Some state lawmakers stop a program for small dairy farmers, parents want to prevent another school shooting like Annunciation Catholic school, and one of the nation’s highest civilian honors is going to one of Minnesota’s youngest heroes.
Transcript
ONE OF THE NATION’S HIGHEST CIVILIAN HONORS IS GOING TO ONE OF MINNESOTA’S YOUNGEST HEROES—AND IT’S PUTTING A SPOTLIGHT BACK ON THE ANNUNCIATION SCHOOL SHOOTING.
[SOT HERE OF THEM ANNOUNCING HIS NAME , IF WE GET IT IN TIME. ]
THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR SOCIETY NAMED ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD VICTOR GREENAWALT OF MINNEAPOLIS ITS 2026 YOUNG HERO HONOREE...
THE SOCIETY SAYS VICTOR'S ACTIONS SAVING HIS CLASSMATE DURING THE ANNUNCIATION SCHOOL SHOOTING LAST AUGUST.. SHOWS “EXTRAORDINARY” BRAVERY CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE
.. AND HE SHOWED COURAGE “FAR BEYOND HIS YEARS” WHEN HE INSTINCTIVELY COVERED A CLASSMATE WITH HIS OWN BODY DURING THE SHOOTING, TAKING A BULLET — AND DIRECTLY SAVING HIS FRIEND'S LIFE.
TWO CHILDREN WERE KILLED AND NEARLY 30 PEOPLE WERE INJURED WHEN A GUNMAN OPENED FIRE DURING A SCHOOL MASS.
--OFFICE OF GUN VIOLENCE--
PARENTS OF ANNUNCIATION SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE PUSHING STATE LAWMAKERS TO DO SOMETHING TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE...
LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING A BILL TO CREATE A STATE OFFICE OF GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
THE STUDY GROUP WOULD FOCUS ON PREVENTION WORK, DATA, AND COORDINATING STRATEGIES TO REDUCE SHOOTINGS.
ANNUNCIATION PARENT ANNE BETZNER TOLD SENATORS THE LONG-TERM DAMAGE TO HER KIDS AND THEIR FRIENDS IS STILL UNKNOWN.
[ANNE BETZNER, MOTHER OF ANNUNCIATION STUDENT: HE DOES NOT REALLY UNDERSTAND THE HARM HE AND HIS CLASSMATES HAVE SUFFERED. AND THAT IS PERHAPS A BLESSING RIGHT NOW, BUT ONE DAY HE WILL.]
SUPPORTERS SAY THEY WANT ACTION THIS SESSION — WHILE OPPONENTS ARGUE THE STATE SHOULD FOCUS ON ENFORCEMENT AND ROOT CAUSES, NOT CREATING A NEW OFFICE.
--DAIRI BILL--
AND FINALLY … THE BEARS ARE BACK IN TOWN
NINE ORPHANED BLACK BEAR CUBS ARE BACK IN THE WOODS THIS WEEK.
A WILDLIFE RESCUE RELEASED THEM AFTER THEIR REHABILITIATION AS PART OF EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THE STATE’S BEAR POPULATION.
AS THE WEATHER WARMS AND HUNGRY BEARS WAKE FROM THEIR WINTER SLUMBER … EXPERTS WARN: A FED BEAR IS A DEAD BEAR.
MOST BEAR PROBLEMS HAPPEN WHEN FOOD IS LEFT OUT … INCLUDING BIRD FEEDERS, GARBAGE OR PET FOOD.
AND ONCE BEARS START GETTING INTO HUMAN FOOD … THEY DON’T STOP AND OFTEN HAVE TO BE EUTHANIZED.
STATE OFFICIALS URGE PEOPLE TO SECURE FOOD SOURCES … KEEP A CLEAN YARD OR CAMPSITE … AND NEVER APPROACH OR FEED A BEAR.
BUT IF YOU DO ENCOUNTER ONE … BACK AWAY SLOWLY AND NEVER RUN.
FOR NORTH STAR STORIES, I’M XAN HOLSTON.
WITH HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE, I’M XAN HOLSTON.
COMING UP... HEAR WHY SOME STATE LAWMAKERS KILLED A CHANCE TO HELP STRUGGLING FARMERS...
AND...
REMEMBERING THE SHOOTING AT ANNUNCIATION CATHOLIC SCHOOL ...
[ANNE BETZNER, MOTHER OF ANNUNCIATION STUDENT: THE LOOK OF HORROR ON HIS FACE WAS OVERWHELMING.]
