Secretary of State says federal election monitors did not interfere in Minnesota's primary election

Minnesota today is supported by Granite Partners, over 20 years of growing Minnesota-based companies that source and sell around the world. Granite Partners, growing companies, enhancing communities. You can learn more at granite.com. This is Minnesota today for Thursday, August 13th. I'm Emily Reese, and here's what's happening in Minnesota. Secretary of State Steve Simon says federal election monitors did not interfere in Minnesota's primary election on Tuesday. The Department of Justice says it sent about 20 monitors in plain close to make sure voters who speak other languages or have disabilities could vote. Simon said out of an abundance of caution, his office partnered with the Minnesota Attorney General's office to keep tabs on the federal monitors. As we predicted, things went smoothly. There were no incidents that we know of. There were folks watching the watchers to make sure that they behave themselves and obeyed Minnesota laws and rules on access and space limitations and all the rest. And they did. Hennepin and Ramsey County's declined to let the federal monitors inside polling places, so they were stationed at least 100 feet away. One of the 15 Minnesota protesters the Department of Justice has charged with conspiracy says that federal law enforcement illegally spied on citizens this winter. The allegation comes in a court filing today from attorney Kevin Rich. Here's NPR News reporter John Susan Collins. So Rich is alleging that just four days after Alex Preddy was shot and killed by federal agents, that Homeland Security Investigations launched something they call Operation Puppet Master. Homeland Security coached this program in the sort of language about, like, rooting out people they describe as, quote, violent opportunists. And it appears that the government sent people posing as protesters to public meetings, so places like churches, parks, libraries, even union halls, and they obtained financial records from unions like the SEIU and communication workers of America. That was our John Susan Collins. The mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul released budgets for their cities yesterday and today. Mayors Jacob Frey and Kali Heur both proposed property tax increases. In Minneapolis, Fry is asking for an 11.3% increase. St. Paul's Heur is looking for a 6.8% hike.

I've always been honest with residents that we would not be able to reduce property taxes in the near term. What we can do is grow the tax base so that the costs of providing essential services is shared more broadly. You can learn more about the proposed budgets for both St. Paul and Minneapolis at NPRNews.org. More Minnesota cities are parting ways with flock safety amid growing backlash over the company's automated license plate reader cameras. The Duluth Police Department says it will not renew its contract with flock when it ends next month. Winona police say they won't replace any of the eight flock cameras that were stolen last month. And in North Branch, the city council voted last night to remove flock cameras that were recently installed. Supporters have said the cameras are a useful tool for law enforcement. Opponents have raised concerns about unauthorized surveillance and questions about who can access the data. Scattered storms and showers brought rain to parts of Minnesota today, but much of the state is descending further into drought. Today's U.S. Drought Monitor Update classifies about 75% of the state in drought. That's up from 70% a week ago, and NPR meteorologist Sven Sundgard says 45% of Minnesota is now in severe drought. Much of north-central, northeastern Minnesota has been in that severe drought for the last few weeks, but now it's really expanded all the way down into Dakota, Goodhue, Wabashaw County is now half the metro considered in severe drought. Sven says there is a chance for much-needed rain tomorrow night into Saturday, but forecast models have been backing off on totals for the Twin Cities. Southeast Minnesota has a better chance for significant rain. In sports, the twins beat the Baltimore Orioles yesterday. Tonight, the twins will play the Phillies for the 2026 MLB at Field of Dreams game. That's in Dyersville, Iowa. And the Minnesota links beat the Portland Fire yesterday. The links play the aces coming up on Saturday in Las Vegas. That's it for Minnesota today. Thanks for listening. Phineas Pope. We'll have a new update for you on Friday morning.