Recent content from Christopher Magan
Need food stamps or rent help? In Hennepin County there's a wait.
County officials struggle to keep up with the growing demand for safety net programs. Officials say they are working to add staff and improve processing times.
What a federal government shutdown would mean for Minnesota
Nearly 17,000 federal workers could be furloughed or have to work without pay. Here's how some services might be affected.
HCMC unions say workers on oversight board were handpicked by management
A union nurse appointed in November to one of two labor seats on the Hennepin Healthcare System board was promoted to a management role just weeks later.
We're over-salting sidewalks and pavement. Here's how to do it smarter.
A statewide push is on to encourage residents, businesses and churches to cut back on deicing salt to limit chloride pollution in Minnesota's waters.
Hennepin Juvenile Detention Center vows to boost staff, retrain officers to fix violations
County Commissioner Angela Conley condemned the practice of isolating kids as 'cruel and unusual punishment' and questioned why county operators were not finding 'tangible solutions.'
How Hennepin County will spend a 5.5% property tax levy increase
Most new spending will go to salaries, with $10 million set aside for uncompensated care at HCMC. The capital budget includes $100 million for the Blue Line.
Hennepin County attorney wants to use forfeited money to pay outside lawyers in dropped murder case against state trooper
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty wants to tap funds for outside legal bills in the abandoned prosecution of trooper Ryan Londregan in the shooting death of Ricky Cobb II.
Hennepin County to spend $5.4 million to move inmates to other jails
Sheriff Dawanna Witt will send inmates to seven nearby counties to meet a state order to keep the Hennepin County jail population below 600 inmates.
Roseville DFLer denies claim he doesn't live in the House district he won
Republican Paul Wikstrom filed notice Nov. 20 he was contesting the election win of Democrat Curtis R. Johnson. The candidates competed Nov. 5 for House District 40B and Johnson won 65% of the vote.
Hennepin County tries again to convert Target Field tax for hospitals and extend Twins lease
County leaders hope the Legislature will agree to converting the 0.15% sales tax that funded Target Field for ongoing health care costs.
Roseville DFLer's residency challenged; case could affect control of the House
Paul Wikstrom, the GOP candidate for House District 40B, is contesting his election loss, claiming Democrat Curtis Johnson doesn't live in the district.
Workers to Hennepin County leaders: We want big raises, too
County union leaders say wage offers have been significantly less than what has been approved for top county officials.
Hennepin County Board delays vote on sheriff's plan to reduce jail numbers
Sheriff Dawanna Witt said the tight timeline makes complying with a state order to reduce overcrowding more difficult.
After a year of tension, HCMC has more diverse oversight and a healthier budget
The Hennepin County Board spent the past year examining the hospital's finances, working conditions and how it serves the community.
Now that campaign season is over, here's what to do with those election signs
There are several drop-off options in the Twin Cities metro. They send them to a local plastics recycler.
How do recounts work in Minnesota?
Two Minnesota House races won by Democrats by narrow margins are close enough to trigger automatic recounts.
Minnesota House could be evenly split, but close races will go to recounts
Results show a 67-67 split in the lower chamber Wednesday morning, but in two races, DFLers lead by just a few votes.
DFL Rep. Angie Craig cruises to re-election in competitive Second District race
Political newcomer Joe Teirab, a Republican, hoped to deny the incumbent Craig a fourth term.
More than 1.1 million Minnesotans voted early
There are still 150,000 absentee ballots that have not been returned. Those voters could drop them off by 8 p.m. on Election Day or vote in person.
Shadow group's ad backs third-party candidate who dropped out of Minnesota Second District race
The group boosting Thomas Bowman, who suspended his campaign and endorsed Republican Joe Teirab, supports Democrats across the country.
Minnesotans have cast about 920,000 early ballots. A deadline change could delay results.
Minnesota soared past its 2016 early vote total on Thursday, with five days of early voting remaining.
These Minnesotans spent big to influence the presidential race
A look at the top Minnesota donors to the political groups supporting Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump.
Minnesota Supreme Court says Hennepin County incorrectly picked GOP absentee board judges
County elections officials will email prospective judges from GOP list Wednesday to see if they want to serve as absentee board judges.
Roseville House district candidate's residency is questioned
DFLer Curtis Johnson moved into an apartment in District 40B earlier this year to run for the open seat. GOP opponent Paul Wikstrom is questioning whether Johnson actually lives there.
