The Minnesota Supreme Court rules Oak Grove can use paper rosters this November, the DNR cancels one of Twin Metals’ land leases, and Duluth is already prepping for Christmas celebrations.
Transcript
WITH HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE, I’M XAN HOLSTON.
COMING UP...
A NORTH-METRO CITY WINS THE FINAL SAY FROM MINNESOTA’S HIGHEST COURT...TO PUT ITS ELECTION-DAY VOTER CHECK-IN LIST BACK ON PAPER.
[NICHOLAS NELSON: SURE, WE WANT THE VOTING EXPERIENCE TO GO SMOOTHLY... AND WHEN IT DOESN’T, IT MAY DETER PEOPLE FROM VOTING.]
BUT FIRST....
--RED LAKE NATION CHILD WELFARE FBI INVESTIGATION--
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS IT HAS TAKEN OVER OPERATIONS OF A TRIBAL CHILD-WELFARE PROGRAM IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA… JUST DAYS AFTER FEDERAL AGENTS SEARCHED ITS BUILDING.
THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS SAYS IT HAS ‘REASSUMED THE IMMEDIATE PROGRAM OPERATIONS... SAYING FEDERAL STAFF IS NOW AT THE NEW RED LAKE NATION FAMILY AND CHILDREN’S SERVICES BUILDING TO KEEP ESSENTIAL SERVICES RUNNING.
THE FEDERAL AGENCY DID NOT EXPLAIN WHY IT IS TAKING OVER SERVICE IN ITS RECENT STATEMENT POSTED TO ITS WEBSITE... OR CONNECT THE MOVE TO THURSDAY’S SEARCH.
AMPERS MEMBER STATION K-A-X-E’S LARISSA DONOVAN REPORTS.
--RED LAKE NATION CHILD WELFARE FBI INVESTIGATION – KAXE PKG--
[LARISSA DONOVAN: FBI agent Matt Vogel confirmed the action at Ombimindwaa in a Friday email but did not elaborate on the nature of the investigation. He says no arrests were made as a result of the search warrant.
The Red Lake Tribal Council issued a statement that it would cooperate with federal partners while upholding Red Lake's unique sovereignty.
Ombimindwaa translates to uplifting our relatives. The new 15.5-million-dollar building was unveiled in 2023 after more than five million was secured from the state during the 2020 legislative session.
As part of the BIA's Tiwahe initiative, Red Lake has received direct funding from state and federal sources to oversee family and child programming since 2021.
Larissa Donovan, KAXE News.]
RED LAKE NATION, THE F-B-I AND THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS HAD NOT PROVIDED ADDITIONAL DETAILS IN RESPONSE TO OUR QUESTIONS BY THE TIME THIS REPORT WAS PREPARED.
--ROCHESTER BUSINESS INVESTIGATION--
THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF LABOR IS IN SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO SOME ROCHESTER AREA BUSINESSES.
MINNESOTA’S LABOR AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT CONFIRMS THAT DEPARTMENT OF LABOR OFFICIALS ARE SCRUTINIZING AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF BUSINESSES.
BUT.. THE STATE SAYS IT DOES NOT KNOW THE FOCUS OF THE FEDERAL INVESTIGATION BECAUSE IT IS NOT INVOLVED.
--SUPREME COURT RULES OAK GROVE CAN USE PAPER ROSTERS--
THE MINNESOTA SUPREME COURT RULED ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF OAK GROVE JUST THREE DAYS AFTER HEARING ARGUMENTS FROM THE NORTH METRO CITY AND ANOKA COUNTY.
THE JUSTICES RULED LATE FRIDAY THAT OAK GROVE CAN CHOOSE TO USE PAPER VOTER ROSTERS FOR ITS PRECINCTS IN NOVEMBER... EVEN THOUGH ANOKA COUNTY IS USING ELECTRONIC CHECK-IN LISTS.
ANOKA COUNTY AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE WANTED THE SUPREME COURT TO FORCE OAK GROVE TO USE THE SAME ELECTRONIC ROSTERS... SAYING COUNTIES CONTROL THE FORMAT WHEN STATE AND FEDERAL RACES ARE ON THE BALLOT.
BUT… CHIEF JUSTICE NATALIE HUDSON QUESTIONED THAT CALL FOR COUNTYWIDE UNIFORMITY.
