caribou is also offering non-dairy customization at no extra charge, the release stated. Also, the Caribou Perks loyalty program allows guests to earn points with every Caribou purchase. These points are redeemable for free handcrafted beverages, bakery items and more. 

Guests can order items from the Everyday Value Menu in-store, at the drive-thru and through the Caribou Coffee app for pickup or delivery.

Caribou Coffee serves handcrafted beverages and food items in more than 800 coffeehouses worldwide. It opened its first location in 1992. Focused on smart growth, the coffee shop operates and franchises coffeehouses across 11 countries.

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Caribou Coffee locations in central Minnesota

  • 2423 Division Street West, St. Cloud
  • 4135 W. Division Street, St. Cloud
  • 2510 W. Division St., St. Cloud
  • 310 Lincoln Ave., St. Cloud
  • 900 Cooper Ave. S, St. Cloud
  • 201 Second Ave. S, Cold Spring
  • 18157 Carson Court, Elk River
  • 19425 Evans St. NW, Elk River
  • 324 Lowell Ave. NW, Elk River
  • 533 12th St. S, Sauk Centre
  • 701 Third Ave. NE, Buffalo
  • 800 Hwy 55 E, Buffalo
  • 630 Ryans Way, Buffalo
  • 110 First St. S, Sauk Rapids
  • 880 18th St. NW, Sauk Rapids
  • 2319 First St. S, Willmar
  • 620 First St. S, Willmar
  • 12495 Fifth Ave. N, Zimmerman
  • 703 Northland Drive, Princeton
  • 1500 Elm St. East, St. Joseph
  • 520 Jefferson Blvd. NW, Big Lake
  • 705 County Road 75 NW, Clearwater
  • 1725 Pine Cone Road S, Sartell
  • 113 S. Waite Ave., Waite Park



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3M faces new lawsuit over ‘forever chemicals’ pollution in Minnesota

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3M faces new lawsuit over ‘forever chemicals’ pollution in Minnesota


The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is taking 3M back to court, saying the company hasn’t done enough to stop PFAS pollution in local water.

Minnesota sues 3M for ongoing PFAS contamination

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What we know:

The MPCA filed the lawsuit May 1, alleging that 3M is responsible for ongoing groundwater and surface water contamination, including industrial and stormwater discharges into the Mississippi River near its Cottage Grove facility.

In its argument, the state says some locations tested for PFAS showed concentrations as high as 310,000 parts per trillion, far above the state standard. The agency claims that although the specific site “does not routinely discharge to surface waters,” a heavy rainfall could lead to contamination entering the river.

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The MPCA also alleges that 3M has not completed required cleanup work under a 2022 order and that its groundwater extraction system is not sufficient.

Minnesota previously sued 3M over PFAS, resulting in a 2018 settlement where the company paid $850 million to help clean up drinking water in the east metro. In 2024, 3M also agreed to pay $10.3 billion over 13 years to address PFAS in drinking water systems nationwide.

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Dig deeper:

In the lawsuit, the state is seeking civil penalties of up to $30,000 per violation per day, as well as increased cleanup efforts and compensation for damage to wildlife and natural resources.

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A full copy of the complaint can be found below:

3M responds to lawsuit

The other side:

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In its own court filing, 3M argues that some of the PFAS pollution came from testing firefighting foam made for the U.S. military, following Department of Defense requirements. The company says it warned the federal government about PFAS risks and should not be held responsible for contamination tied to military work.

3M wants the case moved from state to federal court, saying the environmental damage cited by the state is linked to its role as a government contractor.

The company stated it completed its planned exit from all PFAS manufacturing at the end of 2025.

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The Source: Information provided by Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and 3M court filings.

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Minnesota Senate approves bills to rein in ICE agents

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Minnesota Senate approves bills to rein in ICE agents


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  • The Minnesota Senate passed a package of bills in response to a large-scale ICE operation.
  • The bills would allow Minnesotans to sue federal agents for constitutional violations in state court.
  • The legislation also aims to ban federal immigration agents from schools and hospitals.

The Minnesota Senate on Monday approved a package of bills aimed at reining in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers after more than 3,000 federal agents descended on Minnesota for what the Department of Homeland Security called its largest immigration enforcement operation ever.

Swarming groups of federal agents racially profiled and arrested people in the streets during Operation Metro Surge, which ignited massive resistance and resulted in the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two U.S. Citizens.

“All we want are safe communities and the fair treatment under the law,” said Sen. Ron Latz, DFL-St. Louis Park, and chief author of the bill package. “The way ICE agents and Border Patrol agents went about (immigration) enforcement was an absolute abuse of our Constitution. It contravened our constitutional principles. It was without warrants. It was stopping people without lawful basis. It was arresting people without probable cause. It just crossed so many constitutional lines.”

The Minnesota Senate is controlled by Democrats, who have made Operation Metro Surge recovery and accountability a top issue. The Minnesota House is deadlocked between Republicans and Democrats, and Republicans have largely opposed Operation Metro Surge-related bills this session. The legislative session ends on Sunday.

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The bill passed 34-33 in the Senate with no Republican votes.

The package includes a bill to allow Minnesotans to sue federal agents in state court if their constitutional rights are violated.

For much of American history, people have had the ability to sue federal agents, but the U.S. Supreme Court has rolled back that precedent. The high court has suggested that only Congress can authorize lawsuits seeking money from federal officials.

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Some legal scholars believe state legislatures, too, can authorize lawsuits against federal officials for violating the Constitution. The Illinois Legislature last year passed such a law, and the Trump administration promptly sued, arguing the Constitution’s supremacy clause limits states from enacting policies that conflict with federal law.

The Trump administration has said that federal agents have “absolute immunity” if they are conducting immigration enforcement. Legal experts say that immunity doesn’t extend to unreasonable or excessive use of force. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty charged one ICE officer with assault for allegedly brandishing a weapon and is weighing charges against the agents who killed Pretti and Good.

The package of bills also includes banning law enforcement from wearing face masks, and it creates a “civil right of action” in shootings in which a person can be held civilly liable if they shoot someone and fail to provide aid to the victim.

It also prohibits federal immigration agents from schools, hospitals, childcare centers and courthouses.

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Senate Republicans say the package would cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in potential litigation because the state will likely be sued. States cannot regulate immigration law, and Republicans argue the bill package does just that.

Minnesota Reformer is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.



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