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Local/state briefs

Swedzinski earns Legislator of Distinction honors from Minnesota cities

State Rep. Chris Swedzinski, R-Ghent, has received a Legislator of Distinction award from the League of Minnesota Cities for his efforts to aid Minnesota cities.

The League credited Swedzinski for authoring the local government road construction vehicle sales tax exemption as well as the local government construction sales tax exemption simplification legislation last session. Additionally, the League said Swedzinski regularly seeks League input on legislation impacting city government.

“I am honored to receive this award and am proud of the work we have done with legislation to help cities in District 16A and throughout the state,” Swedzinski said. “The two tax issues we tackled are just a couple examples of how we can collaborate across levels of government to improve the process.”

A letter from the League to Swedzinski said “Our members know that in order to be successful in serving our common constituents, state and city officials must work together as partners to reach solutions that meet the unique needs of rural, suburban, and urban communities all across Minnesota. City leaders also understand that without the support of legislative leaders like you, this state-local partnership would not be possible.”

Legislators of Distinction are approved annually by the League’s board of directors. Swedzinski is one of 34 state lawmakers the group recognized this year. Award winners received a letter of appreciation and a certificate. A copy of the acknowledgement letter also was sent to the mayor of each city in the legislator’s district, the League said.

The League of Minnesota Cities is a membership organization dedicated to helping cities throughout Minnesota build quality communities through effective advocacy, expert analysis, trusted guidance, and collective action. The League serves its more than 830 members through advocacy, education and training, policy development, risk management, and other services. For more information, visit www.lmc.org.

All-clear after University of St. Thomas evacuates building

ST. PAUL (AP) — The University of St. Thomas has issued an all-clear after receiving a bomb threat that forced the evacuation of a building on its St. Paul, Minnesota, campus.

In a series of alerts posted to its website and social media pages, the university said Tuesday the threat was for the John Roach Center, a classroom building on the corner of Summit and Cleveland Avenues. The threat came in through the university’s switchboard.

The building was evacuated, secured and searched. Officials closed the building for the rest of the day and relocated classes. The university tweeted late Tuesday morning that an all-clear had been issued and the school is continuing normal operations.

No suspicious objects were found.

A university spokeswoman says summer classes were in session at the time.

PVC tube containing dynamite detonated in Meeker County

LITCHFIELD (AP) — A PVC tube containing 11 sticks of dynamite was found in a Meeker County garage and detonated by authorities.

Sheriff Brian Cruze said his office got a call Monday about possible explosives found in Harvey Township. The house was unoccupied and the family found the tube as they were preparing to sell the property.

The Minneapolis Bomb Squad was called and conducted a controlled explosion.

Cruze said it’s believed that the dynamite belonged to the homeowner’s deceased husband. The family doesn’t know how long it had been in the garage.

Loss in trust account tax case could cost Minnesota millions

ST. PAUL (AP) — A court defeat in a case over the way Minnesota taxed trust accounts in other states could end up costing about $130 million this budget cycle.

The Minnesota Department of Revenue estimated it will have to repay about $67 million, plus interest, in rebates over the next two years for overtaxing some trust accounts. It also expects to collect about $34 million less per year in trust-related taxes.

Courts found the state’s attempt to tax accounts in other states as “resident trusts” was unconstitutional, and the outcome became final this summer after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case. Minnesota Public Radio News first reported about the exposure, which was revealed in recent bond-sale documents.

The Star Tribune reported the amount is a fraction of the state’s two-year, $48 billion budget.”

Minnesota hemp group protests driver arrest in South Dakota

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — The Minnesota Hemp Association is protesting the arrest of a hemp driver in South Dakota.

The group’s executive director, former Minnesota legislator Joe Radinovich, accused South Dakota of violating the 2018 Farm Bill by arresting the driver. The Argus Leader reported the driver was arrested in July while delivering 300 pounds of non-intoxicating hemp from Denver to a Minnesota processor.

Radinovich said the case highlights the need for consistent state laws on hemp cultivation, transportation, processing and selling.

The 2018 Farm Bill federally legalized industrial hemp, but South Dakota legislators failed to override Gov. Kristi Noem’s veto of a bill legalizing hemp in the state this year.

The Department of Public Safety points out that hemp is still illegal in South Dakota and that includes transporting it across the state.

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