A blind woman her service dog help change national rideshare policy, the latest on a brief environmental scare at the Monticello nuclear plant, and spongy moths come to
Transcript
WITH HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE, I’M XAN HOLSTON
A BLIND WOMAN HER SERVICE DOG HELP CHANGE NATIONAL RIDESHARE POLICY.
BUT FIRST, THE LATEST ON A BRIEF ENVIRONMENTAL SCARE AT THE MONTICELLO NUCLEAR PLANT.
TWO-HUNDRED GALLONS OF OIL LEAKED OUT OF COOLING EQUIPMENT AT XCEL ENERGY’S MONTICELLO NUCLEAR PLANT TUESDAY. XCEL SAYS THE LEAK OCCURRED DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE.
A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT SEPARATES OIL FROM COOLING WATER FAILED RELEASING THE OIL INTO A CANAL.
XCEL SAYS NO OIL REACHED THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
[MUSIC TRANSITION]
--LYFT SETTLEMENT--
THE RIDESHARE COMPANY, LYFT, HAS AGREED TO A SETTLEMENT WITH THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS AFTER REFUSING RIDES TO A BLIND WOMAN BECAUSE OF HER SERVICE DOG. -- --
[TORI ANDRES: HE IS MY EYES. HE IS MY FREEDOM, AND HE IS WHY I AM ABLE TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY.]
COLLEGE STUDENT AND ATHLETE TORI ANDRES [ANN-DRAYS] DEPENDS UPON HER SERVICE DOG, ALFRED, TO GO ANYWHERE … BUT LYFT DENIED THEM RIDES SEVEN DIFFERENT TIMES.
SHE WAS ONE OF THE MINNESOTANS WHO FILED FORMAL DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS WITH THE STATE … AND LYFT MUST NOW PAY HER 63-THOUSAND DOLLARS.
ACCORDING TO THE STATE … THE COMPANY IS ALSO AGREEING TO CHANGE NATIONAL POLICY, INVEST IN DRIVER-TRAINING, AND INCREASE EDUCATION OF RIDERS’ RIGHTS. IT’S ALSO PAYING ANDRES 63-THOUSAND DOLLARS.
THE STATE’S INVESTIGATION FOUND MORE THAN FORTY PERCENT OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST LYFT INVOLVED DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION.
THE STATE WILL MONITOR LYFT FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
LYFT DENIES ANY WRONGDOING.
--AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES--
IN OTHER TRANSPORTATION NEWS ... STATE LAWMAKERS ARE FOCUSING ON REGULATING THE SAFETY OF SELF-DRIVING VEHICLES IN MINNESOTA …
SUPPORTERS SAY AUTONOMOUS AUTOS ARE A GAME-CHANGER FOR SENIORS AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO CAN’T DRIVE.
SOUTHWEST TRANSIT COMPANY IS PART OF AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE PILOT PROJECT IN THE WEST MINNEAPOLIS SUBURB OF EDEN PRAIRIE...
[SOT: So it's a process and we're very happy that we're part of this process because this is something that can be a huge benefit for the transit community. Our services also completely accessible.]
SOUTHWEST TRANSIT PROVIDED 27-THOUSAND SAFE RIDES TO PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY ISSUES IN JUST THE PAST YEAR. COMPANIES LIKE WAYMO ARE ALREADY TESTING CARS IN MINNEAPOLIS.
--UNINSURED MINNESOTANS--
MORE MINNESOTANS ARE GOING WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE.
STATE UNINSURED RATES HIT A RECORD LOW IN 2023 … BUT TODAY … MORE THAN 100-THOUSAND MINNESOTANS LACK HEALTH CARE … A FULL TWO PERCENT BUMP … ACCORDING TO A NEW SURVEY THAT ALSO SHOWS MANY OTHERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT LOSING THEIR CURRENT INSURANCE.
THE STATE SAYS LESS PUBLIC COVERAGE THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE MINNESOTACARE AND MEDICARE IS DRIVING DOWN NUMBERS … AND EMPLOYER-PROVIDED INSURANCE ISN’T PICKING UP THE SLACK.
--DREAM ACT FINANCIAL AID--
AND … PAYING FOR A COLLEGE EDUCATION MAY SOON BE MORE DIFFICULT FOR UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS...
[TESTIFIER: AT A TIME WHEN MANY STUDENTS ARE STRUGGLING WITH RISING TUITION AND STUDENT DEBT, THOSE LIMITED RESOURCES SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE HERE LEGALLY.] (FADE DOWN AFTER FIRST HALF)]
MINNESOTA REPUBLICANS PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO BAN UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS FROM ACCESSING STATE FINANCIAL AID.
