DNC panel to vote on Minnesota's early presidential primary state bid

1 big thing: Minnesota's first-in-the-nation fate 

2. The Spoon: Snow is coming 

Illustration of a spoon of alphabet soup spelling out "The Spoon" 

Restaurant roundup: Izzy's gone, Parlour's new chef and more

3. Restaurant roundup: Baba's plans south metro location 

Illustration of forks, knives, plates, money and abstract shapes.

4. 🧊 Photo du jour: A good day for a dip 

Fresh job openings around town

5. ✏️ 1 fun thing to go: Neighborhood boundaries (according to you)

Happy Monday! We hope your hearts, stomachs and holiday shopping carts are full after the long weekend.

💨 Cloudy and windy with a high of 41 today. 

Situational awareness: It's the last week of yard waste collection in Minneapolis. Bag those late-falling leaves and leave them on the curb on garbage day!

Today's newsletter is 774 words, a 3-minute read.

 🛝 Torey wishes she had a playground like the one at Lake Harriet when she was a kid. The climbing nets are so cool!   

☕️ Audrey is thankful for chocolate cream cold brew.

🐢 Nick enjoyed Trampled by Turtles on Saturday. 

Today's newsletter was edited by Kayla Sharpe. 

Twin Cities

Picture of the Twin Cities skyline with MSP written across it.

Get smarter, faster about what’s happening in your backyard with local reporter Torey Van Oot.

Axios Twin Cities

Minnesota's largest school district steps up superintendent search

1 big thing: Anoka-Hennepin's next schools chief 

Illustration of a pattern of apples and stacks of textbooks.

Towns' injury hinders Timberwolves

2. Wolves cut down to size 

3. The Spoon: Nurse strike vote looms 

Illustration of a snowman with a spoon and cherry as the nose.

Now hiring: New job openings

4. 'Tis the season for holiday bars

A clear plastic ornament filled with a red liquid.

Good morning! We hope you've shoveled out. 

We got 8.4 inches of snow yesterday at MSP Airport. 

Today will be colder and windy, with a high of 22. It will drop to 8 overnight.

🚗 Situational awareness: The cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis have declared snow emergencies. Brush up on parking rules for Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Today's newsletter is 760 words — a 3-minute read.

🎧 Torey is looking for audio book recommendations. 

🐎 Nick was very disappointed in "Nope," which is surprising because he loved "Get Out" and "Us."

🎥 Audrey loved "Glass Onion" and highly recommends seeing it in theaters. (The final showings are today!)

Minneapolis’ newest taproom is skipping the beer

1 big thing: A taproom without beer 

Stillwater eyes paid parking spots on Main Street

2. Stillwater eyes paid parking spots on Main Street

Chart du jour: Twin Cities COVID levels creep up

3. Chart du jour: State of COVID 

4: The Spoon: Boludo's expansion plans 

Illustration of a spoonful of Axios logos.

4. Good news for bike commuters

Seeking employment? 

5. A reason to rock out (in 2024) 

James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich of Metallica at the 2022 Global Citizen Festival in Central Park on September 24, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by NDZ/Star Max/GC Images)

Good morning! Grab your shovel and steel yourself for snowy commutes. 

❄️ A winter storm warning is in effect. Expect six to 10 inches. High will be 30, per NWS.

We hope you’ll consider contributing to our mission driven journalism by becoming a member.

Situational awareness: The state canvassing board meets today to certify the midterm election results. Watch live, at 1pm.

Today's newsletter is 807 words, a 3-minute read.

📅 Torey put in her 2023 planner order and is PUMPED! 

🧅 Audrey is going to see "Glass Onion." Coincidentally, she has this song stuck in her head.

Today's newsletter was edited by Kayla Sharpe.

Minnesota Republicans' money problem

1 big thing: The MNGOP's money problem

Illustration of an elephant balancing on a quarter.   

2. Plus: What's next for the GOP 

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3. The Spoon: Nurses plan strike through holidays 

Illustration of a spoon and cherry, both with arms and legs, walking. 

Metro Transit's D Line starts service

4. D Line service starts today 

Do you see yourself with a new career? 

ABBA dancing and tree lights: Twin Cities this weekend

5. Here's what's happening this weekend 

Illustration of neon signs with the days of the week. Lights go out one by one and "weekend" flashes.

