Walker Orenstein, MinnPost

Walker Orenstein

MinnPost

Minneapolis, MN, United States

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Recent:
  • Unknown
Past:
  • MinnPost
  • Tacoma News Tribune
  • TriCityHerald
  • The Seattle Times
  • The Olympian
  • Govtech.com
  • Officer.com
  • Bellingham Herald
  • The Columbian
  • StarNewsOnline

Past articles by Walker:

Democrats wrestle with studying ‘advanced’ nuclear energy in wake of Minnesota carbon-free bill

The research might be something of an olive branch from Democrats to minority Republicans, who lambasted the DFL for refusing to lift a ban on new nuclear plants in recent carbon-free legislation. → Read More

The Minnesota legislative races to watch in 2022

The DFL has been losing support in northern Minnesota, and court-determined redistricting has changed the political map. A MinnPost analysis shows these 20 races are the ones to watch in 2022. → Read More

Chalking tires, video surveillance in dispute over residency in GOP-held Senate district

Primary opponent's former campaign manager says he suspected Republican state Sen. Gene Dornink wasn't living in the district and went to investigate, leading to a petition with the Minnesota Supreme Court. → Read More

Energy deal with bipartisan support is a no go with Minnesota Legislature unable to pass a budget

In total, the deal struck over the energy budget would have spent about $46.5 million from the state’s general fund over the next three years and another $36 million from the Renewable Development Account → Read More

Who’s running for the Minnesota Legislature in 2022

See who’s running in each of Minnesota’s House and Senate districts. → Read More

Court of Appeals rescinds key PolyMet permit, says project must get new groundwater analysis

The ruling wasn’t a total victory for mine opponents, however. The court ruled in favor of PolyMet and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on several other issues. → Read More

Why Minnesota lawmakers — and members of the public — can carry guns almost everywhere at the state Capitol complex

Though lawmakers and the general public once had to notify the state Department of Public Safety when they had a gun at the Capitol complex, the Legislature got rid of that requirement years ago. → Read More

Could fish farming take off in Minnesota? And should it?

While some are concerned with environmental dangers of aquaculture, others see the industry as a promising one for Minnesota. → Read More

Poll finds support among Minnesota voters for Clean Cars rule — and Line 3

Public views on the issues may not be as sharply partisan as one might expect. → Read More

Coronavirus in Minnesota: state sees uptick in new cases, hospitalizations

The Minnesota Department of Health reports the state added 1,535 new COVID-19 cases in the seven days between July 14 and July 20, for an average of 219 new cases per day. → Read More

In a session with few big legislative achievements, Minnesota lawmakers pass a ‘significant’ energy conservation bill

The legislation updates Minnesota’s Conservation Improvement Program, which requires utilities to cut energy consumption in the name of efficiency, savings and addressing climate change. → Read More

Coronavirus in Minnesota: Duluth, Rochester drop mask mandates

MDH reports 40.6 percent of Minnesota's population — 51.2 percent of those age 16 and older— have completed a full vaccine series. → Read More

How far are GOP legislators willing to go to stop Walz’s ‘Clean Cars’ rules?

While Republicans have walked back from their demand that the state kill the new auto emissions standards, they now insist that a two-year delay in implementing them is key to any budget deal. → Read More

What to know about the latest rollback of COVID-19 restrictions in Minnesota

How the three-step rollback announced by Gov. Tim Walz on Thursday will work. → Read More

Coronavirus in Minnesota: state reports 6 cases of variant first seen in India

The Minnesota Department of Health reports that 2,589,032 people — or roughly 46.5 percent of the state population — have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. → Read More

The daily coronavirus update: 7 more deaths; Minnesota to resume Johnson & Johnson vaccinations

The Johnson & Johnson shots will now be accompanied with a warning about a rare side effect causing blood clots. → Read More

Why some of the Twin Cities most affluent neighborhoods are included in an effort to vaccinate ‘underserved and vulnerable populations’

The ZIP codes eligible for the mass COVID-19 vaccination site at the state fairgrounds include many neighborhoods where lower-income people make up a large share of the population. But they also include parts of places long associated with affluence. → Read More

The daily coronavirus update: 7 more deaths; average positivity rate at 3.9 percent

Minnesota is on pace to have its least-deadly month since September. → Read More

What to watch for on election night in Minnesota

From bellwether Legislature races to congressional district vote totals, here are the things MinnPost writers will be paying attention to as Minnesota starts counting votes Tuesday. → Read More

Coronavirus in Minnesota: 10 more deaths, 480 new cases

According to CDC data updated Monday afternoon, there have been 36 deaths in Minnesota for every 100,000 people, which is the 27th highest rate among states. → Read More