Nicollet County Ledger January 7, 2024

January 7, 2024 | South Central News & Media

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MN Contracted Court Interpreters Plan Strike Over New Pay Rates

Photo by Michel Curi. Minnesota State Capitol State Supreme Court Chambers at 75 Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in St Paul.

By Max Nesterak Minnesota Reformer Scores of court interpreters across Minnesota could strike next week over the state’s new pay rates in a rare coordinated labor protest by non-union, independent contractors that threatens to gum up the gears of justice.

The Minnesota court system relies on a roster of independent interpreters fluent in Spanish, Somali, American Sign Language and a host of other languages in order to uphold the state law entitling all court participants with limited English or hearing ability to interpreters at no cost.

While demand for skilled interpreters continues to grow, their wages have shrunk relative to inflation. In 1997, certified court interpreters earned $50 an hour. Today, they earn $56 an hour.

Language interpreters will receive a 16% boost on Jan. 8 when new pay rates take effect, bringing them to $65 an hour. But interpreters point out that if their 1997 wages kept up with inflation, they’d be earning more than $96 an hour today.

Three court certified interpreters spoke to the Reformer on the condition of anonymity for fear of being “blacklisted” by the courts — as independent contractors, they don’t have the same protections from retaliation as employees.

Unless the courts increase their compensation, they say upwards of 80 interpreters could begin refusing assignments indefinitely on Jan. 8 in what they believe would be an unprecedented labor protest for Minnesota interpreters.

“People are really scared, but there also is a lot of drive to finally take a stand,” said one Spanish interpreter, who has been court certified for over a decade.

Interpreters say they don’t plan to walk a picket line like traditional strikes, but will decline work from the courts with a standard email detailing their complaints over pay.

A spokesman for the Minnesota Judicial Branch declined to comment, saying they want to engage with the interpreters before speaking to the media.

Darcy Sherman, a public defender in Hennepin County, said she won’t be able to represent clients who don’t speak English if the contract interpreters strike.

“I can’t do my job, I can’t make sure my client understands what is happening to them and that they’re able to participate fully, if I don’t have a really good interpreter,” Sherman said.

In June, court interpreters urged the courts to increase their pay to match inflation during a public comment period on new interpreter

policies.

Interpreters also say they aren’t offered fair compensation for travel and short hearings. Under the new pay rates, interpreters will no longer be paid for travel time to court if it’s more than 35 miles away.

Instead, they will be reimbursed for mileage at the federal reimbursement rate.

The interpreters who spoke to the Reformer said they believe the court should pay them for both their time and mileage expenses when traveling long distances.

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Minnesota Still Working on Cannabis Law

The 2017 Minneapolis MayDay Parade, organized by In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre, marches along Bloomington Avenue in South Minneapolis. Photo by Tony Webster Minnesota cannabis regulators continue to gather input on how the commercial market for pot should function, according to Marijuana Moment, a cannabis news outlet. The state Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) has opened a third public survey to get Minnesota resident opinions on retail cannabis operations and industry standards for sanitation and disposal of waste.

OCM originally planned to put out five surveys total to gauge opinion on consumer and industry topics through next month,

the report stated. The goal of the surveys are to inform regulation. The agency has solicited input on cultivation, processing, manufacturing, pesticides, fertilizers and environmental controls.

Though the cannabis industry seems to be in a stalled state, organizations are already forming to help shape that industry in the state and elsewhere. St. Paul College recently announced a new cannabis industry program to prepare students for careers in the “budding” industry (pun intended), according to the Star Tribune.

The program is the first of its kind for a community or

technical college in the state. They will offer certificate programs for entry-level weed jobs. The college offers curricula for either cultivation, retail or product development. State officials expect full retail sales to begin in 2025 and medical sales have continued since 2015.

Some, like Brown County Attorney Chuck Hansen, believe that the medical business will likely subside once recreational business proliferates. St. Cloud STate University is also offering cannabis coursework in partnership with a company CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Nicollet County Ledger P.O. Box 212, Lafayette MN 56054

120th Year • Number 2 ©2024 Nicollet County Ledger

Photo by EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA

North Kato Council Retains Counsel and Updates Strategic Plan NORTH MANKATO – Kennedy & Kennedy will continue to be the designated law firm to represent the City of North Mankato in 2024.

