Former President Donald Trump to visit St. Paul Friday. What are the security expenses for the city?

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When former U.S. President Donald Trump dines in St. Paul with the state’s Republican leaders on Friday evening, protesters from a cross-section of progressive organizations are expected to take to downtown Kellogg Boulevard to give a thumbs down to his motorcade.

They may well be met, in turn, with a thumbs down from counter-protesters.

So who gets the bill for policing, road closure and public safety?

The answer, more so than not, is local taxpayers. The city is not planning to bill the Trump campaign — or protesters — for costs related to the former president’s campaign appearance.

“We welcome people from around the world when concerts, festivals, professional sports, conventions and more decide they want to host an event within St. Paul,” said Jennifer Lor, a press secretary to St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, on Thursday. “We assist in providing public safety services, whether for a current vice president, a former president or the Dalai Lama and these costs are part of normal business operations.”

Minneapolis visit in 2019

The last time Trump flew into the Twin Cities for a campaign event in 2019, Minneapolis officials worried they’d be stuck with the estimated $530,000 bill for security, road closures and the like.

After lengthy wrangling with the Trump campaign and Target Center operator ASM Global, it turns out Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s people had it mostly right — local taxpayers swallowed the majority of those expenses.

ASM agreed in 2021, some two years after the fact, to reimburse Minneapolis $100,000, or less than 20% of the city’s costs and about half of what city officials figured they could ask for under the law.

St. Paul police spokesman Mike Ernster said he didn’t know what the cost would be for the former president’s visit but noted security “requests … are part of what police departments do as a course of normal business.”

When Vice President Kamala Harris came to St. Paul on March 14 to visit an abortion clinic and stop by Central High for softball practice, security costs involving officers on duty and off, as well as overtime, came to $7,717, according to Ernster.

In March, the Humphrey-Mondale dinner at the RiverCentre, hosted by the state DFL and attended by both U.S. senators, the governor and other politicians, cost taxpayers $11,301 for policing outside of the facility. Officers working inside the RiverCentre were paid by the organizers, Ernster said.

“It is also important to remember that staffing numbers, which lead directly to staffing costs, are always unique to the political and social climate,” he said.

Law enforcement officers struggle to keep a gate closed as marchers attempt to breach a secure area outside the Landmark Center during the Veterans’ Solemn Memorial March on the RNC in St. Paul on Sunday Aug. 31, 2008. (Pioneer Press: Richard Marshall)

When St. Paul hosted the Republican National Convention in 2008 — drawing nearly 2,400 party delegates and an estimated 12,000 protesters — the city received a $50 million federal grant for expenses, similar to what other cities got for conventions. About $34 million was for personnel costs while $16 million paid for training, equipment and supplies. The upside of it for local police was the additional equipment stayed with the city.

Fundraising dinner in St. Paul

The former president is scheduled to attend the Minnesota GOP’s annual Lincoln Reagan fundraising dinner on Friday, which coincides with the party’s state convention, to be held at the St. Paul RiverCentre Friday and Saturday. St. Paul Police and Fire, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s office and other local departments are poised to assist the U.S. Secret Service with security, but it’s unclear how large that bill will be.

Trump has not announced a campaign rally, per se. Still, given the experience of at least 14 cities that have tried and failed to secure funds from the Trump campaign after a major appearance, some have little doubt that St. Paul taxpayers will absorb not only the bulk of the cost of protecting the former president this weekend, but the cost of standing between event-goers, protesters and counter-protesters.

Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher on Wednesday said he did not know how his office will be reimbursed for his deputies’ work. The county sheriff’s office will provide traffic management for Trump’s motorcade and will be available as backup to St. Paul officers if there’s need for additional assistance.

“Our first concern is the safety of everyone” attending the event, protesting or counter-protesting, Fletcher said. “People can sort out the finances later.”

Costs for visits elsewhere

David Levinthal, editor-in-chief of the progressive publication Raw Story, said that over the years, at least 14 cities — including Minneapolis, Mesa, Arizona and Lebanon, Ohio — have tried to recoup security dollars out of the Trump campaign without success. El Paso, Texas was left with a $470,000 bill after Trump’s February 2019 border rally, so city officials there hired a legal team to help them seek reimbursement.

