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MN Dept. of Health Doubles Federal Water Protections

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ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced new limits Thursday for two chemicals present in groundwater, limits half that of current federal standards.

The new guidelines call for no more than 35 parts per trillion of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and no more than 27 parts per trillion for Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). MDH said in its press release that current standards by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency stand at 70 parts per trillion for both chemicals.

The chemicals are in a category of chemicals called perfluorochemicals (PFC), which were used for several decades in the creation of stain repellants, non-stick cookware, and other products. The 3M Company disposed of PFC wastes in several disposal sites across Washington County. The chemicals leached into the groundwater of a much larger surrounding area.

“Public health and environmental officials have an obligation to use the best available information to protect Minnesotans’ health,” MDH Commissioner Ed Ehlinger said in the press release. “As we get a better understanding of the long-term impacts of these chemicals, we need to update our guidance to enhance the protections that were in place previously.”

MDH scientists lowered the acceptable amount of PFC in drinking water in an attempt to better protect developing infants and young children. The department also notes that drinking water with PFC does not present an immediate health risk, even at the federal guideline levels. New value limits on PFC are designed to reduce longer-term health risks, and are overly protective for most residents out of childhood.

MDH officials have identified about 120 private wells in the East Metro area with water that exceeds the update limits of PFCs. These are primarily contained within parts of Lake Elmo and Cottage Grove that are not served by city water. Additionally Cottage Grove, Oakdale, Woodbury, St. Paul Park, and Bemidji have supplies to their public drinking water systems that are above the new guidelines. These communities have the capability to put into place interim measures that will keep drinking water at or below the new MDH guidelines.

While the Star Tribune’s headline emphasizes 3M’s involvement, they note the company stopped making PFCs in the early 2000s. Other companies only stopped making them in 2015, and only under pressure from the Environmental Protection Agency. MDH’s press release mentions 3M only once, regarding the source of the PFCs in the water as coming from 3M’s disposal in legally designated disposal sites for the chemicals.

The post MN Dept. of Health Doubles Federal Water Protections appeared first on Alpha News.


MDA Expands War Against Gypsy Moths

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ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) announced Thursday it will be starting a new campaign against gypsy moth infestations, as well as a statewide survey to identify additional problem areas.

MDA will treat 791 acres north of Hinckley in order to eradicate the moth from the area. According to MDA’s press release, the area was identified as problematic by a survey conducted last fall.

Treatment will be conducted by aerial application of the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk.) The bacterium is approved for use by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and has very low risk for humans or animals other than caterpillars. A helicopter will apply two doses to the area seven to 10 days apart, with the first treatment sometime between June 1 and June 15.

MDA has previously used this method across thousands of acres in Minnesota. MDA treated portions of the Richfield and Minneapolis areas earlier in May for gypsy moth infestations.

Gypsy moths are an issue due to their ravenous appetites, mainly targeting the leaves of many trees and shrubs. They mainly favor oak, poplar, birch, and willow trees. Severe repeat infestations can kill trees, and the gypsy moths can also be a nuisance to humans.

MDA will also be putting out 21,000 traps in the spring in an attempt to identify potential problem areas for gypsy moth populations. Personnel will begin putting out the traps May 25, with the instillations expected to take until the end of July. The traps contain a pheromone designed to lure in male gypsy moths.

“Our trapping survey program is an important frontline defense in the invasion of gypsy moth as they make their way across the country,” MDA Plant Protection Director Geir Friisoe said in a press release. “Each year we identify and treat start-up infestations, we save our urban and forested areas from a serious threat. This protects industries like tourism and forestry from economic harm and saves Minnesota from environmental damage.”

Gypsy moths have been a problem for many parts of the United States since their original introduction in New England. For example, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources estimated in 2011 that growing infestations could end up costing the state $22 million annually.

The post MDA Expands War Against Gypsy Moths appeared first on Alpha News.

US Attorney Obtains 21 Indictments Against Sex Trafficking Leaders

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MINNEAPOLIS- U.S. Attorney Greg Booker announced a new round of 21 new indictments against leaders within a Thai sex trafficking ring operating in Minneapolis.

This round of indictments follows indictments against the same criminal organization that occurred last October. When speaking on the case in a press conference last fall, then U.S. Attorney for Minnesota, Andrew Luger, said the following, “They promised women in Thailand a chance at the American dream, but instead exploited them, coerced them and forced them to live a nightmare. In short, the victims lived like modern day sex slaves.”

Through the course of the investigation it was determined that there existed seven houses within the Minneapolis area that were used for prostitution for the sex ring. The authorities were tipped off that Thai women were being flown to MSP and then shuttled between apartments.

The indictment also includes allegations of visa fraud; the use of fraudulent visas and travel documents in order to traffick the victims into the United States. This indicates that these women are being brought into the country illegally.

Among those prosecuted during the initial round of indictments were 12 Thai nationals and five U.S. nationals. Two of those prosecuted, John Zbaracki and Supapon Sonprasit, were both from Minnesota. Zbaracki (Lakeville) was a customer before joining the organization as a runner. The role of a runner is to force compliance and watch over the trafficking victims. Zbaracki agreed to forfeit $39,000 to $75,000 at his sentencing.

The case was pursued by a new interagency initiative to combat sex trafficking called the Anti-Trafficking Coordination Team (ACTeam), which was established in 2012. Since its inception, the number of cases filed in areas with ACTeams present and the number of traffickers convicted has increased substantially.

