Hot off the press – FIVE days notice, including the weekend. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MEETING, because if they need a planning meeting “regarding implementation of the new Chapter 216I governing energy infrastructure permitting,” well, could we have a clearer showing of a need for RULES? Rules are what’s implemented to deal with the statutes. DOH!

They’re probably going to round up all the usual suspects to come to an agreement on how all, ALL, of these routing and siting dockets will be handled (without rules, without a rulemaking) and ram them all through.

This notice includes TL-26-135 which is the transmission across Hwy. 52 for the Google Echo Zone data center in Pine Island, and TL-25-112 which is the Iron Range-St. Louis Co.-Arrowhead transmission docket, which has a little link that serves the Google data center in Hermantown.

This should be entertaining at the very least!

Oh, but wait… a WTAF follow up after receiving a panelist invite:

Instead, they’re asking “others” NOT to participate.

It took a while to find the indictment — so many articles about it but no links?!?! Here it is:

Both of my parents enlisted to fight fascism. “Teach your children well??” That’s one lesson they had right.

The DOJ’s press release:

15 Members of Direct Action Minnesota, a Minneapolis-Based Direct Action Group with Antifa Ties, Indicted

Antifa my fat ass… this is so disgusting, infuriating, disheartening, MOTIVATING!

DOJ claims against one of the 15 is a post where he urges folks to “Become Ungovernable.” DOJ seems not to know or care about Trump in 2024:

Anyone remember the Constitution? Here’s a refresher:

Constitution of the United States

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ACLU-MN Statement on DOJ’s Charges Against 15 Individuals Stemming from Operation Metro Surge

June 16, 2026 4:40 pm

This morning, the Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office and Homeland Security announced charges against 15 individuals stemming from Operation Metro Surge.

The ACLU of Minnesota is monitoring and investigating the situation. While we do not yet have all of the information about these charges, the criminal prosecution of observers and protestors should be carefully scrutinized for retaliatory motives. Prosecution of a small number of people as punishment for exercising their First Amendment rights can chill people from exercising those same rights.

Given this administration’s history of misrepresenting the facts regarding their conduct toward observers and protestors during Operation Metro Surge, Minnesotans should demand transparency and reserve judgement until we fully understand the facts in this case.

“Minnesotans have the right to observe, document, and peacefully protest federal overreach into our state and abuses against our neighbors,” said ACLU-MN Staff Attorney Catherine Ahlin-Halverson. “We brought Tincher v. Mullin to halt the government’s unlawful policy of retaliation against observers and protesters for exercising their First Amendment rights. We will continue to use every available means to defend people whose liberties are threatened and whose voices are suppressed.”

“It’s critical that Minnesotans know and are prepared to exercise their rights,” said ACLU-MN Staff Attorney Alicia Granse. “You have a right to refuse to speak with federal law enforcement, to refuse them entry without a warrant, and to have an attorney present.”

And… considering DOJ is throwing around “antifa” is that an admission that it’s actually an anti-FASCISM conspiracy?

Protests follow after 15 Minnesotans charges with anti-ICE conspiracy

Just released, the environmental review scoping decision for the “PowerOn Midwest” transmission project, PUC docket CN-25-117. This is what will and will not be covered in their environmental review “lite.” Note: “Unless a party, a participant, or a Commissioner files an objection to this decision within ten days of receiving it, it will become the Order of the full Commission under Minn. Stat. § 216A.03,
subd. 8 (b).” Received June 9th — Objections due June 19th! Objections must be SPECIFIC.

The first Prehearing Conference for “PowerOn Midwest” was June 1, where we discussed many of the specifics of the process for this project. All those who had petitioned for intervention were granted intervention — that means North Route Group and NO765MN intervening in opposition, the ONLY ones opposing thus far. “Clean Energy Organizations” Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, Fresh Energy, Clean Grid Alliance, and Sierra Club are intervening in support; MISO in support of their project, DOH; and LIUNA! in support for union work.

The schedule for “PowerOn Midwest,” PUC docket CN-25-117, has been formally ordered by the Administrative Law Judge:

Here are the specifics of the schedule:

And after all that, there’s “Exceptions” to the ALJ Report — a line by line and narrative critique, then a Commission meeting a month or more after that. Then after a Commission decision, a “Motion for Reconsideration” 20 days later, then another Commission meeting to address Reconsideration, and then there’s a trek off to the Appellate Court.

Lots to put on the calendar, and some time to get “public participation” arranged!