NJ.com reported this week that Wildwood, New Jersey made the Trump campaign pre-pay $54,000 in April, well in advance of a May 11 beach rally, four years after being stuck with the bill for policing and clean-up after a Trump rally at the Wildwood Convention Center.

In late 2020, when the city of Philadelphia complained that then-candidate Joe Biden’s campaign rally had drawn dozens of cars into a muddy public park after a rainstorm, causing at least $10,000 in damage, the Biden campaign produced a check for $15,000 within about a month to cover expenses.

Minnesota could prove to be a key battleground for both Trump and President Biden in November, so public interest in a Trump appearance will be high.

“When a president comes to town, St. Paul is going to be an international news story,” said Larry Jacobs, a professor of political science at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. “It’s a unique thing. There’s nothing else that is going to bring St. Paul that kind of attention.”

Nevertheless, said Jacobs, “reimbursement is not going to be in the game. … Even when the president comes, there’s not much reimbursement.”

Mara Gottfried contributed to this report.

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Saints fall to Storm Chasers in 11 after late collapse

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After giving up three runs in the top of the ninth inning to send the game to extra innings, the St. Paul Saints lost 9-8 in 11 innings against the Omaha Storm Chasers on Thursday night at CHS Field.

Diego Castillo allowed three runs on four hits in the ninth, blowing his first save of the season for St. Paul. Omaha took a lead in the 10th before the Saints answered to force another inning.

Michael Helman had two hits and drove in four runs, including his fifth homer of the year for St. Paul. Matt Wallner had a double, two walks, two runs scored and drove in a run, while Byron Buxton went 0 for 3 with a strikeout and RBI in his second rehab game for the Saints.

Jordan Balazovic (2-2) allowed an unearned run in the 11th to take the loss when Drew Waters singled to score the automatic runner, a ball that deflected off third baseman Anthony Prato. Randy Dobnak gave up three runs on six hits and two walks in five innings in the start for St. Paul, adding five strikeouts.

Helman hit a two-run homer in the second to open the scoring.

After Omaha took a 3-2 lead in the fourth, the Saints came back with a five-run sixth.

Buxton started the scoring with an RBI groundout. Wallner had an RBI double and Helman followed with a two-run single. Yoyner Fajardo added an RBI single.

But Omaha scored in each of the final four innings to send St. Paul to a second straight loss.

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Dane Mizutani: When the Timberwolves needed him most, Mike Conley showed up for Minnesota

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His stat line wasn’t anything spectacular. Not even close. A modest 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting to go along with four rebounds and five assists.

In his brief career with the Timberwolves, Mike Conley has played dozens of games that would be considered better, at least in the traditional sense. He’s been a more swaggy scorer, a more ravenous rebounder, a more prolific passer.

No matter. The performance he put forth on Thursday night at Target Center might go down as his most memorable in a Timberwolves uniform. This was a legacy game for the man they call Minnesota Mike.

After missing Game 5 with a calf strain, Conley made his presence felt in Game 6, and the Timberwolves scored a massive 115-70 win over the Denver Nuggets to force a Game 7. When the Timberwolves needed him most, Conley showed up.

Never mind that Anthony Edwards finished with 27 points to lead the Timberwolves in scoring. Never mind that Jaden McDaniels busted out of his offensive slump with 21 points. Never mind that Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns controlled the paint on both ends.

None of that would’ve been possible without Conley playing through the pain. It’s amazing how much different the Timberwolves can look simply when he’s on the court. He’s a true difference-maker.

“He means everything for us,” head coach Chris Finch said. “He’s invaluable. It was great to see him out there. We desperately missed him the other night.”

The chaos that enveloped the Timberwolves for much of Game 5 was glaring to anybody who tuned in. You could actually sense it as soon as Conley was ruled out on Tuesday night at Ball Arena. It felt like things were going to be extremely hard for the Timberwolves, and they absolutely were in a 112-97 loss.

There was no flow on offense without Conley running the show. His absence forced Edwards to be the primary ball handler, and he struggled mightily while being double-teamed each time he tried to run the pick and roll. There were no easy buckets, and as a result, the Timberwolves looked discombobulated for prolonged stretches.

