ST. PAUL, Minn. – State Attorney General Keith Ellison ordered a venue in Winnebago to call off a New Year’s Eve party that he said would violate state COVID rules. Ellison cited promotional literature by the Carlson Event Center about a “big new year’s dance.” The post asked people to bring their own beer and liquor. The venue, in a former school, doesn’t have as liquor license. Even so, said Ellison, the event would violate Governor Tim Walz’s executive order against people-dense activities that could hasten the spread of COVID-19. The attorney general said his next step would be to asks a judge to stop the party, award damages to the state and impose civil penalties.