In addition to the ACTeams, local law enforcement is always heavily involved in these kinds of cases and play an integral role in shutting down these criminal operations. In a press release, Booker had the following to say, “With the cooperation and coordination of our law enforcement partners and the various resources they all bring to bear, we were able to significantly disrupt and dismantle this criminal organization from all angles.”

In a recent Erik’s Correspondence Corner video, U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen pointed to some of the recent legislation being enacted to combat human trafficking including the Safe Harbor provisions and tougher penalties for those who engage in trafficking. Paulsen also pointed to the greater allocations provided by Congress this year for the National Center for Missing Children, which plays a central role in providing help for the victims of trafficking.

The post US Attorney Obtains 21 Indictments Against Sex Trafficking Leaders appeared first on Alpha News.

Anti-Sharia Law Protest to be Met with Counter-Protest

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ST. PAUL, Minn. — Local Trump supporters plan to gather at the Minnesota Capitol on June 10 to rally against the introduction of Sharia Law in the state of Minnesota.

A group called Act for America, which describes itself as the “NRA of national security,” is the “nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots national security organization that focuses on educating, engaging, and mobilizing citizens and elected officials to impact legislative outcomes to protect America,” according to its website.

The Southern Poverty Law Center describes the group as an anti-Muslim group founded by Brigitte Gabriel, a Lebanese Christian.

The National organization of Act for America will be holding marches nationwide on June 10, called “March Against Sharia.”

The organization describes the event, “This is a march against Sharia law and for human rights. Our nation is built on the freedom of religion — a pillar of our democracy — which we must always respect, protect, and honor. However many aspects of Sharia law run contrary to basic human rights and are completely incompatible with our laws and our democratic values.”

The local Minnesota chapter organizing the event states on its Facebook event page, “Sharia is incompatible with our Constitution and with American values. We stand against female genital mutilations and child marriages.”

Approximately 150 people have said that they will attend or have shown interest in the event on Facebook.

Local Minnesota groups who heard of the event making its way to the Twin Cities have formed a counter-protest event at the Capitol at the same time.

Students for a Democratic Society at the University of Minnesota, Young Muslim Collective, Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar, the Anti-War Committee, Filipinos for Immigrant Rights in Minnesota, Twin Cities IWW General Defense Committee Local 14, Students for Justice in Palestine, and the No More Deportation Campaign – Minnesota, have teamed up to provide a counter-protest against the event.

According to their Facebook event, “This rally is organized by a racist hate group and is meant to generate anti-Muslim bigotry – help show that the Twin Cities stands against this kind of racism by protesting this rally and coming together outside the Capitol on June 10th. Join us in showing support for our Muslim neighbors and opposing anti-Muslim bigotry outside the State Capitol at 11:00am. Together we can outnumber, drown out the racists, and rally as a progressive community to appreciate our religious, racial, and national diversity and oppose these kinds of anti-Muslim and racist actions in the future.”

Those attending the Act for America event seem as if they will be greatly outnumbered. More than 200 people have confirmed their attendance to the June 10 counter-protest on Facebook, while more than 1,100 individuals have said that they are interested in attending the event.

Several of the groups who have organized the counter-protest at the Capitol are responsible for the counter-protest events against the Pro-Trump rallies that were held in March and May at the Capitol, where several Trump supporters were hurt.

The post Anti-Sharia Law Protest to be Met with Counter-Protest appeared first on Alpha News.

Elderly Man Convicted of Sexually Abusing a Child Claims Another Victim

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ST. CLOUD, Minn. – An elderly man previously convicted of sexually abusing a child is now being accused of assaulting another child.

In 2006, Amoud Omar Yusuf molested an 11-year-old boy. Yusuf, now 87 years old, was convicted of second-degree criminal sexual conduct in 2009. Now a second victim is coming forward.

A criminal complaint filed in Stearns County District Court states Yusuf assaulted a four-year-old girl from April 2009 to April 2010. Investigators say the abuse took place on the 1400 block of 9th Avenue South in St. Cloud.

The victim, now 12 years old, lived in the same apartment building as Yusuf at the time of the abuse. At the time, the victim’s mother was working as a personal care assistant for Yusuf. While the mother maintains she never left the young girl alone with Yusuf, the victim reports being called into his room to perform sexual acts on him. She did as she was told, believing she had to.

Yusuf denies the allegations, claiming the victim is lying. However, Yusuf does admit to babysitting the child.

The complaint was filed in November of 2016, and Yusuf was arrested May 26. He was released after posting bond. It is unclear why the victim waited to come forward.

Yusuf’s next hearing is scheduled for June 16.

The post Elderly Man Convicted of Sexually Abusing a Child Claims Another Victim appeared first on Alpha News.

Deer Unlimited; Minnesota Hunters Maybe Allowed to Bag more Deer

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ST. PAUL, Minn- A recent DNR assessment of Minnesota’s deer population indicates it is likely hunters will be allowed to bag more deer during the next deer hunting season.

Adam Murkowski, Big Game Program Leader at MN DNR explained the situation with deer population recovery.

“Minnesota splits the deer population based on a division of units corresponding to relatively equal sized spaces,” Murkowski told Alpha News. “The DNR monitors the size and health of the population within these units. Each unit has a population goal decided on through an involved public hearing process.”

Findings from the surveys done recently indicate a significant increase in the amount of bucks harvested within certain areas being surveyed. Some of the biggest increases in the deer population came in the Northern areas of the state including what is known as the “wolf range,” which has had notoriously low deer populations in the past.

