Alex Derosier

In the background of state employee press conference outside MN capitol today: a group supporting Philippines ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, who’s being prosecuted for crimes against humanity in The Hague.

Sen. Nicole Mitchell plans to resign next month after her conviction on burglary charges last week. Announcement via Mitchell’s attorneys just a bit ago.

Joe Biden pays his respects to the Hortmans as they lie in state in the Minnesota Capitol rotunda

Jonathan Bohn's attorney John Lesch (fmr St. Paul DFL rep): "There was no intent of doing any specific harm...Mr. Bohn is extremely contrite and embarrassed and wants to offer his dearest apologies for putting people in this situation in the midst of their grief."

House GOP says constituent received text message including "threat of violence" at state Capitol. Person was arrested. Reposting because I misread the original statement.

Wow, this special session is actually moving at a decent clip. The most controversial item -- cutting state funding for immigrant health insurance -- has cleared both the Senate and House. Four DFLers joined Republicans supporting the rollback in the Senate.

The tied MN House passed a bill to end MinnesotaCare insurance for adult immigrants without legal status 68-65. DFL leader Melissa Hortman made good on her pledge to join 67 Republicans to pass it.

As anyone could have predicted at the MN Legislature, we're headed for overtime. Tied House and one seat DFL Senate majority couldn't get last week's budget deal done in time. Exact Special Session details TBD twincities.com/2025/05/19/mos…

Criminal justice bill with Stillwater prison closure passes Minnesota Senate 34-33 on party lines. Now all it needs is the governor’s signature.

MN Senate passes bill to create Office of Inspector General for state gov’t with beefed up enforcement and insulation from political pressure. Opponents worried it could lead to issues with federal benefits. House hasn’t gotten as far on similar bills and time is running out.

MN Attorney General Keith Ellison announces lawsuit against Trump administration after threats on transgender minors in sports. MN is defying Trump executive order banning Trans girls from youth sports, which prompted lawsuit threat from US Attorney General Pam Bondi in February

Huge anti Trump rally at capitol is probably the biggest I’ve ever seen here. Significant traffic disruptions in every direction.

MN Senate DFL has budget targets. They call for $750M in cuts in the next two years and another $1.7B in cuts for 2028-2029.

And the other news out of the hearing. Eichorn WILL be able to stay in a halfway house ahead of trial. Not enough evidence to show he interfered with the investigation or lied about having a gun, as prosecutors had alleged. Release should happen today.

Biggest news so far out of Eichorn hearing today: person Feds say tried to get laptop from the ex-senator’s apartment was his wife. FBI agent confirmed on cross. It was heavily implied in court docs though now confirmed. Prosecutors were displeased with the “outing” by defense.

Heard from @FrederickMelo: St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter says he talked to Gov. Walz for weeks about getting state employees to come back more often. MAPE was aware.

Walz remote work change came as a "total surprise" and "reeks of Musk policies," says Megan Dayton, president of MAPE, the 18,000-member state employee union representing mostly office workers. Dayton says there'll be pushback.

Gov. Walz announces more Minnesota employees will have to return to work starting in June. The move could mean a boost for a struggling downtown St. Paul.

Now former Senator Justin Eichorn is getting released ahead of trial and will be staying in a halfway house. His electronic communications will be subject to monitoring. He’ll have to submit DNA. Next hearing scheduled for March 26.