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Phil Pina
@philpina.bsky.social
450 followers 55 following 61 posts
Deputy editor of News & Politics at the Minnesota Star Tribune in Minneapolis. Ohio State alum and cat tamer.
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Long wait for a Real ID has Minnesota officials saying hold off unless it’s really needed
By Tim Harlow
www.startribune.com/long-wait-fo...
Long wait for a Real ID has Minnesota officials saying hold off unless it’s really needed
AI technology could help Driver and Vehicle Services eat away at the backlog.
www.startribune.com
July 29, 2025 at 6:51 PM
philpina.bsky.social
How could Trump’s big bill affect Minnesota? www.startribune.com/trump-big-bi...
How could Trump’s big bill affect Minnesota?
The Trump administration’s signature legislation cuts taxes, benefits and green energy. It was heading toward a final House vote on Thursday.
www.startribune.com
July 3, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Reposted by Phil Pina
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How the Star Tribune decides what books to review: (gift link)
www.startribune.com/star-tribune...
Our books editor has the tea on how we choose what to review
Louise Erdrich and Kate DiCamillo are easy calls, but how does the Minnesota Star Tribune books editor choose between the 3 million books published each year?
www.startribune.com
June 23, 2025 at 2:15 PM
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Trump’s Iran strikes met with condemnation from Minnesota Democrats in Congress, praise from GOP
By Sydney Kashiwagi
www.startribune.com/trumps-iran-...
Trump’s Iran strikes met with condemnation from Minnesota Democrats in Congress, praise from GOP
Democrats maintain that Trump went against the Constitution, which gives Congress the ability to authorize war.
www.startribune.com
June 23, 2025 at 9:18 PM
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Tornadoes take down trees, damage boats, docks across Lakes Country
By Kim Hyatt
www.startribune.com/tornado-sigh...
Tornadoes take down trees, damage boats, docks across Lakes Country
A storm on Monday rolled across north central Minnesota. Crews are out surveying damage Tuesday.
www.startribune.com
June 17, 2025 at 4:29 PM
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Let’s talk about the future of Nicollet Mall. Join our live blog now with columnist Eric Roper www.startribune.com/eric-roper-n...
Let’s talk about the future of Nicollet Mall. Join our live blog now with columnist Eric Roper
Roper is chatting online with readers today from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
www.startribune.com
June 3, 2025 at 5:13 PM
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Read and weep: Four newspapers in northwest Minnesota shutter
By Kim Hyatt
www.startribune.com/read-and-wee...
Read and weep: Four newspapers in northwest Minnesota shutter
The closures come after more than 100 years of publication.
www.startribune.com
May 29, 2025 at 4:28 PM
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Human smugglers to be sentenced today after family froze to death on Canadian border
By Sarah Nelson
www.startribune.com/human-smuggl...
Human smugglers to be sentenced today after family froze to death on Canadian border
A jury convicted two men for their roles in a human smuggling network that arranged the passage of a family of four migrants who froze to death while lost in a blizzard.
www.startribune.com
May 28, 2025 at 5:40 PM
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Minnesota lawmakers strike a deal on a two-year state budget

By Ryan Faircloth
www.startribune.com/minnesota-la...
Minnesota lawmakers strike a deal on a two-year state budget
The deal comes after about two weeks of closed-door negotiations. A special session is likely needed to finish the work.
www.startribune.com
May 15, 2025 at 2:27 PM
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Minnesota Freedom Fund abandoning mission to pay pretrial bail and bond for jailed defendants
By Jeff Day
www.startribune.com/minnesota-fr...
Minnesota Freedom Fund abandoning mission to pay pretrial bail and bond for jailed defendants
The nonprofit gained national recognition and millions in donations in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, but an email says the nonprofit has learned, “we cannot bail and bond our way out of harm...
www.startribune.com
May 14, 2025 at 7:07 PM
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Read the latest on Rep. Angie Craig entering the U.S. Senate race in the @startribune.com political newsletter Hot Dish. Plus: the Miracle on Ice team gets closer to Congressional gold.
