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Former Minnesota Governor Al Quie dies
Quie was one month away from his 100th birthday.
ST PAUL, Minn. — Former Minnesota Gov. Al Quie, a moderate Republican known for working across the aisle as both governor and as a congressman, has died. He was 99.
Quie died of natural causes late Friday at a senior living community in suburban Wayzata where he had lived for the last 10 years, his son, Joel Quie, told the Associated Press on Saturday. While he had been in declining health in recent months, he still enjoyed meeting and greeting people. At a family gathering two weeks ago, he read aloud to his great-grandchildren from their favorite storybook, his son said. He died just a month shy of his 100th birthday.
“His stature and his energy and his enthusiasm for life was there right to the end,” Joel Quie said.
Albert Harold Quie was born Sept. 18, 1923, on his family’s dairy farm near Dennison in southeastern Minnesota. After serving as a Navy pilot in World War II, he returned home to resume farming. He served a stint in the Minnesota Senate before winning a special election for a vacant congressional seat.
Quie represented southeastern Minnesota’s 1st District in the U.S. House from 1958 to 1979, becoming known for his expertise on education and agriculture. He ran for governor in 1978 and unseated Rudy Perpich in what was dubbed the “Minnesota Massacre,” a bad year for state Democrats. Voter anger had lingered after Gov. Wendell Anderson arranged for Perpich, then his lieutenant governor, to appoint Anderson to the U.S. Senate seat that Walter Mondale gave up in 1976 to become vice president
But Quie’s single term as governor turned rocky amid a deep budget shortfall in the early 1980s, when Democrats controlled the Minnesota Legislature. Amid the bitter divisions of the 1981 and 1982 sessions, he opted not to seek reelection.
In a farewell address at the University of Minnesota in December 1982, Quie decried the growing partisanship in politics but said he remained optimistic about the future of the state and the nation.
“I entered public life with a strong, though still-developing belief in the sanctity of the individual, the centrality of the family, and the compassion and good sense of people in neighborhoods and local communities. I believed that all people have infinite worth, and that all people possess gifts that can be known fully by no one,” he said. “My belief in these ideas gained in strength as the years passed and I better saw their worth, and as they withstood the doubts of skeptics and the strain of great change. Nothing … has successfully challenged my early — and lasting — belief in them.”
Quie, a man of deep Lutheran faith, remained active after leaving office, serving as a local and national leader of the Christian ministry Prison Fellowship. In 2006, he led a commission that recommended steps to keep the state’s judiciary independent and nonpartisan after some Republicans sought to bring politics into judicial elections.
He angered fellow Republicans in 2010 when he endorsed centrist Independence Party candidate Tom Horner for governor over conservative legislator Tom Emmer, who is now majority whip in the U.S. House. GOP leaders banned Quie and 17 other Republicans from party activities for two years.
Joel Quie, a retired Lutheran pastor, said his family used his 99th birthday celebration last year as sort of a dress rehearsal for what they hoped would be his 100th. Current Gov. Tim Walz proclaimed it Al Quie Day. When he turned 97, the former Navy pilot got to fly in an open cockpit plane — albeit with another pilot at the controls. He had been an avid horseman and last rode when he was 1995. His goal was to saddle a horse when he turned 100, his son said.
“God blessed him with incredible resilience and stamina,” his son said. “And he embraced it and lived life to the fullest.”
Walz, a Democrat who held Quie’s congressional seat for 12 years before becoming governor, paid tribute to him Saturday, recalling that he found him “caring, funny, and generous as ever” when he attended his predecessor’s 99th birthday celebration.
“A veteran, a man of faith, and a life-long public servant, Governor Quie had a deep commitment to the betterment of our state and a legacy that extends beyond his time in office,” Walz said in a statement. “His advocacy for education, eliminating discrimination, and rural development demonstrated his unwavering dedication to creating a better life for all Minnesotans.”
Al Quie is survived by five children, 14 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. His wife, Gretchen Quie, died in 2015.
According to Quie’s son Joel, funeral services will be held at Central Lutheran in downtown Minneapolis on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 1:00 p.m.
Governor Walz issued a statement on Saturday morning, saying:
“Gwen and I are remembering the life and work of former Minnesota Governor Al Quie with heavy hearts, but with many fond memories. Just months ago I had the honor of attending a celebration for his 99th birthday, where I thanked him for his mentorship, wisdom, and leadership. He was as caring, funny, and generous as ever.
“A veteran, a man of faith, and a life-long public servant, Governor Quie had a deep commitment to the betterment of our state and a legacy that extends beyond his time in office. His advocacy for education, eliminating discrimination, and rural development demonstrated his unwavering dedication to creating a better life for all Minnesotans.
“Our thoughts are with Governor Quie’s family and friends. May they find comfort in the knowledge that his contributions will be remembered for decades to come.”
Other Minnesota lawmakers posted comments on Twitter/X, remembering the longtime politician.