6. Gophers volleyball hoping to win one for Hugh 

6. Gophers volleyball hoping for a Hugh win 

7. Hot Homes: Minnetonka remodeled rambler 

🌨 There's a chance for a little morning rain that could turn to snow, per NWS. Today will be mostly cloudy and breezy, with a high of 39.

🎂 Happy early birthday to our Axios Twin Cities member Jacqueline Debuse!

Situational awareness: DFL Party chair Ken Martin acknowledged last night that Minnesota will not be an early presidential primary state, following reports that President Biden endorsed South Carolina, New Hampshire and Nevada as the openers, with Georgia and Michigan to follow a week later. 

Today's newsletter is 973 words — a 4-minute read.

💥 Audrey is excited for Scream It Off Screen's Holiday Extravaganza.

Twin Cities office towers in trouble

1 big thing: Trouble for office towers 

Pro-legal marijuana party takes a hit in midterms

2. Grassroots – Legalize Cannabis says goodbye to major party status

Illustration of a marijuana leaf on a background with ballot elements.

3. The Spoon: Don't sleep on the snow emergency!

Illustration of the Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture with a smiling emoji imposed on the cherry.

4. Mapped: Senior deaths from falls rise

New jobs to check out

5. 🎄 Deck the halls (of Uptown's shuttered storefronts)

A window display with two christmas trees and wreaths.

Good morning and welcome to December. The year has flown by, hasn't it?

A chilly start this morning, with temps in the single digits. But it'll be sunny and a bit warmer later. Expect highs in the low 30s.

Situational awareness:  Nurses voted to authorize a second strike at as many as 16 Twin Cities and Duluth-area hospitals if they can't get a new contract. Exact days of a strike have not been announced. (Star Tribune)

Today's newsletter is 840 words, a 3.5-minute read.

✈️ Torey is accepting thoughts and prayers for a four-hour flight with her toddler. She has packed many snacks. 

🇮🇹 Nick is enjoying "White Lotus" season 2 even more than season 1. 

💓 Audrey is in the top 0.05% of listeners of dream pop band Night Tapes, according to Spotify Wrapped.

Data: Metropolitan Council ; Chart: Tory Lysik/Axios Visuals

COVID levels are creeping up in the Twin Cities, per Met Council's latest wastewater data dump. 

Why it matters: A "tripledemic" of flu, RSV and COVID is already straining local hospitals. 

Driving the news: The total viral load detected at the metro plant increased by 24% in the week ending Nov. 21, compared to the previous week.

 BA5, the Omicron subvariant that took off last summer, is still the dominant strain in the Twin Cities. 

Yes, but: Even with the increase, COVID caseloads remain far below the levels seen during case spikes last winter and spring. 

What to watch: Spread from travel and Thanksgiving gatherings could drive COVID cases up even more. 

Yes, but: The caseloads remain far below previous spikes.

COVID levels are creeping up in the Twin Cities, per <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Met Council&#x27;s latest wastewater data dump. " data-vars-click-url="https://metrocouncil.org/Wastewater-Water/Services/Wastewater-Treatment/COVID19-Research.aspx" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://metrocouncil.org/Wastewater-Water/Services/Wastewater-Treatment/COVID19-Research.aspx" target="_blank">Met Council&#x27;s latest wastewater data dump. </a>Why it matters: A &quot;tripledemic&quot; of flu, RSV and COVID is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="already straining " data-vars-click-url="https://www.twincities.com/2022/11/19/covid-flu-rsv-mn-hopitals-waits-emergency-rooms/" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.twincities.com/2022/11/19/covid-flu-rsv-mn-hopitals-waits-emergency-rooms/" target="_blank">already straining </a>local hospitals. Driving the news: The total viral load detected at the metro plant increased by 24% in the week ending Nov. 21, compared to the previous week.

COVID

Axios Twin Cities, anchored by Torey Van Oot, Nick Halter and Audrey Kennedy, is here to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news and developments unfolding in their own backyard

The midterm results were a buzzkill for one of Minnesota's political parties dedicated to marijuana legalization.

Driving the news: Candidates running under the Grassroots – Legalize Cannabis banner failed to hit the 5% threshold needed to maintain major party status, Secretary of State Steve Simon announced following Tuesday's vote certification. 

