Author Archives: Kevin Featherly

Kevin Featherly, who joined BridgeTower Media in mid-2016, is a journalist and former freelance writer who has covered politics, law, business, technology and popular culture for publications and websites in the Twin Cities and nationally since the mid-1990s.

Drazkowski: Let’s go home

Kevin Featherly February 18, 2020

Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, argues for his first-day motion to adjourn the 2020 legislative session sine die. “After all,” he said in a swipe at House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, “it would give our one lobbyist-legislator more time to do his work.” (Staff photo: Kevin Featherly)

Save citizens from lawmakers, says upstart caucus leader.

In the Hopper: Published v. unpublished; matter of trust; renter’s rights

Kevin Featherly February 14, 2020

Kari Dziedzic, Kelly Moller, Mark Johnson, Ruth Richardson, Scott Newman

Minnesota State Bar Association has chosen just three bills as priorities for the year. Of those, it really hopes to pass only two.

Leaders address lawyerly topics

Kevin Featherly February 14, 2020

Minnesota leaders gather for Forum News Service’s annual pre-session briefing on Feb. 5: House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park; Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-Nisswa; Gov. Tim Walz; Deputy House Minority Leader Anne Neu, R-North Branch; Senate Minority Leader Susan Kent, DFL-Woodbury. (Staff photo: Kevin Featherly)

Annual forum tackles guns, harassment, constitution.

Special Retort: Impeachment of the president

Kevin Featherly February 13, 2020

President Donald Trump holds up a newspaper with a headline that reads “Trump acquitted” as he speaks in the East Room of the White House on Feb. 6. (AP photo)

How do you think history will come to regard the impeachment of President Donald John Trump?

Debating unpublished opinions

Kevin Featherly February 12, 2020

A 2016 Bench & Bar magazine article by state Supreme Court Associate Justice David Lillehaug urged the state to repeal the law as a clear separation-of-powers violation. Lillehaug also pushed for more published and precedential opinions. (AP file photo: Star Tribune)

Long-simmering issue could come to a head in 2020 session.

Hemp farmer Hummel settles federal lawsuit

Kevin Featherly February 12, 2020

A post on Luis Miguel Hummel’s public Facebook page shows him giving a thumb’s up in front of his thriving hemp crop. (Submitted photo)

Agreement puts ‘Lulu Magoo’ out of business.

Bar Buzz: It’s official—Zerwas is a lobbyist

Kevin Featherly February 12, 2020

Former state Rep. Nick Zerwas, R-Elk River, is officially a law firm’s lobbyist.

Two bills take on primary voter privacy

Kevin Featherly February 11, 2020

Secretary of State Steve Simon speaks to reporters Wednesday about a bill that he says will protect primary voters’ privacy. Standing with him is House File 3068’s author, Rep. Ray Dehn-DFL-Minneapolis (left), Sen. Jim Abeler, R-Anoka (center background) and Rep. Mike Nelson, DFL-Brooklyn Park. Senate author Sen. Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope, and several others also were present, but are not pictured. (Staff photo: Kevin Featherly)

Scott wants to scotch party-declaration requirement.

Draft proposal would regulate use of facial recognition

Kevin Featherly February 7, 2020

Cass Weiland of the group Restore the 4th Minnesota testifies before the Subcommittee on Data Practices on Jan. 30. Kurtis Hannah, left, is another member of the pro-Fourth Amendment advocacy group. (Staff photo: Kevin Featherly)

Members of the joint House-Senate advisory panel mused over everything from law enforcement’s use of facial recognition and Chinese gait analysis to a Pentagon laser technology.

Deep dive into race, prison toll

Kevin Featherly February 6, 2020

Hennepin County District Court Judge Tanya Bransford spoke to lawmakers Jan. 29 at a joint House Public Safety/Judiciary committee hearing. The judge described steps that Minnesota’s courts have taken to alleviate racial biases and disparities in the justice system. (Staff photo: Kevin Featherly)

Lawmakers hear 7 hours of testimony over two days.