Rep. Dean Phillips shared a picture taken with Quie in 2018, saying he was a “gentleman and a man of faith and fortitude.”
Congressman Brad Finstad said “Governor Al Quie was a true man of service whose leadership, work ethic, and commitment to faith set a great example for many of us across southern Minnesota.”
And Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan said the former governor embodied the spirit of public service and selflessness. “Using his deep faith as a bedrock, Governor Quie led with dignity and respect for his fellow Minnesotans and worked across the aisle to make our state and our country better for all of us.”
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The “Westopolis” name is meant to highlight the cities’ vibrancy and proximity to Minneapolis.
The marketing and tourism organization formerly known as Discover St. Louis Park has rebranded this fall with a bold, new name:
The organization, which launched in 2011 and grew to also incorporate Golden Valley in 2017, began using the “Westopolis” name this month. According to Westopolis President and CEO Becky Bakken, the name is designed to highlight the vibrancy and urban character of St. Louis Park and Golden Valley, which both border Minneapolis and have a combined population of nearly 75,000.
“A lot is behind the name,” Bakken said. “Westopolis just kept speaking to us. In this process, we really leaned into the fact that we are the closest neighbor to downtown Minneapolis. To be honest, we are closer to downtown than parts of Minneapolis are. And it really felt like our primary differentiator.”
Bakken said the change to “Westopolis” is also meant to help the organization communicate better with event planners and out-of-town vendors, who sometimes confuse “St. Louis Park” with St. Louis, MO. Between St. Louis Park and Golden Valley, the cities boast nine hotels with nearly 1,500 combined rooms, and the tourism organization now known as Westopolis plays a key role in drawing visitors and filling those rooms.
“When people are looking for a place to go, that aren’t from this area, they know the big city. They know Minneapolis. We wanted to make sure they knew how close we were to that, and once they’re here they discover all the other things,” Bakken said. “The name is unique, it’s different. It’s not on a map, we understand that. We think the name is edgy, and when we’re working with planners, they’re gonna lean in and say, ‘tell me more about this place.'”
This week, Westopolis is enjoying a nice boost from the Twin Cities Film Fest, a staple of St. Louis Park that draws talent and crew members to the city’s West End from across the country. It’s the kind of annual event that Westopolis would love to see more of in the coming years.
“The West End was sort of the rationale for why Discover St. Louis Park — and now Westopolis — exists. It’s this great area that is a real driver for visitors,” Bakken said. “But both communities have their thing. Golden Valley has a big chunk of Theodore Wirth that we love to claim, and Brookview that has a lot of outdoor activities, so we really like to lean into this urban oasis.”
To unveil the new brand, Westopolis rolled out a website and held a launch party this fall.
“Change is change, and that’s always interesting,” Bakken said, “but mostly people are really excited about the new name and we’re ready to market the new name.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey questioned the legality of the new measure while issuing his veto on Wednesday.
MINNEAPOLIS — The City of Minneapolis will move ahead with new carbon fees after a contentious back and forth at City Hall concluded with the council overriding the mayor’s veto.
The new fees, which target carbon emissions from city businesses, will be implemented on July 1, 2025, according to the council.
Minneapolis already has a pollution fee system, known as the Pollution Control Annual Registration or PCAR. The fees go into the city’s Green Cost Share program, helping pay the costs companies incur bringing down their emissions.
The current PCAR system covers emissions of other air pollutants, including volatile organic compounds, heavy particulates, and sulfur oxides, nitrous oxides, lead, and carbon monoxide. Companies are required to report their emissions levels to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, which, in turn, charges fees of $100 per ton.
The City Council voted Oct. 2 to add carbon dioxide to the list. The resolution seeks to impose a $452 per ton fee for carbon dioxide.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey questioned the legality of the new measure while issuing his veto on Wednesday.
“I am all on board for PCAR fees—but it’s time the Council stops playing games and follows the processes in place to enact lasting change,” said Mayor Jacob Frey, in a statement to KARE.
Before his veto was overridden, Frey had told KARE that if the measure were to move forward, companies hit with the fees would likely sue the city and win.
Council Member Robin Wonsley, who co-authored the measure, took to X (formerly Twitter) to respond to Frey’s veto on Wednesday night.
Wisconsin law enforcement said Katrina Baur, and her partner, Jesse Vang, are facing charges in connection with 3-year-old Elijah Vue’s death, including obstruction.
TWO RIVERS, Wis. — About a month after 3-year-old Elijah Vue’s remains were recovered from a private property in Wisconsin, state authorities announced Thursday that charges have been filed against the boy’s mother and her partner.
Wisconsin law enforcement said Katrina Baur, and her partner, Jesse Vang, are facing charges in connection with 3-year-old Elijah Vue’s death, including obstruction.
Vue went missing in February and it wasn’t until September that his body was recovered and identified.
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