Thursday, May 16, 2013
Gov. Mark Dayton’s signature Tuesday didn’t end the heated debate around same-sex marriage.
Whatever side of the debate you fall on, there’s no denying that this week’s passage of a bill legalizing same-sex marriage was a historical moment. Minnesota became just the 12th state to sanction gay marriage when Gov. Mark Dayton signed the bill Tuesday. Patch readers quickly wrote in to share their thoughts on the moment. Eagan Patch reader Kathi Malone echoed the view of legislators who voted yes in seeing same-sex marriage as a civil right: I am so happy that finally gay people will be able to have the civil right to marry. This is truly an American vote for freedom. I applaud Sen Clausen and all other legislators who voted for this historical bill. James N added: Thank you Senator Carlson and the entire MN legislature for extending …
Monday, May 13, 2013
Both Apple Valley and Rosemount had 84 percent of registered voters cast a ballot in the 2012 election.
Apple Valley and Rosemount had a high voter turnout in the 2012 election for a state that is itself already well above the national average. Minnesota fell to third in the country—behind only Mississippi and Wisconsin, according to data the U.S. Census Bureau made public Wednesday evening. Although it had the highest levels in the country of voter turnout in the 2008 election, the 73.2 percent of citizens who voted here in 2012 is still comfortably above the national average of 61.8. (The Census Bureau’s rates are different from those from the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office, which lists a 76.11 percent voter turnout rate. The Census Bureau’s rate for Minnesota is listed as having a margin of error of ± 2.1 percent.) The Census …
Sunday, May 5, 2013
The state dropped two spots in the League of American Bicyclists’ annual rankings.
(Editor's Note: The map above was created by the League of American Bicyclists.) Minnesota is still among the top states in “bike friendliness,” but its ranking fell a couple notches in 2013, according to the League of American Bicyclists. The state was ranked fourth this year, down from second in 2012. It ranked high in legislation and enforcement, policies and programs and education and encouragement. But it was middle of the pack in infrastructure and funding and lower tier in evaluation and planning. Minnesota was also missing three of the league’s “Top 10 Signs of Success: Use the map above to see how Minnesota compares to other states in the various categories. Do you think Minnesota needs to do more to support cycling? Share your …
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Two explosions occurred the afternoon of Monday, April 15, 2013 near the marathon finish line on Boylston Street in Boston, MA.
During the Boston Marathon April 15, two explosions occurred near the finish line—killing three and injuring more than 100 people, according to a report from Fenway-Kenmore Patch. Among the 23,000 runners at the annual race were approximately 500 Minnesota residents, according to StarTribune.com. Here is what some of the runners shared about the incident and their experience. Click on the headline to read the full story. Roseville Runner: Boston Marathon Bombings "Surreal" Eric Kronback said he thought the two explosions were cannons. Blocks Away from Boston Marathon Explosions: Lake Elmo Woman Recounts 'A War Zone' “All of a sudden I heard two huge blasts—and everything went silent," Chris Hess-Withbroe said from her Boston hotel room …
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Bills asking lawmakers to raise the minimum wage by more than $3 have made their way to the floor. How much should the Legislature raise minimum wage, if at all, in one of the lowest-paid states in the country.
Minnesota lawmakers, during this period of slow, economic recovery, are taking up the debate of the amount of the state's minimum wage. Currently, both tipped workers and minimum wage workers can be paid as low as $6.15/hour, legally, in Minnesota. Most employers, though, abide by the Federal minimum wage, which is set at $7.25. Still, 6 percent of the state's workforce makes that amount, which analysts have said won't lift a worker or a family above the poverty line. Rep. Ryan Winkler of Golden Valley has introduced a bill to change that, moving Minnesota from one of the lowest minimum wage states in the nation to one of the highest. His bill hikes the state's minimum wage to $10.55/hr for high earners, or businesses that make more than $…
Thursday, February 28, 2013
As some school districts struggle with budget reductions, elementary music programs might be the first areas cut.
It has become a common scenario across many Twin City school districts. No passage of an operating levy in November equals a spring of budget reductions. Some school boards have been considering cutting some of the music programs out of their district offerings. A recommendation in District 834 to cut fifth- and sixth-grade instrumental music programs to save $300,000 if a November levy doesn’t pass brought criticism from the Stillwater Area High School Orchestra Director. “The elementary cost center’s suggestion appears disingenuous and may lack the integrity that the Stillwater community expects from its schools and from its School Board,” Stillwater Area High School Orchestra Director Jerry Jones said. “This elimination looks as …
Friday, February 8, 2013
A District 196 School of Environmental Studies teacher joins three Rosemount teachers as nominees for this year's Teacher of the Year award.
Like us on Facebook | Get our newsletter | Follow us on Twitter | Start a blog Rosemount High School teachers Steven Albaugh and Thomas Scott, Rosemount Middle School teacher Lisa Swanson and School Of Environmental Studies teacher Brad Johnson are among the 135 teachers nominated for 2013 Minnesota Teacher of the Year. All of the candidates, including the four District 196 teachers, have accepted their nominations and completed the required materials to become eligible for the honor. The number of candidates is the highest for the Teacher of the Year program since 2005, according to Minnesota Department of Education. This year’s program will name the 49th Minnesota Teacher of the Year, celebrating the tradition of Minnesota's excellence…
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
How dangerous are winter roads?
Sunday's snowstorm served as a reminder that winter in Minnesota frequently means car crashes. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the foul weather caused 367 crashes, 48 crash-related injuries, 299 spun-out cars, and three jack-knifed tractor-trailers. In some ways, those numbers are yet more proof that winter-weather driving can prove difficult. For this week's Patch Pro, we've lined up someone who can answer all your questions about winter driving safety, and winter car repairs. Jeff Matt is the owner and founder of Fridley's Victory Auto Service & Glass, a local, award-winning auto repair business with five locations in the Twin Cities. Jeff is also an ASE Certified Master Technician with more than 20 years of automotive …
Thursday, January 17, 2013
The State Debate Tournament takes place Friday and Saturday at the University of Minnesota.
Editor's Note: The following is a news release from Rosemount, Apple Valley Eagan School District 196. Twenty District 196 high school students had top finishes at the Section 3 debate tournament Jan. 4-5 and qualified to compete at the State Debate Tournament, which will be held Jan. 18-19 at the University of Minnesota. District 196 students swept all six qualifying spots in Lincoln-Douglas debate. Miriam Kelberg of Apple Valley High School finished first in Lincoln-Douglas debate, followed by Ryan Lowder and Nurry Goren of Eagan High School, Kezia Jenkins of Apple Valley, and Anant Naik and Nikhil Venkatasubramanian of Eastview High School. This year’s Lincoln-Douglas resolution is, “Resolved: Rehabilitation ought to be valued above …
As a parent, do you support state funding for all-day kindergarten? Why or why not?
Among the first bills of the 2013 Minnesota Legislative session included one that would provide state funding for school districts to offer all-day kindergarten. Sen. Chuck Wiger, a co-author of a bill, said the funding would provide “an important step toward enhancing Minnesota’s commitment to quality education for all children.” Some school districts in the Twin Cities are already providing all-day kindergarten at an extra or no cost. The Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School Board reallocated funding - $1.5 million - to fund a free, all-day kindergarten program for the 2012-13 school year. Although, some questioned the sustainability. In the Osseo School District, some Maple Grove and Plymouth parents have the option to pay to have their …
Joyce Denn
4:17 pm on Monday, May 20, 2013
Orono, you clearly do not know much about Islam; it is an extremely varied religion, with many differing sects and many differing practices. The majority of Muslims bear no resemblance to your hateful caricature of Islam. more ›