In the not too distant past,  harsh winters caused the deer population to drop so low that the DNR put strict hunting regulations in place. Murkowski says the increase in the deer population is mostly attributed to the mild winters for the last couple of years, in addition to the regulations.

The state hasn’t made any specific changes to the amount of deer that hunters can tag, however, this process is often completed during the summer. Murkowski said that any, “increase in bag limits will be to properly maintain the deer population.”

Murkowski hopes to continue to effectively administer the deer population, which he stated “will be done through a long term deer plan, not a hunting plan.”

“[This plan] is unique in that it does not focus predominantly on the deer hunting as the primary motivation for the management of the deer population,” Murkowski said. “This change in what motivates the conservation plan could play an important role in deciding the specific tactics to be used, which will focus more on the health of the deer population.”

Other possible changes to occur in the upcoming hunting season is the allowance of elk hunting within Minnesota. In Northwestern Minnesota there is a unique wild elk population consisting of three elk herds. While the tags available for elk hunting will be limited to 13, Murkowski says it will give hunters the experience of hunting elk in Minnesota.

“The DNR and the University of Minnesota are working on plans to reintroduce more elk into Minnesota and a likely spot for reintroduction will be between Duluth and Hinkley,” Murkowski said.

The post Deer Unlimited; Minnesota Hunters Maybe Allowed to Bag more Deer appeared first on Alpha News.

Anti-Sharia, ANTIFA, and Assault

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ST. PAUL, Minn. — Chaos erupted at the State Capitol Saturday afternoon as counter-protesters clashed with anti-Sharia Law rally goers.

Protesters, Ralliers, and Police Officers Collide at the Capitol

Alpha News reported last week of the ACT for America protest at Minnesota’s Capitol building where pro-Trump supporters were planning to join together and rally against Sharia Law entering the United States.

However, the Twin Cities General Defense Fund,  ANTIFA, Students for a Democratic Society – the University of Minnesota Chapter, along with several other groups showed up to rally, standing on the Capitol steps protesting those inside and supporting the Muslim community. Several hundred people joined the counter-protest outside in near triple digit heat.

Several leaders of local groups came out to counter what they called anti-Muslim rhetoric, but organizers of the event say protesters outside had it wrong.

Ben Harris, one of the organizers of the anti-Sharia Law protest in St. Paul, told Alpha News that the event is anti-Sharia, not anti-Muslim. They are protesting things like female genital mutilations and honor killings, stating they don’t hate or have a problem with Muslims. Approximately 100 people attended the event. Harris also told Alpha News that he attempted to reach out to organizers of the counter-protest on several occasions to create an open dialogue and have a peaceful discussion, but received no response.

Jaylani Hussein, Director for Center of American Islamic Relations (CAIR) spoke to the crowd and welcomed both counter-protesters and those inside the Capitol rallying against Sharia Law to join them at a mosque later in the evening to celebrate a meal in a block party style celebration in honor of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Organizers insured security was tight with several dozen officers on hand from various law enforcement agencies around the Twin Cities to provide support.

Counter-protesters remained peaceful until approximately 1:00 p.m., when a group of anti-Sharia Law supporters came with signs in hand, standing at the end of the Capitol Mall. As soon as the signs appeared, protesters rushed towards the end of the Mall where chaos ensued.

Seven people were arrested on Capitol grounds, five from the counter-protest group.

Water bottles and pieces of paper were thrown at anti-Sharia Law supporters. Several fights broke out between supporters and counter-protesters, but officers were quick to break them up.

Counter-protesters were quick to turn on law enforcement and media for covering the anti-Sharia law protesters shouting, “Why are you protecting the Nazis?” One counter-protester shouted at a cameraman, “Stop normalizing them!”

My Personal Experience With ANTIFA

Counter-protesters attacked me personally after police escorted the anti-Sharia Law supporters into a nearby building.

While following counter-protesters back to the Capitol, a young man, who was part of the security team hired by ANTIFA, approached me asking, “Who do you work for?” I responded “Alpha News” stating, “we cover Minnesota politics.” He told me I needed to leave, in which I replied, “I have a right to be here, this is a public place.”

He then grabbed my work phone, which was mounted on a portable selfie-stick, shoved me out of the way and threw the phone several feet away, in front of a line of State Patrol Officers. The screen was completely shattered, but still recording.

As I went to pick the phone up, I asked the officers, “Did you see that? Aren’t you going to do anything?” They didn’t respond, just smiled. They then confirmed that I could file a police report with St. Paul Police.

I walked back toward the crowd continuing to film. A younger black man then started harassing me, threatening me, and telling me to get lost. I ignored him and continued to film until they disbanded. As I walked back, another member of ANTIFA stole my personal cell phone. They apparently turned it off so I would not be able to track it.

As I walked back to my car, I asked a state trooper if law enforcement was stationed around Capitol grounds, as I had parked near the light rail station. He told me that there were officers around, but I did not see any.

As I sat in my car, I saw several members of the counter-protest. A white man, who also worked security for ANTIFA, a white woman with green streaks in her blonde hair, and a black woman with red highlights approached my car and banged on my window yelling at me, “You need to get out of here or you’re going to get trouble.” They began to taking photos of me and waving people over. At that moment, I sped off.

 

The post Anti-Sharia, ANTIFA, and Assault appeared first on Alpha News.

Seven Charged in Connection to Saturday’s Riot

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ST. PAUL, Minn. — Police arrested seven people on Saturday in St. Paul during an anti-Sharia Law protest where ANTIFA and other groups clashed on the Mall of the state Capitol.

