By: Cody Nelson

Hundreds of anxious onlookers filled Minneapolis City Hall well past its usual open hours early Thursday morning, waiting for a midnight wedding.

After making vows 12 years ago, Margaret Miles and Cathy ten Broeke finally made their marriage official at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday.

The couple was one of many that celebrated the first day of legal same-sex marriage in Minnesota. As of Aug. 1, same-sex couples can legally marry and weddings held in other states will be recognized in Minnesota.

“It's our constitutional right, our moral right, our American right to marry the person we love,” said Gov. Mark Dayton, who spoke to the crowd before the 42 scheduled ceremonies began.

Friends, family members, elected officials and members of the general public lined the hallways of City Hall to watch the state's first same-sex couples get married by officiant Mayor R.T. Rybak.

University writing studies professor Laura Gurak married her partner in New York last August. The couple celebrated legal recognition of their marriage with friends at a Minnesotans United party at the Wilde Roast Café on Wednesday night.

Gurak said the “friendly” campaign to legalize same-sex marriage helped it go from being possibly banned to legal in just a few months.

“It’s been an incredible year,” she said. “Like running a marathon, once you’re up to speed, you kind of keep going.”

The University has been a “fantastic” work environment for gay employees, Gurak said. University employees with same-sex spouses will now be eligible for the same health benefits, also effective Aug. 1.

Before the ceremonies began at City Hall, the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus performed, all wearing black T-shirts that read “Marry Me.”

John MacLean, 60, sang with the choir to a jubilant crowd.

“It’s finally nice to feel equality with other couples,” he said.

When MacLean came out to his family, he said his father didn’t talk to him for years. Although society’s perception of gay people is improving, MacLean said, there is still room to improve.

“I long for the day when people don’t bat an eye at gay couples,” he said.

Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, attended the ceremonies to watch two of her friends get married.

“What an amazing night,” she said. “We all expected [legal same-sex marriage] to come, but nobody expected it to come this quickly.”

Steff Yorek, a University staff member, legally married her wife this year in Washington. Having her marriage recognized is a big change, she said, and one that's hard to process.

“I came out in 1991, and I said for years and years that this day was never going to come,” she said. “I’m just excited and relieved.”

Yorek and her wife, Jess Sundin, weren't legally married until March. But Yorek said they consider their anniversary to be March 24, 2001 — the date of their commitment ceremony.

This month, she said she'll be attending a few weddings for friends, many of whom are getting married on the anniversary of their commitment ceremony.

“That’s the funny thing, right? Yes,” she said, “the state is recognizing our marriage today, but we got married in 2001.”

Thursday's new law change marks a rapid shift in policy for the state.

Last fall, Minnesota voters were the first in the nation to strike down a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. By the spring, a bill to legalize same-sex marriage was gaining momentum in the state Legislature. Dayton signed it into law in May.

Kahn represents neighborhoods around the University of Minnesota and was a supporter of the bill legalizing same-sex marriage.

Although some in the state are still opposed to same-sex marriage, Kahn said, “they'll get over it,” adding that she hasn't personally heard much opposition.

After the first two wedding ceremonies, Minneapolis native Jeremy Messersmith and others sang the Beatles’ classic song “All You Need is Love,” which kicked off the next 65 marriage ceremonies that continued into Tuesday morning.

For more on same-sex marriages in Minnesota, pick up Wednesday’s Minnesota Daily.

–Emma Nelson and Rebecca Harrington contributed to this report. 

By: Cody Nelson

Hundreds of anxious onlookers filled Minneapolis City Hall well past its usual open hours early Thursday morning, waiting for a midnight wedding.

After making vows 12 years ago, Margaret Miles and Cathy ten Broeke finally made their marriage official at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday.

The couple was one of many that celebrated the first day of legal same-sex marriage in Minnesota. As of Aug. 1, same-sex couples can legally marry and weddings held in other states will be recognized in Minnesota.

“It's our constitutional right, our moral right, our American right to marry the person we love,” said Gov. Mark Dayton, who spoke to the crowd before the 42 scheduled ceremonies began.