SUPPORTERS SAY RESOURCES ARE SLIM AND LEGAL MINNESOTANS SHOULD BE THE PRIORITY FOR EDUCATION FUNDS.
THE BILL WOULD UNDERCUT MINNESOTA’S “PROSPERITY … OR DREAM ACT” … A 2023 STATUTE ALLOWING UNDOCUMENTED COLLEGE STUDENTS ACCESS TO STATE FINANCIAL AID IF THEY MEET CERTAIN STATE RESIDENCY AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS.
[HICKS: THERE'S A LOT OF SPACE BETWEEN I HAVE A GREEN CARD AND I AM A CITIZEN AND I AM UNDOCUMENTED. AND THAT SPACE MATTERS.]
REPRESENTATIVE KIM HICKS SAYS VAGUE LANGUAGE IN THE BILL WOULD DENY NON-CITIZENS OUTRIGHT … IGNORING THE MANY WAYS PEOPLE CAN BE IN THE U-S LEGALLY, WITHOUT BEING FULLY DOCUMENTED.
--SOMALI TPS--
TEMPORARY DEPORTATION PROTECTIONS FOR SOMALI IMMIGRANTS ARE SET TO EXPIRE MARCH SEVENTEENTH … BUT A FEDERAL LAWSUIT IS TRYING TO STOP IT.
THE SUIT ARGUES THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS ILLEGALLY ENDING TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS … WHICH HAS ALLOWED SOMALIS TO LIVE AND WORK IN THE U-S SINCE 1991.
THE COMPLAINT SAYS TRUMP’S FREQUENT DEROGATORY REMARKS ABOUT SOMALIS SHOWS A PATTERN OF RACISM … AND THAT THE ORDER IS DISCRIMINATION DISGUISED AS IMMIGRATION POLICY.
THERE ARE ONLY ABOUT 400 SOMALIS IN MINNESOTA WITH T-P-S … THE MAJORITY ARE NATURALIZED CITIZENS.
[music transition : 02]
--SPONGY MOTH--
VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLARS AROUND ROCHESTER ARE ABOUT TO MEET THEIR MATCH. THE INVASIVE ‘SPONGY MOTH’ IS A LEAF-EATING PEST THAT CAN DAMAGE FORESTS QUICKLY.
STATE OFFICIALS WANT TO TREAT PARTS OF SOUTHEASTERN MINNESOTA THIS SUMMER … TO SLOW ITS SPREAD
IF THE PLAN IS APPROVED, EARLY THIS SUMMER LOW-FLYING PLANES WILL SPRAY A NON-TOXIC, SYNTHETIC SCENT OVER TREETOPS, CONFUSING MALE MOTHS SO THEY CAN’T FIND FEMALES TO MATE.
--LUTSEN RESORT--
[WTIP: A HUGE LOG BUILDING, OLD STRUCTURE, AND AS IT WAS DESCRIBED BY – I THINK THE FIRE CHIEF – “A TINDERBOX.”.]
LAND DEVELOPERS ANXIOUS TO SNATCH UP THE PRIME SPOT ON THE NORTH SHORE WHERE THE ICONIC LUTSEN RESORT ONCE STOOD ARE GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP WAITING.
THE JUDGE IN THE CASE SAYS IT CAN’T BE AUCTIONED UNTIL AFTER ITS OWNER … BRYCE CAMPBELL … HAS HIS DAY IN COURT.
PROSECUTORS CHARGED CAMPBELL WITH FELONY ARSON AND INSURANCE FRAUD FOR THE MASSIVE BLAZE THAT RAZED THE LODGE IN 2024.
A NUMBER OF CONTRACTORS AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY ARE ALSO SUING CAMPBELL … BUT THOSE CASES ARE ON HOLD UNTIL HIS STATE TRIAL ENDS.
HE’S BACK IN COURT ON JUNE 15.
--NCAA HOCKEY--
TWO MINNESOTA TEAMS ARE SKATING IN THE NCAA WOMEN’S HOCKEY TOURNAMENT. THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS AND U OF M-DULUTH BULLDOGS ARE BOTH COMPETING IN THE QUARTERFINAL ROUND THIS WEEK.
THE GOPHERS HOST THEIR REGIONAL GAME IN MINNEAPOLIS, WHILE U-M-D TRAVELS FOR ITS MATCHUP.
FOR NORTH STAR STORIES, I'M XAN HOLSTON.
WINNERS ADVANCE TO THE FROZEN FOUR, WITH THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SET FOR MARCH 22 IN PENNSYLVANIA.