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Bill comparison: How the MN House and Senate plan to spend $2.21B in new money for education

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

The Minnesota Legislature’s education budget bills call for big increases to general funding formulas, plus dedicated money for school support staff, literacy initiatives, after-school grants and building a more diverse teacher workforce.In budget targets announced last week, top lawmakers said they intend to spend $2.21 billion more on education in the next biennium than in the current one.“We‘ve had over 20 years of underinvestment in our schools. While we cannot change that overnight, or even in one biennium, this is an incredible start,” Rep. Cheryl Youakim, DFL-Hopkins, the house education finance chair, said Wednesday.Differences on spending, policyWhile the majority DFL’s leaders in the House and Senate education committees mostly agree on priorities, their spending bills contain significant differences on spending and policy.The Senate bill unveiled this week would increase per-student state aid by 4 and 5 percent in the next two years, at a cost of $913 million. The House b...

Walz appoints state’s first chief equity officer

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

Gov. Tim Walz on Wednesday announced the appointment of the state’s chief equity officer, who will lead an office dedicated to helping shape policy to address racial inequality in Minnesota.Department of Education Assistant Commissioner Stephanie Burrage, a former educator and school district leader, will head the new Equity and Opportunity Office.Burrage worked over the past year with hundreds of Black community leaders to gather input that helped shape the state budget framework recently announced by Walz and fellow Democrats in the Legislature.In what was called the “Mind, Body and Soul” initiative, she met monthly with leaders across the state and heard concerns about issues like affordable housing, the education achievement gap and workforce development. Minnesota has some of the largest disparities between Black and white students.Burrage said her work already started with the sessions and will continue when she assumes her new role.“I will be listening. I want people to reach...

St. Paul Saints slugger Matt Wallner welcomes his robo-ump overlords

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

During clubhouse access before a random game last season, Twins right fielder Max Kepler was asked if he’s in favor of having ball and strikes determined by the Automatic Balls/Strikes System baseball has been tweaking the past few years.He thought about it briefly before answering, “No.”Why?“Because then I won’t have anyone else to blame.”That day is closing fast for major league players because ABS is one step from the bigs, getting one last, season-long test run at Triple-A before MLB decides whether to bring it to the majors.Keep in mind that all the new MLB rules this season — bigger bases, timers for pitchers and batters, and a limit on how many times a pitcher can throw to a base — all had one last, season-long test run at Triple-A last season.Twins prospect Matt Wallner, a slugger from Forest Lake who will start the season in St. Paul, is eager to get another look. He liked ABS when it was used in some parks during the 2021 Arizona Fall League.“That’s my only experience with...

As he embarks on his fifth season as manager, Twins’ Rocco Baldelli feeling more comfortable, confident

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

Rocco Baldelli was irate.His most animated ejection to date had included a tossed hat and kicked dirt, and the Twins manager was still simmering during his postgame media session after a 3-2 home loss to the Toronto Blue – the byproduct of an overturned call that Baldelli did not agree with.“One of the most chickenshit things I’ve ever seen on a baseball field,” he said amid a profanity-laced rant – deviating for once from the stoic demeanor that disguises his emotions.As the Twins get set to open their fifth season under Baldelli, the 41-year-old manager says he feels like the same person he’s always been — but feels very different in a lot of ways, too.The last four seasons featured what Baldelli described as “some of the most turbulent” times of his life. Yet they’re times that reflect growth and double as some of the best.He has gotten engaged and married. He’s started a family with his wife, Allie, welcoming a baby girl in 2021. He’s also lost a close friend unexpectedly ...

Minneapolis council to discuss post-Floyd policing lawsuit

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minneapolis City Council is set to hold a special meeting Thursday to discuss a potential settlement in a lawsuit filed by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights over the city’s policing practices following the murder of George Floyd.City and state officials had been negotiating the agreement, in fits and starts, since the state agency issued a scathing report last year that said the police department had engaged in a pattern of race discrimination for at least a decade. The city and state then agreed to negotiate a court-enforceable agreement known as a consent decree, moving to address the long list of problems identified in the report.Few details about the closed meeting have been released. Mayor Jacob Frey, in a letter to the council, said he was calling the gathering for the purpose of “receiving a briefing” on the state’s lawsuit. Spokespeople for the mayor did not immediately return calls Wednesday.A spokesman for Human Rights Commissione...

