Later bar-hour push for GOP convention hits early last call

ST. PAUL (AP) - The push for later bar hours during the Republican National Convention has reached an early end.

A mere eight hours after a state senator introduced legislation to give convention visitors two more hours of drinking, she pulled the bill from consideration, and chances for reviving it are slim.

Linda Scheid, DFL-Brooklyn Park, said she withdrew it after hearing police were nervous about the change, and after getting mixed signals from people gearing up for the convention.

The legislation would have temporarily pushed bar closing time to 4 a.m. from the normal 2 a.m. It would have applied in the seven-county Twin Cities area from August 29th to September eighth.

The Republican National Convention will be held the first four days of September at St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center.

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