Good morning and happy Thursday.
There's a war in Europe. The Associated Press reports: Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling, as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee. Ukraine's government said Russian tanks and troops rolled across the border in what it called a "full-scale war" that could rewrite the geopolitical order and whose fallout already reverberated around the globe. In announcing a major military operation, Russian President Vladimir Putin deflected global condemnation and cascading new sanctions — and chillingly referred to his country's nuclear arsenal as he threatened any foreign country attempting to interfere with "consequences you have never seen." NATO's chief said the "brutal act of war" shattered peace on the European continent, as the U.S.-led alliance mobilized more troops to move toward eastern Europe. 🎧 Reaction from Moscow, Europe, Washington and around the world. Live updates from NPR, BBC and MPR News.
Some Minnesota reaction: "Putin's invasion of a free democracy has begun. The warnings from our Intel sources were right," said DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar on Twitter. "There must now be swift sanctions and consequences worldwide. It is the time for our country and our world to unite. We stand with the brave people of Ukraine." "You're either for Democracy or for authoritarianism. Here and abroad. Shame on anyone who puts politics above principle right now," said DFL U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips in a statement. "Let's be America. America leads. We do not resign. We do not ignore. Democracies, no matter nascent nor mature, must protect one another as a matter of principle. Let's get together on this."
Democratic Senate Minority Leader Melisa López Franzen announced Wednesday she won't seek a new term this fall, the latest political fallout from new legislative boundaries that put some incumbents in a bind.MPR's Brian Bakst reports: López Franzen's departure announced to her Edina-area constituents in a letter and video comes about a week after she learned she was paired with another DFL lawmaker. More of the new district has been represented by Sen. Ron Latz, who affirmed his intention to run late last week. The new maps are contributing to a coming Capitol shakeup, with heavy turnover in seats already assured. And that has been pronounced among women senators. Eight of 21 women now serving in the Senate will leave after this term, a few after being paired with a colleague but a couple to try for a different office. The House also had a healthy share of pairings, but most of them are clearing ahead of the campaign. The latest resolution involves House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt of Zimmerman. He was paired with fellow Republican Rep. Sondra Erickson, his former teacher. Erickson, of Princeton, said she'll retire and back Daudt.
Sen. Ron Latz put out a statement Wednesday afternoon: "I am saddened to hear that my friend and colleague, Senator Melisa López Franzen, has announced that she will not seek reelection," said Latz. "We were unfortunately redistricted together, an event neither of us were prepared for and one that we discussed at great length together. Senator López Franzen has served her community well and has been an exemplary caucus leader during an especially challenging time in our state. I greatly respect her and her decision, and I will sincerely miss her leadership in the Minnesota Senate."
And Sen. David Osmek, R-Mound, the president of the Senate, said Wednesday afternoon that he will not seek reelection. Osmek was paired in the same district as Sen. Ann Johnson Stewart, DFL- Wayzata. "Serving in the Minnesota Senate has been one of the greatest privileges of my life," Osmek said in a statement. State Rep. Kelly Morrison and Wayzata High School teacher Dan Goodrich say they're running as Democrats for the seat too.
Unions representing teachers and school staff in Minneapolis and St. Paul have filed the paperwork to strike as soon as March 8, MPR's Tim Nelson reports. The filings Wednesday began a 10-day countdown for potential strikes involving more than 8,000 educators and 62,000 public school students in the two school districts. The unions have been asking for higher wages, smaller classes and more mental health support. If either party fails to reach an agreement in negotiations and educators go ahead with a strike, classes would be canceled in that district's schools. In St. Paul, Minnesota's second-largest school district, union leaders are asking for limits on class sizes, better mental health support and wage increases. In Minneapolis, union leaders are asking their district, the third-largest in Minnesota, to raise pay for teachers and education support professionals, reduce class sizes, adjust special education caseloads, designate teachers to work with quarantined students and boost mental health services for students.
And MPR's Elizabeth Shockman reports a Robbinsdale district high school joined St. Louis Park High School Wednesday in its decision to cancel future athletic competitions with New Prague High School. Robbinsdale Cooper High School said that its girls basketball team and coaches were subjected to racist comments from students and adults while playing a game in New Prague on Feb. 15, the same day as a similar incident with a St. Louis Park boys hockey team. The Robbinsdale Area Schools district called on the Minnesota State High School League to take the experiences seriously. St. Louis Park athletic director Andrew Ewald said his withdrawal comes after students in St. Louis Park High School's boys hockey program allegedly were subjected to a racist incident on Feb. 15 while in New Prague.
Minnesota's two major political parties organized around supporting legalizing marijuana face a dilemma this election year: Do they back candidates from other parties who also support legalization or challenge them with their own candidates and risk playing spoiler?MPR's Tim Pugmire reports as major parties, the two organizations have an easier time getting their candidates on the ballot. But the change also opened the door to candidates who weren't necessarily part of their rank-and-file to run in the 2020 election under a false flag. Some believe those candidates helped Republicans defeat Democrats in a few races. Dennis Schuller, who ran for the Minnesota House two years ago, said during the Legal Marijuana Now Party caucus earlier this month that he thought the issue was overblown. "We're not a bunch of Republicans, although some people might be conservative, and we're not a bunch of Democrats," Schuller said. "We're, I think, a common sense group of people that are talking about farm and garden rights through the political system." A founding member of the Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party views the issue with more concern. "This gives too much room for mischief," said Oliver Steinberg, who currently serves as party treasurer.
Richard Painter tweeted Wednesday that he is seeking the DFL endorsement and nomination for the 1st District congressional seat. Painter is a University of Minnesota law professor and former ethics attorney in the George W. Bush White House, who gained a lot of attention for his critiques of President Trump's ethics. He had been hinting at a third party run for governor or some other office. He's not the only Democrat interested in the CD1 seat. Richard DeVoe, who owns a bookstore in Red Wing, announced a campaign on Tuesday. He has a campaign launch event set for Monday. | 
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