politicnewsbusterinsiderpostreview: Ready or not, the 2022 election is underway

Tuesday, 1 February 2022

Ready or not, the 2022 election is underway

Good morning,

February welcomes us with gusty winds and plummeting temps. Chance of flurries today for northern Minnesota. Highs 9 to 18 northwest, to lower 30s southeast. Find the latest on Updraft.

It's precinct caucus night in Minnesota

Tonight's precinct caucuses are the starting line for a candidate selection process that will culminate with November's vote.

While most voters won't show up to a party caucus, those who do will have an outsized voice in setting up the fall ballot. This year, DFLers will allow noncitizens and felons still on probation to fully participate in caucuses for the first time whlie Republicans are accusing DFLers of thumbing their nose at the state law.

From what those caucuses mean to where to find your caucus, politics reporter Brian Bakst answers your caucus night questions.

The medical examiner who ruled Floyd's death a homicide takes stand in the 3 ex-cops' trial

Hennepin County Medical Examiner Dr. Andrew Baker testified on Monday that he concluded that George Floyd's cause of death was "cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual restraint and neck compression." Baker said Floyd also had heart disease and drugs in his system, which he said were conditions that contributed to his death.

Baker testified at the criminal trial of former officer Derek Chauvin in state court last spring, where he said that the law enforcement use of force on Floyd was just more than Floyd could take.

What else we're watching:

First day in the 2022 session brought sweets, masks, tax talks. Gov. Tim Walz welcomed lawmakers back with lemon bars and scotcheroos as they entered the House and Senate. Lawmakers are expected to spend a lot of time this year talking about crime, workforce issues, and putting together a public works bonding bill.

Interested in working as CNA? An initiative offers free classes in Minnesota. The program is part of an effort to increase the number of certified nursing assistants in the state. It covers the training cost, including instruction, books, a set of scrubs and the fee for the state CNA test.

A breakdown of the staggering alleged fraud at Feeding Our Future. The FBI is alleging employees of St. Anthony, Minn.,-based nonprofit Feeding Our Future set up shell companies and paid themselves millions of dollars with federal money meant to feed people with low incomes. Sahan Journal reporter Andrew Hazzard who's been covering the story tells us the latest.