In today’s segment, how hard work helped put Duluth’s Veterans’ history back on display. A chilling reminder of the dangers of distracted driving. And a safe space for Minnesota’s queer and trans communities to help shape the state’s future.
Transcript
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HOST: You're listening to North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live, a daily newscast about what it means to live in Minnesota.
ANCHOR: In today's segment, how hard work helped put Duluth's Veterans' history back on display. A chilling reminder of the dangers of distracted driving. And a safe space for Minnesota's queer and trans communities to help shape the state's future. I'm Chantel SinGs.
More than 3-hundred pieces of Veterans' history are back on display in Duluth. Last summer, a water leak severely damaged the Veterans Memorial Hall. Volunteers with the St. Louis County Historical Society spent months drying and repairing the exhibit at the Duluth Depot.
While the flooding destroyed display cases, carpeting, and walls. Luckily, none of the historical pieces on display were damaged.
The hall reopened as part of the Twin Ports Festival of History and is now open daily with free admission.
Next, April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
Reporter Jose Ozoria brings us a story of why you should always keep your eyes on the road.
Matt Logan: I drove up over a hill about three and a half miles from home, and the trauma helicopter was was just landing on the road about a quarter mile or so in front of me
Jose Ozoria: Matt Logan is talking about the day he lost his daughter DJ to distracted driving.
Matt Logan: I did see them, you know, her strapped on the gurney and wheeling her quickly to the helicopter and fly away, not knowing you know how severe it was.
Jose Ozoria: The teenage girl on the gurney was Matt's daughter. It was the first day of her high school year. DJ was driving a minivan in the Rochester area. The short version is, is they found conclusively that she was composing a text message when she collided with the back of a school bus that had stopped to let two students out. Since that tragedy, Logan has made it a part of his life's work to try to prevent others from having to live through the same horrific loss.
Matt Logan: I speak at a bunch of schools on distracted driving awareness I try to look at things as opportunities to make the world a better place.
Jose Ozoria: As we've become more reliant on cell phones and smart cars, distracted driving has gotten even worse. April is distracted driving awareness month. According to the Minnesota Office of Public Safety, last year alone, distracted driving was a factor in nearly 30 fatal accidents in 137 serious injuries. Matt says it's easy to become a statistic.
Matt Logan: Mathematically speaking, it will catch up to us. And so I think that we have to understand we have a blind spot to our abilities, and we have a blind spot to our environment.
Jose Ozoria: Matt's parting thoughts for other Hey, we're not invincible, and things do happen, and we're, we're, we're not immune to the destruction of of what distracted driving really, truly does for Ampers Radio. I'm Jose Ozoria..
ANCHOR: You are listening to North Star Stories. Members of the queer and trans communities with diverse backgrounds are invited to participate in a series of talks throughout April and May. The Minnesota Council on LGBTQIA2S+ is holding a series of small, confidential discussions, allowing underrepresented groups the chance to shape recommendations for state leaders. The sessions will be virtual, and selected participants will receive a 75-dollar gift card. Learn more at MN dot GOV slash LGBTQIA two s.
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HOST: North Star Stories is produced by AMPERS, diverse radio for Minnesota's communities, with support from the McKnight Foundation and the State of Minnesota. Online at ampers dot org.