As Alpha News reported, for the third time this year, protesters comprised of groups like ANTIFA have clashed with supporters of President Donald Trump at Minnesota’s Capitol building. Several fights, shouts of threats, and chants erupted in the crowd as seven members from the anti-Sharia Law group and the counter-protest group were arrested by officers.

Robert Daniel Horacek, 37, is from Zimmerman, MN. Officers arrested him with rioting charges, which would add to a lengthy criminal history. Horacek has been convicted of first degree burglary, interfering with a 911 call, and violating a “no contact order” in relation to a domestic abuse case.

Caleb Emerson Murphey, 35, of Minneapolis was also arrested for rioting. Like Horacek, Murphey has a lengthy criminal history. Murphy was convicted of tampering with a motor vehicle and entering without the owner’s permission, trespassing, theft, receiving stolen property, and domestic assault by strangulation.

Drew Alberty Cleland, 30, from Big Lake, Ian Matthew McDonnell, 27, from Minneapolis, Nicholas Michael Sullivan Kelley, 18, from Nerstrand ,and John Allen Meyer, 19, from St. Cloud have no other serious criminal records. All three have been charged with obstructing the legal process and rioting.

Matwell Hunter Lindusky, 18, of St. Paul Park, was not charged with riot, but with felony assault of a peace officer. Felony assault can result in hefty monetary fines and jail time.

Police are still investigating  the March 4 Trump rally on March 4, when rioters clashed with Trump supporters inside the Capitol. Six, including the son of former Vice Presidential candidate nominee for the Democratic Party, Tim Kaine, were charged in May. There were no known arrests from the May 6 event at the state Capitol.

Dozens of police officers from various agencies around the Twin Cities were on hand to separate protesters and keep the peace. However, when I was personally attacked by a member of the security team hired by ANTIFA, members of the State Patrol followed their orders to hold the line and take statements afterwards.

The post Seven Charged in Connection to Saturday’s Riot appeared first on Alpha News.


Much Ado About Streams

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ST. PAUL, Minn.- The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) eliminated the public status for 640 miles of streams around the state.

The decision was made after the DNR realized that they had made a procedural error back in the 1980s when first conferring public status on these streams. The error was that quite a few of the streams currently under the state’s waterway buffer laws, which applies to public but not private waterways, had falsely been designated as having been on a list of streams that the public had a chance to review in the 1980s.  The DNR felt continuing to provide these streams public protection undermined the democratic process in these types of proceedings.

Claims had been made by agricultural advocacy groups that the state’s waterway buffer laws were being applied to private, farm area drainage ditches.

However, the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA) has filed an appeal with the Minnesota Court of Appeals to overturn the recent decision by the DNR, stating that the measure goes too far.  

“The DNR’s order, supposedly to correct mistakes, only made issues with the public waters map worse,” MCEA Staff Attorney Leigh Curries said in a press release. “Dozens of public waters that are not private ditches were erased incorrectly.”

“Public waters provide benefits to the public,” the press release went on, “They are protected from being filled, drained, dammed or altered without a permit. Permits protect downstream users from being adversely impacted by actions upstream. If DNR’s order is allowed to stand, these waterways could lose that protection.”

Among the waterways to lose public status is the Lost River in Red Lake County, Badger Creek  and Little Badger Creek in Blue Earth County, and a tributary of the Cannon River in Rice County. The DNR may confer public status on these waterways again, following public review.

The post Much Ado About Streams appeared first on Alpha News.

Nolan Joins With Top GOP Leaders To Advance Mining

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MOUNTAIN IRON, Minn. – Rep. Rick Nolan (DFL-MN8) hosted 19 top Republican lawmakers including Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN6) as he led them on a tour of several active and proposed mining sites in northeastern Minnesota.

Nolan and Emmer said they have met with U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke last month, and will meet with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Purdue in the next few weeks, reports the Pioneer Press. They expect that the moratorium on mining in the area should be overturned by the Trump administration shortly.

“After visiting United Taconite in Eveleth to learn about iron ore production, we visited Twin Metals to discuss how future mining projects will bring jobs and revenue to the region,” Emmer said in a statement on Facebook. “This trip only intensified my support of our hardworking miners, which is why I look forward to working with President Trump to ensure that government gets out of the way so our miners can get back to work!”

In a last minute move, the Obama administration revoked federal mining leases from Twin Metals, and without those permits the entire project is likely dead.

Republican Congressmen Paul Gosar of Arizona and Bruce Westerman of Arkansas also joined Nolan’s tours, reports the Pioneer Press. Gosar is the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, while Westerman serves on that subcommittee and the Federal Lands Subcommittee.

Gosar and Westerman both told the Pioneer Press they were glad to see the overreach of government here. They believe that while this specific mine is an issue for Minnesota, the principle of the project’s shutdown is applicable to the entirety of the United States.

“This is neither a Republican or Democrat issue, it’s an American issue,” Emmer said, reports the Pioneer Press.

The post Nolan Joins With Top GOP Leaders To Advance Mining appeared first on Alpha News.

Black Guns Matter Preaches A Pro-Second Amendment Message in Minnesota

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MINNEAPOLIS — “I’m a reformed scumbag from North Philly that tryin’ to do the right thing,” was a powerful statement that quieted a small conference room in Hotel Minneapolis.

Maj Toure, the founder of Black Guns Matter, made his way to the Twin Cities for a long weekend to spread his message to black communities.

Appearing on the Twin Cities radio show, “Black Republican Black Democrat,” Toure said that he created Black Guns Matter because he was “tired” of seeing his friends die at the hands of police officers and the hands of one another.

