Capitol and courthouse safety, invasive species and ultrasonic buoys, and disability pride and voting.
Transcript
WITH TODAY’S HEADLINES, I’M XAN HOLSTON.
FROM COURTHOUSE SECURITY TO LAKE WATER QUALITY AND NEW FEARS ABOUT THE FALL HARVEST… HERE IS WHAT’S HAPPENING ACROSS MINNESOTA...
[CHIEF JUSTICE NATALIE HUDSON: “WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR GREATER MINNESOTA COURTS ARE AS SAFE AS THE METRO COURTHOUSES.]
MINNESOTA IS EXPANDING SECURITY AS THREATS TO PUBLIC OFFICIALS REACH FROM THE STATE CAPITOL TO RURAL COURTHOUSES.. AND JUDGES’ OWN HOMES...
--CAPITOL SECURITY COMMITTEE--
A YEAR AFTER DEADLY ATTACKS TARGETED PUBLIC OFFICIALS AT THEIR HOMES... MINNESOTA IS REASSESSING PUBLIC OFFICIALS’ SECURITY.. AT WORK AND WHERE THEY LIVE.
AT THIS WEEK’S CAPITOL SECURITY MEETING IN SAINT PAUL... CHIEF JUSTICE NATALIE HUDSON SAID THREATS TO JUDGES CONTINUE ACROSS THE STATE... QUOTE- “WITH SOME REGULARITY.”
JUSTICE HUDSON’S NEW SECURITY ORDER TOOK EFFECT STATEWIDE ON SEPTEMBER FIRST... BANNING WEAPONS IN COURT-OCCUPIED AREAS OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS… AND JUDGES CAN NOW RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT FOR HOME-SECURITY EXPENSES.
[CHIEF JUSTICE NATALIE HUDSON: BECAUSE, AS WE KNOW, WHEN YOU’RE HERE ON THE COMPLEX OR YOU’RE HERE IN OUR COURTHOUSES, YOU’RE ACTUALLY, AS A JUDGE, RELATIVELY SAFE. IT’S WHEN YOU GO HOME.]
REQUESTS FOR GRANTS FOR COURT-HOUSE SECURITY UPGRADES ALREADY EXCEED THE FOUR-MILLION-DOLLAR FUND BY ONE-MILLION.
AT THE STATE CAPITOL… UPGRADES INCLUDE TURNSTILES… CAMERAS… PORTABLE SCREENING… AND A SECOND CANINE TEAM.
--PUBLIC CHARGE LAWSUIT--
MINNESOTA IS SUING TO STOP A NEW FEDERAL IMMIGRATION RULE BEFORE IT TAKES EFFECT FRIDAY.
THE EXPANDED “PUBLIC CHARGE” POLICY WOULD LET IMMIGRATION OFFICERS CONSIDER FOOD ASSISTANCE... MEDICAID... AND ANY OTHER BENEFITS WHEN DECIDING GREEN-CARD APPLICATIONS.
CURRENT RULES GENERALLY CONSIDER CASH AID.. AND ‘LONG-TERM GOVERNMENT CARE’.
MINNESOTA AND 21 OTHER STATES SAY THE RULE IS TOO VAGUE... AND COULD FORCE FAMILIES TO CHOOSE BETWEEN PUBLIC BENEFITS AND PERMANENT RESIDENCY.
--ICE CHILLING EFFECT ON FARMS--
IMMIGRATION POLICY IS ALSO REACHING MINNESOTA’S FALL HARVEST... WHERE FEAR OF ENFORCEMENT CAN DISRUPT A FARM... EVEN WHEN NO RAID OCCURS.
FARM COMMONS IS A GROUP THAT WORKS TO SUPPORT SEASONAL FARM WORKERS AND OWNERS.. ...
IT WARNS WORKERS MAY STAY HOME IF COMMUTES OR PUBLIC ERRANDS FEEL TOO EXPOSED... LEAVING IMPORTANT WORK UNFINISHED.
[RACHEL ARMSTRONG, FARM COMMONS: THE CONSEQUENCES ARE ENORMOUS, ESPECIALLY FOR THE PERSON WHO IS DETAINED, WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE LEGAL AUTHORIZATION. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE ENORMOUS FOR THE FARM THAT LOSES ITS LABOR FORCE. CROPS DON’T WAIT. YOU KNOW, COWS DON’T WAIT TO BE MILKED.]
