Minnesota Independent

Legislators seek repeal of Mississippi River Critical Area program

By Andy Birkey | 01.21.11 | 11:24 am

Legislators in the Minnesota House and Senate are proposing a repeal of a decades-old program to protect the Mississippi River. HF95/SF39 would eliminate the Mississippi River Critical Area (MRCA), a program that since the 1970s has provided planning and management for the 72-mile stretch of the Mississippi from Ramsey in northern Anoka County to Hastings in southern Dakota County. River advocates say the repeal of the program could have significant impacts on the environmental and aesthetic benefits of the river.

Former Republican Gov. Quie backs Horner

By Andy Birkey | 10.21.10 | 4:20 pm

Former Gov. Al Quie, a Republican, told reporters on Thursday that he’s backing Independence Party candidate Tom Horner for governor. Quie is the second former Republican governor to back Horner; the first was former Gov. Arne Carlson. The only other living Republican governor in Minnesota, Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced on Thursday that he’d be campaigning for Republican Tom Emmer in the waning weeks before the election.

Minnesota’s faithful plan event to counter uptick in anti-Muslim rhetoric

By Andy Birkey | 09.17.10 | 1:35 pm

Some of Minnesota’s largest faith organizations are planning an event to counter a recent rise in anti-Muslim sentiment following controversy over a planned Muslim community center in New York City and threats of Koran-burnings by fundamentalist Christians. The event will…

Former Gov. Quie does about-face on leaving ELCA over gays

By Andy Birkey | 01.12.10 | 8:33 am

When Lutherans met in Minneapolis last summer to decide whether to allow churches to hire gay and lesbian pastors in committed relationships, former Gov. Al Quie urged church members to stay with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in…

Is the term ‘progressive Republican’ an oxymoron?

By Paul Demko | 12.18.08 | 3:41 pm

Is the term “progressive Republican” an oxymoron? With religious hardliners and anti-tax crusaders dominating the party in recent years, that would certainly seem to be the case. But a documentary airing this Saturday on Twin Cities Public Television makes the case that GOP politicians in Minnesota have a long tradition of advocating policies aimed at alleviating poverty and reducing inequality.