His message is simple. Educating everyone, but especially people of color, about their second amendment rights, gun safety, and encouraging a community stigmatized by gun violence to own guns to protect themselves.

Monday night’s event in downtown Minneapolis brought together a room full of black men and women curious about the message of Black Guns Matter, especially in the wake of the Jeronimo Yanez verdict in the death of Philando Castile.

Emotions still raw from the verdict a few weeks ago, led to a few members of the audience questioning Toure on why he would ask a white man to teach them the technical aspects of gun safety and gun laws.

“I don’t care about the packaging,” Toure told the audience. Noting that he had reached out to a person of color before hand without luck, he also noted the number of black men and women certified to sell guns and be certified in gun safety was small.

The event gathered certified trainers, lawyers, and pro-gun activists from the area so people have resources to turn to after Toure’s presentations.

Toure told the group that lawmakers who call for additional laws in the name of safety and gun control were simply creating another form of slavery. “Free men own guns, slaves can’t,” Toure told the crowd.

He used the law to show that current talking points by anti-gun activists like new laws to mental health checks and background checks were not needed as current laws already accounted for these issues.

Zavier Bicott, Chair of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Minnesota contacted Toure back in February to host the event.

In a press release, Bicott states, “The goal of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Minnesota is that by continuing to reach out to urban communities with information about firearm safety, we are encouraging and promoting a safer society, while preserving liberty and constitutionally protected 2nd amendment rights.  But this isn’t enough, we also need to encourage a change in culture and training of our law enforcement officials.  We hope by fostering a conversation and bringing our communities together we have a better understanding of the duties and responsibilities of both parties involved.”

Bicott told Alpha News that he thought event was a success. “At the end of the day, this isn’t about Republican or Democrat, but it’s about creating a dialogue and conversation that is affecting a large portion of our community. This event was as much of a learning experience for me, as it was for those who came to hear Maj [Toure] speak.”

The post Black Guns Matter Preaches A Pro-Second Amendment Message in Minnesota appeared first on Alpha News.

How does Castile Settlement Compare to Other Cases?

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ST. ANTHONY, Minn. — The city of St. Anthony Minnesota has settled with Valerie Castile, the mother of Philando Castile.

As reported by Alpha News, former Officer Jeronimo Yanez was acquitted of all charges relating to the death of Philando Castile in 2016. Castile was shot and killed during a traffic stop in St. Anthony, Minnesota. Yanez testified that he feared for his life and believed Castile was reaching for his gun. Castile did have a conceal and carry license.

The city of St. Anthony announced Monday that they would award Valerie Castile, as a trustee of her son’s next-of-kin, $2.995 million dollars.

“No amount of money could ever replace Philando. With resolution of the claims the family will continue to deal with their loss through the important work of the Philando Castile Relief Foundation, the city of St. Anthony wrote in a statement.

“The important work of healing our community continues. The City of St. Anthony Village reaffirms its commitment to transforming its police department in partnership with the United States Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Through the Collaborative Reform Initiative, the City and residents are working to improve trust between the police department and the communities it serves.”

An analysis of black men and women who have died at the hands of police officers varies in the amount of settlements given to their families. Cities have handed out settlements as low as $850,000 to as high as $6.5 million.

Settlement amounts appear to not vary by media exposure. Cases like Michael Brown Jr. in Ferguson, Missouri, which received weeks of on the ground national coverage and follow-up coverage only amounted to a $1.5 million settlement to the family. Meanwhile, the family of Danroy Henry, Jr., which did not receive as much national attention, received $6 million from the New York City

Settlements also appear to not vary by city size. Arlington, Texas paid the family of Christian Taylor $850,000. The city of Los Angeles, in two separate cases, paid Ezell Ford’s family $1.5 million, while paying the family of Brendon Glenn $4 million.

Settlements seem to vary based on the amount of evidence showing the level of wrongdoing committed by a police officer.

In the cases of Freddie Gray, Walter Scott, and Eric Garner, whose families each received approximately $6 million from Baltimore, North Charleston, and New York City respectively, evidence shows police brutality and unnecessary force which led to unnecessary death.

However, in controversial cases like Michael Brown Jr., where there is a question of whether he stole from a convenience store prior to being shot, or Philando Castile, where there is a question to whether or not he was pulling for his gun, they received smaller settlements.

Professor David Schultz, a Political Science at Hamline University agrees.

“While media coverage may be a factor, the bigger issue is all about uncertainty. By that, cities and parties are more likely to settle when they are uncertain as to the final result and they are unwilling to take a chance in court,” Schultz told Alpha News. “Larger settlements also reflect concession on the part of a city that they may be more likely than not to be held culpable given the evidence in a case that depicts that actions of an officer as reprehensible or bad. Overall, cities more likely to settle when they perceive they are liable for a large judgment before a jury and they are unwilling to take a chance and go to court.”

If you liked this story, you might like the following:

Black Guns Matter Preaches A Pro-Second Amendment Message in Minnesota

Black Lives Matter Protest During Pride Parade

Yanez Dash Cam Reveals Officer’s Distress, Little Else

Yanez Decision Protests Lead to Multiple Arrests

The post How does Castile Settlement Compare to Other Cases? appeared first on Alpha News.

Citizens Call for Resignation of Local Suburban Mayor

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ST. ANTHONY, Minn. — The past year has been tough for St. Anthony Village, Minnesota. The small St. Paul suburb has lived in the national spotlight for a year, following the death of Philando Castile at the hands of Officer Jeronimo Yanez, a local police officer.

