American Civil Liberties Union

The Minnesota chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union continues to weigh a possible lawsuit challenging Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s authority to utilize his unallotment power to help close the state’s $2.7 billion deficit.

Members of peace groups and labor unions expressed fear this morning over a proposed bill, sponsored by Rep. John Lesch (DFL-St. Paul), that would make it easier for law enforcement to secretly keep and and share information about citizens.

Charges will not be filed against 323 people who were arrested on the Marion Street and Cedar Street bridges during the fourth day of the Republican National Convention, the St. Paul city attorney’s office announced today. Local civil rights activists say the failure to press charges is the latest evidence that many RNC arrests were frivolous.

On Sept. 1, thousands of protesters are expected to converge on St. Paul to mark the opening of the Republican National Convention. The ad-hoc plan is for demonstrators to gather at the State Capitol grounds around 11 a.m. and eventually march to the Xcel Energy Center, where 2,500 Republican delegates will presumably name John McCain [...]