Category: State Issues

Video shows ax-wielding man inflicting damage to George Floyd Square

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The man arrived in a pickup truck and spent several minutes vandalizing the site. 

Displays and a structure at George Floyd Square in south Minneapolis were vandalized late at night over the weekend by a man with an ax in an act captured on video.

The damage occurred about 2 a.m. Sunday at 38th and Chicago, the intersection that has been an informal gathering place and remembrance since Floyd was killed by police on May 25, 2020.

“This was particularly upsetting that this would happen after the historic trial and the upcoming memorial,” said LaToya Evans, a spokeswoman for the nonprofit that is organizing a celebration of Floyd’s life on the anniversary of his killing by convicted murderer Derek Chauvin. Continue reading.

Impasse over ‘clean cars’ rule continues to jeopardize Minnesota environmental funding

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Millions of dollars for environmental efforts around the state remains in limbo. 

Millions of dollars for environmental efforts around Minnesota, from fighting off invasive carp to operating state parks, remain in limbo despite a broad state budget agreement because of the ongoing impasse over new vehicle emissions rules.

Senate Republicans have blocked the omnibus environment bill, determined to stop Minnesota from following California’s lead in tightening tailpipe emissions standards and requiring automakers to send more electric vehicles to the state for sale.

That package of environmental legislation sets the budgets for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the state Board of Water and Soil Resources, as well as other institutions already bleeding heavily from COVID-19 revenue losses, such as the Minnesota Zoo and the Science Museum of Minnesota. Continue reading.

Governor Walz Secures Historic Budget Agreement Focused On Working Families, Students, and Small Businesses

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This budget agreement provides support for working families, critical education funding, and helps small businesses recover and thrive post-pandemic

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – On Monday, Governor Walz and Minnesota’s legislative leaders reached an agreement on a historic budget framework that prioritizes students, relief for working families, and Minnesota’s small businesses. After over a year of unprecedented challenges, the Governor has taken steps to secure the resources necessary to move Minnesota forward and provide support for those most impacted by COVID-19.

“Governor Walz has led the charge to secure investments in our students, Minnesota’s working families, and small businesses across the state that have struggled during this pandemic,” said DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin. “Not only does this agreement secure historic investments in education but it provides tax cuts and long-term relief for working families as well as significant investment in future generations. This is the kind of leadership we need in Minnesota.” 

Continue reading “Governor Walz Secures Historic Budget Agreement Focused On Working Families, Students, and Small Businesses”

House Education Leaders’ Statement on Summer Learning Investments

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SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – House DFL education leaders released the following statements on investments for summer learning for Minnesota students:

“Governor Walz has been a strong partner with House DFLers on prioritizing our students and families over the past year,” said House Education Finance Chair Jim Davnie (DFL-Minneapolis). “Today’s announcement of summer school investments is a positive step forward in ensuring our students have a chance to catch up after a challenging year.”

“We know every child’s education needs are unique,” said House Education Policy Chair Ruth Richardson (DFL-Mendota Heights). “A robust summer learning package will help meet those existing needs, address learning loss and social and emotional learning, and deliver the resources our students need to be successful.”

“Summer learning is one important way to help our students recover from potential learning loss from a year of distance learning,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman. “I’m pleased these investments were part of our bipartisan budget agreement and are being made available right away.”

Trial of ex-police officer who fatally shot Black motorist Daunte Wright may proceed, judge rules

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Kimberly A. Potter, the former Minnesota police officer who was charged with manslaughter for fatally shooting 20-year-old Daunte Wright, is set to stand trial at the end of the year, a Minneapolis judge ruled Monday.

Hennepin County Judge Regina M. Chu said during a virtual omnibus hearing Monday that she found probable cause to support the charge against Potter and set a tentative trial date for Dec. 6.

After a brief delay over technical difficulties, Chu started the hearing by offering condolences to Wright’s family members, who were in virtual attendance. Special Assistant Hennepin County Prosecutor Imran Ali raised concerns about the trial’s start date, citing the amount of discovery and witness selection the state has ahead of it, but Chu signaled she would try to hold to the early December date. Continue reading.

Number of COVID long-haulers who were never hospitalized surprises researchers

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Declining infections signal a new phase, but not the end of pandemic’s impact. 

Larry Farber couldn’t walk a mile last month without stopping three times to catch his breath, the aftereffect of a COVID-19 illness so severe that the 64-year-old was hospitalized twice and received powerful steroids and oxygen support to breathe.

Amy Crnecki wasn’t hospitalized for COVID-19, but the 38-year-old still can’t dance with her daughter without fear of crushing fatigue.

“I just want to be able to play outside with my kids,” she said, “and play a game of basketball and not feel winded and feel like, ‘I shouldn’t have done that.’ ”

The two Minnesotans, diagnosed with COVID-19 during the same week in November, are part of a poorly understood group of people whose health has suffered long after infection and who could continue to struggle after the pandemic recedes. The number of COVID “long haulers” remains a mystery in a pandemic that otherwise has been one of the most measured, modeled and mapped events in human history. Continue reading.

Minnesota House advances Agriculture policy legislation

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SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA –Monday, the Minnesota House approved a bipartisan agreement reached with the Senate on Agriculture policy legislation. The bill reflects a consensus reached over the weekend by a joint House/Senate conference committee on numerous proposals.

“This legislation includes several bipartisan measures that will strengthen the outlook for agriculture in Minnesota, but lawmakers still have more work to do to get a final budget across the finish line,” said Rep. Mike Sundin (DFL – Esko), Chair of the House Agriculture Committee. “Now that we have budget targets, we have a path forward to reach a compromise on our Agriculture finance bill. Farmers and others who work in food production are critically important to our state’s success, and we will keep working to ensure they can have the bright future they deserve.”

