St. Paul voters will test the new system Tuesday that will allow voters to rank their choices for St. Paul City Council. The process is to ensure that a majority winner can be determined.

For the first time, voters can rank their choices in the seven city council races. In some races with more than two candidates, one person might not come away with a majority of the votes, so the race goes to an instant run-off with people's second and third choices. The four school board seats are not ranked choice.

Nearly a week after St. Paul voters cast their first ranked-choice ballots, Dave Thune was declared the winner of his city council race. Thune failed to gain a majority of the first-choice votes that were counted on Election Night. Counting two rounds of second-choice votes finally pushed him over 50 percent.

Two St. Paul city council races are too close to call and will go to hand counts next week. One of those races has incumbent Dave Thune in a tight race for his seat in Ward 2.

The man who erected the 7-foot marble statue in his back yard, overlooking the Mississippi River, says he's heard no word from the city telling him to take it down. A City Council member tells the Star Tribune the city has not given up on what it says is an important zoning issue. The statue's owner, Tuan Pham, says he's awaiting the official letter from the city, and says he'll respond with a lawsuit.

The Minneapolis Zoning and Planning Committee voted 5-1 Thursday to override the city's Heritage Preservation Commission's objections and allow for the demolition of Peavey Plaza. The measure will go to the entire city council for a vote later this month. It is expected to pass.

Downtown St. Paul residents are bracing for some restless nights. The Pioneer Press the City Council is exempting light rail construction crews from after-hours noise laws. The Council is allowing only a limited number of noisy construction episodes after midnight.