The city, which settled outside of court with Valerie Castile, the mother of Philando Castile, to the tune of $3 million, has faced pressure following the resulting verdict which cleared Yanez on all counts in death of Castile.

Now its citizens are calling for the resignation of Mayor Jerry Faust. Faust, who was elected in 2015 is expected to serve a four-year term.

According to KSTP, members of the community were unhappy with the way the city had chosen to deal with many issues.

Community members chastised city leaders over their mismanagement of city money, stating the city’s refusal to deal with problems have led to long term financial consequences.

The Pioneer Press reports that one community member accused Faust and Police Chief Jon Mangseth of fostering cultural bias and racial profiling in the local police force — something they say played an active role in the death of Philando Castile.

KSTP notes that citizens were quick to point out the $3 million settlement given to the Castile family, the severance package given to Yanez so he wouldn’t return as a police officer to the city, and a settlement that the city had to give a local muslim group which wanted to open a mosque in the city.

The Star Tribune reports that at several moments during the two-and-a-half hour meeting, the crowd changed, “Resign!”

Alpha News tried to reach Faust on multiple occasions, but he did not respond in time for publication. However, the Star Tribune does report that Faust told the paper, “no” when asked if he had a comment on the calls for his resignation.

Like this article? Here are other you might be interested in:

How Does Castile Settlement Compare to Other Case?

Black Guns Matter Preaches A Pro-Second Amendment Message in Minnesota

Black Lives Matter Protests During Pride Parade

The post Citizens Call for Resignation of Local Suburban Mayor appeared first on Alpha News.

Minnesota Authorities Crackdown on Sex Trafficking

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ANOKA, Minn.- Police were able to arrest 19 members of a sex trafficking ring in a recent sting operation.

The two day operation was lead by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) in conjunction with multiple police departments within the Twin Cities area. According to a BCA press release, undercover agents from these groups used social media platforms to lure traffickers to a meeting where they thought they would be meeting with children 13 to 15 years of age.

Police arrested 15 men for probable cause of solicitation of a child. Two other men and two women were taken into custody on probable cause of committing human trafficking. The operation was also able to rescue ten women from the traffickers. One of these women was a minor who was placed in Anoka County’s protective custody.

Minnesota authorities have recently ramped up efforts when it comes to the prevention of sex trafficking within the state. The Minnesota Department of Transportation started installing anti-trafficking posters in rest stops. These posters includes tips on recognizing signs of human trafficking and provide a toll-free hotline to report suspicious activity. Rest stops along the highway are believed by experts to be one of the common places that victims of trafficking are exchanged.

Earlier in the month, another sting operation resulted in the arrest of three men, including the Walnut Grove police chief, in Redwood county. Just as in the operation carried out by the BCA, use of social media and online tools were used in order to arrest the perpetrators. This follows a recent trend by law enforcement to use and work in conjunction with social media companies in order to combat trafficking.

From January through June of 2016, the Minnesota Department of Health reported that 374 victims of trafficking used the Safe Harbor act, which decriminalized the act of being a victim of sex trafficking.

With the Super Bowl coming up in 2018, many law enforcement agencies around the state have stepped up efforts to address the heinous crime of sex trafficking.

The post Minnesota Authorities Crackdown on Sex Trafficking appeared first on Alpha News.

Minnesota Loons in Trouble?

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ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota naturalists are asking for some of the BP oil spill settlement in order to help the loon population in Minnesota.

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), scientists have been looking into a connection between the BP oil spill which occurred in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 and the loon population in Minnesota.

The migration of Minnesota’s loons to the Gulf of Mexico sparked this interest amongst scientists, who did testing on whether or not the birds’ blood contained any of the petroleum spilled from BP or the chemicals used to disperse the oil. Tracking collars placed on the birds confirmed the loons were in the affected area of the BP spill from 2013-2016 (period during which the research was being conducted).

Scientists discovered  birds had oil not only in their feathers, but also in their blood and eggs. While scientist have established that the birds were affected by the oil spill, they have yet to determine whether or not the oil will have long term health effects.

Naturalists are hoping that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will grant Minnesota $6 million of BPs settlement with the U.S. government following the spill. The full settlement totaled $18 billion. Minnesota environmental officials hope to use the funding for a 15-year loon remediation plan. As part of this plan, naturalists hope to restore shoreline habitats where the birds nest and to help maintain the cisco population, a type of fish, which is major part of the loons diet.

Another major threat facing loons recently is botulism, a bacterial food poisoning, which has already killed 9,000 loons nesting on the Great Lakes. A United States Geological Society study believes that the birds are being infected by their consumption of invasive species, such as zebra mussels, which may be carriers of botulism.

Loons have been a federally managed resource since 1996, meaning that the U.S. government and public are fully responsible for the well-being of the species.

The post Minnesota Loons in Trouble? appeared first on Alpha News.


Who Judges the Minnesota Lawyer?

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ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility (OLPR) published its July report, detailing the disciplinary actions against lawyers.

The report covers the period from July 2016 to June 2017, with 1,200 complaints of varying matters filed. The report indicates that 44 attorney were publicly sanctioned during this time period and 132 were privately sanctioned, which is significantly higher than most years.

Furthermore, the board indicated that amongst the punishments received by attorneys, 28 were suspended from practicing, and 115 private admonitions, which is when the OLPR decided that the punishable action was either non serious or of an isolated nature.  

Fourteen attorneys were disbarred, many of whom were for disbarred for misappropriating funds. One attorney was disbarred for a serious assault conviction, while another was disbarred for unauthorized practice of law after license suspension.