Why it matters: Without major party status, the group's candidates will need to collect voter signatures to appear on the ballot.

Between the lines: Candidates from both pro-legal pot parties picked up consequential shares of the vote in a number of close races in 2020. They appeared to have less of an impact this year. 

What to watch: Top legislative Democrats have signaled interest in pursuing full legalization this year, though it's unclear if they have the votes to pass a bill given their narrow majority in the Senate.

Yes, but: Legislative Democrats say they'll look at full legalization this year.

The midterm results were a buzzkill for one of Minnesota&#x27;s political parties dedicated to marijuana legalization.Driving the news: Candidates running under the Grassroots – Legalize Cannabis banner failed to hit the 5% threshold needed to maintain major party status, Secretary of State Steve Simon announced following Tuesday&#x27;s vote certification.

Politics

As they look to rebuild following another thumping at the polls, Minnesota Republicans are confronting a chicken-or-the-egg conundrum: 

They need more resources to compete and win across the state. But one of the best ways to get more resources is ... to run competitive campaigns and win. 

State of play: The GOP lost all four statewide offices, a toss-up congressional seat and control of the Legislature in a midterm that was expected to favor them. 

The results delivered Democrats a trifecta at the State Capitol.

What they're saying: Republican officials and strategists interviewed by Axios attributed the losses to a number of factors, including messaging on abortion, missteps by the top-of-the-ticket, sub-par performance in the metro and a smaller-than-expected "red wave" nationwide.

But money was a major issue: "When you're outspent five [or] six to one, it's very, very difficult [to win]," Republican Party chair David Hann tells Axios. 

Zoom in: Democratic groups and candidates, including the DFL Party, had spent more than $127 million on state races in Minnesota as of late October, per one tally. Republicans reported closer to $30 million in expenditures, just $4 million of which came from the state party, the analysis found.

Why it matters: "Money is the mother's milk of politics," as the saying attributed to one legendary California politician goes.

The advantage has allowed Democrats to blanket the airwaves with ads and build out their infrastructure beyond the election cycle.

The intrigue: While years of dominance in state politics have given the DFL a structural advantage, there are also wealthy Republicans in Minnesota capable of funding GOP-aligned campaigns and causes.

Driving the gap: GOP insiders cite a number of reasons for the lackluster fundraising, including a lack of trust in the state party due to past mismanagement and years of losses.

Donor preference also comes into play, as some deep-pocketed local Republicans are less willing to spend the sums to rival DFL mega-donors like Alida Rockefeller Messinger, who gives millions to Democratic committees.

But concerns about the quality — and winnability — of candidates who win the coveted GOP endorsement are also persistent. 

The bottom line: John Rouleau, executive director of the GOP-aligned Minnesota Jobs Coalition, tells Axios that high-dollar donors make their decisions based on both "what they believe in ... and where writing a check is going to make a difference."

Candidates who can't appeal outside the GOP base, or those who simply lack the message and discipline needed to appear competitive, are hard sells. 

Plus: What's next as GOP delegates gather in St. Cloud

Republican Party delegates will gather in St. Cloud Saturday to select a chair and chart a path forward.

Hann, who took the reins after a rocky period last year, is running for a full term. He's expected to face several challengers. 

What they're saying: Hann, who argues he needs more time to right the ship, says building inroads in the vote-dense metro will be essential. He cited high base turnout and the narrow losses in the attorney general and auditor races as bright spots.

Other veteran GOP strategists have called for improved voter engagement efforts and "fundamentally reform[ing] how [the MNGOP] enterprise and party operates — including candidate selection."

What to watch: Kendall Qualls, who ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2020 and sought the Republican gubernatorial endorsement this year, tells Axios he's working externally on a "wholesale assessment" of the GOP's health and future.

That effort may include focus groups, a deep dive into voter turnout data and a look at the endorsement process.

"Money goes to candidates that can make the case that get voters and donors excited," he said. "That's something that we have to take ownership on."

As they look to rebuild following another thumping at the polls, Minnesota Republicans are confronting a chicken-or-the-egg conundrum: <ul><li>They need more resources to compete and win across the state. But one of the best ways to get more resources is ... to run competitive campaigns and win. </li></ul>State of play: The GOP lost all four statewide offices, a toss-up congressional seat and control of the Legislature in a midterm that was expected to favor them.