According to the Mankato Free Press, the city has used a multitude of attorneys and firms for

specialties in law, but has retained representation with Kennedy & Kennedy since the 1990s.

The city recently discussed making a priority of designating an official firm for the city. They haven’t done so since 2015 and have only renewed contracts and

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requested legal services billed by the hour. At their Tuesday North Mankato City Council meeting, the city considered continuing that practice by removing the ordinance requiring the city to officially appoint a firm, create a request for CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 Typeset By: Simon and Sons ITES Services Pvt. Ltd. www.simonnsons.com

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Sunday, January 7, 2024

Scoring Statistics for Nicollet Raiders Previous Seven Games As of January 2:

Henry 0scarson 12pts Henry Kenedy 5.6pts Conner Martens 10.8pts Carson Kettner 6.6pts AJ Kramer 2.5pts Cody Strunk2 pts Wes Hoffman 3.3 pts Gav Bode1pt “We are currently 0-7 and host Madelia on Thursday. Our leading scorer is sophomore Henry Oscarson followed by senior captain Conner Martens,” said Coach Martin Stevens.

Our starters are Henry Kenedy fr Henry oscarson so Conner martens sr Carson Kettner fr Cody Strunk sr “We are very young this year and seeing a lot of production from our younger guys,” Stevens added.

Local Student Education News Saint Peter native Norah Timmerman named Amelia Carlson Named to Dean’s List at Norbert College to Marquette University's fall 2023 Dean's List MILWAUKEE (January 4, 2024) - Norah Timmerman of Saint Peter, MN, has been named to the Dean's List for the fall 2023 semester at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Timmerman is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Middle/Secondary Education.

To make the Dean's List, students must have earned at least 12 credits for the fall 2023 semester and have no disqualifying grades. The GPA threshold varies by college - for the College of Education and the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, undergraduate students must have at least a 3.7 to be named to the Dean's List.

The undergraduate GPA requirement is 3.5 for the following colleges: the Diederich College of Communication, the College of Business Administration, the College of Health Sciences, the Opus College of Engineering and the College of Nursing. All other programs have a 3.75 GPA minimum.

Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university that draws over 7,600 undergraduate and 3,700 graduate and professional students from nearly all states and more than 60 countries. In addition to its nationally recognized academic programs, Marquette is known for its service learning programs and internships as students are challenged to use what they learn to make a difference in the world. Find out more about Marquette at marquette.edu.

Isaac Peterson graduates from Marquette University MILWAUKEE (January 4, 2024) - Isaac Peterson of North Mankato, MN, has graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis. Peterson earned a Bachelor of Science in Middle/Secondary Education.

Peterson was one of 135 students to graduate from Marquette last semester.

Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university located near the heart of downtown Milwaukee, Wis., that offers a comprehensive range of majors in 11 nationally and internationally recognized colleges and schools.

More than 7,600 undergraduate students and 3,700 graduate and professional students attend Marquette University; nearly all states and more than 60 countries are represented.

In addition to its nationally recognized academic programs, Marquette is known for its service learning programs and internships as students are challenged to use what they learn to make a difference in the world. Find out more about Marquette at marquette.edu.

Jarrett Platz and Nolan Meyer Make Dean’s List at Riverland Community College AUSTIN, Minn. (January 5, 2024) - Riverland Community College is pleased to announce the students whose academic achievement placed them on the 2023 Fall president's and dean's lists. Riverland congratulates these individuals for their outstanding academic accomplishments.

President's List.

President's List To be eligible for the president's list students must have completed 12 credits per semester with letter grades and have earned a grade-point average of 4.00 on a 4.00 scale.

Dean's List To be eligible for the dean's list students must have completed 12 credits per semester with letter grades and have earned a grade-point average of 3.25 to 3.99 on a 4.00 scale.

