THE LATEST: St. Paul bar owners who paid $2,500 to serve liquor until 4 a.m. during the Republican National Convention will be getting all but $50 of that money back.

The St. Paul City Council voted 6-0 on Wednesday to approve a $2,450 refund for the 11 bars who received late-night licenses.

NO VIOLATIONS: The condition for the reduced rate was that no violations happened during those four nights. None occurred, according to the city's Department of Safety and Inspections.

PUSH TO CUT FEE: The issue of how much to charge bar owners who wanted to stay open until 4 a.m. during the convention was debated over the past several months.

The week before the convention began, the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, bar owners and Mayor Chris Coleman's office pushed to reduce the fee.

Council President Kathy Lantry was absent Wednesday.

CHRIS HAVENS