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North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live is comprised of a weekly 30-minute magazine-style newscast and daily, five-minute headlines segments that shine 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.
INTRO: YOU ARE LISTENING TO NORTH STAR STORIES: VOICES FROM WHERE WE LIVE, A DAILY NEWSCAST ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE IN MINNESOTA.
XAN HOLSTON: WITH HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE, I’M XAN HOLSTON.
[DOGS BARKING]
XAN HOLSTON: THE STATE FAIR GRANDSTAND GOES TO THE DOGS THIS WEEKEND …
AND ... A LEGISLATIVE TAX COMMITTEE VOTES TO EXPAND A PROGRAM TO HELP NEW FARMERS...
BUT FIRST …
[CHIEF DEPUTY STATE FIRE MARSHAL AMANDA SWENSON: CHECK YOUR CORDS. MAKE SURE THERE'S NO FRAYING. IF YOU FEEL HEAT ON YOUR CORDS, STOP USING THEM IMMEDIATELY. (19:00, 7S)]
XAN HOLSTON: FIRE INVESTIGATORS NOW KNOW WHAT STARTED THE WHITE BEAR LAKE HOUSE FIRE THAT KILLED MINNESOTA WILD REPORTER JESSE PIERCE AND HER THREE CHILDREN BACK IN MARCH.
FIRE INVESTIGATORS SAY THE FIRE WAS ACCIDENTAL... AND STARTED AS THE FAMILY SLEPT ... WHEN AN EXTENSION CORD OR ELECTRICAL ADAPTER OVERHEATED IN THE FAMILY’S HOME OFFICE.
THE STATE’S FIRE MARSHALL SAYS IT APPEARS PIERCE TRIED TO GET OUT WITH HER CHILDREN … BUT THE FIRE BURNED SO HOT...THE FAMILY PROBABLY WOKE UP WITH LESS THAN A MINUTE TO ESCAPE A SMOKE-FILLED HOME.
[STATE FIRE MARSHALL DAN KRIER: A PARENT IS NOT GOING TO LEAVE THEIR CHILD BEHIND, AND THEY WERE MAKING SURE THAT THE ENTIRE FAMILY WAS TRYING TO EVACUATE, SO THEY WERE DOING EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO KEEP THE FAMILY TOGETHER. (32:21, 12S)]
XAN HOLSTON: FIRE OFFICIALS URGE EVERYONE TO CHECK CORDS AND POWER STRIP RATINGS ... AND TO USE THEM PROPERLY... CHECK SMOKE ALARM BATTERIES MONTHLY AND REPLACE THE UNIT EVERY TEN YEARS … AND TO DEVELOP AND PRACTICE FIRE ESCAPE ROUTES FROM ALL BEDROOMS.
[MUSIC TRANSITION]
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XAN HOLSTON: SAINT PAUL’S POLICE CHIEF IS SUING THE MAYOR FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT... AND THE MAYOR NO LONGER USES HIS OFFICERS FOR SECURITY.
THE LAWSUIT ... THE SECURITY CHANGE... AND THE RARE HISTORY OF CASES LIKE THIS... PUT THE TOP OFFICIALS OF SAINT PAUL’S CITY GOVERNMENT UNDER NEW SCRUTINY.
IN THE 73-PAGE CIVIL LAWSUIT FILED WEDNESDAY... POLICE CHIEF AXEL HENRY ALLEGES MAYOR KAOHLY HER SEXUALLY HARRASSED HIM... AND THAT CITY OFFICIALS RETALIATED AFTER HE COMPLAINED.
AN OUTSIDE INVESTIGATOR FOUND THE MAYOR’S CONDUCT OFFENSIVE AND INAPPROPRIATE... BUT STOPPED SHORT OF CALLING IT SEXUAL HARASSMENT OR RETALIATION.
HER APOLOGIZED FOR CROSSING WORKPLACE BOUNDARIES.
HENRY DISPUTES THE INVESTIGATION’S FINDINGS AND WANTS THE FULL REPORT... WHICH THE CITY HAS NOT RELEASED.
RAMSEY COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES TOOK OVER HER’S SECURITY FROM CITY POLICE LAST WEEK.
HENRY’S LAWSUIT DESCRIBES DISPUTES OVER THE MAYOR’S DRIVER AND OVERTIME... BUT CITY OFFICIALS HAVE NOT SAID THE SECURITY SWITCH WAS RELATED TO HIS COMPLAINT.