Riverland Community College, a member of the Minnesota State system, is a community college that strives to transform lives through excellence in service, education, and career training. Approximately 4,500 students are served annually through a wide range of credit-based educational opportunities. Of those 55 percent are First Generation students and 26 percent are students of color. With campuses located in Albert Lea, Austin and Owatonna, Minnesota, Riverland may be found on the Internet at www.riverland.edu.

Minnesota State includes 26 community and technical colleges and seven state universities serving approximately 300,000 students. It is the fourth-largest system of two-year colleges and four-year universities in the United States.

HOMETOWN, STATE; NAME, HONOR Lafayette, MN Jarrett Platz, Dean's List North Mankato, MN Nolan Meyer, Dean's List

DE PERE, Wis. (January 9, 2024) - The following student(s) have been named to the 2023 fall semester dean's list at St. Norbert College. A minimum 3.5 grade-point average is required for academic eligibility.

St. Norbert College - celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2023 - is known for its academic excellence, focus on international awareness, and leadership and service opportunities. The academic excellence and character-building qualities of the college are nationally recognized by U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, The college is in the midst of the Support What Matters campaign, a $125 million fundraising initiative timed to align with the college's 125th anniversary that focuses on preserving, enhancing and amplifying the things that make a St. Norbert education unique. Find more information at www.snc.edu.

HOMETOWN, STATE; NAME Saint Peter, Minn.

Amelia Carlson

Kathryn Swanson of North Mankato, MN, was named to dean's list at Olivet Nazarene University BOURBONNAIS, IL (01/09/2024)-- Kathryn Swanson of North Mankato, MN, was named to the dean's list at Olivet Nazarene University during the recently completed fall 2023 semester. To qualify for inclusion on the dean's list, a student must have been enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student and must have attained a semester grade point average of 3.50 or higher on a 4.00 grading scale.

Olivet Nazarene University is an accredited Christian, liberal arts university offering more than 140 areas of undergraduate and graduate study, including the Doctor of Education in ethical leadership. Olivet's 275-acre park-like main campus is in Bourbonnais, Illinois, 45 miles south of Chicago. Additionally, Olivet offers Graduate and Continuing Studies via online education. From Oxford to Tokyo, hundreds of Olivet students also experience the global classroom each year through study abroad opportunities, internships and worldwide mission trips.

South Dakota State announces fall 2023 dean's list Locals Make the Cut BROOKINGS, S.D. -- More than 3,400 students were recognized for their outstanding academic performance over the fall 2023 semester at South Dakota State University by being named to the dean's list.

To earn dean's list distinctions in SDSU's colleges, students must have completed a minimum of 12 credits and must have earned at least a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale. Students with F, I, U, RI or RU grades are not eligible regardless of system term GPA attained. Note that this report includes courses that were taken at other South Dakota institutions this term. A minimum of 12 credits within the 100-699 course range must be taken. A student who passes pregeneral education courses may still qualify, if the student has 12 other credits that do fall within the 100-699 range.

Overall, 3,475 students from 39 states and 24 foreign nations are on the list. Nearly 1,500 students received a 4.0 GPA, and those are indicated with an asterisk.

Congratulations to these distinguished scholars on earning this academic achievement.

Brianna Beranek* of Lafayette, Minnesota (56054) in SDSU's College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Sierra Wilson of Lafayette, Minnesota (56054) in SDSU's College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Joseph Ogden of Nicollet, Minnesota (56074) in SDSU's College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Dominic Rosin of Nicollet, Minnesota (56074) in SDSU's College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Hayley Selby* of Nicollet, Minnesota (56074) in SDSU's College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Brynn Bohlke of North Mankato, Minnesota (56003) in SDSU's College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences Emily Coudron* of North Mankato, Minnesota (56003) in SDSU's College of Nursing Brady Hatkin of North Mankato, Minnesota (56003) in SDSU's Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering Jacob Reynolds* of North Mankato, Minnesota (56003) in SDSU's College of Natural Sciences Carson Schmidt of North Mankato, Minnesota (56003) in SDSU's College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Nicole Swanson* of North Mankato, Minnesota (56003) in SDSU's Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering Cooper Bexell of Saint Peter, Minnesota (56082) in SDSU's College of Nursing MacKenzie Pettis of Saint Peter, Minnesota (56082) in SDSU's College of Nursing Nicole Schilling* of Saint Peter, Minnesota (56082) in SDSU's College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences About South Dakota State University Founded in 1881, South Dakota State University is the state's Morrill Act land-grant institution as well as its largest, most comprehensive school of higher education. SDSU confers degrees from seven different colleges representing more than 200 majors, minors and specializations. The institution also offers 39 master's degree programs, 16 Ph.D. and two professional programs.

