Minnesota’s gubernatorial hopefuls face off at Farmfest, Lakeville’s Muslim community gets interfaith and city council support to build a new mosque, and a biotech entrepreneur helps pay the rent.
Transcript
WITH HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE, I’M XAN HOLSTON.
--LAKEVILLE MOSQUE--
[PASTOR NATHAN LYKE: THE SAME LUXURY THAT’S BEEN AFFORDED TO US FOR OVER A HUNDRED YEARS, I HOPE CAN REMAIN FOR ALL TYPES OF WORSHIPING FOLKS.]
LAKEVILLE PASTOR NATHAN LYKE IS AMONG THE INTERFAITH SUPPORTERS OF WHAT WILL BECOME THE SOUTH METRO CITY’S SECOND MOSQUE.
THE CITY COUNCIL HAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A PERMIT FOR THE AL HADI ISLAMIC COMMUNITY ... WHICH HAS RENTED SPACE IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT BUILDING SINCE 2020.
ONE LAKEVILLE STUDENT SAYS A PERMANENT HOME WOULD GIVE CHILDREN MORE THAN A PLACE FOR RELIGIOUS WORSHIP.
[RAHAN MUHAMMAD SHIK: WHEN SOME PEOPLE HEAR THE WORD “MOSQUE,” THEY THINK IT’S ONLY A PLACE WHERE MUSLIMS PRAY. BUT FOR KIDS LIKE ME, IT’S MUCH MORE THAN THAT. IT’S WHERE WE LEARN TO RESPECT OUR PARENTS, TEACHERS AND NEIGHBORS. IT’S WHERE WE ORGANIZE FOOD DRIVES AND VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES. IT’S WHERE WE LEARN THAT, NO MATTER WHERE SOMEONE COMES FROM, THEY DESERVE RESPECT AND COMPASSION.]
AL HADI LEADERS SAY THE MOSQUE COULD OPEN WITHIN ABOUT A YEAR.
--ICE FACILITY --
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NOW OWNS A LONG-VACANT PRISON IN WESTERN MINNESOTA … JUST ONE DAY AFTER ICE ANNOUNCED A FIVE-YEAR DETENTION CENTER CONTRACT.
CORECIVIC...THE COUNTRY’S LARGEST PRIVATE, FOR-PROFIT PRISON COMPANY ... SOLD THE 16-HUNDRED-BED ‘PRAIRIE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY’ IN APPLETON TO HOMELAND SECURITY FOR NEARLY 500-MILLION DOLLARS.
CORECIVIC WILL CONTINUE OPERATING THE FACILITY FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. ... DETAINEES WILL START ARRIVING LATER THIS YEAR.
--NORTH SHORE HEALTH --
THE CLOSURE OF A SILVER BAY CLINIC IS RAISING NEW CONCERNS ABOUT ACCESS TO CARE ALONG THE NORTH SHORE.
ASPIRUS LAKE VIEW WILL CLOSE ITS SILVER BAY CLINIC AT THE END OF THE YEAR … CITING STAFFING SHORTAGES AND CHANGES IN HOW HEALTH CARE IS PERFORMED. IT WILL MOVE APPOINTMENTS.. LABS AND X-RAYS TO TWO HARBORS.
THE CLOSURE WILL CREATE A GAP IN PATIENT CARE.. THAT COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE EXPERT SAM USEM SAYS WILL FORCE SICK PEOPLE TO TRAVEL MUCH FARTHER.
[SAM USEM: WHILE THOSE WHO LIVE IN SILVER BAY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO 30 MILES FARTHER TO TWO HARBORS FOR CARE, WELL, THOSE WHO WERE ALREADY 30 MILES … NOW THEY’RE GOING 60 MILES FOR CARE.]
MEANWHILE … NORTH SHORE HEALTH IN GRAND MARAIS IS SEEKING NEARLY ONE-AND-A-HALF-MILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL RURAL HEALTH MONEY … TO UPGRADE TECHNOLOGY AND EXPAND TELEHEALTH … VIRTUAL EMERGENCY CARE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES.
--FARMFEST GOVERNOR DEBATE--
FOUR CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR FACED QUESTIONS IN FARM COUNTRY AT THE ANNUAL FARMFEST NEAR MORGAN… IN SOUTHWESTERN MINNESOTA…
WHEN ASKED HOW THEY WOULD STOP FRAUD IN STATE PROGRAMS…
REPUBLICAN MIKE LINDELL PROPOSED A BUSINESS-STYLE REVIEW.