Friends, family members, elected officials and members of the general public lined the hallways of City Hall to watch the state's first same-sex couples get married by officiant Mayor R.T. Rybak.

University writing studies professor Laura Gurak married her partner in New York last August. The couple celebrated legal recognition of their marriage with friends at a Minnesotans United party at the Wilde Roast Café on Wednesday night.

Gurak said the “friendly” campaign to legalize same-sex marriage helped it go from being possibly banned to legal in just a few months.

“It’s been an incredible year,” she said. “Like running a marathon, once you’re up to speed, you kind of keep going.”

The University has been a “fantastic” work environment for gay employees, Gurak said. University employees with same-sex spouses will now be eligible for the same health benefits, also effective Aug. 1.

Before the ceremonies began at City Hall, the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus performed, all wearing black T-shirts that read “Marry Me.”

John MacLean, 60, sang with the choir to a jubilant crowd.

“It’s finally nice to feel equality with other couples,” he said.

When MacLean came out to his family, he said his father didn’t talk to him for years. Although society’s perception of gay people is improving, MacLean said, there is still room to improve.

“I long for the day when people don’t bat an eye at gay couples,” he said.

Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, attended the ceremonies to watch two of her friends get married.

“What an amazing night,” she said. “We all expected [legal same-sex marriage] to come, but nobody expected it to come this quickly.”

Steff Yorek, a University staff member, legally married her wife this year in Washington. Having her marriage recognized is a big change, she said, and one that's hard to process.

“I came out in 1991, and I said for years and years that this day was never going to come,” she said. “I’m just excited and relieved.”

Yorek and her wife, Jess Sundin, weren't legally married until March. But Yorek said they consider their anniversary to be March 24, 2001 — the date of their commitment ceremony.

This month, she said she'll be attending a few weddings for friends, many of whom are getting married on the anniversary of their commitment ceremony.

“That’s the funny thing, right? Yes,” she said, “the state is recognizing our marriage today, but we got married in 2001.”

Thursday's new law change marks a rapid shift in policy for the state.

Last fall, Minnesota voters were the first in the nation to strike down a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. By the spring, a bill to legalize same-sex marriage was gaining momentum in the state Legislature. Dayton signed it into law in May.

Kahn represents neighborhoods around the University of Minnesota and was a supporter of the bill legalizing same-sex marriage.

Although some in the state are still opposed to same-sex marriage, Kahn said, “they'll get over it,” adding that she hasn't personally heard much opposition.

After the first two wedding ceremonies, Minneapolis native Jeremy Messersmith and others sang the Beatles’ classic song “All You Need is Love,” which kicked off the next 65 marriage ceremonies that continued into Tuesday morning.

For more on same-sex marriages in Minnesota, pick up Wednesday’s Minnesota Daily.

–Emma Nelson and Rebecca Harrington contributed to this report. 

By: Cody Nelson

Congress passed a deal to temporarily lower student loan interest rates Wednesday, affecting thousands of University of Minnesota students who rely on them to pay for school.

The bill ties interest rates on multiple student loans to the financial markets, which will lower rates for many borrowers. But if the economy improves as expected, those rates will rise with it.

For undergraduates taking out subsidized Stafford loans this fall, the plan will bring the interest rate down to 3.9 percent. While tied to the market, the bill caps the rate at 8.25 percent, according to the Associated Press.

The interest rate on subsidized Stafford loans doubled to 6.8 percent on July 1 after a slew of proposals to avoid the rate jump failed in both the House and the Senate.

More than 14,300 University students took out subsidized Stafford loans in 2012 — collectively worth about $54.7 million.

University student and Minnesota Student Legislative Coalition chairman Matt Forstie said the compromised plan is “disappointing” because it’s not “optimal” for students.

“The good part of this is that this deal ensures pretty low rates for students this year before the school year starts,” he said, “but the dark side of this is that it sets us up for a really dangerous situation as soon as three or four years down the road.”