The work of the university is carried out on a residential campus in Brookings, at sites in Sioux Falls, Pierre and Rapid City, and through Extension offices and Agricultural Experiment Station research sites across the state. SDSU's research expenditures for the 2022 fiscal year were more than $59 million.

Sunday, January 7, 2023

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Cannabis Law in Minnesota Continued from Page 1 called Green Flower. Both institutions are part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system. Online programs cost around $750 and offer video content from industry experts, reportedly.

The Minnesota Legislature will reconvene in February and is expected to start working on the framework for retail cannabis licensing. The legislature is considering a variety of different issues such as cannabis infused alcoholic beverage sales and consumption, workplace guidance and chemical variations of THC, according to reporting from Southern Minnesota News.

The Office of Cannabis Management is using 2024 as an opportunity to fact-find and collect more data. For instance, it will survey various stakeholders including private industry and regulators in environmental and energy sectors. Water, energy use and waste are among chief concerns. The survey results will guide the office in drafting new rules. After that, there will be a public comment period and legal review. Social-equity measures will also be among the considerations, in which grants and special licensing permission for those affected by prior marijuana laws or those that lived in an area where those laws disproportionately impacted the local population. There will be other more specific guidelines and prerequisites, according to the report.

Law enforcement has raised its concerns over recreational cannabis legalization. Among them, Nicollet County Sheriff Dave Lange and Nicollet County Attorney Michelle Zender-Fischer, both of whom believe drugged driving will take place more often and put the public at risk. On January 5, the Department of Public Safety announced a pilot project starting this month that will provide a clearer picture of impaired driving involving cannabis and other drugs with the ultimate goal of giving Minnesota law enforcement a new tool that could help save lives.

Drug recognition evaluators (DREs) from law enforcement agencies statewide will receive training on an oral fluid roadside testing instrument. The instrument, the SoToxa Oral Fluid Mobile Analyzer, detects the presence of cannabis or other drugs in a driver. This is one of two instruments DREs will be evaluating this year for effectiveness, efficiency and accuracy in detecting drugs. The second instrument is the Dräger - DrugTest 5000. Law enforcement will train using the Dräger at a later date. DREs will conduct a further roadside evaluation of the driver to determine if there is drug impairment.

The roadside tests will be similar to preliminary breath tests (PBTs) law enforcement use to detect drunk driving. The pilot project is voluntary for drivers. The project will gather data to see how well the instruments work. During the pilot, results won’t be admissible in court, and they will not be used to establish probable cause for arrests. After the pilot project is completed, the goal is to obtain legislative approval in 2025 to use an oral fluid roadside testing instrument in the field. It will help law enforcement make DWI arrests and get drugimpaired drivers off the road. There's more than one way to be impaired behind the wheel. In addition to alcohol, cannabis can impair driving abilities. Reaction time is slower and understanding of distance and speed is different. Other substances, ranging from hemp-derived THC edibles to prescription medications and sleep aids, can also affect safe driving abilities. Drugged driving accounted for 8,069 DWI incidents from 2013-2017 compared with 15,810 from 2018-2022 — that’s a 96 percent increase, according to DPS, though it is unclear how many of those cases involve THC.

North Mankato Community Events City Events in January 2024

North Mankato Community Events January 2, 2024 2024 Weight Loss Challenge January 15th – March 15th, 2024 Kick-Off Wellness Fair: Thursday, January 11th, 2024: 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.

North Mankato Police Annex The North Mankato Weight Loss Challenge is back! Join us in 2024 on our “Journey to Wellness.” The challenge includes resources, discounts, and access to 8 local fitness facilities, weekly prizes, group motivation and support, and more! Learn about the challenge and sign up today at www.northmankato.com/cuture-and-rec.