Minnesota's largest school district is getting closer to naming a new leader.

Driving the news: The Anoka-Hennepin School Board is interviewing two of five superintendent candidates at a special meeting Wednesday. Three candidates were interviewed Tuesday night.

Why it matters: The superintendent oversees about 37,000 students and 2,000 teachers across more than 50 schools, with an annual budget of nearly $600 million.

The new leader will take the helm at a time when state and local school leaders are grappling with how to get kids back on track after pandemic learning losses. A science curriculum overhaul is also on tap. 

Between the lines: Anoka-Hennepin had to dip into its reserves to fill a $27 million budget gap this year, but strong enrollment means the district isn't facing the same funding challenges as neighboring Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Zoom in: The school board selected five candidates to compete for the job:

Jeffery Ridlehoover, superintendent of Sartell-St. Stephen ISD 748. 

Yeu Vang, assistant superintendent of Saint Paul Public Schools. 

 Matthew Gutierrez, superintendent of Seguin Independent School District in Texas. 

Teri Staloch, education consultant and former superintendent of Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools.

Cory McIntyre, superintendent of Osseo Area Schools in Maple Grove.

Catch up quick: Former superintendent David Law left the post last summer to take a new job leading Minnetonka Public Schools. 

Law, who oversaw increased graduation rates and approval of a $249 million construction bond, received a salary of $234,000 at Anoka-Hennepin.

What's next: The board will name three finalists and schedule another round of interviews for next week.

A decision on a preferred candidate is expected by Dec. 7, with a goal of having the new superintendent begin on July 1.

Of note: Minneapolis is also in the market for a new superintendent. Candidate recruitment is expected to begin early next year.

The hire to lead Anoka-Hennepin could be announced by next week.

Illustration of a pattern of apples and stacks of textbooks. 

Minnesota&#x27;s largest school district is getting closer to naming a new leader.Driving the news: The Anoka-Hennepin School Board is interviewing two of five superintendent candidates at a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="special meeting Wednesday" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ahschools.us/superintendentsearch" data-vars-content-id="b91f5186-3234-47b2-811f-9268e9747cdd" data-vars-headline="Minnesota&#x27;s largest school district steps up superintendent search" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ahschools.us/superintendentsearch" target="_blank">special meeting Wednesday</a>. Three candidates were interviewed Tuesday night.

News

Stillwater is weighing whether to start charging for parking along the border city's busy Main Street, The Pioneer Press reports.

State of play: About 75% of the roughly 2,000 parking spots in downtown Stillwater are free, City Council Member David Junker told The Pioneer Press. 

Under one proposal to charge for parking on and east of Main Street, the share of free spots would drop to 60%. Several lots west of Main Street would remain free.

What they're saying: A commission studying downtown parking says the change could help pay for street maintenance and lead to more turnover and availability during peak traffic times.

What's next: The commission will present to the council on Dec. 6. 

Supporters say the change would help free up spots during busy times.

Photo: Jerry Holt/Star Tribune via Getty Images

Stillwater is weighing whether to start charging for parking along the border city&#x27;s busy Main Street, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Pioneer Press reports." data-vars-click-url="https://www.twincities.com/2022/11/27/stillwater-officials-explore-charging-for-downtown-parking/" data-vars-content-id="ddacff1f-1b68-4139-91f6-3334cabcff4b" data-vars-headline="Stillwater eyes paid parking spots on Main Street" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.twincities.com/2022/11/27/stillwater-officials-explore-charging-for-downtown-parking/" target="_blank">The Pioneer Press reports.</a>State of play: About 75% of the roughly 2,000 parking spots in downtown Stillwater are free, City Council Member David Junker told The Pioneer Press.

Torey Van Oot

Stories

Minnesota Republicans' money problem

Pro-legal marijuana party takes a hit in midterms

Minnesota's largest school district steps up superintendent search

Stillwater eyes paid parking spots on Main Street

Chart du jour: Twin Cities COVID levels creep up

Newsletter editions

🐘 GOP autopsy

👀 Tower trouble

🍸 Christmas spirits

🍻 No beer? No problem

🗳️ Primary pursuit