Minnesota opens early voting

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota voters on Friday became some of the first in the country to cast ballots in the presidential primaries as early voting began for the state’s Super Tuesday contest.

Eligible Minnesota voters can now vote at county courthouses across the state, and early voting stations in some cities, and they can also request absentee ballots for the March 3 primary. But the votes won’t be counted until primary night.

Fifteen candidates are on the Democratic ballot, even though some already have dropped out of the race. The GOP ballot lists only President Donald Trump, though write-in votes are allowed. It’s Minnesota’s first presidential primary since 1992 after years of using precinct caucuses to kick off the process of selecting national convention delegates.

Supporters of Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s presidential campaign had early voting events scheduled across the state Friday. And Klobuchar was due to appear at a rally Friday night at the First Avenue nightclub in downtown Minneapolis with Gov. Tim Walz, Sen. Tina Smith and U.S. Rep. Angie Craig.

Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar was holding get-out-the-vote rallies in Minneapolis for Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Voters must request either a Democratic or Republican ballot, and their names will be shared with the state’s major parties.

Regulators OK gas power plant

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — State regulators have approved plans for a $700 million power plant on the shores of Lake Superior despite conservationists’ concerns that the facility will harm the environment.

The Wisconsin State Journal reports that the state Public Service Commission voted 2-1 on Thursday to approve a permit for the Nemadji Trail Energy Center in Superior. The plant will be jointly owned by La Crosse-based Dairyland Power Cooperative and Duluth, Minnesota-based Minnesota Power. Plans call for the plant to use natural gas to produce 625 megawatts’ worth of power.

The utilities argue that the plant will help them move away from coal-fired power generation. But environmental groups insist the companies should find cheaper and cleaner options than a plant that will produce millions of tons of heat-trapping gases. The Sierra Club said the plant will be “an environmental and economic disaster.”

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources also has expressed concerns about the plant’s impacts, including erosion, wetland loss and groundwater depletion.