logo
MN daycare mandate to require cameras removed from bill

MN daycare mandate to require cameras removed from bill

Yahoo11-04-2025

The Brief
Legislation to force daycare centers to have surveillance cameras was removed from the bill before it could be voted on.
The proposal was authored by a representative whose daughter was abused at a daycare in Blaine.
House representatives who removed the mandate said it didn't have Minnesota Senate support and there were concerns over expense.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - A Minnesota state representative lost his bid to force day care centers to have surveillance cameras.
Minnesota Rep. Nolan West's (R-Blaine) bill came less than a year after his daughter was abused at Small World Daycare Center in Blaine.
READ MORE: Parents horrified after Blaine daycare employees arrested for abuse
Big picture view
Rep. Nolan West says he agreed with his DFL counterparts to include the mandate and that they also agreed to fund it with $500,000.
READ MORE: Security cams in MN daycares required under new bill before lawmakers
But as the committee finalized their bill, the Democrats took out the mandate.
West appeared emotional when he spoke and began to slowly lose his voice, saying, "We don't want to create a burden that is insurmountable," he said, taking a long pause before saying, "I probably covered it."
READ MORE: Family's daycare abuse experience drives proposed new MN laws
The Democrats on his committee said they were hearing the Minnesota Senate wasn't going to support the mandate because stakeholders had concerns about safe storage and how expensive it might be.
Instead, Democrats offered a task force to study those concerns, as well as the half million dollars for daycare centers that wanted to add cameras on their own.
Dig deeper
Elizabeth Augusta Wiemerslage, 23, and Chloe Kaye Johnson, 24, were arrested in July after surveillance video allegedly showed them being rough with multiple infants in their care.
Wiemerslage is facing aiding and abetting charges for three counts of felony malicious punishment of a child under four, two counts of third-degree assault against a victim under four and one count of third-degree assault of substantial bodily harm.
READ MORE: Blaine daycare teacher charged with abusing infants enters guilty plea
According to court records, Wiemerslage filed a petition to enter a guilty plea to one count each of aiding and abetting malicious punishment of a child under the age of four and third-degree assault, in exchange for the other charges being dropped.
Wiemerslage's sentencing has been scheduled for May 16.
Johnson is charged with three counts of malicious punishment of a child, and third-degree assault of a victim under 4-years-old. Her next court appearance is set for May 13.
The Source
This story used information from lawmaker testimony and past FOX 9 reporting.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Stanhope's first female mayor passed away — and then won re-election in Tuesday's primary
Stanhope's first female mayor passed away — and then won re-election in Tuesday's primary

Yahoo

time9 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Stanhope's first female mayor passed away — and then won re-election in Tuesday's primary

Voters in Stanhope gave Republican nominations to two incumbent council members in Tuesday's primary — including Diana Kuncken, a longtime public official in the Sussex County borough who died a week before the election. Kuncken, 83, died on June 3. The longtime Stanhope resident was first elected to the council in 1997. In 2004, she became Stanhope's first female mayor, serving eight years. In 2012 she returned to the council, serving continuously until her death last week, according to her obituary. Kuncken "passed away peacefully," according to the obituary from Leber-Lakeside Funeral Home, which did not list a cause of death. Unofficial results from the June 10 primary show Kuncken gathered 201 votes in the Republican primary while fellow council member Scott Wachterhauser received 233 votes. The third candidate in the race for two nominations on the November ballot was Najib Iftikhar, who received 85 votes, according to the county clerk's Democrats sought council nominations. According to County Clerk Jeff Parrott, the Republican party will select someone to fill Kuncken's unexpired term on the council. He said he expected the party will also select a candidate to replace her on the November ballot. The only other contested municipal primary in the county was a Republican race in Ogdensburg, where four candidates vied for two nominations to the borough council. More: Ciattarelli, Sherrill win NJ primaries for governor. Check our live blog for all results That race was led by Kristopher Gordon with 173 votes, followed by incumbent Brenda Cowdrick with 169. Councilwoman Caren Ruitenberg had 136 votes and Michael Nardini 160, according to preliminary results. Parrott said there were write-ins which could decide candidates in some Democrat races. Those must be tallied and the county must verify that the winner wants to be on the November ballot. This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Sussex County councilwoman wins GOP primary - a week after her death

Rep. Mikie Sherrill wins Democratic primary for NJ governor, AP projects
Rep. Mikie Sherrill wins Democratic primary for NJ governor, AP projects

Yahoo

time24 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Rep. Mikie Sherrill wins Democratic primary for NJ governor, AP projects

TRENTON - Rep. Mikie Sherrill will win the Democratic primary race for New Jersey governor, AP projects, claiming victory over a crowded and competitive field of prominent current and former officeholders. The moderate congressional Democrat will fight to keep the Garden State blue as she faces Republican winner Jack Ciattarelli in the November general election. Because the New Jersey gubernatorial race is one of the first major elections since Donald Trump's return to the White House, there's a tremendous amount at stake simply through public perception. This is a breaking news update. Watch live election coverage in the media player above, and stay with us as this story develops. Sherrill, a former federal prosecutor and U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, was the establishment, left-of-center candidate in a crowded field of Democratic contenders. Most of her campaign messaging had leaned on her military experience and being able to handle conflict. "I learned early on: In a crisis, the worst thing you can do is freeze," she said. "You have to choose to lead," Sherrill has represented the 11th District, which includes parts of Essex, Morris and Passaic counties, since her 2018 election during President Donald Trump's first administration's midterm. Sherrill flipped the district from Republican control with former Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen's retirement and has been reelected three times since. Sherrill raised $2.8 million during the primary election, placing her among the top House fundraisers in the country. Before getting elected to Congress, she was a prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. She served in the Navy from 1994 to 2003. Born in Alexandria, Virginia, the 53-year-old now lives in Montclair, New Jersey with her husband. She is also a mother of four. During an interview with NJ Now, she said she would address the state's affordability issues by building more housing, investing in community solar to lower utility costs, and holding the grid operator PJM accountable.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store