Hot dish 10.09.24

By Ryan Faircloth

Good morning. Our Star Tribune political team hosted our first politics Q&A event at Angry Inch Brewing in Lakeville last night. We had a great discussion about the election, journalism and changes happening at the now-Minnesota Star Tribune. Thank you to the terrific audience of more than a few dozen curious Minnesotans — including Lakeville Mayor Luke Hellier — who showed up to hear from us and ask thoughtful questions. We’ll host another politics Q&A event in St. Cloud next Tuesday, so come by if you’re in the area.

Time for the news.

At last week’s vice-presidential debate, Gov. Tim Walz gave a primetime shout-out to a Minnesota solar manufacturing company, praising it as the largest solar manufacturing plant in North America. That wasn’t true, making it another one of the governor’s misstatements on the campaign trail. My colleague Walker Orenstein writes that Heliene Inc.’s plant in the small city of Mountain Iron is big enough to rate as one of the country’s biggest producers of solar modules, but it’s eclipsed by several facilities.

Martin Pochtaruk, president of Heliene, said he received a flood of text messages “like when it’s your birthday” when Walz mentioned his company on national television. He said he appreciated the attention Walz gave his company even though the governor overstated its size.

“We might be the oldest,” Pochtaruk said Monday. “What I would say, tongue in cheek, is we are the largest to [Walz] and that’s all that counts.”

HURRICANE: Walz signed an executive order authorizing the Minnesota National Guard to give emergency assistance to Florida ahead of the anticipated arrival of Hurricane Milton, my colleague Tim Harlow reports. The hurricane, which was a category 4 storm as of early Tuesday morning, was expected to make landfall Wednesday night or early Thursday.

“Minnesota will provide every resource we can to support communities across the south that have been devastated this hurricane season,” Walz said. “In this time of crisis, Minnesota’s first responders have demonstrated unyielding dedication. Their efforts are making a critical difference.”

PARK RANGER: Walz ordered flags flown at half-staff Tuesday to honor park ranger Kevin Grossheim, who died on Sunday trying to rescue a family at Voyageurs National Park.

“Kevin Grossheim was a dedicated ranger and public servant, known for his unwavering commitment to helping others,” Walz said in a statement. “Minnesota mourns this tragic loss, and requests all flags be lowered in recognition of Ranger Grossheim’s service and sacrifice.”

SUPREME COURT: The Minnesota Supreme Court considered questions about gender equality and public nudity on Tuesday in the case of a woman who was convicted for exposing her breasts in a Rochester gas station parking lot, my colleague Louis Krauss reports.

Eloisa Plancarte was charged and later convicted of indecent exposure in 2021 after police said they found her exposing her breasts in a Kwik Trip parking lot. Police also found cocaine in her purse, and she was charged with fifth-degree drug possession. Plancarte was sentenced to 90 days in jail for misdemeanor indecent exposure and given a stay of adjudication for the drug charge.

Adam Lozeau, Plancarte’s public defender, argued before the state Supreme Court that his client shouldn’t have been convicted because women’s breasts aren’t considered “private parts” within the indecent exposure statute.

“She didn’t expose a prohibited part of her body, so her conviction in particular has to be reversed,” Lozeau said.

CANNABIS: Rochester officials are punting the local regulation of cannabis businesses to Olmsted County, giving it responsibility for licensing and enforcement, colleague Trey Mewes writes. The move comes as cities and counties across Minnesota prepare for dispensaries to begin opening next year.

FLANAGAN: Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan purchased a pheasant hunting license this week and shared that she just became a first-time gun owner, the Pioneer Press reports. She said she’s hunted before but never with her own gun, and needed something lighter. Flanagan bought a 20-gauge Benelli shotgun in preparation for the governor’s pheasant opener in Sleepy Eye this weekend.

WHERE’S WALZ: Walz has no public events scheduled on the official side Wednesday.

Keep us posted at hotdish@startribune.com.