Capitol View for February 9

Good morning, and welcome to Wednesday.

WCCO Radio host Cory Hepola is considering a run for governor in what would likely be a third-party campaign and mark the latest attempt by a radio personality to leap into Minnesota politics. Hepola told MPR’s Brian Bakst on Tuesday that he will make a decision over the next four to six weeks. He has a listening session set for early March in North Oaks. For now, he hasn’t declared himself a candidate, which would undoubtedly force him off the airwaves. The 40-year-old former television reporter and anchor didn’t say which party banner he would run under, but in a document laying out his rationale for a potential campaign he described himself as “exhausted by the toxic two-party divisiveness that's failing us” and that he would be focused on “the majority in the middle.” “I feel like we need community leaders to step up non-politicians to step up and say, you know, what, ‘I serve people, here are some some bold, creative, innovative policy ideas that serve people,’” Hepola said, adding, “This is a huge decision, like, my life will never be the same.” Hepola said he hasn’t filed any formal paperwork. When asked if he has discussed the topic with WCCO management, Hepola said station leaders listen to him daily, know he has opinions on topics and have asked him about ambitions outside radio. Hepola wouldn’t be the first radio host to turn to politics. Others include former Rep. Jason Lewis, a conservative radio host; Sen. Al Franken, who was on a liberal network before running; Jesse Ventura, who was on air prior to entering politics; and Tom Emmer, who held down a show between his time in the Legislature and Congress. There is a substitute host for Hepola for Wednesday but his ongoing status at WCCO was unclear as the day started.

Possibly related to the Hepola news: There's a new "Forward Party of Minnesota" taking root that would align with a political venture founded by former Democratic presidential and New York mayoral candidate Andrew Yang. Minnesota also has several minor parties whose candidates can reach the ballot through petition drives and two marijuana parties that have automatic ballot access.

Democrats in the Minnesota House stopped short of proposing an outright ban on no-knock warrants and instead are calling for sharp limits on their use. MPR’s Tim Pugmire reports lawmakers want to take quick action on the issue following the fatal police shooting of Amir Locke in Minneapolis, although they did not have final language of a bill Tuesday, and legislation has not yet been introduced. Rep. Athena Hollins, DFL-St. Paul, said she believes no-knock warrants should be used only in rare cases, including kidnapping, hostage situations and human trafficking. “Why do we remain so tied to this practice that is known to harm citizens as well as peace officers?” Hollins asked “Law enforcement has many tools, better tools at their disposal to fight crime. No-knock warrants are bound to kill more innocent people, which is why we need to stop using them.” Republican Sen. Warren Limmer, the chair of the Senate judiciary committee, said he has reservations about a ban on no-knock warrants. He wants to preserve flexibility for law enforcement. "Right now, no-knock warrants are rarely used, and when they are rarely used there's few problems with them,” Limmer said. “There are exceptions, as we know, however it probably will just take some refinement, policywise."

The Star Tribune reports improving COVID-19 trends have St. Paul eyeing an earlier-than-planned end to the vaccine-or-test requirements instituted last month for restaurant, bars and other entertainment venues. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter "is hopeful that he will be able to lift the order this week," Kamal Baker, his press secretary, said Tuesday. Minneapolis may follow suit. Mayor Jacob Frey "hopes to lift it as soon as evidence supports the decision," city spokeswoman Sarah McKenzie said Tuesday. "The end of the week is a possibility, but he wants to review data with the experts."

The Associated Press reports Minnesota has agreed to pay $825,000 and change several policies to settle a lawsuit brought by journalists who said they were hurt or harassed while covering protests over the police killings of George Floyd and Daunte Wright. The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota and the state's Department of Public Safety announced the settlement Tuesday. It prohibits the Minnesota State Patrol from attacking journalists, arresting or threatening to arrest them, ordering them to disperse, seizing their equipment and more. It also calls for an independent review of all complaints alleging mistreatment of the media covering those protests, and issuing body-worn cameras to all troopers by June. Several journalists reported being struck by less-lethal munitions, herded and detained while covering protests. After Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, was shot and killed by an officer in Brooklyn Center in April, the city's police station was surrounded for several nights by protesters.

Our friends at the APM Research Lab report that a recent survey finds that only 48 percent of Minnesotans trust state government to do what is right in most cases. That is less trust than Minnesotans expressed in the medical system, the police and the public schools. And just as low as the much-maligned news media. The 2021 Diverse Communities Survey finds that Hmong, Latin and especially Asian Minnesotans who do not identity as Hmong indicate higher levels of trust in state government than is the case for Black, Indigenous and White Minnesotans. Notably, trust appears lowest among White and Indigenous Minnesotans, with 13 percent and 17 percent respectively indicating they “never” trust state government to do what is right.

First lady Jill Biden will be in Minneapolis today with U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra to talk about the American Rescue Plan’s spending for child care. Gov. Tim Walz, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, and other prominent Democrats will appear with Biden for a listening session.

A report from the Morrison County Sheriff’s office says two state senators involved in a snowmobile accident last Friday said they had not used drugs or alcohol and they were not tested. Sen. John Jasinski, R-Faribault, broke several bones and is still recovering.