Local News

Court Orders Minneapolis to Hire More Cops

(Golden Valley, MN) On July 1, 2021, the Hennepin County District Court issued a Writ of Mandamus which orders the Minneapolis City Council and Mayor Jacob Frey to “immediately take any and all necessary action to ensure that they fund a police force” of at least 730 sworn officers, or more if required by the 2020 Census to be published later this year.

Minnesota Court of Appeals Tells Attorney General Ellison He Cannot Hide Documents From Public in Bloomberg Embedded Lawyer Case

(Golden Valley, MN) Today, Energy Policy Advocates, a public interest group seeking transparency in nationwide energy policy, represented by Upper Midwest Law Center, secured a major victory against Attorney General Keith Ellison at the Minnesota Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals issued a precedential decision that requires Attorney General Keith Ellison to support his attempts to withhold data from the public with real descriptions and evidence, and not broad and general claims of privilege.

UMLC’S Church Clients Obtain Legal Settlement from Walz Administration Prohibiting Any Different Treatment of Minnesota Houses of Worship in Any COVID-19 “Emergency” Orders

(Golden Valley, MN) On May 5, 2021, Governor Walz and Attorney General Ellison agreed to settle the claims of Northland Baptist Church and Living Word Christian Center in the Upper Midwest Law Center’s (UMLC) lawsuit against the discriminatory treatment of churches and other houses of worship by promising that any “Emergency” COVID Orders would treat all houses of worship the same as grocery and retail outlets, sports and entertainment venues.

Churches’ Lawsuit Against Governor Walz’s Emergency Order Restrictions Sustained; Attorney General Ellison’s Motion to Dismiss Denied

(Golden Valley, MN) Upper Midwest Law Center’s (UMLC) lawsuit claims on behalf of Northland Baptist Church, Pastor John Bruski and Living Word Christian Center against Governor Walz’s discriminatory restrictions on Christian worship were sustained, and Attorney General Ellison’s motion to dismiss denied by Federal Court Order on March 30, 2021. These claims will go forward to trial per the Court’s Order.

Four Minnesota Government Employees File Lawsuits to Stop Illegal Government Union Dues Deductions

(Golden Valley, MN) Marcus Todd is a security counselor for the Minnesota Department of Human Services, working with the Minnesota Sex Offender Program. He was forced to join AFSCME in 2014 when he began working with DHS.

Xcel Energy’s Solar and Wind Aspirations Will Cost Every Minnesota Family an Extra $1,428 Per Year Unless Minnesota PUC Says No

Golden Valley, MN) Minnesotans paying their bills at the kitchen table have seen the cost of electricity increase 23 percent faster than the national average since 2007, when the state mandated the use of wind and solar energy.

Governor Walz’s Effort to Impose Draconian New Vehicle Standards on Minnesotans Goes Forward

Governor Walz’s plan to force an onerous new vehicle standards rule on Minnesotans, which had been delayed due to the COVID-19, is now proceeding. On December 21, 2020, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency published a draft rule on the new emission standards and the 60-day public comment period has begun. A hearing before an administrative law judge on the draft rule will be held February 22, 2021.

Minnesota Legislators File Lawsuit to Stop Illegal State Union Raises

(Golden Valley, MN) Representative Marion O’Neill (House District 29B) and Senator Mark Koran (Senate District 32), represented by the Upper Midwest Law Center, have filed a lawsuit in Ramsey County District Court seeking to stop Minnesota Management and Budget’s illegal implementation of State Union pay raises without legislative ratification.

Summary of Governor’s ‘Emergency Order’ EO 20-103, and Note on UMLC Challenges Against All Governor’s Orders

The following is a summary of the provisions of the Governor’s latest, revised ‘Emergency Order.’ The Upper Midwest Law Center has brought state and federal lawsuits challenging the Governor’s authority to issue all of his so-called ‘emergency orders’ (see descriptions of the Northland Baptist, Shady’s Bar and Snell cases in Lawsuit section of this website).

Judge Rules City of Minneapolis Must Answer for Cuts to Police Force

(Golden Valley, MN) In a lawsuit brought by the Upper Midwest Law Center, Judge Jamie Anderson issued an order [view here] on November 20 ruling that Minneapolis’ citizens have standing to sue the City over the decimation of its police force by the City Council and Mayor.