That wasn’t the case in Game 6 as the Timberwolves looked much more like themselves from the jump. After falling behind amid a slow start, they broke the game open with a pivotal 18-0 run. In that stretch, Conley found Towns down low for an easy dunk, made a 10-foot floater in the lane and swung the ball to Edwards for an open shot from long range.

He subbed out of the game with the Timberwolves leading by 12 points. They never trailed again.

How close was he to playing in Game 5?

“Obviously I wanted to play,” Conley said. “Just couldn’t move at all.”

How close was he to not playing in Game 6?

“It was a no brainer,” Conley said. “I was going try to find a way.”

He did and the Timberwolves were better for it. They always are when Minnesota Mike is on the floor.

Just ask Edwards. He succinctly summed up the biggest difference between Game 5 and Game 6.

“We got Mike Conley back,” he said. “That was it.”

As long as Conley is good to go for Game 7, the Timberwolves are going to have a chance. There’s no doubt about that.

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Timberwolves trounce Denver to force decisive Game 7

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Minnesota fell down 9-2 in the opening minutes Thursday at Target Center, and it looked like perhaps more of the same was on its way.

Denver blitzed the Wolves in each of the previous three contests in the Western Conference semifinals, and the early moments of Game 6 appeared to be following a similar script.

Then the Wolves finally bit back.

Minnesota went on a 20-0 run and never looked back, taking Game 6 115-70 in Minneapolis to knot the series at 3-3.

The decisive Game 7 will be Sunday in Denver. The time is still to be determined. If the Knicks beat the Pacers on Friday, the Wolves’ game will be at 2:30 p.m. Central. If Indiana forces a Game 7 in that series, the Wolves will play at 7 p.m. CT.

That will be the franchise’s second Game 7 in franchise history — played 20 years to the date after Minnesota topped Sacramento in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals in 2004.

If Minnesota can play how it did on Thursday, it’ll like its chances.

The Wolves resembled the team that handled the defending champion Nuggets in the first two games of the series. They were vicious defensively, again making Denver fight for inches of space on the floor.

Even when the Nuggets generated good looks, nothing fell. Jamal Murray went 4 for 18 from the field. Michael Porter Jr. went 3 for 9. Nikola Jokic — who dominated Games 3-5 in this series — was just 9 for 19 shooting with two assists.

Denver shot just 30 percent from the field and 19 percent from deep as Minnesota built a lead as big as 50.

The Wolves were allowed to play with extremely high levels of physicality on the defensive end, and took full advantage. Minnesota’s size was finally a differentiator, as the Wolves dominated the paint and the glass. Rudy Gobert grabbed 14 rebounds, Karl-Anthony Towns had 13 and Naz Reid snagged 11.

The Wolves out-rebounded Denver 62-43.

They looked more physical, more tenacious and, well, longer than their opponent — AKA, exactly who they’ve been all season.

Somewhere along the way over the past week, they lost that identity. On Thursday, with their backs against the wall, they regained it.

It was exactly what a prophetic Karl-Anthony predicted Thursday morning after shootaround.

“So tonight is a great night for us to show that unity, that cohesiveness we’ve been talking about before training camp, before (our preseason trip to) Abu Dhabi,” Towns said. “A great chance to also show our brand of basketball defensively and offensively show how when we’re executing at a high level on defense, it can make our offense even better.”

That played out to a “T.” Minnesota forced misses and turnovers, which led to looks against non-stacked Denver defenses. Even in the half-court, Mike Conley’s return from a one-game injury absence gave Minnesota an additional shooter and playmaker that balanced out the offense.

Denver was in scramble mode for much of the night and, unlike in Game 5, Minnesota executed with poise and precision on Thursday.

Jaden McDaniels had his best offensive game of the series, tallying 21 points on 8 for 10 shooting. Anthony Edwards was again brilliant, finishing with 27 points.

When Minnesota grew its lead to 36 in the fourth frame, Edwards turned to the crowd and held up seven fingers. In the waning minutes, Target Center busted out a “Wolves in 7” chant that echoed throughout the arena.

Time — and Minnesota’s effort and energy on Sunday — will tell if that prediction comes to fruition.

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