Minnesota Independent

Minnesota Majority, tea party lose case on voter ID buttons

By Andy Birkey | 05.02.11 | 8:20 am

Minnesota Majority, Minnesota Voters Alliance and the North Star Tea Party Patriots lost a case in court on Friday when U.S. District Court Judge Joan Erickson dismissed the trio’s challenge to a state law that bans political apparel in the polling place. The groups had attempted a campaign to have their supporters bring “Please ID Me” buttons and tea party t-shirts into polling places, but elections officials said the items would not be allowed.

Lindzi Campbell and Jesse Dykhuis are among three couples suing the state. Photo: Andy Birkey, Minnesota Independent

Judge dismisses gay marriage lawsuit, plaintiffs to appeal

By Andy Birkey | 03.08.11 | 6:57 pm

Judge Mary DuFresne dismissed a lawsuit by three Minnesota same-sex couples seeking the right to marry on Tuesday. DuFresne dismissed the suit with prejudice, meaning the decision can be appealed. The couples –Duane Gajewski and Doug Benson, Lindzi Campbell and Jesse Dykhuis, John Rittman and Tom Trisko — have vowed to bring their case to a higher court. The case was filed in Minnesota’s Fourth District Court after the couples were denied marriage licenses in Hennepin County in spring 2010.

Judge: Anti-gay group allowed to hand out bibles at LGBT Pride

By Andy Birkey | 06.25.10 | 3:35 pm

Brian Johnson and his family will be allowed to hand out Bibles and preach against homosexuality at the Twin Cities Pride Festival on Saturday and Sunday in Minneapolis’ Loring Park, according to a ruling by district court Judge John Tunheim.…

Despite court decision, National Day of Prayer will endure in Minnesota

By Andy Birkey | 04.20.10 | 9:04 am

Despite a ruling last week by a federal judge in Wisconsin striking down the National Day of Prayer as unconstitutional, Minnesota’s commemoration of the annual event — almost exclusively an evangelical affair — will go on this year. It remains to be seen whether Gov. Tim Pawlenty will again sign a proclamation for the day in Minnesota.

‘Devastating’: Pawlenty’s budget proposal draws criticism statewide

By Andy Birkey | 02.16.10 | 9:00 am

Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s supplemental budget proposal, released on Monday morning, includes large cuts to state-sponsored health coverage for low income Minnesotans, reductions in local government aid and tax breaks and incentives for businesses and corporations. The plan pleased few,…

Suit calls North Minneapolis blog a ‘defamation zone’

By Chris Steller | 06.30.09 | 11:27 am

The former head of a Minneapolis neighborhood group is suing a local blogger over online words he says cost him a job. Jerry Moore, who used to run the Jordan Area Community Council (JACC), contends that he lost employment with…

As Klobuchar warned, no ‘Susan Boyle moment’ in Coleman-Franken hearing

By Chris Steller | 06.01.09 | 11:43 am

Lawyers of all shapes and sizes crowded a Minnesota Supreme Court hearing today in the squabble over who will be the state’s second U.S. Senator: Norm Coleman or Al Franken. Both sides made oral arguments, as the state’s sole Senator, Amy Klobuchar, had warned there was no “Susan Boyle” moment.