Contact: 507-508-3267 Adult Spelling Bee 2024 Friday, January 19th: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. – Mankato Brewery Adults 21+ are invited to join us for the North Mankato Taylor Library’s 6th Adult Spelling Bee on Friday, January 19th from 7-9pm! Tickets are $15 per person on teams of 3-4 people.

Entrance to the Spelling Bee area starts at 6:00pm with the event starting at 7pm. This will be held at the Mankato Brewery. Registration includes a drink ticket for each person on the team. Optional: Teams can purchase cheats for an additional $5 each when they register or the night of the event. Register at the Taylor Library’s website.

Contact: 507-345-5120 Receive City of North Mankato Public Alert Notifications Residents can now receive alerts & community updates by text message and email! • To sign up for Emergency Alerts: text 56003 to 888777 • To sign up for Community Events: text NMCOMMUNITY to 888777 • To sign up for Taylor Library events: text NMLIBRARY to 888777 • To sign up for Caswell Sports Alerts: text CASWELL to 888777 • To sign up for Construction and Traffic alerts: text NMCONTRAFFIC to 888777 • To sign up for Swim Facility alerts: text SWIM to 888777 • Sign up at www.northmankato.com/public-alerts-sign-up or call 507-625-4141 Taylor Library Read & Play Mondays & Tuesdays: 9:30 a.m. – North Mankato Taylor Library Children ages 1-5 and their parents/guardians are invited to join us Mondays and Tuesdays at 9:30am for educational play, games, stories, crafts and more!

Contact: 507-345-5120 Mother/Daughter Book Club Thursday, January 4th: 6:00 p.m. – North Mankato Taylor Library Girls in grades 3-6 and their moms (or other significant female) are invited to talk, laugh, craft and eat at this fun-filled book club! We meet every 1st Thursday of the month at 6pm in the library. Ask about January's book at the library front desk!

Contact: 507-345-5120 Blood Drive Friday, January 5th: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – North Mankato Police Annex Sign up for our Winter Blood Drive that will be on Friday, January 5th from 10-4pm in the Police Annex! Please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter: NMTLMN to schedule an appointment.

Contact: 507-345-5120 Chess Night Friday, January 5th: 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. – North Mankato Taylor Library All ages and skill levels are welcome to join us for our Chess Night on Friday, January 5th from 4-6pm in the library conference room. No registration required.

Contact: 507-345-5120 Anime/Manga Club Friday, January 5th: 6:30 p.m. – North Mankato Taylor Library Come in from the cold and enjoy a night of Manga and Anime shows! Volume 1 of a selected Manga graphic novel will be yours to keep. Special snacks provided! Registration required.

Open to ages 11-17. Register by calling the library at 507-345-5120, stopping into the library or online at https://www.northmankato.com/library_calendar.php Saturday Shenanigans Saturday, January 6th: 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. – North Mankato Taylor Library Kids ages 1-5 are invited to join us for Saturday Shenanigans on Saturday, January 6th from 9- 11am. There will be various snow-themed activities for all to enjoy! No registration required for this come and go event.

Contact: 507-345-5120 Movie Monday Monday, January 8th: 1:00 p.m. – North Mankato Taylor Library Every second Monday of the month is Movie Monday at the North Mankato Taylor Library for our senior patrons. Although everyone is invited, movie selections will cater to our older patrons. January's movie: Cool Runnings Contact: 507-345-5120 Teen Book Club Monday, January 8th: 4:00 p.m. – Caribou Coffee (1661 Commerce Dr.) Join us at Caribou Coffee on Commerce Drive to share and discuss what you are currently reading. Drink of choice is on us! Open to ages 11-18.