D-F-L U-S SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR POINTED TO HER PROSECUTORIAL EXPERIENCE.
[LINDELL: WE’RE DOING A DEEP DIVE. CALL IT MINNESOTA DOGE. WE’RE GOING TO DIG INTO EVERY SINGLE PROGRAM.]
[KLOBUCHAR: THE MINUTE I GET IN THERE… I WILL LAUNCH A TOP-TO-BOTTOM AUDIT OF STATE GOVERNMENT. I WILL ROOT OUT THE FRAUD.]
WITH MINNESOTA’S PRIMARY TUESDAY… G-O-P-ENDORSED KENDALL QUALLS SAID LAWMAKERS’ VOTES ON SPENDING SHOULD BE EASIER TO TRACE.
REPUBLICAN HOUSE SPEAKER LISA DEMUTH SAID LAWMAKERS NEED DEDICATED FRAUD OVERSIGHT.
[QUALLS: NO MORE MEGA SPENDING BILLS. ONE SINGLE BILL ITEM AT A TIME… SO WE CAN HAVE CLEAR ACCOUNTABILITY.]
[DEMUTH: AS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE… I ESTABLISHED THE FRAUD PREVENTION AND AGENCY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.]
THE FORUM PUT RURAL COSTS… MARKETS… HEALTH CARE AND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY AT THE CENTER OF THE GOVERNOR’S RACE.
FARMFEST CONTINUES THROUGH TODAY.
--NATIONAL/STATE FARMER’S MARKET WEEK --
ACROSS MINNESOTA… FARMERS ARE MEETING CUSTOMERS FACE-TO-FACE DURING NATIONAL AND STATE FARMERS’ MARKET WEEK ...
MINNESOTA AND TRIBAL NATIONS HAVE MORE THAN 400 FARMERS’ MARKETS .. WHERE FARMERS SELL DIRECTLY TO THEIR NEIGHBORS
THE STATE AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT PLANNED SPECIAL EVENTS AT MARKETS AROUND THE STATE... INCLUDING SAUK RAPIDS AND NEW ULM TODAY…
ADA IS TOMORROW EVENING…AND ROCHESTER SATURDAY... AMONG OTHERS...
DETAILS ARE ON THE STATE AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT’S WEBSITE.
[MUSIC TRANSITION]
--T-H-C REPRIEVE--
A FEDERAL BAN COULD REMOVE MOST HEMP-DERIVED T-H-C DRINKS AND EDIBLES FROM MINNESOTA STORES THIS FALL...
BUT... THE U-S SENATE MAY THROW THE STATE INDUSTRY A LIFELINE.
CONGRESS PASSED THE BAN LAST YEAR … SAYING THE FEDERAL HEMP LAW LEFT INTOXICATING HEMP PRODUCTS WITH TOO FEW SAFEGUARDS.
BUT... A MUST-PASS FUNDING MEASURE CURRENTLY MOVING THROUGH CONGRESS WOULD PUSH THE NOVEMBER DEADLINE TO DECEMBER WHILE LAWMAKERS TRY TO FIND A LONGER-TERM FIX.
THE FUNDING BILL STILL NEEDS FINAL SENATE APPROVAL.
--NEW BRIGHTON RENT DONOR--
AND FINALLY …
A TWIN CITIES ENTREPRENEUR WHO GREW UP IN RENTAL HOUSING… IS NOW USING HIS FORTUNE TO HELP OTHER FAMILIES STAY IN THEIR HOMES... BY HELPING PAY THE RENT.
JOHN WILSON MADE HIS MONEY THROUGH NEW BRIGHTON-BASED WILSON WOLF… WHICH MAKES DEVICES USED IN CANCER TREATMENTS.
HE INITIALLY PLEDGED 16-MILLION AFTER THE FEDERAL OPERATION METRO SURGE…
BUT HIS’ WILSON FOUNDATION’ HAS PROVIDED ABOUT 29-MILLION DOLLARS IN RENT ASSISTANCE SO FAR… ROUGHLY 20-THOUSAND PAYMENTS…
AND HE PLANS TO GIVE AT LEAST FIVE-MILLION MORE.
WITH NORTH STAR STORIES ... I’M XAN HOLSTON.