Moorhead decides not to become a “sanctuary city,” osprey make their home on a highway sign, and questions about the St. Cloud Diocese and its pension fund.
Transcript
WITH HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE, I’M XAN HOLSTON.
COMING UP … MOORHEAD DEBATES HOW FAR A CITY CAN GO TO RESPOND TO IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT FEARS …
[MOORHEAD COUNCIL MEMBER: AND IT IS OUR JOB TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS.]
BUT FIRST …
--DIOCESE PENSION BUST--
A PENSION FUND FOR CURRENT AND RETIRED SAINT CLOUD CATHOLIC CHURCH WORKERS IS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS SHORT.
THE SAINT CLOUD DIOCESE TOLD WORKERS AND RETIREES LAST FALL ITS CHRISTIAN BROTHERS PENSION PLAN WAS UNDERFUNDED BY 35-MILLION DOLLARS.
THE PLAN HAS SINCE BEEN FROZEN … AND PARTICIPANTS ARE BEING MOVED INTO A NEW FUND THE CHURCH SAYS WILL KEEP CHECKS COMING … AND PROTECT FUTURE RETIREES.
BUT JEFF KASTER … WHO CO-LEADS THE SAINT CLOUD DIOCESAN PENSION CONCERNS GROUP … SAYS WORKERS STILL NEED DETAILS.
[JEFF KASTER: THE DIOCESE IS SAYING THEY’RE GOING TO FUND THESE RETIREMENT PLANS; BUT THEY’RE NOT SAYING HOW THEY’RE GOING TO COVER THE 35-MILLION-DOLLAR DEFICIT.]
BISHOP PATRICK NEARY SAYS THE SHORTFALL CAUGHT THEM OFF GUARD … BUT THE DIOCESE IS LOOKING TO OTHER GROUPS THAT HAVE DEALT WITH SIMILAR CHRISTIAN BROTHERS PENSION CUTS.
[BISHOP NEALY: LEARNING FROM THEIR EXPERIENCES AND EXPLORING EVERY POSSIBLE AVENUE OF SUPPORT.]
THE GROUP WANTS THE DIOCESE TO PUBLICLY EXPLAIN HOW IT WILL COVER THE SHORTFALL.. AND PROTECT WORKERS’ FULL BENEFITS.
THE DIOCESE SAYS ALL OPTIONS ARE ON THE TABLE.
--LEGISLATIVE UPDATE – PASSED TODAY--
AS THE LEGISLATURE PUSHES THROUGH ITS FINAL WEEK … MORE BILLS ARE LANDING ON GOVERNOR TIM WALZ’S DESK.
A PUBLIC-SAFETY POLICY PACKAGE BANS PREDICTION-MARKET WAGERING… EXPANDS SOME ARREST AUTHORITY OF PEACE OFFICERS IN DOMESTIC ASSAULT SITUATIONS…
ANOTHER DESIGNATES PART OF RAMSEY COUNTY HIGHWAY 96 AS THE MASTER SERGEANT NICOLE AMOR MEMORIAL HIGHWAY.
AMOR WAS A NATIVE OF WHITE BEAR LAKE WHO WAS KILLED MARCH FIRST IN DRONE ATTACK WHILE SERVING IN KUWAIT.
--PERMANENT SCHOOL FUNDING AMENDMENT--
MINNESOTA VOTERS COULD DECIDE THIS YEAR WHETHER TO SEND MORE PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND MONEY TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
A HOUSE-SENATE COMMITTEE AGREED ON A PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO RAISE THE ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION FROM THE PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND BY TWO –PERCENT... TO FOUR-AND-A-HALF-PERCENT.
THE FUND SUPPORTS SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITHOUT RAISING INCOME OR PROPERTY TAXES.
IF APPROVED, IT WOULD BE ON THE BALLOT THIS NOVEMBER
--BWCA FUNDING CUT--
A DISPUTE OVER BOUNDARY WATERS EDUCATION FUNDING IS NOW PART OF FINAL-WEEK BACK-AND-FORTH NEGOTIATIONS WITHIN A LARGER ENVIRONMENT BILL.
THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST FUND BILL WOULD SPEND ABOUT 102-MILLION DOLLARS IN LOTTERY-BACKED MONEY ON PROJECTS AROUND THE STATE.
