Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

max nesterak @maxnesterak.bsky.social · 13d

They were warned: How state government kept allowing the theft of the people’s money minnesotareformer.com/2025/09/25/t...

They were warned: How state government kept allowing the theft of the people's money • Minnesota Reformer

It’s like we were putting our cherished Christmas gifts right into the Grinch’s bag of stolen goods.

minnesotareformer.com

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Joshua Benton @joshuabenton.com · 14d

New by me yesterday —>

How about some good news? Could you use some good news today?

www.niemanlab.org/2025/09/dall...

Dallas Morning News shareholders vote to deny the hedge fund Alden Global Capital

Is a newspaper a financial asset or a community trust? This particular standoff ended with an increasingly uncommon answer.

www.niemanlab.org

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max nesterak @maxnesterak.bsky.social · 19d

Health insurance premiums will rise 50% for 89,000 MNsure recipients — unless Congress takes action minnesotareformer.com/2025/09/18/h...

Health insurance premiums will rise 50% for 89,000 MNsure recipients — unless Congress takes action • Minnesota Reformer

Unless Congress votes to extend the tax credits, 89,000 Minnesotans will see an average increase of $177 per month, raising the average premium from $326 to $503, according to MNsure.

minnesotareformer.com

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max nesterak @maxnesterak.bsky.social · 27d

Tim Walz indicates he will run again for Minnesota governor at Democratic fundraiser minnesotareformer.com/2025/09/10/t...

Tim Walz indicates he will run again for Minnesota governor at Democratic fundraiser • Minnesota Reformer

Walz has also told several people privately but definitively that he will run again, and he will make a campaign announcement next week.

minnesotareformer.com

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Minnesota Reformer @minnesotareformer.com · Sep 5

In a win for unions, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a lawsuit this week challenging Minnesota’s ban on mandatory anti-union meetings. minnesotareformer.com/briefs/feder...

Federal appeals court dismisses challenge to Minnesota ban on captive audience meetings • Minnesota Reformer

In a win for unions, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a lawsuit this week challenging Minnesota’s ban on mandatory anti-union meetings. The ban, which passed as part of a sweeping pro-labor ...

minnesotareformer.com

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Minnesota Reformer @minnesotareformer.com · Sep 5

University of Minnesota service workers reject final contract offer, say strike is possible minnesotareformer.com/briefs/minne...

University of Minnesota service workers reject final contract offer, say strike is possible • Minnesota Reformer

More than 1,400 service workers across the University of Minnesota’s five campuses could strike after they rejected the university’s “last, best and final” offer on a new labor contract. The Teamsters...

minnesotareformer.com

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max nesterak @maxnesterak.bsky.social · Sep 5

Federal appeals court dismisses challenge to Minnesota ban on captive audience meetings minnesotareformer.com/briefs/feder...

Federal appeals court dismisses challenge to Minnesota ban on captive audience meetings • Minnesota Reformer

In a win for unions, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a lawsuit this week challenging Minnesota’s ban on mandatory anti-union meetings. The ban, which passed as part of a sweeping pro-labor ...

minnesotareformer.com

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Minnesota Reformer @minnesotareformer.com · Sep 5

Many Minnesota Democrats are calling for an assault weapons ban in the wake of the Annunciation shooting. Why didn’t they pass one when they controlled the Legislature in 2023 and 2024? minnesotareformer.com/2025/09/05/w...

Why didn’t Minnesota Democrats ban assault weapons when they controlled the Legislature? • Minnesota Reformer

Democratic-Farmer-Labor lawmakers entered the 2023 legislative session with a majority in both chambers and a pair of gun control bills high on their list of priorities: universal background checks fo...

minnesotareformer.com

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Seth D. Harris @mrsethharris.bsky.social · Sep 5

Worth noting in BLS jobs report: civilian labor force shrunk by 357,000 since April (S/A). Meanwhile, % of workers employed is down & combined % working+seeking work (labor force participation) is down. Labor supply is shrinking. One reason unemployment rate isn't higher.

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max nesterak @maxnesterak.bsky.social · Sep 5

Manufacturing over the year: -78,000 jobs
Federal government since Jan: -97,000 jobs

Only 22,000 jobs added — basically frozen. But wages have increased 3.7% on average in private-sector non-farm jobs over the past year.

www.bls.gov/news.release...

Employment Situation Summary - 2025 M08 Results

www.bls.gov

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max nesterak @maxnesterak.bsky.social · Sep 4

MN House Republicans release their policy proposals following the Annunciation school shooting. None include gun control. One proposal is to repeal the state ban on conversion therapy for minors.

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Minnesota Reformer @minnesotareformer.com · Sep 3

Annunciation parents to Vice President Vance: ‘Move your feet’
minnesotareformer.com/2025/09/03/a...

Annunciation parents to Vice President Vance: ‘Move your feet’ • Minnesota Reformer

Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance visited Annunciation Catholic school and church Wednesday afternoon, one week after a shooter opened fire on the school’s first Mass of the year, kil...

minnesotareformer.com

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max nesterak @maxnesterak.bsky.social · Sep 3

Twin Cities roofing contractor charged with stealing $118,000 in wages on publicly funded project minnesotareformer.com/2025/09/03/r...

Twin Cities roofing contractor charged with stealing $118,000 in wages on publicly funded project • Minnesota Reformer

The owner of a Twin Cities roofing company faces felony charges after investigators said he stole an estimated $118,000 in wages from seven workers who replaced roofs and gutters at a public housing p...

minnesotareformer.com

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Minnesota Reformer @minnesotareformer.com · Sep 2

Democrats across the country continue to grapple with what went wrong in 2024 and how to win voters back in 2026. For Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, it starts with a fighting stance. minnesotareformer.com/2025/09/02/l...

Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan steps out on her own in Senate race • Minnesota Reformer

The divide among Democrats this year is as much attitudinal as it is ideological. Rank-and-file Democrats are thirsting for leaders who will fight rather than fold in the face of the Trump administra...

minnesotareformer.com

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Minnesota Reformer @minnesotareformer.com · Sep 2

“If Minnesota lets this moment slide and we determine that it’s okay for little ones to not be safe in a school environment or a church environment, then shame on us,” Walz said. “I’m going to call (lawmakers) back.”

Walz to call special session on gun control, propose assault weapons ban • Minnesota Reformer

Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday said he will call a special session for Minnesota lawmakers to vote on a package of gun control measures, although passage seems unlikely in a closely divided Legislature. Wal...

minnesotareformer.com

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Michael Sainato @msainato.bsky.social · Aug 31

I spoke with former NLRB general counsel Jennifer Abruzzo and former NLRB Chair Lauren McFerran about the efforts by the Trump administration, Elon Musk's SpaceX, and other corporations to undermine and further weaken the National Labor Relations Board

www.theguardian.com/business/202...

How Trump and corporations have hobbled US labor watchdog

Former NLRB counsel Jennifer Abruzzo says firings and court rulings have left agency toothless

www.theguardian.com

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Will Craft @wcraft.bsky.social · Aug 29

The Guardian US is releasing a new tool today, a tracker tallying the arrests, detentions, and deportations since the start of the second Trump admin. We are going to continue to update as the admin releases new data: www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...

By the numbers: the latest Ice and CBP data on arrests, detentions and deportations in the US

The Guardian US reviewed figures from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection since Trump’s inauguration

www.theguardian.com

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Minnesota Reformer @minnesotareformer.com · Sep 1

The state of labor in Minnesota in 5 charts minnesotareformer.com/2025/09/01/t...

The state of labor in Minnesota in 5 charts • Minnesota Reformer

Minnesota is a good place to be a worker, with higher wages and union density than the nation along with lower unemployment. But there are growing challenges. Housing costs are rapidly increasing, chi...

minnesotareformer.com

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Chris Steller @chrissteller.bsky.social · Aug 29

fall fall
apple special
cider session

🤝
mulled

.

max nesterak @maxnesterak.bsky.social · Aug 29

Walz mulls special session on gun control following Minneapolis mass shooting, source says minnesotareformer.com/2025/08/29/w...

Walz mulls special session on gun control following Minneapolis mass shooting, source says • Minnesota Reformer

Complicating matters, the state Senate is currently short two members until a Nov. 4 special election. Until then, the Senate is 33-32, with Democrats in control, but they can't pass any bills without...

minnesotareformer.com

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max nesterak @maxnesterak.bsky.social · Aug 29

Walz mulls special session on gun control following Minneapolis mass shooting, source says minnesotareformer.com/2025/08/29/w...

Walz mulls special session on gun control following Minneapolis mass shooting, source says • Minnesota Reformer

Complicating matters, the state Senate is currently short two members until a Nov. 4 special election. Until then, the Senate is 33-32, with Democrats in control, but they can't pass any bills without...

minnesotareformer.com

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Minnesota Reformer @minnesotareformer.com · Aug 29

Minnesota students aren’t making progress in math and reading after significant declines in proficiency during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to statewide standardized assessment data released Friday.

Use our lookup table to view your school district's results.

Minnesota students' academic performance stagnates after pandemic declines • Minnesota Reformer

Minnesota students aren’t making progress in math and reading after significant declines in proficiency during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to statewide standardized assessment data released Frida...

minnesotareformer.com

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Minnesota Reformer @minnesotareformer.com · Aug 29

"It doesn’t matter if they’re motivated by far-right white nationalism, QAnon, radical Islam, delusion, sexism or revenge. Without access to guns, these motives won’t result in mass shootings; it’s that simple." (Commentary) minnesotareformer.com/2025/08/29/h...

How is the far-right outrage machine going to pivot away from gun policy this time? • Minnesota Reformer

Policy changes work, if we ever develop the political will to stop this senseless tide of bloodshed.

minnesotareformer.com

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Minnesota Reformer @minnesotareformer.com · Aug 29

Children killed in Annunciation Church shooting remembered as loving and bright minnesotareformer.com/2025/08/29/c...

Children killed in Annunciation Church shooting remembered as loving and bright • Minnesota Reformer

The two children killed in the mass shooting at Annunciation Church in south Minneapolis on Wednesday are 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski, their families shared with the publi...

minnesotareformer.com

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Minnesota Reformer @minnesotareformer.com · Aug 28

“Thoughts and prayers are not going to cut it,” said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. “We need action at the federal level. We need action at the state level. We need coordination with the cities around the country.” minnesotareformer.com/2025/08/28/m...

Minnesota Democrats call for ban on assault weapons following deadly church shooting • Minnesota Reformer

Federal, state and city Democratic lawmakers joined gun safety advocates to call for a ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines on Thursday, a day after a shooter killed two children and inj...

minnesotareformer.com

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max nesterak @maxnesterak.bsky.social · Aug 28

Union vote uncertain at Kentucky EV battery plant as ballots are challenged in tight election kentuckylantern.com/2025/08/28/u...

Union vote uncertain at Kentucky EV battery plant as ballots are challenged in tight election • Kentucky Lantern

United Auto Workers claim victory at EV battery plant in Kentucky, though final vote tally is uncertain with dozens of ballots being challenged.

kentuckylantern.com

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