>>Lawmakers Renew Push for Gun Violence Prevention Measures
(Undated) – Minnesota lawmakers are renewing calls for tougher gun violence prevention measures following last week’s mass shooting in Minneapolis that left three people dead and several others injured, including police officers. DFL Senator Scott Dibble says legislation passed by the Senate last session could have helped prevent the tragedy by expanding intervention tools and speeding up firearm surrender processes in dangerous situations. A broader gun violence prevention package cleared the Senate by a single vote but stalled in the House. Democrats say they’ll make another push for the legislation when the next session begins in January.
>>Minnesota-Connected Doctors Missing After Nepal Flood Disaster
(Nepal) – Two doctors with Minnesota ties and two family members have been declared missing after devastating flooding in Nepal. The University of Minnesota’s Department of Orthopedic Surgery says Dr. Ishan Patel, a recent fellowship graduate, was on a pilgrimage with his wife, Dr. Akanksha Patel, his mother, and father-in-law when floodwaters swept away their hotel. The flooding was triggered by a glacier collapse near the Nepal-China border on August 26. More than 1,300 people have died, and thousands remain missing as recovery efforts continue across the region.
>>North Branch Company Fined for Environmental Violations
(Chisago County, MN) – A Chisago County manufacturing company is facing a nearly 19-thousand-dollar fine for environmental violations. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says North Branch-based Schwing Bioset operated for more than three years without required air emissions and stormwater permits. Investigators also found the company failed to properly evaluate and dispose of hazardous waste, including thousands of pounds of paint booth filters. The MPCA fined the company just under 19-thousand dollars. Schwing Bioset has since obtained the necessary air permit, corrected its waste handling practices, and plans to apply for a stormwater permit.
>>Allina Hospice Nurses Set 7-Day Strike
(St. Paul, MN) – More than 60 Allina Health hospice nurses are set to begin a seven-day unfair labor practice strike Friday after contract talks failed to produce an agreement. The nurses, represented by SEIU Healthcare Minnesota and Iowa, say they’ve been bargaining for more than a year and are seeking improvements beyond wages, including compensation for extra hours worked, holiday pay, and scheduling changes. Union members voted unanimously to authorize the strike. No additional bargaining sessions are currently scheduled, though the union says it’s willing to continue negotiations before the walkout begins.
>>Ellison Joins Lawsuit Over Endangered Species Protections
(Undated) – Attorney General Keith Ellison is joining a coalition of 21 attorneys general in suing the Trump administration over changes to Endangered Species Act regulations. The lawsuits challenge new federal rules that ease habitat protections for threatened and endangered species and eliminate some automatic safeguards for newly listed species. Ellison says the changes are unlawful and undermine Congress’s intent to protect wildlife and the ecosystems they depend on. The coalition argues the rules could accelerate species decline by making it easier to damage critical habitat.
>>Minnesota Free School Meals Program Tops 450 Million Meals
(Undated) – Supporters of Minnesota’s free school meals program say it’s helping students who may have missed out under the old income-based system. Governor Tim Walz says many families were just above the cutoff for assistance and weren’t participating in school meal programs. Since launching, the program has served more than 450 million meals statewide. School leaders say higher participation has improved nutrition budgets, allowing districts to invest in kitchen upgrades and focus on serving higher-quality food. Officials estimate families save about one-thousand dollars per student each year through the program.
