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North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live is a daily, five-minute newscast that shines a spotlight on the stories and perspectives of Minnesota’s diverse communities, including Black, Latine, Asian American, East African individuals, people living with disabilities, LGBTQIA2S+ residents, laborers, veterans, and those from Greater Minnesota.
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HOST: This is North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live. Today in Minnesota…
ANCHOR: …The viral video of a woman making racial slurs has resulted in even more criminal charges. Then, state leaders face questions after the latest mass shooting. And, Minnesota blood banks need your donations!
I'm Gracie J.
A brother and sister in Rochester now face criminal charges, accused of fraudulently claiming money intended for the family impacted by a racist incident earlier this year. In May, a video of a woman yelling racial slurs at a young child at a Rochester park went viral. The NAACP raised more than 3-hundred thousand dollars for the victim. A brother and sister falsely claimed to be the impacted family. The NAACP confirms no funds were distributed to the siblings now accused of fraud. Meanwhile, the woman accused of making the racist slurs now faces charges of disorderly conduct.
Next, after the shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, state leaders are facing new pressure to act on gun violence. But the path forward is far from clear. Xan Holston has more.
Xan Holston: Two children dead, 18 injured, in a community reeling from a shooting on the first day of school. But while people try to make sense of what happened, Minnesota's gun control debate has been reignited.
Jacob Frey: We need a statewide and a federal ban on assault weapons.
Xan Holston: Flanked by members of Moms Demand Action, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called for major changes to state and federal gun laws. He also pressed for a ban on high-capacity magazines.
Jacob Frey: There is no reason that someone should be able to reel off 30 shots before they even have to reload.
Xan Holston: According to Everytown for Gun Safety, a national group that tracks gun laws and advocates for restrictions, 10 other states have already banned both assault rifles and high-capacity magazines. With the renewed pressure for action, Governor Tim Walz is planning a special legislative session to discuss a gun control package he said won't infringe on Second Amendment rights. But any new gun legislation faces hurdles. Democrats have a one seat majority in the Senate, while Republicans hold an extra seat in the house.
Maggiy Emery: We don't see any progress on gun violence prevention when there is anything other than a Democratic majority in the state.
Xan Holston: Maggiy Emery is executive director of Protect Minnesota, a coalition working to prevent gun violence. She says the problem is one of political will.
Maggiy Emery: Not because gun violence is, or should be, a partisan issue, but because our parties truly cannot work together to get this done.
Xan Holston: Emery says gridlock can't be an excuse any longer, and argues lawmakers need to act before another community is forced to confront the same kind of tragedy.
Maggiy Emery: It's Minnesota's turn today, but it will be somewhere else's turn tomorrow. This will keep happening until our legislators have the political courage to stand up to the gun lobby and to do what's right to protect children and our communities.
Xan Holston: For David Zimmer, the debate is too narrow, and that creates the partisan divide that keeps Democrats and Republicans from finding common ground.
David Zimmer: One way to ensure everybody is at the table is to make sure you expand the discussion beyond just restricting firearms.
Xan Holston: Zimmer is a policy fellow at conservative think tank Center for the American Experiment. He says a special session—and calls to ban firearms in the wake of tragedies—don't get at the deeper societal problems that lead to mass shootings. While he disagrees with calls for this kind of gun legislation, Zimmer says he understands the rationale behind them, but he can't support new laws that don't also get into issues of mental health.
David Zimmer: We have to get into some really meaty subjects, like what is broken in our society.
Xan Holston: Ultimately, Zimmer said finding solutions that go beyond policy changes to a wider cultural shift is going to take time.
David Zimmer: We didn't get into this problem in a couple of months, and we're not going to get out of it in a couple of months with a with a special session and passing a couple of new laws.
Xan Holston: For North Star Stories, I'm Xan Holston.
ANCHOR: You are listening to North Star Stories.
Minnesota is facing a blood supply shortage. The amount on hand has dropped below a two-day inventory, according to Memorial Blood Centers. Hospitals normally need at least seven days' worth to meet patient demand. All blood types are urgently needed, especially O-negative and O-positive, which are critical in emergencies. The shortage worsened this summer as donations fell during school breaks, vacations, and heat waves, while trauma cases increased. Health officials are urging the public to donate now. Donors can give blood every 56 days or platelets twice a month. Appointments are available online at m-b-c dot org.
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HOST: North Star Stories is produced by AMPERS, diverse radio for Minnesota's communities, with support from the McKnight Foundation and the State of Minnesota. Online at ampers dot org.