HCMC's new leader is the first Somali American to lead a Minnesota hospital board
Mohamed Omar has served on the Hennepin Healthcare System board for three years. He replaces Babette Apland, who stepped down as chair in September.
Walz talks assault rifles, running and beef jerky in national media blitz
Minnesota's governor and vice presidential candidate appeared late Monday with Jon Stewart on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show."
2nd District GOP candidate Teirab's work with crisis pregnancy center scrutinized
DFL U.S. Rep. Angie Craig criticized the group for only working with prospective parents who are married heterosexual couples.
What to do if your voter registration is challenged
Roughly 1.5% of Minnesota's registered voters end up with challenged status because of a data discrepancy.
GOP petition claims Hennepin County incorrectly appointed election judges
The state Republican Party and a conservative legal group allege the county did not use a list of names provided by the GOP in choosing a bipartisan slate of election judges.
'Spoiler candidate' drops out of Second District race for Congress
Thomas Bowman says he was tricked into running by secretive group the Patriots Run Project.
Divided Hennepin County Board OKs changes for HCMC lobbying
Commissioners voted 4-3 in a special meeting that also included recommendations for the hospital's oversight board.
Four ways Rep. Angie Craig and Joe Teirab clash and one way they agree
Second Congressional District candidates faced off in two debates ahead of the Nov. 5 election.
Is Minnesota's most competitive House seat a swing district or is it trending blue?
Close races in the Second Congressional District indicate the seat could remain purple for the foreseeable future.
Hennepin County Board candidate says he learned from his felony convictions
Retired MMA fighter Brad Kohler is challenging Commissioner Kevin Anderson to represent District 7, which covers a northwestern swath of Hennepin County.
Fact check: Walz and Vance made questionable claims during only VP debate
Here are some facts on abortion, health care, immigration and other topics Minnesota's Democratic governor and Ohio's Republican senator focused on during the Tuesday night debate.
Voters in New Hope and Zumbro Falls received incorrect ballots for House races
Errors follow another ballot mistake in Faribault County. Minnesota Supreme Court needs to sign off on proposed fixes.
How much will Hennepin and Ramsey counties raise 2025 property taxes?
Hennepin and Ramsey counties recently approved maximum tax levies. How much your taxes go up (or down) depends on several factors.
Third-party candidate for CD2 recruited on Facebook by secretive group
Patriots Run Project sought far-right Donald Trump supporters to run as third-party spoilers in competitive races.
Is your city asking you to vote on a sales tax hike this election? These Twin Cities suburbs are.
Cities pitch sales tax increases as a way to shift the burden of funding projects from residents and business owners who pay property taxes to anyone who makes a purchase that includes a sales tax.
Is it better to burn or bury trash that can't be recycled?
Waste experts and activists want a zero-waste future, but until then, the debate over how to deal with trash involves immediate harms vs. longer-term risks.
Hennepin Healthcare chair steps down after comments about Somali immigrants criticized as racist
HCMC officials said Board Member Mohamed Omar will be the interim chair.
Policy, not spectacle, dominates at candidate forum featuring Hennepin County Board opponents Heather Edelson and Marisa Simonetti
District 6 race is for a full four-year term on the County Board after Heather Edelson won a special election in May.
Target Field wins anti-terrorism safety designation that includes reduced liability
Twins are the 12th Major League Baseball team to receive designation under the 2002 SAFETY Act.
![In North Minneapolis, West Broadway Curve is a big affordable housing project that is in full swing. ]richard.tsong-taatarii/rtsong-taatarii@startribu](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/NFIZOWHHIFRYIXCLCFFPURSMMA.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Hennepin County will spend $12 million from new sales tax on affordable housing
The Repair and Grow grant program aims to help affordable housing providers stabilize their finances and keep existing affordable units.
Hennepin Board approves big raises for county attorney and sheriff, smaller increases for themselves
Previous proposal of a 49% raise for the County Board was abandon after outrage from residents.
Why developers say they need tax incentives to redevelop sites along Edina's France Avenue
City leaders advanced $23 million worth of TIF for a plan to redevelop the Macy's furniture site.
Hennepin County seeks input on its solid waste plan
Residents are encouraged to weigh in on the plan that covers everything from boosting recycling to sending less trash to landfills.
Hennepin County Board eyes smaller raises for members, bigger hikes for attorney and sheriff
The latest plan, which still needs final approval, comes after residents were outraged over a proposed 49% raises for county commissioners.
