Good morning, and happy Friday. On the radio at noon I'll talk to DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Republican Minority Leader Kurt Daudt in separate interviews about the campaign for control of the Minnesota House. I hope you can tune in to MPR News. Also, be on the lookout for a new poll this weekend: Starting Saturday and continuing next week, the latest MPR News/Star Tribune/KARE 11 Minnesota Poll will look at the races for governor and other statewide offices, in addition to a wide range of top issues.
The Minnesota Medical Association's political action committee MEDPAC is endorsing Gov. Tim Walz for reelection. "The ongoing global pandemic and other critical healthcare issues are at stake this year and we need a candidate who would best support the health of Minnesotans," said Will Nicholson, MD, Chair of the MEDPAC Board of Directors in a statement. "In his four years leading Minnesota, Gov. Walz has demonstrated alignment with the core values of respect, honesty, and support for science and public health that is needed at this time."
MPR's Jon Collins reports:At a forum in downtown Minneapolis Thursday sponsored by business groups, former prosecutor and judge Martha Holton Dimick struck out repeatedly at her opponent in the Hennepin County attorney's race, former chief Hennepin County public defender Mary Moriarty. "My experience is a lot stronger than an experiment from someone who has just done defense attorney work and has just worked with criminals," Dimick said. Dimick later accused Moriarty of getting support from a "dark money" political action committee, as well as from officials like U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and State Attorney General Keith Ellison, who Dimick said are "some of the strongest 'defund the police'" supporters. Both Ellison and Omar supported a failed ballot question last November that would have replaced the Minneapolis Police Department with a new Department of Public Safety. Mayor Jacob Frey, who opposed the ballot question, has since created a new Office of Community Safety to oversee the department. Moriarty said she's proud that she's run a positive campaign that includes supporters with diverse views, and that she welcomes the endorsement of her congressperson.
Attorney General Keith Ellison said Thursday that his office and the Hennepin County Attorney's Office are investigating two Minneapolis businesses to determine whether they "are maintaining or permitting an unlawful public nuisance on their properties." A statement from Ellison's office said the civil investigation will look at Merwin Liquors and Winner Gas Station because both have been the sites of numerous acts of gun violence, including on Sept. 2 when four people were shot outside Merwin Liquors, and on Sept. 8 when four more people were victims of gun violence near Winners. "Companies or properties that turn a blind eye to gun violence and other threats to public safety happening on their premises need to know we are watching and will act," Ellison said in a statement. "Keeping people and communities safe takes everyone, so I encourage anyone with concerns about these businesses to come forward."
A lawyer who helped prosecute former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is a step closer to becoming a federal judge. MPR's Matt Sepic reported that on a 13-8 bipartisan vote Thursday the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the nomination of Jerry Blackwell to the Senate floor. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar said Blackwell is well qualified to be a judge and is respected in Minnesota's legal community. "He took on the highest-profile criminal trial really of the decade by prosecuting Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd," Klobuchar said. "His commitment to public service is incredible." Blackwell spent his career defending corporations in civil suits before Ellison recruited him for the Chauvin case, which Blackwell took on for free. President Biden nominated Blackwell to replace Judge Susan Richard Nelson, who has a smaller workload after taking on senior status last year.
The Minnesota Supreme Court will hear arguments next week on whether to routinely allow cameras and audio recording equipment in state courtrooms. The Star Tribune reports: An advisory committee made up of Minnesota judges, attorneys and court personnel is recommending the court continue keeping cameras out — with a few exceptions. Organizations representing hundreds of local and national Minnesota media outlets, including the Star Tribune, as well as groups that support government transparency say that 21st century technology inside courtrooms is long overdue.
Minnesota's unemployment rate ticked up slightly in August to 1.9 percent.MPR's Peter Cox reports that's up from the state's record-low 1.8 percent in July. It's still much lower than the national unemployment rate, which was 3.7 percent in August. Employment and Economic Development commissioner Steve Grove called it a "pause" that can happen at this time of year. "We're of course tracking this and looking at it, but not speculating too much on what it means," he said. "I think we're going to continue to take these longer-term, several month views to get a sense for just what our economy is looking like." On a seasonally adjusted basis, the state lost 3,100 jobs last month.
MinnPost has a story about a disagreement in the State Auditor campaign over what's known as ESG–Environment, Social and Governance, which considers issues such as climate change, social justice and equity as state and local governments decide where to invest funds. "I will not play politics with our pensions," GOP nominee Ryan Wilson said during a debate on WCCO Radio the incumbent DFLer Julie Blaha. "We must put return on investment first." Blaha said considering ESG factors is the trend in retirement fund investing, not just by public systems but by private investors. "Even if you don't care about the environment at all, you need to think about climate change in investments," she said. "There are significant risks and there are significant opportunities in how climate is changing and how we're transitioning energy." Blaha blamed "MAGA auditors and treasurers" who are trying to discredit ESG in investment decisions. "The evidence is overwhelming, and it's also common sense. How many of us are sinking our savings into coal right now?" "You know what's been a great investment over the last six months that we missed out on?" Wilson asked. "Coal." To which Blaha responded that pension funds are invested with 10, 20 and 30-year outlooks, not six months. | 
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