--INVASIVE SPECIES — LEECH LAKE RESERVATION--
IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA... AN INVASIVE ALGAE THAT CAN FORM DENSE MATS HAS TURNED UP IN ANOTHER LAKE… ALONG WITH NEW ZEBRA-MUSSEL DISCOVERIES.
THE D-N-R CONFIRMED THE INVASIVE SPECIES IN TWO LAKES WITHIN THE LEECH LAKE RESERVATION.
BAND RESOURCE STAFF FOUND STARRY STONEWORT ALGAE IN SIX MILE LAKE. ZEBRA MUSSELS WERE ALSO CONFIRMED THERE.
LITTLE WOLF LAKE NEAR CASS LAKE HAS ZEBRA MUSSELS ONLY.
THE D-N-R REMINDS BOATERS TO CLEAN AND DRAIN EQUIPMENT… AFTER EXITING THE WATER... BEFORE TRANSPORT.
--ULTRASONIC BUOYS WORTHINGTON--
ONE SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA CITY IS CONSIDERING A NEW APPROACH TO KEEPING ITS LAKES CLEAN … HIGH-TECH “ULTRASONIC” BOUYS THAT KILL ALGAE.
WORTHINGTON PAPER “THE GLOBE” REPORTS THE CITY ANDA LOCAL CLEAN WATER PARTNERSHIP ARE CONSIDERING ONE FOR LAKE OKABENA’S SUNSET BAY NEXT YEAR.
THE BOUYS SEND SOUNDWAVES THROUGH THE WATER TO KEEP ALGAE FROM REACHING SUNLIGHT AT THE SURFACE... AND MONITOR WATER QUALITY.
EACH BUOY COSTS ABOUT 73-THOUSAND DOLLARS … COVERING THE WHOLE LAKE WOULD COST AROUND 800-THOUSAND DOLLARS.
[MUSIC TRANSITION]
--C-FOUR-D PREDATORY-PRACTICES LAWSUIT--
MINNESOTA’S ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS TWO HOME SELLERS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF MUSLIM FAMILIES’ FAITH TO MARKET PREDATORY HOME CONTRACTS.
THE HENNEPIN COUNTY LAWSUIT NAMES C-FOUR-D… FIVE POINTS PROPERTIES… AND THEIR OWNERS.
IT ALLEGES THEY CALLED CONTRACTS FOR DEED INTEREST-FREE… WHILE HIDING FEES… INFLATED PRICES AND BALLOON PAYMENTS.
--MANKATO $11.5M FAA GRANT--
IN SOUTH-CENTRAL MINNESOTA... MANKATO REGIONAL AIRPORT IS CLOSER TO GETTING ITS FIRST AIR-TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER.
THE F-A-A AWARDED ELEVEN-AND-A-HALF-MILLION DOLLARS... AFTER DECLINING THE CITY’S REQUEST THIS SPRING.
CITY OFFICIALS SAY MANKATO IS MINNESOTA’S BUSIEST AIRPORT WITHOUT A TOWER... THE PROJECT STILL NEEDS ABOUT TWO-MILLION DOLLARS.
--DISABILITY PRIDEFEST--
AND FINALLY …
AFTER EXTREME HEAT DELAYED IT EARLIER THIS SUMMER … MINNESOTA’S “DISABILITY PRIDE FESTIVAL” RETURNS TO THE STATE CAPITOL THIS THURSDAY.
THE FREE EVENT BRINGS DISABLED MINNESOTANS AND ALLIES TOGETHER FOR CONNECTION … PERFORMANCES … AND A RESOURCE FAIR.
IT’S ALSO “DISABILITY VOTING RIGHTS WEEK” … ORGANIZERS SAY PRIDE AND ADVOCACY GO HAND IN HAND.
[MEREDITH KUJALA: IT’S REALLY ABOUT CELEBRATING … CELEBRATING HOW FAR WE’VE COME, BUT ALSO NOT SUGARCOATING THAT WE HAVE WORK TO DO.]
THE FESTIVAL RUNS FROM TEN TO TWO THURSDAY AT THE CAPITOL … WITH SUPPORT AVAILABLE FOR VOTER REGISTRATION.
AND STARTING FRIDAY … EARLY VOTING BEGINS FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION … BY MAIL OR IN PERSON.
FOR NORTH STAR STORIES, I’M XAN HOLSTON.