By Sydney Kashiwagi
t.e2ma.net/share/inboun...
Hot Dish: Angie Craig enters the U.S. Senate race
Plus: Miracle on Ice team closer to Congressional Gold Medals View this email as a [web page](#) Access vikings logo MORNING HOT DISH Access Vikings logo MORNING HOT DISH By Sydney Kashiwagi ### Angie...
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April 29, 2025 at 2:57 PM
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Read what 100 days of Trump has meant for Minnesota in today's @startribune.com political newsletter Hot Dish. Plus: Walz inches closer to an announcement. Compiled by Briana Bierschbach t.e2ma.net/share/inboun...
Hot Dish: What 100 days of Trump has meant for Minnesota​
Plus: Walz inches close to running for a third term View this email as a [web page](#) Access vikings logo MORNING HOT DISH Access Vikings logo MORNING HOT DISH By Briana Bierschbach ### What 100 days...
t.e2ma.net
April 28, 2025 at 2:15 PM
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The @startribune.com has compiled a list to track all of MN AG Keith Ellison’s lawsuits against the Trump administration. Check the status of each, by Allison Kite
www.startribune.com/tracking-ag-...
Tracking AG Keith Ellison’s suits against the Trump administration
We’re watching every lawsuit Minnesota has joined, on everything from probationary worker firings to cuts for public health funding.
www.startribune.com
April 28, 2025 at 1:12 PM
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Read how Tim Walz goes after President Trump in State of the State speech in today's @startribune.com political newsletter Hot Dish. Plus: Angie Craig holds town halls, denies GOP ethics allegation.
Crafted by Ryan Faircloth t.e2ma.net/share/inboun...
Hot Dish: Walz goes after Trump in State of the State speech
Plus: Craig holds town halls, denies GOP ethics allegation View this email as a [web page](#) Access vikings logo MORNING HOT DISH Access Vikings logo MORNING HOT DISH By Ryan Faircloth ### Walz goes ...
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April 24, 2025 at 2:11 PM
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Read about Rep. Betty McCollum calling for Pete Hegseth to resign over second Signal chat in the @startribune.com political newsletter Hot Dish. Plus: Former MN Sen. Justin Eichorn pleads not guilty.
Crafted by Allison Kite t.e2ma.net/share/inboun...
Hot Dish: McCollum calls for Hegseth to resign over second Signal chat
Plus: Eichorn pleads not guilty to prostitution charges View this email as a [web page](#) Access vikings logo MORNING HOT DISH Access Vikings logo MORNING HOT DISH By Allison Kite ### McCollum calls ...
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April 22, 2025 at 1:54 PM
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Read about 'Hell Week' at the Minnesota Legislature in today's @startribune.com political newsletter Hot Dish. Plus: Sen. Tina Smith's spicy conversation with Bill Maher.
Crafted by Briana Bierschbach t.e2ma.net/share/inboun...
Hot Dish: It's 'Hell Week' at the Minnesota Legislature​
Plus: Sen. Tina Smith's spicy conversation with Bill Maher View this email as a [web page](#) Access vikings logo MORNING HOT DISH Access Vikings logo MORNING HOT DISH By Briana Bierschbach ### It's '...
t.e2ma.net
April 21, 2025 at 2:51 PM
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Some Minnesota charter school leaders break rules to benefit themselves and avoid scrutiny
By Jeffrey Meitrodt
www.startribune.com/some-minneso...
Some Minnesota charter school leaders break rules to benefit themselves and avoid scrutiny
More than half of the schools reviewed by regulators in the past five years flunked governance standards. Many violated the state’s Open Meeting Law.
www.startribune.com
April 20, 2025 at 6:23 PM
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Read about higher mortgage rates, @angiecraigmn.bsky.social to tour GOP turf and paper fishing licenses in the @startribune.com political newsletter Hot Dish. Plus: See how much key candidates for Congress have raised so far.