[HUDSON: ONE COULD MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT UNIFORMITY IS BETTER... BUT THAT DOESN’T SEEM TO BE THE CHOICE THAT THE LEGISLATURE MADE.]
THE SUPREME COURT RULED LOCAL ELECTION OFFICIALS CAN CHOOSE THE TYPE OF CHECK-IN ROSTERS FOR THEIR PRECINCTS.. AND WILL RELEASE THE FULL OPINION IN THE COMING WEEKS..
[MUSIC TRANSITION]
--TWIN METALS LEASE CANCELLED--
MINNESOTA IS CANCELING A TWIN METALS’ MINERAL LAND LEASE NEAR THE BOUNDARY WATERS...
THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES SAYS THE COMPANY FAILED TO MEET THE LEASE’S PERFORMANCE AND PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE IT EXPLORED THE LAND... BUT NEVER MINED IT...
TWIN METALS SAYS IT INVESTED EXTENSIVE RESOURCES IN EXPLORATION OVER 16 YEARS...
THE CANCELED LEASE IS SEPARATE FROM TWIN METALS’ PROPOSED COPPER-NICKEL MINE NEAR ELY.
**TWO HIGH SCHOOLS CANCEL VARSITY SPORTS**
TWO GREATER MINNESOTA HIGH SCHOOLS SAY THEY ARE FORCED TO CANCEL VARSITY SPORTS TEAMS THIS SEASON BECAUSE OF LOW ENROLLMENT...
HINCKLEY-FINLAYSON IN THE EAST-CENTRAL REGION SAYS IT IS CANCELLING THE FOOTBALL SEASON BECAUSE THERE AREN’T ENOUGH VARSITY PLAYERS TO SAFELY PLAY THE SCHEDULE…
AND… IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA … FARIBAULT HIGH … HAS CANCELED VARSITY BOYS HOCKEY THIS WINTER…AND HOPES TO HAVE ENOUGH PLAYERS FOR A JUNIOR VARSITY TEAM.
**MAN CRUSHED IN GREENHOUSE WINDOW**
A MAN CRUSHED AT THE WAIST BY AN AUTOMATIC WINDOW WHILE TRYING TO ENTER A UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH GREENHOUSE NOW FACES CRIMINAL CHARGES...
THE 21-YEAR-OLD WAS HOSPITALIZED AFTER RESCUERS FREED HIM FROM THE WINDOW BACK IN APRIL.
PROSECUTORS SAY THEY FILED FELONY CHARGES BECAUSE THE STUNT CAUSED MORE THAN 53-HUNDRED-DOLLARS DAMAGE TO THE GREENHOUSE WINDOW AND PLANTS.
**35-MILLION-DOLLAR CHILDREN’S MINNESOTA GIFT**
A 35-MILLION-DOLLAR GIFT… AND A NEW NAME ARE ON THE WAY TO CHILDREN’S MINNESOTA.
THE GIFT… FROM PAYCHEX FOUNDER TOM GOLISANO… IS BELIEVED TO BE THE LARGEST EVER FOR PEDIATRIC HEALTH IN THE STATE.
IT WILL FUND A TEN-YEAR PRECISION-MEDICINE INITIATIVE… INCLUDING GENE AND CELL THERAPIES…
AND.. GOLISANO’S NAME WILL GO ON THE HEALTH SYSTEM’S MINNEAPOLIS CAMPUS.
**CHRISTMAS CITY PARADE REGISTRATION **
AND FINALLY …
[NAT: SLEIGH BELLS]
THE CALENDAR SUMMER SEASON ISN’T EVEN OVER... BUT THAT’S NOT STOPPING DULUTH FROM GETTING A JUMP ON CHRISTMAS.
THE CITY OPENED UP REGISTRATION FOR THE 68TH ANNUAL ‘CHRISTMAS CITY OF THE NORTH’ PARADE.
IF YOU’VE EVER DREAMED OF RIDING DOWN SUPERIOR STREET ON A FLOAT DECKED OUT AS A TINSEL-STREWN LIFT BRIDGE...
OR A GIANT LAKE TROUT IN A SANTA’S CAP … NOW’S YOUR CHANCE!!!
APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN THROUGH OCTOBER 20TH.
FOR NORTH STAR STORIES, I’M XAN HOLSTON.