Updates to a program that helps people escape violence without leaving a trail, a program to help families cover utility bills, and it’s the state fishing opener this weekend.
Transcript
WITH HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE, I’M XAN HOLSTON.
COMING UP … UPDATES TO A PROGRAM THAT HELPS PEOPLE ESCAPE VIOLENCE WITHOUT LEAVING A TRAIL …
[REP. JIM NASH: TO MAKE THEM INVISIBLE TO THEIR ABUSER.]
BUT FIRST… MORE FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY …
[MAGGIE SCHUPPERT: AND WE’RE SEEING THE IMPACT ON THE ON THE ENERGY SIDE.]
--HOME ENERGY BILLS RELIEF --
FOR HOUSEHOLDS ALREADY STRETCHING PAYCHECKS TO COVER BILLS … FALLING BEHIND ON HEAT OR ELECTRICITY CAN PUSH A FAMILY INTO CRISIS.
NOW.. LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING 15-MILLION DOLLARS IN EMERGENCY AID TO INCREASE THE STATE’S ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
THE PROGRAM HELPS ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS PAY HEATING AND ELECTRIC BILLS… BUT SUPPORTERS SAY ONLY ABOUT ONE IN FOUR ELIGIBLE HOMES IS ACTUALLY RECEIVING HELP.
MAGGIE SCHUPPERT… WITH THE RURAL NONPROFIT “CURE” SAYS THE NEED IS URGENT… WITH MINNESOTANS NOW BEHIND ON ELECTRIC AND NATURAL GAS BILLS BY AS MUCH AS 145-MILLION DOLLARS.
[MAGGIE SCHUPPERT: THEY’RE FUNDS THAT ADDRESS A REALLY IMMEDIATE NEED FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CRISIS BECAUSE THEY CAN’T PAY FOR THEIR ELECTRICITY OR THEIR HEATING BILLS.]
THE BILL WOULD ALSO EXPAND OUTREACH AND HELP COVER SUMMER COOLING COSTS... WHEN SHUTOFF PROTECTIONS ARE MORE LIMITED.
SUPPORTERS SAY IT’S PART OF A BIGGER AFFORDABILITY PROBLEM … AS UTILITY COSTS COLLIDE WITH HIGHER HOUSING, FOOD AND HEALTH CARE EXPENSES.
THANKS TO PUBLIC NEWS SERVICE FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THIS REPORT.
--NEW ULM WATER RATES INCREASE--
AND ENERGY BILLS AREN’T THE ONLY UTILITY COST PUTTING PRESSURE ON HOUSEHOLDS.
MINNESOTA CITIES ARE FACING BILLIONS IN WATER AND WASTEWATER PROJECTS AS OLD SYSTEMS NEED REPAIR … CONSTRUCTION COSTS RISE … AND WATER QUALITY NEEDS GROW.
HOUSEHOLDS IN NEW ULM COULD SEE WATER AND WASTEWATER RATES NEARLY DOUBLE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS ... AS THE CITY BEGINS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO PAY FOR AGING UTILITY SYSTEMS.
MINNESOTA CITIES ARE FACING BILLIONS IN WATER AND WASTEWATER PROJECTS AS OLD SYSTEMS NEED REPAIR … CONSTRUCTION COSTS RISE … AND WATER QUALITY NEEDS GROW.
NEW ULM’S PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION IS CONSIDERING ANNUAL INCREASES IMPLEMENTED OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
FOR A TYPICAL HOME USING THREE-THOUSAND GALLONS A MONTH ... THE FIRST-YEAR INCREASE WOULD BE ABOUT FOUR-DOLLARS-AND-49-CENTS.
BY YEAR FIVE.. WATER WOULD BE MORE THAN TWICE THE CURRENT RATES AND WASTEWATER RATES WOULD BE ABOUT 72-PERCENT MORE.
THE COMMISSION WILL CONTINUE THE PUBLIC DISCUSSION LATER THIS MONTH.
--SAFE AT HOME--
MINNESOTA’S ‘SAFE AT HOME’ PROGRAM HELPS VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND STALKING DISAPPEAR WHEN BEING FOUND COULD PUT THEM IN DANGER.
NOW ... A BILL STRENGTHENING THE PROGRAM IS SIGNED INTO LAW.