Hennepin commissioners ditch proposal to give themselves a 49% raise
The County Board voted 6-0 to pull proposed salary increases for commissioners, county attorney and sheriff.
Hennepin County, Met Council seek input on Blue Line expansion to northern suburbs
The planned light-rail route would run from Target Field to Brooklyn Park, through Minneapolis, Crystal and Robbinsdale.
Hennepin County Board votes 4-2 to give themselves a 49% raise
Pay hikes also coming for the sheriff and county attorney. Final vote planned for Aug. 6.
No, fans couldn't buy the Twins, even if they were for sale
The Minnesota Ballpark Authority and the team acknowledge MLB rules nullify previous right of first refusal in Target Field agreement.
Special counsel hired by Moriarty bills $578K for work in trooper Londregan case
Washington D.C.-based law firm spent 733 hours on the case.
Hennepin County Board candidate discusses being a 'sex worker' on podcast
Edina candidate Marisa Simonetti released a tarantula during a dispute with a tenant, faces misdemeanor assault charge.
HCMC wants a $1 billion patient tower, but first it needs a new parking ramp
County plans to demolish an older parking structure and build a new hospital tower.
Chief Hennepin judge reverses decision to give accused domestic abusers quick access to bail
Chief Judge Kerry W. Meyer rescinded June order after concerns from law enforcement.
Tarantula-tossing Hennepin County Board candidate appears in court, hires attorney
Marisa Simonetti, 30, of Edina, is accused of misdemeanor fifth-degree assault after dispute with a tenant.
When residents call 911, Hennepin County wants to make sure there are enough dispatchers to pick up
The County Board approved a staffing study in June as the number of emergency calls rise after a pandemic lull.
Met Council union authorizes strike; rejects 'discriminatory performance-based pay'
AFSCME Local 668 leaders say 94% backed strike vote as contract talks break down.
Property owners could pay for $1B in upgrades after HCMC fight stalled tax change
Proposed change to Hennepin County tax would also provide $9 million a year for Target Field and $4 million for youth activities and libraries.
Tarantula-tossing candidate for county board responds to questions about work as an escort
Marisa Simonetti is unapologetic, embracing her newfound notoriety after her arrest, and dismissive of past fraud allegations.
New Southdale Library will top $106 million, include Edina Arts Center
The current library will be demolished next year, with new facility expected to open in 2027.
Edina council backs plan for multi-use development on Macy's furniture site
The developer plans four buildings with housing, office and retail on the 8-acre site on France Avenue.
Hennepin County's $400 million health insurance operation has a new CEO
The County Board tapped Michael Herzing to be next CEO. He's been interim leader since December.
Rematch of two Edina residents set for District 6 Hennepin Board seat
The contest between Heather Edelson and Marisa Simonetti is one of four County Board seats on the ballot in November; an August primary will not be needed.
By 2032, almost anything you buy in Minnesota will come in recyclable, compostable or reusable packaging. Here's why.
Environmental groups and Twin Cities leaders say requiring packaging be recyclable is key to reducing the growing amount of waste.
Hennepin County keeps housing homeless families despite costs
Emergency family shelters will cost the county $34 million this year, part of a nearly $200 million homelessness prevention and housing stability effort.
How Hennepin County spends nearly $200 million a year on homelessness prevention
County officials focus on making homelessness rare, brief and nonrecurring, while investing in affordable housing.
Proposal to use Target Field sales tax for Hennepin County health care facilities stalls at the Capitol
Another proposal to overhaul governance of Hennepin County medical facilities was also left out of the Legislature's final work.
Heather Edelson wins District 6 seat on Hennepin County Board in special election
Edelson, a state representative, won 54% of the vote to defeat businesswoman Marisa Simonetti.
Hennepin County Board OKs $30K for sweat lodges at Plymouth corrections facility
The lodges will be built at men's and women's facilities for bimonthly ceremonies.
Two Edina residents running in special election for open seat on Hennepin County Board
Heather Edelson and Marisa Simonetti are running in the special election next Tuesday, May 14, to decide who represents District 6 through the end of 2024.
Last-minute bill would make it harder for Hennepin County to take back control of HCMC
Hennepin County leaders have spent months probing HCMC finances and recent insurance changes.
Hennepin County commission primary narrows Edina-area seat to two
State Rep. Heather Edelson and businesswoman Marisa Simonetti will face off May 14 for a seat left vacant since September.