The legislation contains provisions such as:

  • A five-year extension to the Farmer Lender Mediation program to 2027.
  • An exemption to pesticide applicator licenses for workers using sanitizers and disinfectants associated with COVID-19, limited to cleaning activity that uses common sanitizers and disinfectants.
  • License exemption for certain wild game meat processors that process fewer than 200 deer carcasses in a year or less than $20,000 of gross receipts from processing other wildlife.
  • Modifications to the disposal of deer in Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) management areas to ensure they would be disposed of safely and according to Department of Natural Resources (DNR) hunting rule restrictions.  
  • An additional member to the Board of Animal Health who is a livestock producer and a member of a federally recognized tribe in Minnesota.
  • Removal of the annual sales limit for the cottage foods license allowing the sale of cottage food pet treats.
  • Eligibility changes for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Good Food Access Program.
  • Allowing EMTs to provide limited medical care to injured police dogs.

Video of Monday’s House Floor session will be available on House Public Information Services’ YouTubechannel.

Lawmakers will continue working to reach a compromise on budget legislation in anticipation of a June special session.

Minnesota House advances Health and Human Services policy legislation

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SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Monday, the Minnesota House approved a bipartisan agreement reached with the Senate on Health and Human Services policy legislation. The bill reflects a consensus reached on Friday by a joint House/Senate conference committee on numerous proposals.

“While waiting for budget targets, the HHS conference committee worked to reach agreement on many important pieces of legislation to improve health care and human services in Minnesota,” said Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL – Rochester), Chair of the House Health Committee. “There is still a lot of work left to do.  After a difficult year, we have been reminded how important it is to have a strong public health system and that every Minnesotan needs affordable, accessible, quality health care.”

“The HHS conference committee agreement is a significant start as we continue our work to invest in a healthy future for all Minnesotans,” said Rep. Jen Schultz (DFL – Duluth), Chair of the House Human Services Committee. “Finishing the HHS policy bill shows that we can accomplish bipartisan work that is important for those with disabilities, older adults and children. Now that we have agreed upon budget targets, I’m hopeful we can soon reach an agreement on an HHS finance package that not only helps Minnesotans recover from COVID-19, but strengthens everyone’s health, wellbeing, and economic security over the long-term.”

Among many other provisions, the bill includes measures to:

  • Make prescription drugs more affordable through changes to the Prescription Drug Repository Program and expansion of the prohibition on pharmacy “gag clauses” that prevent pharmacists from informing patients when they are paying prices for drugs that are greater than what they would pay out-of-pocket.
  • Establish a directed payment arrangement to help Hennepin County Medical Center, an important safety-net system.
  • Improve Minnesota’s medical cannabis program, including allowing the use of dried raw cannabis.
  • Make important changes related to child support payments, including recommended changes that come from the Child Support Task Force.
  • Create mental health uniform service standards to help providers focus more on serving their clients and providing high quality mental health services.
  • Implement the Family First Prevention Services Act in Minnesota.

The bill will next head to the Senate for its consideration. A summary of the legislation is available here. Video of Monday’s House Floor session will be available on House Public Information Services’ YouTube channel. 

Lawmakers will continue working to reach a compromise on budget legislation in anticipation of a June special session.

Minnesota Legislature Poised to Allow Flower for Medical Cannabis Program

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SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — The Minnesota House voted today to allow the state’s medical cannabis program to offer flower, with the Senate expected to follow suit. The change is expected to bring down costs and improve access for what is considered the most restrictive medical program in the nation. Since its establishment in 2014, Minnesota’s medical program has only allowed for liquids, oils, and pills. 

“Over the course of 12 public hearings this year and a statewide tour visiting 15 communities, Minnesotans were loud and clear that our state’s medical cannabis program was too expensive, and that allowing flower could significantly improve access,” said Majority Leader Ryan Winkler. “As a result of Minnesotans who made their voices heard over the course of years — whether you are a veteran suffering from PTSD, a person with a serious health condition, or a parent with a sick child — more people will gain the ability to live healthy, fulfilled lives. Without Minnesotans’ activism and personal stories, and without a historic vote in the Minnesota House to legalize cannabis for adult use, this accomplishment would not have been possible.” 

Statement from Speaker Hortman and Majority Leader Winkler on bipartisan budget agreement

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SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Majority Leader Ryan Winkler released the following statement on today’s bipartisan budget agreement:

“I am pleased we have reached an agreement on the framework for a bipartisan budget that prioritizes students, families, workers, and small businesses,” said Speaker Hortman. “After a year of unprecedented challenges, we have the resources to help the Minnesotans who have sacrificed the most while investing in a Minnesota that works better for everyone. This budget makes significant investments in E-12 education to help our students recover from a difficult year and works to close our opportunity gaps. House DFLers also remain committed to including meaningful criminal justice reforms in our final budget. While this agreement does not contain everything we would have liked and the need for ongoing investment in the future remains, we worked together and achieved a compromise that is in the best interests of Minnesotans.” 

“Families and workers are finding it more difficult to get ahead. Thanks to President Biden and Democrats in Congress, there are significant resources to help Minnesotans who are struggling the most, but it doesn’t change the fact that Minnesotans’ needs are not being met by current levels of investment,” said Majority Leader Ryan Winkler. “For too long, Minnesota put the rich and well-connected first. Thanks to the House DFL Majority and Governor Walz, Minnesota is now moving in a direction that provides a world-class education, affordable child care, and financial security for all — no matter where you live or what you look like.”