Liquor-Law Feud Ends Quietly In Legislature

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- The debate over cracking open Minnesota's ban on Sunday liquor store sales has ended with a whimper.

With a Senate vote Friday, a bill preserving the status quo on takeaway sales is on its way to Gov. Mark Dayton. The Senate adopted a House-passed liquor bill.

Proponents of Sunday sales measures came up empty despite a hard push for everything from a full-scale repeal of the old law to smaller-bore changes like all-week growler sales at beer taprooms.

The bill bound for Dayton permits later bar hours during baseball's All-Star Game, allows continuation of beer sales at University of Minnesota football games and grants other liquor licenses around the state. It passed the Senate 49-15.