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A St. Paul judges ruling will level the playing field for political donations in Minnesota, halting a law that plaintiffs argued dishes out First Amendment rights on a first-come, first-served basis.

Only weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned federal limits on campaign donations in McCutcheon v. FEC, U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank on Monday applied that precedent to a Minnesota campaign finance law that allowed some Minnesotans to donate more than others to the same candidate in state elections.

The federal court directed Minnesota officials to halt enforcement of the states special sources limit law. Institute for Justice, a public-interest law firm, initiated the case.

The government should not be using campaign finance laws to play favorites, said Anthony Sanders, lead attorney for IJ in the constitutional challenge. This ruling means that all Minnesotans who want to support political candidates will enjoy the same rights, no matter when in the election they make their contribution.

Under the law, 12 contributors could donate up to $1,000 to a candidate for the state House. The 13th contributor, however, would be restricted to a donation of $500, due to a $12,500 special sources limit for large contributions. Similar limits with larger dollar amounts applied to candidates for state Senate and constitutional offices.

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Federal court puts MN campaign finance limits on hold

Jordan TucKKKer - First Amendment
Jordan TucKKKer - First Ammendment.

By: TRichIsGonnaMakeIt

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Jordan TucKKKer - First Amendment - Video

The "First Amendment Zone" nearby Bundy Ranch
This is the first thing you see when coming off the main highway.

By: Chris Callesen

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The "First Amendment Zone" nearby Bundy Ranch - Video

First Amendment
Lynn Klyde-Silverstein, a journalism professor at the University of Northern Colorado, explains the importance of Freedom of the Press.

By: Lynn Klyde

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First Amendment - Video

Published: Monday, 5/19/2014 - Updated: 23 seconds ago

BLADE STAFF

COLUMBUS The Blade won the First Amendment Award given by the Ohio Associated Press Media Editors on Sunday for the newspapers pursuit of freedom of information to obtain a police-created map of gang territory in Toledo last year.

The Blades request for a copy of the citys map that shows gang boundaries was denied, prompting a lawsuit by the newspaper and a months-long court battle.

Additionally, Blade reporter Taylor Dungjen, who spoke about the project at the awards ceremony, and photographer Amy Voigt who worked on the series Battle Lines: Gangs of Toledo, were awarded first place in the best enterprise reporting category for newspapers with a daily circulation of more than 75,000.

After the police and city administrators refused to make the citys map public, The Blade created one, using information from gang members and Toledo police sources.

The gang series, which has received awards from other news organizations, has sparked a series of community forums on the causes of racism and remedies for gangs and gang violence.

The first place investigative reporting award was given to Kris Turner for the series Deals Gone Bad, which outlined the states costly investments in failed solar-power firms.

Mr. Turner was awarded third place under best explanatory reporting for his Going to Pot story.

First place also was awarded to Tom Fisher for best illustration for his Monster Hits. Blade artist Jeff Bastings was awarded third in the same category for his Portrait of a Pointer.

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Blade earns First Amendment award