Maine sues 3M, other manufacturers over forever chemical contamination

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

PORLTLAND, Maine — Maine’s attorney general is suing manufacturers of so-called forever chemicals that have contaminated farms and wells, contending they knew about the toxicity decades ago but concealed the information from the public.Two lawsuits targeting 3M, DuPont and others seek to recover costs to investigate, mitigate and monitor contamination.Attorney General Aaron Frey said Wednesday the state is working overtime to identify and deal with contamination.“The defendant manufacturers have willfully introduced toxic chemicals into Maine’s environment in pursuit of profit for shareholders,” he said in a statement. “Maine citizens and the state are left to manage the harm these chemicals cause.”Maine joins other states suing over contamination caused by the chemicals used since the 1940s in nonstick frying pans, food packaging, stain-resistant rugs, water-repellent fabrics and other consumer goods.A DuPont spokesperson said the company doesn’t comment on litigation but believes ...

Best New York Burger competition starts April 1

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Each year, the New York Beef Council holds its "Best NY Burger" competition to find the best burgers around New York State. The 2023 contest starts on April 1. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! This is the seventh year in a row the New York Beef Council is holding the competition. "Facebook users across the state are encouraged to submit nominations of traditional, multi-layer, or out-of-the-box, beef-centric burgers they’ve enjoyed while dining in New York," said the Council.From April 1 to April, the New York Beef Council will be accepting nominations. From April 9 to 19, voting will take place. On April 22, the Top 10 restaurants will be announced and then voting will open through April 29 to decide the Top 4. Sperry’s in Saratoga Springs closed until further notice On May 8, there will be a Top 4 cookoff and showdown at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse. The top burger will then be picked d...

Extra security in place for Cardinals Opening Day

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The field is ready for the first pitch and Opening Day at Busch Stadium on Thursday. The St. Louis Cardinals will face an American League team at home to kick off the season.On Wednesday, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department promised more officers inside and outside Busch Stadium on Thursday to ensure everyone is safe.“We have some additional officers on the street and in an undercover capacity, along with police marked vehicle capacity,” said Capt. Pierre Benoist, Commander District #4 for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. “They’ll be monitoring the foot traffic and the traffic in the downtown area around Busch Stadium in the morning, afternoon, and evening.” Top Stories: Officers injured in Maryland Heights crash The department planned to have around 40 officers for Opening Day. Authorities also recommend taking mass transit to the game.“Take the MetroLink,” Benoist said. “But if driving, walk in groups to and from the game, especially after the g...

Perry Ayers, founder of Colorado Black Arts Festival, dies of cancer in Wheat Ridge

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

Perry Ayers, founder and artistic director of the Colorado Black Arts Festival, died Thursday from cancer in a Wheat Ridge hospice. He was 71.Colorado Black Arts Festival founder Perry Ayers. (Provided by Florence Ayers)Ayers co-founded the festival in 1986 with his brother and fellow artist, Oyedele Oginga. The weekend festival, held last year in City Park, migrated over the years, from City Park to Sonny Lawson Park to Caldwell Plaza in Five Points to the lawn at East High School and back to City Park. At times, the popular festival has drawn more than 100,000 people through the course of a weekend. The festival features hundreds of visual artists, vendors, dancers, musicians, films, food offerings and children’s activities.A metal art and jewelry artist, Ayers performed with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance in the 1970s, said his sister, Florence Ayers.Born on Dec. 14, 1951, in Burkburnett, Texas, Ayers demonstrated in his youth a natural flair for the arts, as well as leadership...

A Denver police officer charged with felony theft is now being sued for excessive force in an unrelated case

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

A Denver police officer repeatedly used a Taser on an unarmed man as he lay on the ground in a downtown hotel lobby, a federal excessive force lawsuit alleges.Nicholas Munden was hospitalized after the May 9, 2022, incident at the Denver Art Hotel and suffered electrical burns to his stomach, legs and shoulder, as well as an injury to his shoulder, according to the federal lawsuit he filed last week against the officer and the city of Denver.The officer, Michael Pineda, used excessive force against Munden, who had a reservation at the hotel but was asked to leave, the lawsuit states.RELATED: 2 Denver police officers arrested. Father and son accused of felony theft“Regardless of whether he should or shouldn’t have left, he wasn’t posing a threat to folks,” said Jon Topolewski, the attorney representing Munden.Pineda is on unpaid administrative leave from the Denver Police Department because he is facing felony theft charges in a separate case, a department spo...