Minnesota Independent

Where you clicked: MnIndy’s most popular stories of 2009

By Paul Schmelzer | 12.28.09 | 10:52 am

Over the last 12 months the Minnesota Independent has published more than 2,200 stories on an array of topics — from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s historic vote on gay clergy to political seed art, the breach of Norm Coleman’s donor database to the former senator’s battle to keep the seat eventually won by Sen. Al Franken. But the most readers flocked here for other stories: Seven of the ten most-clicked stories of 2009 were about Rep. Michele Bachmann.

Transgender advocates slam Pawlenty over Newsweek interview

By Andy Birkey | 12.28.09 | 10:11 am

The National Center for Transgender Equality (NTCE) slammed Gov. Pawlenty last week for his telling Newsweek that Minnesota’s laws protecting transgender people from employment discrimination should be changed. Pawlenty called the 1993 Minnesota Human Rights Act “overbaked” because…

A list of lists: 2009 as seen by the Washington Independent

By Paul Schmelzer | 12.28.09 | 9:31 am

Our sister site, the Washington Independent, is compiling an intriguing set of lists from news events of 2009. While no Minnesotans make the cut so far, it’s a good list of figures who played big roles in topics from…

AM.MN: Dayton reveals depression

By Chris Steller | 12.28.09 | 8:39 am

DFL gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton revealed to the Star Tribune that he drank towards the end of his U.S. Senate term (he’s a recovering alcoholic) and has “mild depression” that he controls with exercise and medication. It’s…

Senate passes historic if diluted health reform bill

By Mike Lillis | 12.24.09 | 10:01 am

Months of compromises left many liberals disappointed, but party leaders hailed the bill’s passage as a landmark leap forward.

Bachmann gives death-panel ‘Lie of the Year’ a new lease on life

By Chris Steller | 12.23.09 | 11:14 am

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann is giving Politifact’s “Lie of the Year” a new lease on life by helping death panels limp into 2010. According to Bachmann, “unelected bureaucracies will decide what we can and can’t get in…

AM.MN: Dream of GOP retaking U.S. House has legs, says Kline

By Chris Steller | 12.23.09 | 8:35 am

“Grotesque.” That’s how health care reform in Senate Democrats’ hands looks to U.S. Rep. John Kline. Whereas he sees House Republicans retaking control as “a dream now that’s starting to have legs.” As for the House, “I don’t think…

GLBT group reacts to candidate Hagedorn’s anti-gay blog posts

By Paul Schmelzer | 12.23.09 | 6:00 am

As the Minnesota Independent first reported earlier this month, 1st Congressional District candidate Jim Hagedorn removed blog posts disparaging of gays, fellow Republicans and Native Americans from his “Mr. Conservative” blog within days of announcing his candidacy. Now, with new deleted posts discovered, the state’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender advocacy group has called for an apology from Hagedorn.

Dayton’s new fave movie? C-SPAN clip has McCain cutting him off

By Chris Steller | 12.22.09 | 4:41 pm

Former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton might want to reconsider whether “Glory” is his favorite motion picture. Newly salvaged C-SPAN footage from 2002 showing him getting cut off by John McCain on the Senate floor has given Dayton free…

Poll: Bachmann constituents say she favors movement over district

By Andy Birkey | 12.22.09 | 4:03 pm

Rep. Michele Bachmann’s constituents have noticed that her increasingly prominent role as a high-profile conservative has focused her attention away from her district’s needs, but they don’t seem to mind.