[MUSIC TRANSITION]
UMN BUDGET CUTS
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THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA SAYS ITS CUTTING 225-MILLION DOLLARS FROM ITS BUDGET OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS … ACROSS ALL CAMPUSES.
THIS COMES MONTHS AFTER THE UNIVERSITY ELIMINATED SOME 230-JOBS … AND RAISED TUITION BY THREE-POINT-EIGHT PERCENT …
THE SIXTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR OF TUITION HIKES.
UNIVERSITY LEADERS SAY COSTS ARE RISING FASTER THAN REVENUE … WHILE ENROLLMENT AND GOVERNMENT FUNDING REMAIN UNCERTAIN.
BEGINNING FARMER TAX CREDIT
IN GREATER MINNESOTA... A TAX CREDIT TO HELP NEW FARMERS GET LAND HAS SEEN MORE DEMAND THAN EXPECTED... SO THE STATE TAX COMMISSION VOTED TO INCREASE THE PROGRAM’S FUNDING IN AN EFFORT TO HELP MORE YOUNG FARMERS.
THE FINANCIAL INCENTIVE PROGRAM GIVES LANDOWNERS A TAX BREAK FOR SELLING OR RENTING FARMLAND TO A NEW FARMER WITH LESS THAN TEN YEARS’ EXPERIENCE….
LAWMAKERS DEDICATED FOUR-MILLION-DOLLARS TO THE FUND... BUT IT WAS SPENT IN JUST TWO DAYS EARLIER THIS YEAR... SO LAWMAKERS ELIMINATED THE FUNDING CAP.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE GREG DAVIDS OF SOUTHEASTERN MINNESOTA VOTED TO EXTEND THE PROGRAM LIMIT AGAIN.
[GREG DAVIDS / TAX EXPENDITURE REVIEW COMMISSION CO-CHAIR: “THE NEED IS OUT THERE TO GET A FARMER GOING. IT’S A YOUNG FARMER. IT’S REALLY, REALLY TOUGH."]
XAN HOLSTON: THE COMMISSION VOTED FIVE TO ONE THIS WEEK TO CONTINUE THE TAX CREDIT.
APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE STATE AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT UNTIL NOVEMBER FIRST.
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TWO DRINKING-WATER CONCERNS AROUND THE STATE TODAY... ONE FOR CUSTOMERS OF GRAND PORTAGE WATER SYSTEM IN THE FAR NORTHEAST...
LEAD AND COPPER LEVELS ARE ABOVE FEDERAL SAFETY LEVELS... AND OFFICIALS SAY THE WATER MAY NOT BE SAFE TO DRINK OR FOR COOKING... BOILING WILL NOT REMOVE THE METALS…
THE BAND ALSO ADMITS MISSING TESTS AND REPORTING DEADLINES.. BUT SAYS THE LATE TESTS ARE NOW DONE... AS IT WORKS WITH THE E-P-A ON TREATMENT.
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AND IN MOWER COUNTY IN THE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE STATE...
MORE THAN 60-PERCENT OF 314-PRIVATE WELLS TESTED HAD HIGH-LEVELS OF ARSENIC.
MINNESOTA HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY NO AMOUNT OF ARSENIC IS SAFE TO DRINK... AND ALL HOMEOWNERS WITH ARSENIC IN WELL WATER SHOULD GET WATER TREATMENT OR ANOTHER DRINKING-WATER SOURCE…
GO TO THE STATE’S WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION ON PRIVATE WELL WATER TESTING.
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AND FINALLY …
[MORE DOGS BARKING]
THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER MAY BE OVER … BUT THE BEST IN SHOW IS YET TO COME.
LOTS OF VERY GOOD DOGS AND THEIR 4-H HANDLERS ARE TAKING OVER THE STATE FAIRGROUND’S GRANDSTAND THIS WEEKEND FOR TWO DAYS OF AGILITY … OBEDIENCE … AND SHOWMANSHIP.
THE ANNUAL 4-H DOG SHOW RUNS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY …
YOU WON’T HAVE TO BEG TO GET IN … ADMISSION IS FREE.
FOR NORTH STAR STORIES, I’M XAN HOLSTON.
OUTRO: 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.