Central Minnesota Political

A bill, known as Worker Safety and Energy Security Act, is being considered by the Minnesota Senate and House. The Worker Safety and Energy Security Act, which is also known as HF 2241 or SF 2011, offers no protection to Minnesota workers. Instead, it proposes imposing draconian fines, and even prison time, on water protectors and environmental protestors. Although energy infrastructure such as power plants are included in the bills text, the authors dedicate much of their energy to oil and gas pipeline resistance. The bill exists because of the strong resistance to the Dakota Access pipeline and the anticipated protests if Line 3 construction starts next year.   This week I had the honor of working with a group of people from MN350, the Sierra Club, The Land Stewardship Project, and the Minnesota chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union to develop a communications strategy to oppose this nasty piece of 1st Amendment busting legislation.   It was very satisfying to see al

This article was published in the Long Prairie Leader in January of this year. I've had a couple of calls about it so I thought I'd republish it here. My notes regarding what I've learned are at the end of the  article. Tim Central Minnesota Political  Who is responsible for the death of Brett Huber Jr? Just over a month ago, in the December 19 issue of the Leader, the front page headline was: “County to pay out $1.8 million in settlement”. Immediately below the headline was a photo of a jail inmate, his back to the camera, making a noose to hang himself. It was a horrifying image. I’ll not forget it. Jason Brown, who wrote the article, did his homework regarding the huge financial settlement. He reported that a mentally ill man named Brett Huber Jr. hung himself in the Todd County jail. Jason’s reporting made it clear that Huber was a danger to himself and to others due to his crazy behavior. While he was in jail, Huber even tried to drown himself. Even thoug

Hispanic Families Fundraising Meal! Sunday, March 24th after all Masses. Meal: 1 drumstick, 1 Tamale, rice, salad, and drinks:  $10 Tamales: 12 for $15; 3 for $5 Brown-Sugared Fried Tortillas: 3 for $5 Meals and Take-out served in church basement. Take-out after Hispanic Mass available at church doors. Delicious food! 100% profit for the School Familias Hispanas Comida para Recaudacion de Fondos! Domingo, 24 de marzo después de todas las misas. Comida: 1 pierna de pollo, 1 tamal, arroz, ensalada y bebidas: $ 10 Tamales: 12 por $ 15; 3 por $ 5 Buñuelos: 3 por $ 5 Comidas servidas y comidapara llevar  en el sótano de la iglesia. Comida para llevar después de la misa hispana en las puertas de la iglesia. ¡Comida deliciosa!  Beneficio 100% para la escuela! Norma Orozco, CISR | Client Service Advocate Business | Home | Auto | Life | Health

Scientists were warning about the risks of climate change and the burning of fossil fuels before today's world leaders were Greta Thunberg's age. The Swedish 16-year-old, frustrated with the pace of government action to deal with climate change, launched a "school strike for climate" last year. It set off an international youth movement and widespread demonstrations that are drawing attention to the growing risks for their generation as global temperatures continue to rise.  "People always tell us that they are so hopeful. They are hopeful that the young people are going to save the world, but we are not. There is simply not enough time to wait for us to grow up and become the ones in charge,"  Thunberg told  the European Economic Social Committee in one of several  speeches  she has given to government and business leaders in recent months. On March 15, students in hundreds of cities in countries  around the globe  held school strikes calling for act

A number of my undocumented friends drive to work without a driver's license. They've been  doing it for years. They don't have licenses because in 2003 Gov. Pawlenty took them away. Never mind that  twelve states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico allow undocumented immigrants to have driver’s licenses.  Over the years, I've talked to local police about the driver's license problem among the undocumented in our community. I've been told that, at least in some towns in  central Minnesota, the  police are well aware of who doesn't have a license. As long as they follow the other traffic laws the police leave the undocumented and unlicensed to drive about. They agree, however, that it would be better  if the  undocumented drivers could get licenses, formal drivers training, and insurance. Everybody would be safer that way. Representative Winkler has introduced HF 1500 in the Minnesota Legislature. If the legislation became law my undocumented friends co

Here’s some of  what she did say . (from The Nation) I know what intolerance looks like and I’m sensitive when someone says, “the words you use Ilhan, are resemblance of intolerance.” And I am cautious of that and I feel pained by that. But it’s almost as if every single time we say something, regardless of what it is we say, that it’s supposed to be about foreign policy or engagement, our advocacy about ending oppression, or the freeing of every human life and wanting dignity, we get to be labeled in something, and that ends the discussion, because we end up defending that, and nobody ever gets to have the broader debate of “what is happening with Palestine?” So for me, I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country. I want to ask, why is it OK for me to talk about the influence of the NRA, of fossil-fuel industries, or Big Pharma, and not talk about a powerful lobby that is influencing policy.