Good morning, and welcome to the last work day (for many of us) of a long and very cold week. Thursday was a busy day, so let’s take a look at the Digest.
1. If you were holding your breath for a special legislative session, you are desperately in need of some air and you might as well give up. Yet another deadline passed Thursday afternoon, and all sides at the Capitol are pointing fingers at each other. If you’re facing big increases in your health insurance premiums on the individual market or were hoping for tax break or a building project, you’ll have to keep waiting. But if it’s any consolation (and I know it isn’t), I’m told the Virgin Islands are very nice this time of year, or any time of year, really. (MPR News)
2.Two federal agencies have denied the renewal of mineral leases near Ely and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, dealing a major blow to the efforts of Twin Metals Minnesota to open an underground copper-nickel mine there. The government also initiated steps that could lead to a 20-year moratorium on new mining in the region.“I have asked Interior to take a time out,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, “conduct a careful environmental analysis and engage the public on whether future mining should be authorized on any federal land next door to the Boundary Waters.” (MPR News)
3.The U.S. Department of Justice said Thursday that it’s launched an “independent and comprehensive assessment” of the St. Anthony Police Department. The city will be the 16th nationally to enter into a collaborative process with the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, which works to help police departments around the country advance community policing. The St. Anthony department in October asked to join the effort, which focuses on identifying specific issues within a police department. The announcement comes in the wake of the police shooting death of Philando Castile, 32, who was killed during a July 6 traffic stop in Falcon Heights, which contracts with St. Anthony for police services. (MPR News)
4. Outgoing Labor Secretary Tom Perez said Thursday he is in the race for chair of the Democratic National Committee. He probably represents the strongest alternative to Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison for the job, in that Perez will likely get support from backers of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, while Ellison’s base of support comes from the Bernie Sanders wing of the party. Ellison released a statement while Perez was announcing his run for the job.“Secretary Perez is a great public servant and I welcome him to the race,” Ellison said. “I look forward to discussing how Democrats can speak to all Americans, harness the grassroots to turn out the vote, and strengthen our state and local parties." (Politico)
5.The Republican-controlled North Carolina Legislature has introduced measures to limit the powers of the incoming Democratic governor. Attorney General Roy Cooper beat Republican Gov. Pat McCrory by about 10,000 votes last month. This week theLegislature met for a special session to pass a disaster relief bill for Hurricane Matthew. But once the relief bill had been passed, the Legislature introduced new bills which would strip Cooper of powers McCrory held, including the power to appoint his Cabinet without legislative approval, the power to appoint trustees for the University of North Carolina and the power to oversee the state’s election board. If the bills pass, it would fall to McCrory to sign or veto them. (NPR)
