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Terrorist threatens Seattle gay community with ricin attacks

Eleven LGBT bars in the Seattle area received letters this week from an individual who claims to be in possession of a biological weapon and plans to target at least 50 customers.
“Your establishment has been targeted,” the letters say. “I have in my possession approximately 67 grams of ricin with which I will indiscriminately target [...]

WSJ runs Cleary letter — without PiPress’ leeriness of making edits

The Wall Street Journal today ran Ramsey County District Judge Edward Cleary’s letter, which took the paper to task for its Jan. 5 editorial on the Senate recount, “Funny Business in Minnesota.” A few words and phrases that were in the version Cleary sent are missing, including “reflects poorly on the author,” “the numerous inaccuracies” [...]

Minneapolis receives $1.5 million in foreclosure relief

The Minneapolis Advantage, a program to encourage home ownership in foreclosure impacted neighborhoods, will receive an infusion of cash which will triple the program’s current budget. Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Des Moines awarded the city $1.5 million to continue the program.

Ellison on Al Jazeera: ‘Not much sympathy’ by U.S. for Palestinians

Many Democrats, including President-elect Barack Obama, maintain staunch support for Israel, despite its military crackdown on Hamas in Gaza over the past two weeks, but a few Minnesotans — including Reps. Keith Ellison and Betty McCollum and Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Norm Coleman — have taken more independent approaches. Discussing the conflict with Al Jazeera’s [...]

Lesbian couple loses appeal in health club discrimination case

A Minnesota appeals court judge upheld a ruling that found it legal for the Rochester Athletic Club to deny a family membership to a lesbian couple because the couple is not married. The case spotlights an instance where Minnesota anti-discrimination laws — some of the toughest in the country — are ineffective so long as same-sex couples cannot marry.

Brandon Darby, FBI informant for RNC protests, gets backlash from activists

Activists from Texas who call themselves the Austin Informant Working Group have added their voices to the chorus denouncing Brandon Darby, who gave information to the FBI while posing as a protester to infiltrate groups planning demonstrations against last November’s Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul. A statement from the activists accuses Darby of provoking violent plots and spying on nonviolent, lawful activists for the federal government.

Rep. McCollum speaks out on Gaza, Israel violence

Rep. Betty McCollum called for an end to violence in the Gaza Strip late last week, adding her voice to those of Rep. Keith Ellison, Sen. Amy Klobuchar and former Sen. Norm Coleman.

Wall Street Journal rushes to aid of Coleman

As his hope for re-election wanes, former U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman hasn’t seen very much positive print in the last few days. But the Wall Street Journal editorial board came to the rescue on Monday with an opinion piece that attempts to paint Minnesota’s recount process as “funny business.”

Franken deemed winner of Senate recount, but Coleman will contest in court

Al Franken has emerged from the Senate recount with a 225-vote lead over incumbent Norm Coleman. The five-member State Canvassing Board unanimously certified the results at a hearing Monday afternoon. Nearly two months after the election, and following a painstaking statewide manual recount of nearly three million ballots, Franken received 1,212,431 votes, while Coleman earned 1,212,206.

Anti-abortion postcard stirs up Minnesota Catholics

Roman Catholic bishops throughout the United States are planning a massive postcard campaign days after the inauguration as part of an attempt to block the Freedom of Choice Act, known as FOCA, a reproductive health initiative supported by President-elect Barack Obama. But one Minnesota priest is breaking ranks with the national campaign, raising the ire of local and national pro-life Catholics, including some who are calling for his excommunication from the church.