The No Kings protest returns for its third edition, Iron Range schools weigh big cuts, and Delta airlines turns up the heat on Congress.
Transcript
WITH HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE, I’M XAN HOLSTON.
THE NO KINGS PROTEST RETURNS FOR ITS THIRD EDITION BUT WITH MUCH BIGGER NAMES … AND IRON RANGE SCHOOLS WEIGH BIG CUTS …
[HIBBING SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT XXX: WE HAVE TRIED TO MINIMIZE — AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE — TEACHER LOSS.]
BUT FIRST …
--DELTA AIRLINES STATEMENT--
MINNESOTA’S BIGGEST AIRLINE IS TURNING UP THE HEAT ON CONGRESS AS THE HOMELAND SECURITY SHUTDOWN STRAINS THE NATION’S AIRPORTS.
DELTA IS SUSPENDING SPECIALTY AIRPORT SERVICES FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, INCLUDING ESCORTS AND OTHER PERKS.
MEANWHILE, AIRPORT SECURITY OFFICERS ARE STILL ON THE JOB WITHOUT PAY…
AT LEAST 458 HAVE QUIT SINCE MID-FEBRUARY.
WHILE DELTA’S ANNOUNCEMENT WILL IMPACT MINNESOTA’S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATES…AIRPORT OFFICIALS SAY WAIT TIMES AT MINNEAPOLIS ST. PAUL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT REMAIN PRETTY NORMAL DESPITE THE PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
--MN SUES GOVERNMENT--
MINNESOTA IS SUING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SAYING IT IS ILLEGALLY BLOCKING STATE INVESTIGATIONS INTO THREE SHOOTINGS DURING OPERATION METRO SURGE.
STATE OFFICIALS FILED A SUIT IN FEDERAL COURT TUESDAY, ASKING A JUDGE TO FORCE THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO TURN OVER EVIDENCE IN THE KILLINGS OF RENEE GOOD AND ALEX PRETTI, AND THE SHOOTING OF JULIO CESAR SOSA-CELIS.
FEDERAL AGENTS SHOT AND KILLED GOOD AND PRETTI, BOTH U.S. CITIZENS, IN JANUARY, SPARKING PROTESTS AND DEMANDS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.
IN THE SOSA-CELIS CASE, PROSECUTORS LATER DROPPED CHARGES AFTER NEW EVIDENCE DISPROVED AGENTS’ CLAIMS THAT SOSA-CELIS ATTACKED THEM.
THE LAWSUIT SAYS LONGTIME FEDERAL-STATE COOPERATION SUDDENLY COLLAPSED, AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO LEGAL RIGHT TO WITHHOLD EVIDENCE.
--ROCK RIDGE SCHOOL DAY--
SCHOOLS ON THE IRON RANGE MAY SOON LOOK A LOT DIFFERENT.
THE ROCK RIDGE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS FACING A NEARLY TWO-POINT-FIVE-MILLION-DOLLAR BUDGET SHORTFALL … DRIVEN BY DECLINING ENROLLMENT, RISING WAGES, AND STATE FUNDING GAPS.
ONE OPTION ON THE TABLE IS A FOUR-DAY SCHOOL WEEK … WHICH WOULD SAVE ABOUT 250-THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR. THE BOARD WILL VOTE IN APRIL.
A SURVEY SHOWS MAJOR SUPPORT … WITH MOST TEACHERS, STAFF, AND PARENTS BACKING THE IDEA.
THE BOARD IS ALSO LOOKING AT STAFF CUTS, REDUCED PROGRAMMING, AND SCALED BACK SPENDING.
[DON’T KNOW NAME: ALL THESE TEACHERS ARE AMAZING, AND THIS IS SO HARD TO DO, AND I HOPE THAT WE GET ALL OF THESE TEACHERS OR SOME OF THEM BACK, BECAUSE THEY ARE SO AMAZING. [I SECOND THAT.]]
THE BOARD ALREADY CUT 12 TEACHERS … WITH THE CHANCE OF REHIRING THEM ONCE THE BUDGET IS BALANCED.
--HIBBING UPDATE--
NEARBY HIBBING SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ALSO CONSIDERING A FOUR-DAY WEEK … IN ORDER TO KEEP ONE SCHOOL OPEN.
THE DISTRICT IS FACING ABOUT A TWO-MILLION-DOLLAR SHORTFALL AND IS CONSIDERING CLOSING GREENHAVEN ELEMENTARY.
A FOUR-DAY SCHOOL WEEK WOULD SAVE ABOUT 250-THOUSAND DOLLARS … BUT THE SCHOOL BOARD ALREADY COMMITTED TO KEEPING A FIVE-DAY WEEK FOR NEXT YEAR.
