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Video: Rybak joins New Ulm mayor in fight to retain Local Government Aid for cities

By Sally Jo Sorensen | 06.09.11 | 11:00 am

NEW ULM — Flanked by New Ulm Mayor Bob Beussman, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak joined local city officials from south central Minnesota Wednesday to warn local residents about the crippling effects of potential cut to Local Government Aid (LGA) under the tax bill that Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed.

City officials say 100 homes and countless trees were damaged by the tornado. Photo: Amanda Hankerson

Politicians, community respond to Twin Cities tornado damage

By Andy Birkey | 05.24.11 | 1:18 pm

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Keith Ellison toured parts of North Minneapolis and Fridley on Monday following a tornado that ripped through the area leaving two dead and two dozen injured. Minnesota’s elected officials have offered their support in the wake of the disaster, and community organizations have outlined ways that Minnesotans can help those affected.

Bradlee Dean

Religious, political groups criticize Bradlee Dean prayer

By Andy Birkey | 05.23.11 | 2:21 pm

In the wake of Bradlee Dean’s controversial prayer before the Minnesota House on Friday, a number of religious and political groups condemned Dean and urged Republican leaders to disavow Dean’s prayer and his association with the House. The Minnesota Catholic Conference, which supports a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, said that Dean should not be associated with their movement. The ACLU, the DFL, the National Organization for Marriage, Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak and several legislators all weighed in on the controversy over the weekend.

Minneapolis' riverfront

Minneapolis loses to Charlotte in bid to host DNC

By Andy Birkey | 02.01.11 | 11:29 am

Minneapolis will not be hosting the 2012 Democratic National Convention, much to the dismay of city officials and the glee of some in the anti-war movement. Charlotte, N.C., beat out Minneapolis, St. Louis and Cleveland in its bid for the convention. In 2008, St. Paul hosted the Republican National Convention, an event which brought claims of civil rights abuses by law enforcement.

Minnesota Capitol. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

GOP unveils budget cuts, mayors and DFL offer swift response

By Andy Birkey | 01.18.11 | 4:00 pm

Minnesota Republicans unveiled their “Phase I” plan to reduce Minnesota’s $6.2 billion budget deficit by maintaining unallotment levels of government aid and higher education spending. The plan would direct state agencies to find $200 million in savings. DFL leaders and Mayors RT Rybak and Chris Coleman quickly criticized the plan as hurting the middle class while giving big breaks to corporate CEOs.

PoliTweeps: Dems take aim at Target’s backing of pro-Emmer TV spots

By Paul Schmelzer | 07.19.10 | 3:46 pm

Around the local Twitterverse, the buzz is about Target’s name appearing among funders behind the conservative group MN Forward’s new pro-Tom Emmer TV commercials. Plus, Rep. Michele Bachmann gets House approval for her

PoliTweeps: From financial disclosures to a general’s love of Bud Lite Lime

By Paul Schmelzer | 06.23.10 | 1:15 pm

Political tweets are all over the place these days, with comments ranging from GOP gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer’s apparent refusal to disclose financial information to Mayor RT Rybak’s sweaty visits to a Northeast Minneapolis parade and Rock the Garden…

PoliTweeps: Rybak sets an example about tweeting and riding

By Paul Schmelzer | 05.19.10 | 11:30 am

Minnesota politicos have been tweeting about everything from Gov. Pawlenty’s announcement that he won’t be applying for federal Race to the Top (RTTT) funds, the new Humphrey Institute gubernatorial poll and, from Minneapolis’ mayor, tweeting while not bicycling.

Rasmussen polls gubernatorial race

By Andy Birkey | 03.12.10 | 8:00 am

Rasmussen Reports released some of the first polling numbers on Minnesota’s gubernatorial race on Thursday, finding that for the most part Minnesotans are undecided about who they like for governor. And with a diluted field for the DFL, no…

Rybak, Seifert headed for wins in caucus straw poll

By Andy Birkey | 02.03.10 | 3:30 pm

A straw poll results from Tuesday night’s political caucuses continue to trickle in, gubernatorial candidates RT Rybak and Margaret Anderson Kelliher are taking the top spot in the DFL, while Marty Seifert is garnering a large number of votes on the Republican side. Early results for the Independence Party show Tom Horner taking the lead, but voting for that straw poll will continue online until Feb. 28.