THE LAW EXPANDS WHO CAN USE SAFE AT HOME … INCLUDING EMANCIPATED MINORS … AND LETS PARTICIPANTS USE THEIR ‘SAFE AT HOME’ I-D CARD AS PROOF OF RESIDENCE FOR OFFICIAL I-Ds.
IT ALSO REQUIRES MORE REVIEW BEFORE A COURT CAN DISCLOSE A PARTICIPANT’S ADDRESS … AND INCREASES PENALTIES IF SOMEONE’S PRIVATE DATA IS RELEASED AND CAUSES BODILY HARM.
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE JIM NASH SAYS HE PUSHED THE NEW BILL AFTER DISCOVERING SOME GAPS IN THE PROGRAM.
[REP. JIM NASH: THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO FOR THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA WHO FIND THEMSELVES AT THE VERY LAST THREAD OF THEIR ROPE.]
THE BILL PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS UNANIMOUSLY … AND GOVERNOR TIM WALZ SIGNED IT INTO LAW THIS WEEK.
--NUDIFICATION/GROOMING--
IN OTHER SAFETY NEWS … MINNESOTA IS NOW THE FIRST STATE IN THE U-S TO BAN SO-CALLED “NUDIFICATION” TOOLS …
THOSE ARE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE APPS AND PLATFORMS USED TO MAKE FAKE NUDE IMAGES OF REAL PEOPLE WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT.
AND A BILL PROTECTING STUDENTS FROM “GROOMING” IS OFF TO THE SENATE …
THE BILL DEFINES GROOMING AS REPEATED EFFORTS BY A TEACHER OR OTHER ADULT TO LURE A CHILD INTO A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP.
--TRF THEFT CONVICTION--
A RED LAKE COUNTY WOMAN WILL AVOID PRISON … AFTER ADMITTING SHE STOLE NEARLY 270-THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM HER FORMER EMPLOYER.
CHELSIE MAE JOHNSON WAS CONVICTED... AND SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS OF SUPERVISED PROBATION AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO FELONY THEFT BY SWINDLE AND FIVE COUNTS OF CHECK FORGERY.
JOHNSON ADMITTED USING MONEY FROM TRIPLE D CONSTRUCTION FOR PERSONAL EXPENSES WHILE WORKING THERE AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT.
HER FELONY CONVICTIONS CAN BE REDUCED TO MISDEMEANORS IF SHE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES PROBATION.
--LAKELAND FOOTBALL COACH--
BEMIDJI HIGH SCHOOL IS LOOKING FOR TWO NEW LEADERS AFTER A HUSBAND-AND-WIFE PAIR STEPPED DOWN THE SAME DAY.
BRYAN STOFFEL, RESIGNED AS HEAD FOOTBALL COACH... CITING PERSONAL ATTACKS AFFECTING HIS FAMILY AND A LACK OF SUPPORT.
HIS WIFE, JACKIE STOFFEL, RESIGNED AS THE DISTRICT’S UNIFIED COORDINATOR ... WHERE SHE WAS NAMED 2023 TEACHER OF THE YEAR AND WORKED WITH SPECIAL OLYMPICS PROGRAMMING.
THE DISTRICT SAYS STOFFEL SET THE BAR HIGH AND WILL BEGIN SEARCHING FOR A NEW HEAD COACH.
LAKELAND NEWS SAYS ... AFTER SPEAKING WITH STOFFEL DIRECTLY ... THE ATTACKS WERE NOT FROM PARENTS AND WERE NOT RELATED TO HIS COACHING … BUT DETAILS REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL.
--FISHING OPENER--
AND FINALLY …
MINNESOTA’S FISHING OPENER IS THIS WEEKEND … WITH WALLEYE SEASON BEGINNING THIS SATURDAY, MAY 9TH.
THE GOVERNOR’S FISHING OPENER IS IN STILLWATER ON THE SAINT CROIX RIVER… WHILE THE D-N-R IS REMINDING ANGLERS STATEWIDE TO HELP STOP AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES.
THAT MEANS CLEANING BOATS AND TRAILERS… DRAINING WATER… AND DISPOSING OF BAIT PROPERLY BEFORE LEAVING A LAKE OR RIVER.
ANGLERS SHOULD ALSO CHECK 2026 REGULATIONS BEFORE HEADING OUT.
FOR NORTH STAR STORIES, I’M XAN HOLSTON.