Good morning, and happy Wednesday. I hope you had a good Independence Day.
You might recall back in May when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Hennepin County violated a Minneapolis woman’s rights when it sold her property for more than she owed in taxes, and kept the surplus. MPR’s Kirsti Marohn reports in the wake of that decision, three law firms have filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of other Minnesotans who, in similar fashion, lost out on recouping their home’s equity after it was seized for unpaid property taxes. One of the attorneys, Vildan Teske of Minneapolis, said there could be many potential plaintiffs. “We are still completing our investigations and discovery, but believe class members likely number in the thousands and they are located throughout Minnesota,” Teske said. Meanwhile, Minnesota counties are scrambling to figure out how to handle property forfeitures in the wake of the decision. State lawmakers are expected to consider changes to the state’s forfeiture law during the next legislative session, but that doesn’t start until February.
The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce is suing over a new election law set to take effect next year, alleging it would chill businesses’ free speech. MPR’s Dana Ferguson reports the chamber took issue with provisions in a broader election law that bars companies with foreign influenced ownership from making political contributions. And the group filed a lawsuit in federal court last week attempting to block Ramsey County Attorney John Choi and members of the state Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board from enforcing the policy. Under the law, companies would face legal penalties if they make independent expenditures or contribute to ballot question committees and have foreign ownership thresholds that meet or exceed state limits — 1 percent for a single foreign owner or 5 percent for overall foreign national owners.
North Dakota higher education officials are deeply worried about losing students and revenue in 2024 when neighboring Minnesota makes public college and university tuition free for thousands of residents. The Associated Press reports officials estimate around 15,000 to 20,000 Minnesota students a year will use the free North Star Promise program, and North Dakota education officials are projecting an $8.4 million loss in combined tuition and fees in the first year alone, under one scenario. Roughly 1,400 Minnesota students attending North Dakota colleges and universities might be eligible for the new program. “This has catastrophic implications,” said David Cook, North Dakota State University's president, at a recent State Board of Higher Education meeting. “This is a very serious situation for us.”
Rep. Pete Stauber was among the Republican members of Congress called out by the White House for cheering the Supreme Court’s decision to reject President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan, even though the lawmakers took forgivable government loans during the pandemic. The Duluth News Tribune reports: Hockey equipment retailer Stauber Brothers Inc. received loans under the Paycheck Protection Program totaling more than $86,000 — $44,740 in the first round and $41,543 in the second round. Both were later forgiven, and Stauber Brothers did not have to pay back the loans. Stauber, of Hermantown, and his five brothers owned hockey equipment retailer Stauber Brothers, which did business as Duluth Hockey Company from 2015 until the Hermantown shop was sold to PureHockey in 2021, eight days after the second PPP loan was forgiven. Stauber and his brothers founded the sporting goods store in 1990, and Stauber maintained ownership in the business after he was elected to Congress in 2018. Stauber’s office defended his position. “It's important that we draw the distinction between lawful actions taken by Congress, like the PPP program, and unilateral actions undertaken by the Biden Administration that exceed its constitutional authority,” Eli Mansour, Stauber’s spokesperson, said in a statement to the News Tribune on Monday.
Gov. Tim Walz and his family are preparing to move out of the governor’s residence, but it’s only temporary. MPR’s Brian Bakst reports that the Summit Avenue mansion where Walz and his family live will undergo some long-planned repairs. The project is expected to last more than a year and be too disruptive for the home to remain occupied. The Walz family is scheduled to move out next week. The renovation is due to begin in mid-July. As a substitute, the state is renting the riverside St. Paul estate known as Eastcliff. That’s the 20-room house traditionally used by University of Minnesota presidents. The university is currently searching for a new president. The state has agreed to pay the school $4,400 per month plus utilities. The lease runs through September of 2024 but could be extended if the governor’s residence project needs more time.
A crew of 17 Minnesota firefighters is assisting with efforts to tamp down wildfires in Manitoba, Canada. Walz said Monday the crew from the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center based in Grand Rapids was heading north to provide support. State officials expect the Minnesota team to work on establishing fire fuel breaks in remote areas, but the exact assignment hasn't been announced. It’s part of a mutual aid compact involving Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources. | 