The new plan passed the House 392-31, according to the Associated Press. It was met with opposition from Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, who said he voted against the measure because it will likely increase the cost of school over time.

"We are undercutting the future opportunities of America's children and compromising our economic vitality with the bill passed today," Ellison said in a statement.

The Senate passed its version of the bill on July 24 in an 81-18 vote. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., voted for the bill, which he said was “the best deal possible” in a press release.

“I still believe we need to address college affordability in a comprehensive way,” Franken said in the release, “and I intend to keep working on this issue because students shouldn't be saddled with insurmountable debt when they graduate.”

Mike Schmit, University student and Minnesota Student Association president, said he’s concerned about rates increasing to the maximum 8.25 percent. Schmit, who has taken out subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans to pay for school, agreed this was the best deal Congress could have made right now.

“Personally, I would have liked to have seen an extension of the 3.4 percent subsidized rate because that’s locked in,” he said, “but again, I don’t know if we could have done anything better.”

By: Cody Nelson

Congress passed a deal to temporarily lower student loan interest rates Wednesday, affecting thousands of University of Minnesota students who rely on them to pay for school.

The bill ties interest rates on multiple student loans to the financial markets, which will lower rates for many borrowers. But if the economy improves as expected, those rates will rise with it.

For undergraduates taking out subsidized Stafford loans this fall, the plan will bring the interest rate down to 3.9 percent. While tied to the market, the bill caps the rate at 8.25 percent, according to the Associated Press.

The interest rate on subsidized Stafford loans doubled to 6.8 percent on July 1 after a slew of proposals to avoid the rate jump failed in both the House and the Senate.

More than 14,300 University students took out subsidized Stafford loans in 2012 — collectively worth about $54.7 million.

University student and Minnesota Student Legislative Coalition chairman Matt Forstie said the compromised plan is “disappointing” because it’s not “optimal” for students.

“The good part of this is that this deal ensures pretty low rates for students this year before the school year starts,” he said, “but the dark side of this is that it sets us up for a really dangerous situation as soon as three or four years down the road.”

The new plan passed the House 392-31, according to the Associated Press. It was met with opposition from Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, who said he voted against the measure because it will likely increase the cost of school over time.

"We are undercutting the future opportunities of America's children and compromising our economic vitality with the bill passed today," Ellison said in a statement.

The Senate passed its version of the bill on July 24 in an 81-18 vote. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., voted for the bill, which he said was “the best deal possible” in a press release.

“I still believe we need to address college affordability in a comprehensive way,” Franken said in the release, “and I intend to keep working on this issue because students shouldn't be saddled with insurmountable debt when they graduate.”

Mike Schmit, University student and Minnesota Student Association president, said he’s concerned about rates increasing to the maximum 8.25 percent. Schmit, who has taken out subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans to pay for school, agreed this was the best deal Congress could have made right now.

“Personally, I would have liked to have seen an extension of the 3.4 percent subsidized rate because that’s locked in,” he said, “but again, I don’t know if we could have done anything better.”

By: Cody Nelson

Congress passed a deal to temporarily lower student loan interest rates Wednesday, affecting thousands of University of Minnesota students who rely on them to pay for school.

The bill ties interest rates on multiple student loans to the financial markets, which will lower rates for many borrowers. But if the economy improves as expected, those rates will rise with it.

For undergraduates taking out subsidized Stafford loans this fall, the plan will bring the interest rate down to 3.9 percent. While tied to the market, the bill caps the rate at 8.25 percent, according to the Associated Press.

The interest rate on subsidized Stafford loans doubled to 6.8 percent on July 1 after a slew of proposals to avoid the rate jump failed in both the House and the Senate.

More than 14,300 University students took out subsidized Stafford loans in 2012 — collectively worth about $54.7 million.

University student and Minnesota Student Legislative Coalition chairman Matt Forstie said the compromised plan is “disappointing” because it’s not “optimal” for students.

“The good part of this is that this deal ensures pretty low rates for students this year before the school year starts,” he said, “but the dark side of this is that it sets us up for a really dangerous situation as soon as three or four years down the road.”

