Minnesota 2024 voter guide: Who’s running, where they stand on the issues

Inside Minneapolis' deadliest fire [Inside Minneapolis' deadliest fire] View this email as a [web page]( [The Minnesota Star Tribune](   [Essential Minnesota logo] ESSENTIAL MINNESOTA [Essential Minnesota logo] ESSENTIAL MINNESOTA Good morning, Minnesota! Looks like we have a beautiful weekend on the way. Plus, Eder's back with you next week. On to the news 📢 [Zoë Jackson] By Zoë Jackson TODAY’S TOP STORIES - [Minnesota election law changes since 2020 aim to boost turnout]( - [St. Thomas receives largest scholarship gift to a university in state history]( - [Fall color guide: 8 ways to experience Minnesota’s autumn in action]( - [Minneapolis council approves limited expansion of ShotSpotter gunshot detection system]( - [Land bridge or thoroughfare? Ideas to transform I-94 compete for public dollars](   Presenting the 2024 Minnesota voter guide: Who’s running, and where they stand Glen Stubbe/The Minnesota Star Tribune Today is the first day of early voting in Minnesota and Nov. 5 is fast approaching. To help you get ready, the Minnesota Star Tribune asked major party candidates for U.S. Senate and Congress about their stances on issues ranging from the economy to immigration. In addition to the presidential contest, Minnesotans will also have the chance to choose the person they want to represent them in the U.S. Senate for the next six years, as well as in all eight U.S. House seats. Control of the entire Legislature is also at stake this fall, with 134 state House seats on the ballot and a single special election in the Minnesota Senate that will determine which party will lead the deadlocked chamber. I encourage you to spend some time with the voter guide. When you finish, you can enter your address into our "[What's on my 2024 Minnesota ballot?" tool]( published today. It's great prep that will keep you from being that person googling the names of 15 different judges while casting your vote (but hey, it happens!). If you are voting early today, reply to this email and let us know if you see anything interesting out there. [Read our 2024 voter guide here.]( Related coverage - [The races that could determine control of the Minnesota Legislature]( - [What's on my 2024 Minnesota ballot?']( [Read More](     GOING OUT - [The 5 best things our food writers ate this week]( - [Review: Guitar goddess St. Vincent gets human in St. Paul]( - [Stevie Wonder is coming to Minneapolis on Oct. 27 to ‘fix our nation’s broken heart’](   Coming next week A new Star Tribune/MPR News/KARE 11 Minnesota Poll will look at the race for president, key issues in the 2024 elections and Minnesotans' views on Gov. Tim Walz and other prominent political figures.   [Share this newsletter with friends]( Do you enjoy Essential Minnesota? Encourage your friends and family to [sign up](. You also can share it using the links below.   This group of Somali elders walks Minneapolis streets to keep an eye on their youth This is the second year members of Somali Youth Link have patrolled city streets in areas where Somali kids tend to congregate, making sure they stay out of trouble. After a promising showing in 2023 as a privately funded pilot project, the program received a $300,000 contract with the city earlier this year to expand its services. The group was formed after a series of events in recent summers involving Somali youth, ranging from loitering, reckless driving, shooting fireworks at people or sneaking into college parties. Read more about [the culturally specific program here](. Ayrton Breckenridge/ The Minnesota Star Tribune MORE FROM THE MINNESOTA STAR TRIBUNE - [Video: Minnetonka freshman Ari Peterson, daughter of Vikings great Adrian, is already dunking basketballs]( - [Savage to honor Paralympian Abby Bauleke after silver medal win]( - [New nyala calf born at Como Zoo in St. Paul]( CURIOUS MINNESOTA Hennepin County Library What is the story of Minneapolis’ deadliest fire? The blaze that ripped through the Marlborough Hotel near downtown Minneapolis one frigid morning in 1940 is the focus of this week's edition of the Minnesota Star Tribune's reader-powered reporting project. The fire claimed 19 lives and there are several theories as to what could have caused it. [You'll need to read Curious Minnesota to find out more](. IN OTHER NEWS - [Questions around financial oversight shadow Byron Schools ahead of multi-million dollar referendum]( - MPR - [Minnesota’s first-ever mushroom dispensary opens in St. Paul]( - KTSP - [Opinion: If You Like Tim Walz’s Earthy Politics, You Should Know About Paul Wellstone]( - The New York Times     THE MINNESOTA GOODBYE @TheJvandy What a cool photo. If you ask me, this is totally what Minneapolis starts to look like by Friday afternoon. Especially in September. Enjoy the weekend! Thanks for reading Zoe Jackson, reporter Ashley Miller, editor     [Premium digital access] GET IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO EVERY STORY [Premium digital access] GET IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO EVERY STORY [Subscribe]( SHARE THIS NEWSLETTER [Email]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Manage email preferences]( • [Subscribe to Star Tribune]( • [Privacy Policy]( [Unsubscribe from this newsletter]( [Manage]( your preferences | [Opt Out]( using TrueRemove™ Got this as a forward? [Sign up]( to receive our future emails. 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