Capitol Retort: Arctic blast, cyber slow walk, course Corrections

Kevin Featherly February 7, 2019

A woman dressed for the cold braves frigid sub-zero temperatures as she crosses a street Jan. 31 in downtown Minneapolis as the arctic blast continued. (AP photo: Jim Mone)

Our review of issues in state and national news, with a rotating cast of political people in the know.

In the Hopper: Restrictive covenants, bar mix, data breaches

Kevin Featherly February 6, 2019

The 1968 Fair Housing Act legislatively barred restrictive covenants in housing. In this photo, President Lyndon B. Johnson presents a souvenir pen to Mr. and Mrs. Lupe Arzola after signing the act Aug. 1, 1968, in Washington. The couple were residents of the oldest federally subsidized public housing project in Austin, Texas. (AP file photo)

The Minnesota House unanimously voted to allow homeowners with restrictive covenants written into their properties’ historical abstracts to attach an affidavit forswearing that antiquated segregationist practice.

Breaking the Ice: Finding humanity, giving voice in criminal defense

Todd Nelson February 1, 2019

A clerkship at Halberg Criminal Defense sealed Christina Zauhar’s commitment to a criminal defense practice. (Submitted photo)

Christina Zauhar, an attorney at Halberg Criminal Defense, said she "almost exclusively read[s] fictional crime novels."

Capitol Retort: ERA’s return, judges’ pay, ‘Bird Box’ challenge

Kevin Featherly January 31, 2019

Our review of issues in state and national news, with a rotating cast of political people in the know.

In the Hopper: ‘Gender-based Violence Prevention Week’ edition

Kevin Featherly January 30, 2019

Jenny Teeson, of Andover, offers her support of House File 15, a bill that does away with a marital and cohabitation exception in the state’s sexual assault statutes. The bill’s author, Rep. Zack Stephenson, DFL-Coon Rapids, looks on. (Staff photo: Kevin Featherly)

In this special In the Hopper edition, we focus entirely on that subject.

Breaking the Ice: Personal loss shapes approach to practice

Todd Nelson January 25, 2019

In her practice, Alyssa Lawson appreciates learning about new technologies and “affecting real change in intellectual property law.” (Submitted photo)

Robins Kaplan associate Alyssa Lawson says being a “risk evaluator” is an important part of her complex technology litigation practice representing Fortune 500 and technology companies in Minnesota and nationally.

Capitol Retort: Shutdown, cannabis and a compromising quip

Kevin Featherly January 24, 2019

Our review of issues in state and national news, with a rotating cast of political people in the know.

In the Hopper: Blaha’s blues; dueling pot bills; a new ERA

Kevin Featherly January 23, 2019

State Auditor Julie Blaha speaks to the Senate State Government Finance and Policy and Elections Committee on Jan. 17. (Staff photo: Kevin Featherly)

Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer, R-Big Lake, has greeted new State Auditor Julie Blaha with a punitive bill that would send hundreds of thousands of dollars from Blaha’s budget to the three Minnesota counties sued by her predecessor.