THE SENATE REMOVED A MILLION DOLLAR GRANT TO ‘FRIENDS OF THE BOUNDARY WATERS’ FOR ITS ‘NO BOUNDARIES’ PROGRAM … THAT TAKES STUDENTS ON WILDERNESS TRIPS AND OFFERS CLASSROOM LESSONS ABOUT THE B-W-C-A.
REPUBLICANS SAY THE GROUP IS TOO POLITICAL TO RECEIVE PUBLIC TRUST FUND MONEY … CITING ITS ADVOCACY AGAINST COPPER-NICKEL MINING.
[SEN. HEINTZEMAN: THE PUBLIC'S TRUST HAS BEEN DAMAGED, AND THERE MUST BE CONSEQUENCES WHEN MISUSE OCCURRED.]
DEMOCRATS SAY THE MONEY IS FOR OUTDOOR EDUCATION … AND ACCUSE REPUBLICANS OF PUNISHING THE GROUP FOR ITS POSITION ON MINING.
[SEN. MCEWEN: THERE MAY BE SOME INTERNATIONAL MINING CONGLOMERATES THAT DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO GO TO THE BOUNDARY WATERS — ESPECIALLY KIDS.]
THE ENVIRONMENT BILL PACKAGE IS NOW PART OF END-OF-SESSION NEGOTIATIONS..
--MOORHEAD SANCTUARY CITY--
-- --
AFTER MONTHS OF DEBATE … THE NORTHWESTERN CITY OF MOORHEAD VOTED NOT TO PURSUE THE STATUS OF ‘SANCTUARY CITY.’
THE STATUS REQUIRES A CITY TO SET CLEAR LIMITS ON HOW STAFF AND POLICE WORK WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.
SUPPORTERS SAID THE CITY NEEDED A STRONGER POLICY BECAUSE ICE OPERATIONS RAISED FEARS FOR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES …
OPPONENTS SAID FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT COULD STILL HAPPEN , EVEN WITH A DECLARED STATUS..
[MOORHEAD COUNCIL MEMBER: THEY HAD THOSE ORDINANCES IN MINNEAPOLIS AND ST PAUL AND THOSE OTHER PLACES WHERE ICE DID THE CRACKDOWN. IT DIDN'T HELP.]
THE COUNCIL DEADLOCKED FOUR-TO-FOUR MONDAY NIGHT …UNTIL MAYOR SHELLY CARLSON VOTED TO STOP FURTHER WORK ON THE PROPOSAL.
--MORE ICE AGENTS DEPLOYED--
A NEW NATIONAL ICE STAFFING EXPANSION REPORTEDLY INCLUDES MINNESOTA...
USA TODAY NEWS REPORTS ICE IS SENDING ABOUT 330 OFFICERS AND STAFF TO MORE THAN 40 STATES AND PUERTO RICO. .. BUT ONLY ONE EMPLOYEE IS LISTED FOR FORT SNELLING, MINNESOTA.
THE REPORT IS BASED ON FEDERAL PURCHASING RECORDS FOR CO-WORKING-STYLE OFFICE SPACE AND DESKS ... NOT DETENTION FACILITIES...
DHS DECLINED TO COMMENT ... CITING OPERATIONAL SECURITY.
--MN SUES 3M AGAIN--
MINNESOTA IS BACK IN COURT WITH 3-M OVER PFAS… THE “FOREVER CHEMICALS” THAT BUILD UP IN WATER, SOIL, FISH, WILDLIFE AND PEOPLE.
THE NEW CASE CENTERS ON 3-M’S COTTAGE GROVE FACILITY.
THE MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY SAYS WASTEWATER IS TREATED AND DISCHARGED TO A CREEK THAT FLOWS INTO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
THE STATE SAYS 3-M FAILED TO STOP PFA’S AND OTHER POLLUTION FROM REACHING THE NEARBY WATERWAYS.
3-M FILED TO MOVE THE NEW CASE FROM STATE COURT TO FEDERAL COURT.
AND FINALLY ...
MN-DOT HAS MET ITS MATCH ON HIGHWAY 12 NEAR WAYZATA... TWO VERY DETERMINED OSPREYS.
THE BIRDS BUILT A NEST ON A ROAD SIGN... MN-DOT REMOVED IT... THE PAIR REBUILT IT.. AND NOW CREWS ARE WAITING UNTIL NESTING SEASON IS OVER...
FOR NORTH STAR STORIES, I’M XAN HOLSTON.