The 2017 fiscal year was also the first time the organization recorded demographics on how long attorney’s had practiced law for when they were brought up in these cases. The average length of practice of most attorney’s being disciplined was 25 years.

While the number of attorneys disciplined in 2017 was unusually high, the number of complaints received was comparable to the amount received in 2015, which saw significantly more attorneys disciplined.

The report also indicated that the OLPR made a wide variety of organizational changes in order to better manage the caseloads. The organization set a goal of having an open caseload below 500 cases, with less than 100 of those having been open for more than a year. While at the end of 2016 the OLPR had 516 open files and 151 of those having been open for over a year, the organization was able to decrease this number to 115 by the end of June 2017. Furthermore, throughout the year, the total caseload did fall below 500 multiple times.

 

The post Who Judges the Minnesota Lawyer? appeared first on Alpha News.

Former Pro Hockey Player Turned Politician Sets Sights on Congressional Seat

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HERMANTOWN, Minn. — The eighth congressional district has its first Republican candidate for Congress.

Peter Stauber, a St. Louis County Commissioner, announced his bid for higher office against incumbent U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan in a press conference Monday morning.

The Hermantown local has an interesting career. Born in Duluth, Stauber played hockey while earning his Bachelors in Criminology from Lake Superior State University in Michigan.

After winning a Division I National Championship with his hockey team in 1988, he signed a multi-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings in 1990. Player stats show that Stauber never made it past the minor leagues and retired after the 1992-93 season.

His retirement from hockey led him back home to Duluth, where he became a police officer with Duluth PD.

Stauber’s foray into politics started when he ran and won a seat on Hermantown’s City Council. In 2012, he won the race to serve as St. Louis County Commissioner in the fifth district.

On top of his current duties as St. Louis County Commissioner, Stauber is an Area Commander with DPD and serves as the President of Law Enforcement Labor Services Union, Local 363.

Stauber is married to a veteran who served in Iraq, and has four children.

Running for the seat could pose a few problems for Stauber. First, he may face a primary challenger in Stewart Mills. Mills, the former Vice President for family business Mills Fleet Farm, ran twice against Nolan, losing by less than 5,000 votes.

However, a Mills primary challenge could prove a plus for Stauber. Mills lost in 2016 by less than one point in a district overrun with support for President Donald Trump. New blood could bring new life to a race that had been deemed winnable for Republicans by insiders.

Nolan has also done considerable work to bolster his image in the district, by reaching out to the Trump administration to lift sanctions on mining in Northern Minnesota. The Star Tribune reported Monday that Nolan will have a hearing in the House Subcommittee on Federal Lands Friday to see if it is possible to swap land to build the Polymet copper-nickel mine in his district – a move that could bring hundreds of jobs to the area.

The post Former Pro Hockey Player Turned Politician Sets Sights on Congressional Seat appeared first on Alpha News.

Youth Hockey Coach Faces Child Sex and Weapons Charges

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BENSON, Minn. – A youth hockey coach already facing criminal sexual charges will now be brought up on weapons charges as well.

The Pioneer Press reports Bradley Alsaker allegedly sent text messages seeking sexual intercourse to a Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Agent posing as a 14-year-old girl. Alsaker is also the custodian of two children under age 12.

Since his arrest, the 33 year-old Alsaker’s employment with the Benson Hockey Association, Morris Hockey Association, and Morris-Benson Hockey Association has been terminated. Minnesota and USA Hockey have banned him from all Minnesota ice facilities reports the Pioneer Press.

He was charged in Swift County District Court with two felony counts. One was for soliciting for sexual conduct a child or someone believed to be a child via electronic communications, while the second was engaging in electronic communications relating to or describing sexual conduct with a child reports the Pioneer Press.

The day he was charged, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant of Alsaker’s home in Benson. According to the Pioneer Press, police seized what they believe are three fragment grenades, five other explosive devices, a Kimber .45 caliber handgun a Bersa 380-caliber handgun, and an AR-style rifle. The two handguns were loaded at the time. Most of the weapons were easily accessible by the children in the home according to police reports.

Alsaker has previous convictions for domestic assault, and criminal sexual conduct in the fifth degree, non-consensual contact. He also has a prior adjudication of delinquency for second-degree assault. As such he is banned from legally possessing firearms.

Law enforcement have filed a felony charge of possession of a firearm with a prior conviction or adjudicated delinquent for crime of violence, as well as two gross misdemeanor charges for negligent storage of loaded firearms where children can access, and endangerment of children by firearm access.

The post Youth Hockey Coach Faces Child Sex and Weapons Charges appeared first on Alpha News.

Minnesota Lawmakers Support Upgrade in Security at State Capitol

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ST. PAUL, Minn. – In the aftermath of the targeted shooting of Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), Minnesota legislators are seeking an upgrade in security at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul. The security enhancements are expected to cost $30 million.

WCCO cites security officials who deem the new security measures are in response to a higher risk for terrorism or violent protest at the Capitol.

As Alpha News has reported, there have been several incidents over the past year at the State Capitol, most recently on June 11 at an “ACT for America” protest where attendees rallied against Sharia Law being implemented in the United States. Water bottles and various items were thrown at the anti-Sharia Law protesters and several fights broke out between anti-Sharia protesters and counter-protesters. Alpha News Senior Editor Preya Samsundar had her work phone smashed by counter-protesters and she reported a member of ANTIFA stole her personal cell phone. Samsundar said she was harassed and threatened by counter-protesters while covering the event for Alpha News. Seven people were arrested on the grounds of the State Capitol, five from the counter-protest group.

