Minneapolis Urban League

A politician handing out wooden nickels in the midst of a historic economic recession is odd enough, but what State Rep. Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, suggests the worthless coin be used for — plugging gunshot wounds — is even stranger.

The sub-zero temperatures didn’t scare away North Side residents. Roughly 50 folks gathered Tuesday night at the Minneapolis Urban League to meet with their state legislative delegation and learn the details of Minnesota’s looming $4.8 billion budget deficit. Freshmen Reps. Bobby Joe Champion (pictured) and Jeff Hayden (the only two African Americans in the legislature) were on hand, along with veteran state Sen. Linda Higgins. “The reality is that people are really, really frightened,” Hayden said at the start of the discussion.