Contact: 507-345-5120 Culture & Rec Programming First Aid & CPR Training Saturday, January 6th: 10:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Spring Lake Park Warming House (641 McKinley Ave.) Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED blended learning course equips students to recognize and care for a variety of first aid, breathing, and cardiac emergencies involving adults, children and infants. It is designed for those needing a certification that satisfies OSHA, workplace or other regulatory requirements. This class is taught in a blended learning format and the online portion (accessed via mobile, desktop or tablet) must be completed prior to attending the Instructor-led skills session. Upon successful completion, a valid 2 year digital certificate for Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED is issued. Register at www.northmankato.com/culture-and-rec Contact: 507-508-3267 Senior Exercise with Sandy Tuesday mornings from 9:15-10:00 a.m. – North Mankato Police Annex Join the Culture & Recreation department for this low impact exercise class for our active aging population. All fitness levels are welcome! Learn more and pre-register at https://app.amilia.com/store/en/city-of-north-mankato/shop/activities/4128827. Contact: 507-508-3267

Sunday, January 7, 2023

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MDA Now Accepting Applications for 2024 Beginning Farmer Tax Credit

Eligible parties are encouraged to apply early for funding

St. Paul, MN: The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Rural Finance Authority (RFA) is now accepting applications for the 2024 Beginning Farmer Tax Credit, an annual program available to landlords and sellers (asset owners) who rent or sell farmland, equipment, livestock, and other agricultural assets to beginning farmers.

Asset owners can claim credits in one of the following categories in a given tax year for each beginning farmer they lease/sell to: .

Tax Credit Amount

MaximumTax Credit

Application Due Date

Cash Rentals

10% of annual rental income

$7,000

July 17, 2024

Share Crop Rentals

15% of annual rental income

$10,000

July 17, 2024

Farmland Sales

8% of sale price (12% if the buyer is an emerging farmer)

$50,000

November 1, 2024

All other sales (equipment, livestock, etc.)

5% of sale price

$32,000

November 1, 2024

Total funding available for the 2024 Beginning Farmer Tax Credit program is $4 million. The credits are funded in a first-come, first-served manner, so applicants are highly encouraged to apply early in the year before the stated deadlines. Both the asset owners and beginning farmers must submit applications with lease and/or sale documents to be eligible for funding and to hold their place in line. They may apply before sales close, if needed.

Qualifying asset owners can include individuals, trusts, or qualified pass-through entities renting or selling land, livestock, facilities, buildings, or machinery used for farming in Minnesota to a beginning farmer. Through changes made to the program during the 2023 legislative session, parents, grandparents, and siblings are now eligible for the tax credit if they sell farmland to a direct family member. However, this does not apply to leases or non-land sales (e.g., livestock, vehicles).

A beginning farmer is defined as a Minnesota resident with the desire to start farming or who began farming within the past 10 years. They must provide positive projected earnings statements, have a net worth less than $979,000, and enroll in, or have completed, an approved farm business management (FBM) program.

Beginning farmers are also eligible for a nonrefundable Minnesota tax credit equal to the amount paid for FBM tuition, up to a maximum of $1,500. This tax credit is available for up to three years.

Full eligibility requirements and application materials can be found on the Beginning Farmer Tax Credit web page. Questions may be directed to Jenny Heck at Jenny.Heck@state.mn.us or 651-201-6316.

North Mankato City Council Retains Counsel Continued from 1 proposals for a firm search or appoint a city attorney and hire separate legal services for specialty legal matters. The city decided to continue with the first option. Council members also discussed a preference for having the attorney present at each council meeting, however it’s not included in the budget this year. The council remains concerned that passing motions without an attorney present has the potential to put the city in legal liability.

Chris Kennedy, son of Mike Kennedy, the firm’s founder, said Mike had previously attended all meetings up until 2015, when the contract was changed. This could be negotiated for in future contracts though.

The North Mankato City Council adopted their 2024-2026 strategic plan. The city spent three months between February and April working on the plan, catalyzed by the hiring of new City Administrator Kevin McCann and the election of new council member Matt Peterson and new mayor Scott Carlson. The plan includes goals for the city’s various departments, council, quality of life measurements, cultural programming and recreation.

North Mankato Police Respond to Fatal Workplace Injury

North Mankato Police and emergency services responded to a fatal workplace injury in North Mankato yesterday. Just before 8 a.m. police and Mayo Ambulance were dispatched to RDO Equipment on Lor Ray Drive. A 57year-old man reportedly fell off the roof of the building according to a local KEYC TV report. The St. Peter man, 57-year-old Jesus Lara-Mena was unconscious after an approximately 30-foot fall. He was pronounced dead at the scene after lifesaving efforts, the report stated. North Mankato Police and the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry are investigating the incident. Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an autopsy.