PARENTS OF ANNUNCIATION SCHOOL STUDENTS TELL THEIR STORIES IN SUPPORT OF GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION...
BUT FIRST...
--MEDAL OF HONOR--
ONE OF THE NATION’S HIGHEST CIVILIAN HONORS IS GOING TO ONE OF MINNESOTA’S YOUNGEST HEROES—AND IT’S PUTTING A SPOTLIGHT BACK ON THE ANNUNCIATION SCHOOL SHOOTING.
[SOT HERE OF THEM ANNOUNCING HIS NAME , IF WE GET IT IN TIME. ]
THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR SOCIETY AWARDED ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD VICTOR GREENAWALT OF MINNEAPOLIS ITS 2026 YOUNG HERO HONOREE... SAYING HIS ACTIONS SAVING HIS CLASSMATE DURING THE ANNUNCIATION SCHOOL SHOOTING LAST AUGUST.. SHOWS “EXTRAORDINARY” BRAVERY CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE: AT HOME, IN SCHOOLS, AND IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THE SOCIETY SAYS GREENAWALT SHOWED COURAGE “FAR BEYOND HIS YEARS” WHEN HE INSTINCTIVELY COVERED A CLASSMATE WITH HIS OWN BODY DURING THE SHOOTING, TAKING A BULLET — AND DIRECTLY SAVING HIS FRIEND'S LIFE.
TWO CHILDREN WERE KILLED AND NEARLY 30 PEOPLE WERE INJURED WHEN A GUNMAN OPENED FIRE DURING A SCHOOL MASS.
--OFFICE OF GUN VIOLENCE--
AND BACK AT THE MINNESOTA CAPITOL... PARENTS FROM ANNUNCIATION ARE PUSHING FOR PREVENTION.
LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING A BILL TO CREATE A STATE OFFICE OF GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION WITH THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
THE STUDY GROUP WOULD FOCUS ON PREVENTION WORK, DATA, AND COORDINATING STRATEGIES TO REDUCE SHOOTINGS.
ANNUNCIATION PARENT ANNE BETZNER TOLD SENATORS THE DEEPEST EFFECTS ON KIDS MAY NOT EVEN HAVE SURFACED YET:
[ANNE BETZNER, MOTHER OF ANNUNCIATION STUDENT: HE DOES NOT REALLY UNDERSTAND THE HARM HE AND HIS CLASSMATES HAVE SUFFERED. AND THAT IS PERHAPS A BLESSING RIGHT NOW, BUT ONE DAY HE WILL.]
SUPPORTERS SAY THEY WANT ACTION THIS SESSION — WHILE OPPONENTS ARGUE THE STATE SHOULD FOCUS ON ENFORCEMENT AND ROOT CAUSES, NOT CREATING A NEW OFFICE.
--DAIRI BILL--
A BILL TO HELP SMALL DAIRY FARMERS GOES SOUR... AFTER UNANIMOUSLY PASSING THROUGH THE SENATE WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT …
THE LEGISLATION WOULD EXPAND THE EXISTING ‘DAIRI WITH AN I’ LOAN PROGRAM TO NEW SMALL DAIRY FARMERS… AND DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY NEW FUNDING...
BUT ... AFTER MOVING FORWARD IN THE SENATE ... THE BILL WAS BLOCKED BY DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE... .
FRUSTRATING REPUBLICANS WHO CALL IT PARTISAN GAMESMANSHIP.
[REP BAKER: YOU CAN’T GET IT ANY MORE PAVED AND GREASED TO GET A BILL THROUGH THAN THE GOVERNOR IS TELLING DEMOCRATS TO SUPPORT IT … SENATE IS DOING IT … I JUST DON’T GET IT.]
IN SESSION, DEMOCRATS SAID THEY NEEDED MORE TIME TO TALK ABOUT THE BILL.
NORTH STAR STORIES REACHED OUT TO DEMOCRATS ON THE COMMITTEE... BUT DID NOT RECEIVE A TIMELY REPLY..
--FISH EATING GUIDELINES--
IN HEALTH NEWS...
MINNESOTA HEALTH OFFICIALS JUST UPDATED FISH-EATING GUIDELINES AFTER NEW TESTING FOUND MERCURY AND “FOREVER CHEMICALS” …CALLED PFAS … IN MORE FISH AND MINNESOTA WATERWAYS THAN PREVIOUS TESTS INDICATED.