The new plan passed the House 392-31, according to the Associated Press. It was met with opposition from Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, who said he voted against the measure because it will likely increase the cost of school over time.

"We are undercutting the future opportunities of America's children and compromising our economic vitality with the bill passed today," Ellison said in a statement.

The Senate passed its version of the bill on July 24 in an 81-18 vote. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., voted for the bill, which he said was “the best deal possible” in a press release.

“I still believe we need to address college affordability in a comprehensive way,” Franken said in the release, “and I intend to keep working on this issue because students shouldn't be saddled with insurmountable debt when they graduate.”

Mike Schmit, University student and Minnesota Student Association president, said he’s concerned about rates increasing to the maximum 8.25 percent. Schmit, who has taken out subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans to pay for school, agreed this was the best deal Congress could have made right now.

“Personally, I would have liked to have seen an extension of the 3.4 percent subsidized rate because that’s locked in,” he said, “but again, I don’t know if we could have done anything better.”

By: Kia Farhang

A University of Minnesota neighborhood is formalizing its liquor policy to avoid potential alcohol issues the light rail could bring.

Prospect Park has negotiated with six local businesses that have liquor licenses in an attempt to avoid attracting the late-night parties and crime it says Dinkytown suffers from.

The neighborhood wants to standardize its policy before the light rail opens next year and attracts more businesses to the area.

Currently, Minneapolis City Council grants businesses liquor licenses based mainly on staff recommendations. A neighborhood can choose to support a restaurant’s bid but doesn’t have the final say in whether the license is granted.

“We don’t have any real power,” said Karen Murdock, Prospect Park East River Road Improvement Association secretary. “[But] you don’t want to start off relationships on the wrong foot.”

Neighborhood representatives have asked restaurants to take a number of proactive measures to prevent binge drinking, a concern many residents have.

Restaurants are encouraged to limit drink specials, happy hours and bar seating, as well as emphasize serving food with any alcoholic beverage.

But at a public meeting Monday, some residents expressed concerns the neighborhood’s liquor policy asks too much of local businesses.

“When I read the policy, I was a little alarmed,” said PPERRIA board member Tamara Johnson.

She said the neighborhood’s practice goes “above and beyond what the city’s asking” by requiring restaurants to make commitments for the future, like promising to never install a bar.

Such requirements will only discourage businesses from opening in the neighborhood, Johnson said.

Neighborhood resident and University alumna Diana Dukich said the current liquor policy doesn’t do its job, because restaurants and bars cater to an older crowd.

“Students are going to binge drink if they want to binge drink,” she said.

For more on neighborhoods’ relative power in community decisions, pick up Wednesday’s Minnesota Daily.

By: Elizabeth Ryan

Listing calorie amounts on chain restaurant menus may not have the power to change people’s eating habits, a new study found.

The Affordable Care Act, when it takes effect in 2014, will require restaurants with more than 20 locations to list calorie amounts on menus and have nutritional information available if customers request it.

But the study, published in the American Journal of Public Health last week, suggests consumers disregard calorie information and choose food for taste and convenience, even if the amounts are posted in obvious locations.

Some campus restaurants at the University of Minnesota have already implemented this rule, but it’s unclear whether students take the calorie amounts posted in places like Jamba Juice and Papa John’s into account when choosing their meals.

At the Papa John’s location in the St. Paul Student Center, calorie amounts appear on the menu board above the counter. A personal cheese or vegetable pizza has 720 calories, but the whole pizza is four servings.

Maxine Kobinski, a German language and linguistics junior and Papa John’s employee, said she thinks people might reach for a vegetable pizza in an attempt to be healthy, but the calorie amounts aren’t taken very seriously.

“I don’t think most people even look,” Kobinski said. “They already know it’s unhealthy.”

Jamba Juice employee and film studies senior Tessa Lee said some people ask specifically about the health facts of the various smoothies offered, but many end up choosing something disregarding content.

“College kids don’t even care,” Lee said. “They’ll end up doing whatever because they just want a good smoothie.”