Minnesota Court Interpreter Strike Continued From Page 1

One interpreter based in greater Minnesota said it’s common to have to drive two or more hours each way for in-person hearings. When those hearings are brief, they may only be paid for several hours of work even though they must block out an entire day and are unable to accept other jobs.

During the pandemic, interpreters saw a pay bump when a previously seldom-used remote pay rate of $145 per hour kicked in. But under the new pay rates, remote and in-person interpreters will earn the same rate.

Certified deaf interpreters, whose wages increased to $93 an hour during the pandemic, will see their rates decline to the pre-pandemic rate of $86 per hour.

Minnesota courts also employ staff interpreters, although their jobs are hardly coveted. One contract interpreter said she left her staff job in part due to low pay and an unmanageable workload, exacerbated by a dearth of contract interpreters willing to take in-person assignments.

“We were getting bombarded as staff because no one was showing up,” she said.

The work stoppage threat by court interpreters comes on the heels of unrest among the state’s unionized public defenders and support staff, who threatened to strike in 2022 and won pay raises of as much as 72% the following year.

“We’re really hoping that we don’t even have to go to a stoppage. We’re hoping that … the court administrator reaches out to us and wants to sit down and come to some sort of agreement. None of us are holding our breath,” an interpreter said.

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Sunday, January 7, 2024

LCCMR seeking project proposals for $90 million from Minnesota's Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund SAINT PAUL, MN (01/03/2024) (readMedia)-- The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) has issued its 2025 Request for Proposal (RFP) for funding from Minnesota's Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF). Approximately $90 million from the lottery-generated fund is available for projects that aim to protect, conserve, preserve, and enhance Minnesota's air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources.

The LCCMR is requesting proposals in the following categories: A. Foundational Natural Resource Data and Information B. Water Resources C. Environmental Education D. Aquatic and Terrestrial Invasive Species E. Air Quality, Climate Change, and Renewable Energy F. Methods to Protect or Restore Land, Water, and Habitat G. Land Acquisition, Habitat, and Recreation H. Small Projects (under $250,000) Applicants must submit proposals through the LCCMR's online proposal and grant management system. Early submissions are encouraged. The 2025 RFP contains an explanation of the LCCMR's proposal and funding process and instructions for submitting a proposal online. Anyone with a project idea consistent with the RFP may submit a proposal for review by the LCCMR. Lobbying or professional grant-writing experience is not necessary for success.

The release of this RFP begins the competitive process through which the LCCMR selects projects to recommend to the Minnesota Legislature for funding from the ENRTF. Proposals responding to the 2025 RFP are due Friday, March 27, 2024, at 4:30pm. From May through August 2024, the LCCMR will consider proposals received and make a final selection of projects to include in its recommendations to the Legislature for the 2025 session. Funds for approved projects are available July 1, 2025.

New applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a proposal. LCCMR staff are available on a first-come-first-serve basis to review proposals for clarity, completeness, and eligibility. New applicants will be prioritized for these reviews. For instructions on arranging a review and for more information on the 2025 RFP, visit the 2025 Proposal and Funding Process page on the LCCMR website.

The Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund is a permanent dedicated fund in the Minnesota state treasury that was established by 77% voter approval of a constitutional amendment in 1988. The amendment directs forty percent of the net proceeds of the Minnesota State Lottery into the ENRTF until the year 2025. Since 1991, approximately $960 million from the ENRTF has been spent on over 1,900 projects that protect and enhance Minnesota's environment and natural resources in every county of the state.

The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources is made up of 5 state senators, 5 state representatives, and 7 citizen members. The function of the LCCMR is to make funding recommendations to the Minnesota State Legislature for special environment and natural resource projects, primarily from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. The LCCMR developed from a program initiated in 1963. Since then over $1 billion has been appropriated to over 2,300 projects recommended to protect and enhance Minnesota's environment and natural resources.

831 Main Ave., P.O. Box 154 Lafayette, MN 56054