By Janet Moore t.e2ma.net/share/inboun...
Hot Dish: Higher mortgage rates, Craig's tour to GOP turf, paper fishing licenses
Plus: See how much key candidates for Congress have raised so far View this email as a [web page](#) Access vikings logo MORNING HOT DISH Access Vikings logo MORNING HOT DISH By Janet Moore ### Higher...
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April 17, 2025 at 4:12 PM
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Read about Keri Heintzeman's win in the GOP primary for Eichorn's seat in the @startribune.com political newsletter Hot Dish. Plus: Minnesota Senate president has blurred line between legislative and legal work for years.
By Ryan Faircloth
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Hot Dish: Keri Heintzeman wins GOP primary for Eichorn's seat
Plus: MN Senate president blurs line between legislative and legal work View this email as a [web page](#) Access vikings logo MORNING HOT DISH Access Vikings logo MORNING HOT DISH By Ryan Faircloth #...
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April 16, 2025 at 3:01 PM
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A @startribune.com review of Champion’s past bills and legal clients found additional connections between his legislative and legal work.
By Ryan Faircloth and Allison Kite
www.startribune.com/minnesota-se...
Minnesota Senate president has blurred the line between his legislative and legal business for years
Sen. Bobby Joe Champion, an attorney, has pushed for funding for organizations run by past legal clients. He also represented a nonprofit he had secured state funding for.
www.startribune.com
April 15, 2025 at 8:57 PM
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Read about the GOP field battling in today's primary to replace Justin Eichorn in the @startribune.com political newsletter Hotdish. Plus: 100s show up in Lakeville for Angie Craig town hall.
By Briana Bierschbach
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Hot Dish: Crowded GOP field vies to replace Eichorn
Plus: Hundreds show up to DFL Lakeville town hall View this email as a [web page](#) Access vikings logo MORNING HOT DISH Access Vikings logo MORNING HOT DISH By Briana Bierschbach ### Crowded GOP fie...
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April 15, 2025 at 3:31 PM
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Read how Minnesota's blackout license plates are a hit in today's @startribune.com political newsletter Hot Dish. Plus: Another Southwest light-rail audit draws the wrath of legislators.
Created by Ryan Faircloth
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Hot Dish: Minnesota's blackout license plates are a hit
Plus: Another SW light-rail audit draws wrath from lawmakers View this email as a [web page](#) Access vikings logo MORNING HOT DISH Access Vikings logo MORNING HOT DISH By Ryan Faircloth ### Minnesot...
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April 9, 2025 at 5:27 PM
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MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell says he may run for Minnesota governor — even though he’s living in Texas
By Ryan Faircloth
www.startribune.com/mypillow-ceo...
MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell says he may run for Minnesota governor — even though he’s living in Texas
Records show Lindell has recently lived in Lufkin, Texas, and been registered to vote in the Lone Star State since early 2023. In a January court filing, Lindell is described as “a Texas citizen.”
www.startribune.com
April 3, 2025 at 10:04 PM
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Emmer cheers on tariffs, Trump’s second term during first telephone town hall
By Sydney Kashiwagi
www.startribune.com/emmer-cheers...
Emmer cheers on tariffs, Trump’s second term during first telephone town hall
All four Republicans have now held town halls this year, however, all of them have been conducted virtually.
www.startribune.com
April 3, 2025 at 7:32 PM
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We've got tariffs, miners, the return-to-office order and a James Beard Award for a Minnesota congresswoman to get to in today's Hot Dish newsletter.
Crafted by Briana Bierschbach
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Hot Dish: Tim Walz vs. Elon Musk
Plus: GOP legislators back Sen. Klobuchar's tariff resolution View this email as a [web page](#) Access vikings logo MORNING HOT DISH Access Vikings logo MORNING HOT DISH By Briana Bierschbach ### Tim...
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April 3, 2025 at 3:23 PM