Lawsuit filed against St. Paul following city’s assault weapons ban

A special interest group is arguing St. Paul City Council’s ban of assault-style weapons violates state law and has sued the city. KARE 11 reports “The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus sued the city, saying the ordinance directly violates state law by preempting existing statutes.” Whether the ordinance is enforceable depends “on state lawmakers passing legislation that allows cities and communities to impose stronger gun measures than those currently enforced by the state.”

Also in St. Paul, a city metal foundry could have its permit revoked after accusations that it hasn’t worked with environmental regulators. Sahan Journal writes “The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is attempting to shut down Northern Iron and Machine, a metal foundry in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood, after a multiyear legal battle over accusations of excessive pollution and permit violations.”

Minnesota property tax levies could spike next year. According to MPR News “property owners across Minnesota could be asked to come up with nearly $1 billion more for city, county and other local government operations, according to data released Thursday by the Department of Revenue.” Local governments cited growing labor costs and expenses associated with state and federal regulations.

You might be familiar with “Grace,” a photo depicting a man praying by a Bible and food, but how did it become Minnesota’s state photo? WCCO TV says “in 1918, Eric Enstrom, a photographer and Swedish immigrant, decided to take pictures of fellow Swedish immigrant Charles Wilden.” The photographer entered it into a Minnesota photo contest and lost. Augsburg Publishing in St. Paul eventually gained the rights to the picture. “In 2000, Gov. Jesse Ventura and lawmakers pushed for ‘Grace’ to become the state photograph. The bill passed unanimously.”

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