representAtive JeFF BrAnD stAteMent on the epA’s pFAs

DrinKing wAter regulAtion AnnounceMent

Rangel to 99 days in jail. Rangel received credit for 99 days already served. He must also pay more than $6,000 in restitution to the victims from this case. However, prosecutors agreed to dismiss many charges from two previous cases from 2021, according to the report. One involved Rangel providing police with a fake name and driving after cancellation, the report noted. Rangel had allegedly stolen identities of two out-of-state citizens in the United States and then used their identities to obtain county benefits.

AsK A tropper

By Sgt. Troy Christianson

Minnesota State Patrol

Answer: State statue says that no person, while operating a motor vehicle, shall wear headphones or earphones that are used in both ears simultaneously for purposes of receiving or listening to broadcasts or reproductions from radios or other sound-producing or transmitting devices. A hands free device, like a Bluetooth earpiece, is legal because it is only worn in one ear.

There are a few exceptions to the law:

The use of a hearing aid device by a person who needs the device.

The use of a communication headset by a firefighter while operating a fire department emergency vehicle in response to an emergency.

The use of a communication headset by an emergency medical services person while operating an ambulance.

It is important for the driver to be aware and alert to everything that is going on around them. Listening to music with headphones or wearing earplugs while driving may block out an emergency vehicle’s siren or another vehicle’s horn. That could cause a crash or reduce the response time for an emergency vehicle. The ability to hear a siren and see emergency lights will enable the driver to safety move over and yield to approaching emergency vehicles. info@nicolletcountyledger.com

Remember to avoid all distractions while driving as your life and others depend on it.

You can avoid a ticket — and a crash — if you simply buckle up, drive at safe speeds, pay attention and always drive sober. Help us drive Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths.

A portion of state statutes were used with permission from the Office of the Revisor of Statutes.

If you have any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota send your questions to Sgt. Troy Christianson – Minnesota State Patrol at 2900 48th Street NW, Rochester MN 55901-5848. (Or reach him at, Troy.Christianson@ state.mn.us) Twitter:MSPPIO_ SOUTH.

SAINT PAUL, Minn. - On Tuesday, the Biden Administration announced that the Environmental Protection Agency will require utilities to remove perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (known as PFAS) from drinking water. It is estimated that as many as 200 million Americans are currently exposed to PFAS chemicals through drinking water.

Representative Jeff Brand (DFL—Saint Peter) has been spearheading legislation to eliminate non-essential uses of PFAS in Minnesota, as part of the PFAS Prevention Package.

“I’m incredibly thankful that we will be seeing federal action on getting PFAS out of drinking water. Now, we need to take it a step further,” said Rep. Brand. “It’s corporate greed that got us into this mess, and we need to turn off the faucet on PFAS in more than just water. These cancer-causing chemicals are found in products and packaging we use every single day, and they’re actively harming our health, our families, and our future. Thank you to President Biden for putting in these protections across the country so that we can trust our drinking water. Here in Min - nesota, we’re going to finish the job and keep PFAS out of our everyday lives.”

The EPA regulation would include testing and filtering of six PFAS chemicals. There are currently more than 9,000 known PFAS chemicals in existence. A total of 31 state legislatures across the country have proposed or passed legislatio to cut down on PFAS.

D7 - hwy 22 - MApleton to wells: 2023 construction

Public open house March 27 for the Highway 22 Mapleton to Wells construction project Construction expected to begin midApril

The Minnesota Department of Transportation invites the public to attend an in-person open house on Monday, March 27 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Minnesota Lake City Office Building, 103 Main Street North, to learn about the upcoming Highway 22 project from Mapleton to Wells and prepare for construction expected to begin in mid-April. There is no formal presentation planned, and people are welcome to arrive anytime.

Staff from MnDOT and the contractor will be present at the open tions. MnDOT will resurface Highway 22 from approximately a quarter of a mile south of Mapleton to the intersection with Highway 109/Faribault County Road 29 in Wells. The project will go through Minnesota Lake where Americans with Disability improvements will be made by adding new curb ramps, updating existing sidewalk, and adding a short segment of sidewalk. ton to Wells will be closed during construction and traffic detoured. Visit the project website for detour information.

Project benefits and costs

Benefits of the project include improved pavement, drainage, sidewalk system, and traffic safety improvements. Ulland Brothers, Inc. was awarded the project with a bid of $10,144,431.51.