THE STATE IS WARNING ANYONE EATING FISH FROM NORTHEAST MINNESOTA TO BE MORE CAUTIOUS AND KNOW THE NEW CONSUMPTION RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS ALSO USING FISH LENGTH RULES FOR WALLEYE AND NORTHERN PIKE … BECAUSE BIGGER FISH TEND TO CARRY MORE MERCURY.
[ANGELA PREIMESBERGER, MN DEPT OF HEALTH: FISH THAT EAT OTHER FISH, AND THOSE THAT ARE HIGHER ON THE FOOD CHAIN, ARE GOING TO HAVE HIGHER LEVELS OF METHYL MERCURY THAN FISH LOWER ON THE FOOD CHAIN.]
MERCURY CAN HARM THE NERVOUS SYSTEM AND IMPACT LEARNING IN YOUNG CHILDREN … WHILE PFAS CAN BUILD UP OVER TIME AND HAVE BEEN LINKED TO LOW BIRTH WEIGHT AND A WEAKER IMMUNE SYSTEM.
--NATIVE LANGUAGE TEACHING--
MINNESOTA HAS A LAW ON THE BOOKS TO HELP NATIVE KIDS STAY CONNECTED TO LANGUAGE AND CULTURE … BUT A NEW REPORT SAYS MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS STILL CAN’T DELIVER.
THE LAW REQUIRES DISTRICTS WITH AT LEAST FIVE PERCENT AMERICAN INDIAN ENROLLMENT … OR 100 OR MORE NATIVE STUDENTS … TO OFFER AMERICAN INDIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE CLASSES.
BUT ... THE RESEARCH FROM THE MIDWEST INDIGENOUS IMMERSION NETWORK FINDS JUST MORE THAN A THIRD OF THE SCHOOLS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE AMERICAN INDIAN LANGUAGE COURSES DO SO ... AND THE CORE PROBLEM IS A LACK OF TEACHERS … AND FUNDING.
MINNESOTA WOULD NEED TO ADD MORE THAN 150 TEACHERS … WHILE EXPANDING PROGRAMS INTO DOZENS OF DISTRICTS … JUST TO MEET CURRENT LAW.
--MANKATO SHELTER--
A SOUTHERN MINNESOTA ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES THE HOUSING AND STABILITY FOR UNHOUSED PEOPLE AND FAMILIES TO MAKE LONG-TERM PROGRESS.. IS ASKING FOR HELP.
MANKATO’S CONNECTIONS SHELTER SERVES NEARLY 50 PEOPLE AND FAMILIES ... BUT IS ONLY OPEN NIGHTLY FROM OCTOBER TO MAY.
IT NEEDS 200-THOUSAND-DOLLARS TO PROVIDE YEAR-ROUND SERVICES.
A DONOR WILL MATCH DONATIONS DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR FOR THE FIRST 35-THOUSAND DOLLARS GIVEN … IF YOU WANT TO HELP ... GO ONLINE TO: CONNECTIONS SHELTER DOT ORG.
--TRANS DAY OF VISIBILITY--
TRANS DAY OF VISIBILITY WILL BE MARKED AT THE MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL FRIDAY.
THE ANNUAL EVENT IS PART OF A CAMPAIGN CELEBRATING TRANS PEOPLE... AND IT RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT DISCRIMINATION THEY FACE.
THE RALLY STARTS AT NOON. MORE INFO AT T-C PRIDE DOT ORG.
--THE BEARS ARE BACK IN TOWN--
AND FINALLY … THE BEARS ARE BACK IN TOWN
NINE ORPHANED BLACK BEAR CUBS ARE BACK IN THE WOODS THIS WEEK.
A WILDLIFE RESCUE RELEASED TWO FEMALE AND SEVEN MALE BEARS AFTER REHABILITATING THEM OVER THE WINTER … PART OF ONGOING EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THE STATE’S BEAR POPULATION.
BUT AS HUNGRY BEARS WAKE FROM THEIR WINTER SLUMBER … EXPERTS ALSO WARN: A FED BEAR IS A DEAD BEAR.
MOST BEAR CONFLICTS HAPPEN WHEN FOOD IS LEFT OUT … INCLUDING BIRD FEEDERS, GARBAGE OR PET FOOD.
STATE OFFICIALS URGE PEOPLE TO SECURE FOOD SOURCES … KEEP A CLEAN YARD OR CAMPSITE … AND NEVER APPROACH OR FEED A BEAR.
BUT IF YOU DO ENCOUNTER ONE … BACK AWAY SLOWLY AND NEVER RUN.
FOR NORTH STAR STORIES, I’M XAN HOLSTON.