On average, one-third of Minnesota college students eat at a restaurant at least once per week, according to Boynton Health Service’s 2012 College Student Health Survey.

Ana Bohlken, an economics transfer student, said she considers calorie amounts when she eats at restaurants and chooses her foods carefully.

“I’m paranoid about my diet,” she said. “I’ll look for other options if I can.”

But Jake Grafenstein, computer science sophomore, said his diet reflects the study’s findings.

“I don’t think counting calories is a good way to manage your diet,” he said. “It has to be a lifestyle change, and having calories listed is not the way to make better choices.”

For more expert and business opinions of the ACA’s change and the study findings, pick up Wednesday’s Minnesota Daily.

By: Meghan Holden

Dinkytown businesses were surprised Thursday after a city panel voted against the approval of a mixed-use apartment complex.

Minneapolis City Council’s Zoning And Planning Committee voted 3-2 against staff recommendations for the proposed Opus Group project, which would replace businesses on 14th Avenue Southeast and 5th Street Southeast. The full council will vote August 2.

Those opposing the project said the meeting was a critical day for Dinkytown.

“I’m pleasantly surprised,” said Kafe 421’s James Sander. “I’m feeling hopeful.”

Other community members left the meeting frustrated.

Laurel Bauer, House of Hanson owner, said she expected the committee to approve staff recommendations for rezoning.

Bauer also owns the Book House and The Podium properties, which moved out last month.

“I hope they come to their senses,” Bauer said. “Nothing historic is leaving Dinkytown.”

Bauer planned to close House of Hanson July 31 to make room for the six-story student housing complex, but is now unsure.

For more on business, community and developer reactions to the vote, pick up Wednesday’s Minnesota Daily. 

By: Meghan Holden

Dinkytown businesses were surprised Thursday after a city panel voted against the approval of a mixed-use apartment complex.

Minneapolis City Council’s Zoning And Planning Committee voted 3-2 against staff recommendations for the proposed Opus Group project, which would replace businesses on 14th Avenue Southeast and 5th Street Southeast. The full council will vote August 2.

Those opposing the project said the meeting was a critical day for Dinkytown.

“I’m pleasantly surprised,” said Kafe 421’s James Sander. “I’m feeling hopeful.”

Other community members left the meeting frustrated.

Laurel Bauer, House of Hanson owner, said she expected the committee to approve staff recommendations for rezoning.

Bauer also owns the Book House and The Podium properties, which moved out last month.

“I hope they come to their senses,” Bauer said. “Nothing historic is leaving Dinkytown.”

Bauer planned to close House of Hanson July 31 to make room for the six-story student housing complex, but is now unsure.

For more on business, community and developer reactions to the vote, pick up Wednesday’s Minnesota Daily. 

By: Cody Nelson

University of Minnesota officials are experimenting with a roundabout at one of the most traveled intersections on campus.

Parking and Transportation Services installed a temporary roundabout at the intersection of Pillsbury Drive and Pleasant Street on Wednesday. PTS officials are monitoring the intersection to test the effectiveness of a permanent roundabout when buses go back to Washington Avenue Southeast after Central Corridor light rail construction is complete.

University Services Vice President Pam Wheelock urged travelers to “slow down and use caution” during the test, which will last until Aug. 21, in an email sent to students, faculty and staff on Monday.

PTS assistant director Sandy Cullen, one of the first officials to suggest the roundabout, said an all-way stop directed traffic at the intersection before light rail construction. The roundabout is one of several options PTS is considering for when the buses reroute.

Cameras were installed a week before the roundabout was put in place to monitor the intersection and give an estimate of average traffic delays, which will be compared with delays during the test.

PTS officials will also periodically monitor the intersection in person, Cullen said, and evaluate potential safety issues.

Cullen said she’s heard of roundabouts being used successfully on other college campuses, but none with traffic levels as high as the intersection being tested at the University.

For more on student, faculty and staff reactions to the roundabout, pick up Wednesday’s Minnesota Daily.