Minnesota Midday: Hermantown Data Center, Union Depot Evacuation and Early Voting Record

Hermantown approves a Google data center, a fight forces a Union Depot evacuation in St. Paul, and Minnesota sets an early voting record.

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STORY 1

Hermantown approves Google data center despite protestsconfirmed

The Hermantown City Council voted unanimously late Friday, October 30, to approve a special use permit and a development agreement for a 1.7 million-square-foot Google data center on a site just outside Duluth, after a meeting originally set for Monday was shut down by protesters. Most public speakers opposed it; supporters cited jobs, tax revenue and a $210 million decommissioning agreement. Three lawsuits are pending.

Sources (3)

STORY 2

Fight forces evacuation of St. Paul's Union Depotdeveloping

Police were called to St. Paul's Union Depot around 9 p.m. Saturday after a fight at a private ticketed event, the Bundle Halal Fall Market. Reports of possible gunfire led to a large evacuation. Police say they found no evidence of a shooting, and report no injuries and no arrests. Green Line service at the Union Depot stops was briefly stopped and has reopened. Organizers ended the event early and apologized.

Sources (2)

STORY 3

Minnesota sets early voting record before Election Dayconfirmed

Minnesota's Secretary of State's Office says officials had accepted 728,961 absentee ballots, 483,520 in person and 245,441 by mail, as of Thursday, October 29. That is 61.3 percent above the same point in the 2022 midterm, when the record was 451,992. Early voting ends Monday; Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, and mail ballots must be dropped off before polls close at 8 p.m.

Sources (2)

3 questions · 30 seconds

Quick quiz: did you catch it?

1. How many square feet is the Google data center Hermantown approved?

2. Which St. Paul event was underway when Union Depot was evacuated?

3. Early voting in Minnesota ends on which day?