Stay connected house to provide more information about the project and answer ques-

Traffic impacts Weather permitting, construction is expected to begin in midApril and be completed by late July. Highway 22 from Maple-

Those who are unable to attend the open house or prefer to get information online can visit the Highway 22 website for more information and staff contacts. Information will be shared on the MnDOT | South Central Minnesota Facebook groupand the MnDOT District 7 Twitter account. For updated road condition information, call 511 or visit 511mn. org.

Grain indemnity fund legislation passes ag committees

ST. PAUL – Grain indemnity fund legislation long-supported by Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) members has cleared the ag committees in both chambers.

“MFU members have advocated for a grain indemnity fund since 2015 when the Porter elevator failed and family farmers lost thousands of dollars,” said MFU President Gary Wertish. “The bonding system in Minnesota doesn’t work, leaving farmers vulnerable to grain elevator collapses. There are more than a dozen states with indemnity funds, including North Dakota, Iowa and Illinois. We need to add this protection for Minnesota’s family farmers, and I thank Sen. Putnam, Rep. Cha and Rep. Anderson for their leadership on this legislation.”

This week marks the midpoint of the legislative session and here’s an update on some priorities MFU is working to advance:

The MinnesotaCare buy-in public option continues to advance through the committee process. Several members have testified in support of this legislation (HF96/SF49).

MFU is supporting legislation (HF17/SF168) that would stop price gouging of generic and off-brand prescription drugs and establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) with authority to lower drug costs by setting upper payment limits.

Bills expanding the Beginning Farmer Tax Credit have been approved by agriculture committees in both chambers with several MFU members testifying in support.

MFU members have worked to advance bills expanding farm permits beyond farm kids, expanding funding for broadband and funding cooperative development grants at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

MFU continues to speak out against the proposed merger between Sanford and M-Health Fairview. MFU supports competition in the marketplace and this merger is likely to lead to higher prices, hospital closures and lower quality service. MFU has also been working on legislation that would create more comprehensive pre-merger notification requirements for health care mergers and give the Attorney General the authority to enjoin or unwind a merger that does not protect the public interest (SF1681/ HF402). This legislation is advancing in both bodies.

Also, on the topic of competitive markets, MFU has been a vocal supporter of Attorney General Keith Ellison’s budget request for antitrust work. As proposed by the governor, this legislation would provide nearly $1 million in ongoing funding to hire additional attorneys in the antitrust division. It would also provide $1 million to establish a revolving fund to help pay for multistate litigation expenses.

A third item on the competition agenda is Right to Repair. MFU supports establishing a Right to Repair law in Minnesota (HF1337/SF1598).

This proposal would grant farmers, consumers and independent repair technicians and mechanics access to the diagnostic tools and parts needed to fix agricultural equipment and consumer items. This bill has been acted favorable upon in the House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee and the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee. The Senate the Commerce Committee has acted favorably on the bill, although that committee removed agricultural equipment.

MFU continues to lead on rebuilding Minnesota’s local and regional meat processing system. Four bills to help local and regional meat processors are advancing through agriculture committees. There’s funding for the AGRI Value Added program for meat and poultry processing (SF2620/HF2563), establishing a meat processing navigator position at MDA (SF1592/HF1302) and funding grants for worker training, recruitment and retention (SF2681/HF2562). There’s also a bill to fund training grants to help navigate regulations for meat pro- cessors (SF861/HF1303). bill aligns Minnesota with the rest ofChapter 9, House File 50: This bill authorizes the DNR to make changes to improve Minnesota’s state park anderly transfer Minnesota county and

MFU is supporting efforts to help farmers lead in voluntary work to build climate resilience on working lands. A variety of these initiatives are moving forward.

MFU is building on its Farmers’ Guide to Carbon Market Contracts in Minnesota, which was released earlier this year, with legislation that bars confidentiality clauses in carbon market contracts. This was heard by both the House and Senate and will be considered for a final agriculture policy bill.

Legislation allowing immigrants to earn driver’s licenses has passed and been signed by the governor. MFU supports this legislation to help people get to work and increase safety in rural areas. The constitutional adjournment deadline for the Minnesota legislature is Monday, May 22.

About Minnesota Farmers Union Minnesota Farmers Union works to protect and enhance the economic interests and quality of life of family farmers and ranchers and rural communities. MFU is a nonprofit membership-based organization. Membership is open to everyone. Learn more and join at www.mfu.org, and follow MFU on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.