[SUPERINTENDENT CARRIE MCDONALD: IT MAKES ME SICK TO BE TALKING ABOUT CLOSING THE GREENHAVEN. I LOVE THAT BUILDING. I KNOW HOW SPECIAL THAT STAFF IS. BUT AGAIN, I WOULD SAY IN THE END IT IS A BUILDING … AND THE STAFF AND STUDENTS WILL CONTINUE TO THRIVE.]
A PUBLIC HEARING IS SET FOR TOMORROW NIGHT.
--MANKATO SHELTER--
THE PATH TO PERMANENT HOUSING FOR UNHOUSED PEOPLE TAKES STABILITY … AND A SOUTHERN MINNESOTA SHELTER SAYS IT NEEDS HELP TO PROVIDE THAT.
MANKATO’S CONNECTIONS SHELTER SERVES NEARLY 50 PEOPLE AND FAMILIES EACH NIGHT FROM OCTOBER TO MAY.
THE SHELTER IS SEEKING 200-THOUSAND DOLLARS TO STAY OPEN YEAR-ROUND … SAYING YEAR-ROUND SERVICES WILL PROVIDE UNINTERRUPTED CASE MANAGEMENT AND HOUSING SUPPORT … SO PEOPLE DON’T LOSE THE PROGRESS THEY’VE MADE.
A DONOR IS MATCHING DONATIONS DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR FOR THE FIRST 35-THOUSAND DOLLARS GIVEN … MORE INFORMATION AT CONNECTIONS SHELTER DOT ORG.
--SECOND HARVEST & COLLEGES--
ONE IN FOUR STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA ARE FACING FOOD INSECURITY … A NEW PARTNERSHIP AIMS TO CHANGE THAT.
SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND IS JOINING UNIVERSITY’S NUTRITIOUS U FOOD PANTRY ON THE TWIN CITIES CAMPUS … PROVIDING MORE FRESH FOOD AND LONGER HOURS … AND S A WIDER RANGE OF CULTURALLY SPECIFIC FOODS AND HOUSEHOLD SUPPLIES.
THE SCHOOL REPORTED OVER 10-THOUSAND VISITS TO ITS FOOD PANTRY LAST YEAR … A 65-PERCENT INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
THE UNIVERSITY IS ROLLING OUT SIMILAR PARTNERSHIPS AT ITS MORRIS, DULUTH, CROOKSTON AND ROCHESTER CAMPUSES LATER THIS YEAR.
--CESAR CHAVEZ UPDATE--
THE MINNESOTA SENATE IS SCHEDULED TO VOTE TODAY ON A BILL TO REPEAL CESAR CHAVEZ DAY … WHICH WOULD NORMALLY TAKE PLACE ON MARCH 31ST TO HONOR THE FARM-LABOR UNION ICON’S BIRTHDAY.
STATE LAWMAKERS ARE FAST-TRACKING BILLS TO END THE DAY OF RECOGNITION AFTER RECENT REVELATIONS CHAVEZ SEXUALLY ASSAULTED WOMEN AND YOUNG GIRLS YEARS AGO.
THE HOUSE PASSED THEIR BILL UNANIMOUSLY ON MONDAY … GOVERNOR WALZ SAYS HE’S READY TO SIGN THE BILL WHEN IT GETS TO HIS DESK.
--TRANS DAY OF VISIBILITY--
TRANS DAY OF VISIBILITY WILL BE MARKED AT THE MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL THIS FRIDAY.
THE ANNUAL EVENT IS PART OF AN ANNUAL CAMPAIGN CELEBRATING TRANS PEOPLE AND RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT DISCRIMINATION THEY FACE.
THE RALLY WILL BE HELD FROM NOON UNTIL TWO P-M THIS FRIDAY … MORE INFO AT T-C PRIDE DOT ORG.
--NO KINGS--
[NAT: STREETS OF MINNEAPOLIS (FADE UNDER)]
AND FINALLY …
FROM THE STREETS OF MINNEAPOLIS … TO THE MINNESOTA CAPITOL… NO KINGS TWIN CITIES IS BACK WITH ITS BIGGEST LINEUP YET THIS SATURDAY.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN IS SET TO PERFORM … WHILE SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS … FOLK LEGEND JOAN BAEZ … AND A HOST OF MINNESOTA ELECTED OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS ARE EXPECTED TO SPEAK.
A NUMBER OF MARCHES TO THE CAPITOL START AT NOON … THE MAIN PROGRAM BEGINS AT TWO P-M.
FOR NORTH STAR STORIES, I’M XAN HOSTON.