On March 4, supporters of President Donald Trump held a March 4 Trump rally at the Capitol where counter-protesters used mace, air-horns, and tasers on Trump supporters. Numerous fights broke out between the protesters and Trump supporters. Linwood “Woody” Kaine, 24, the son of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s running mate, Tim Kaine was among those who were arrested. Kaine was later charged on May 27 with obstruction of the legal process, a gross misdemeanor as well as fleeing on foot and concealing his identity in a public place, which are both misdemeanors.

According to WCCO, security upgrades to the Capitol complex will include movable steel barriers to prevent attacks by vehicles filled with explosives, hundreds of closed-circuit cameras mounted inside and outside the buildings, and shatter-proof glass.

“One of the pleasures and uniqueness of the Capitol is how open it has been for the public and that has worked very well in the roughly 159 years of statehood,” Sen. Roger Chamberlain (R-Lino Lakes) told Alpha News. “However, I am surprised, and grateful, that there has not been a serious security incident at the Capitol. That said, there are probably some things that could be done to close some security loopholes.”

Chamberlain said that while there have been occasions where things could have spun out of control while at the Capitol, he has never personally felt threatened.

“While some improvements could, should be made, I sincerely hope we can maintain a balance between creating a closed military camp and allowing people access to their building,” Chamberlain said.

Rep. Eric Lucero (R-Dayton) has already taken steps to ensure safety at the Capitol.

“It’s a fact every instance of a mass shooting has been and always will be stopped by a good person with a gun. It’s for this reason I was proud to co-author and support a bill last session that became law and now allows permit-to-carry holders to carry guns onto the Capitol Grounds without first notifying Capitol security,” Lucero said. “More guns in the hands of law abiding citizens fosters a safer environment.  Gun-free zones are some of the most unsafe places to be and we would never want that to happen to the Capitol, the People’s House. With the change in law last session, any bad actor who comes to the Capitol with intent to do harm will be in close proximity to dozens of law abiding citizens also carrying guns who will stop them quickly. This reality helps to dissuade bad actors because they know they will not be operating in a gun-free zone.”

Rep. Cindy Pugh (R-Chanhassen) recalled a time earlier this year where she felt threatened as a member of the Minnesota State House.

“I was in a Civil Law Committee meeting in February where we were discussing legislation regarding protesters shutting down freeways when an extremist group came in and protested the proposed legislation and shut down the committee meeting,” Pugh said.“I was shocked at the level of vitriol that was exhibited by the group. I felt threatened as a member of the Minnesota House. They targeted Republican House members and said, ‘We are coming after you, we will come to get you.’”

Pugh advocates looking into what can be done to secure the State Capitol and can understand members calling for a review to improve security in St. Paul.

“Since we are not in session until February 2018, there is plenty of time to review what needs to be done to enhance security at the Capitol and we should look at what other state capitols are doing as well,” Pugh said.

Security officials told WCCO that they will ask the 2018 legislature to fully fund the security enhancements, which will likely be implemented in 2019.

The post Minnesota Lawmakers Support Upgrade in Security at State Capitol appeared first on Alpha News.

Land Exchange a Good Deal for Minnesota?

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WASHINGTON DC,- Rick Nolan (D-MN8) has attended the first set of hearings on a bill involving land exchange in Minnesota’s boundary waters.

The bill, Superior National Land Exchange Act of 2017, hopes to sell some 6,650 acres of federal land to the copper-nickel mining company, Polymet. The exchange of land, which would give 6,690 acres of land to the federal government, was necessary in light of the lack of clarity in whether or not Polymet could minethere if the federal government still owned the land.

The bill states that in relation to Week’s Law, “the Forest Service has taken the position that the mineral rights that were reserved when the lands were acquired by the United States in 1935 do not include the right to surface mine as proposed by Poly Met.”

However, as Polymet owns the right to the underlying ore area, it is fuzzy whether or not the Forest Service can block them. The bill hopes to avoid litigation on the issue, fearing the precedent a legal battle may set.

However, environmentalist groups have filed four lawsuits against the sale of land. Both WaterLegacy and Center for Environmental Advocacy draw upon concerns that the state is selling the land at too low of a price. The appraisal done by the federal government has put the land it is exchanging at $550 dollars per acre. The lawsuit alludes that the forestry agency directed the appraisal to not take into consideration the mineral value underground.

In an interview with the Pioneer Press, Paula Maccabee, WaterLegacy’s advocacy director and attorney, said about the exchange, “The Forest Service’s failure to appraise the market value of the federal lands … as a whole property, failure to value the lands according to their most profitable, feasible, probable and intended use for mining related purposes, and failure to value the lands based on the most comparable Northeastern Minnesota transactions by mining companies in the private market reflected a willful blindness of the Forest Service to the intended use of the federal property; was neither reasonable nor credible.”

On its website, Polymet laid out the some of the advantages the exchange would have for both the company, the public, and the federal government. The company claims the mine would create more than 300 jobs in the area. The federal government will gain 505 acres of wetlands, improved management effectiveness by exchanging lands that have no public overland access with lands that do have access, and cost savings from the elimination of two easements the government is currently responsible for maintaining.

In the Congressional hearings, Nolan stated that the taxpayers would be saved from paying some $425,000 owed to Polymet under the arrangement in place now. Congressman Tom Emmer (R MN-6) is a cosponsor of  the bill  along with Tim Walz (D MN-1).

The post Land Exchange a Good Deal for Minnesota? appeared first on Alpha News.

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