logo
In wake of deadly Park Tavern crash, lawmakers propose tougher DWI laws

In wake of deadly Park Tavern crash, lawmakers propose tougher DWI laws

Yahoo16-03-2025

Two state lawmakers are proposing a bipartisan bill that would crack down on repeat drunk drivers — a response to last summer's horrific Park Tavern Restaurant crash in St. Louis Park.
The August 31 incident, in which 56-year-old Steven Bailey — who already had a criminal record for drunk driving, with five previous DWIs — crashed into the restaurant's patio, killing two people and injuring nine others.
Those killed were Park Tavern server Kristina Folkerts, 30, of St. Louis Park, and Methodist Hospital employee Gabe Harvey, 30, of Rosemount.
Bailey was found to be four times over the legal limit at the time of the crash.
On Friday, Representative Larry Kraft and Senator Ron Latz, two DFLers whose respective districts include St. Louis Park, announced the new legislation in a press conference at Park Tavern.
The bill, which will soon be introduced in the legislature, would do the following if approved, according to a news release:
Significantly increase the amount of time drivers with multiple offenses are required to be on ignition interlock — a breathalyzer device connected to a car's ignition
Remove obstacles for offenders to use ignition interlock systems, encouraging more to sign up for the program
Double the lookback period for DWI, meaning DWI convictions would stay on an offender's record for 20 years instead of the current 10 in Minnesota; this, in turn, would allow prosecutors to argue for enhanced penalties against repeat drunk drivers
'Since this tragedy, it has been a top priority of mine to try and stop people who have a recurring problem with drinking and driving from killing or injuring Minnesotans," said Rep. Kraft in a statement. "This bipartisan legislation is focused on improving public safety and is a critical step toward prevention and safer roads for everyone.'
'A tragedy like the one we saw last September should never happen again in any community in Minnesota. This bill takes meaningful action that will help keep recurring offenders from getting behind the wheel when they're inebriated,' said Senator Latz. 'This proposal will have an immediate, positive impact on our state, and I believe it will help save lives.'
The release notes that the legislation is being proposed "together with workers, advocates, and family members of victims."
The lawmakers say the bill is expected to receive hearings "in the coming week," in committees of both the state House and Senate.
You can watch the full press conference below:

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Minnesota Legislature to pass gloomy $66 billion budget
Minnesota Legislature to pass gloomy $66 billion budget

Yahoo

time15 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Minnesota Legislature to pass gloomy $66 billion budget

Lights stay on inside the Minnesota State Capitol Building as the sun sets during a special legislative session Monday, June 9, 2025. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer) The Minnesota Legislature was expected to pass the final bills comprising the $66 billion, 2026-27 budget in the early hours of Tuesday morning — an 8% decrease from the previous biennium. With final passage of budget bills after a marathon 21-hour special legislative session, the divided Legislature was on pace to hit the most important deadline of all — June 30, after which a partial state government shutdown would commence, affecting schools, roads and social services. The bleary-eyed finish late Monday and early Tuesday morning is a fitting end to a fitful session, which began just after a Democratic senator died in office, putting the upper chamber in a 33-33 tie, later resolved by a Democratic victory in a special session. T he Minnesota Supreme Court was forced to settle a dispute between Republicans and Democrats over the control of the House after Democrats boycotted the Capitol for multiple weeks. Another special election brought the House into a 67-67 tie and a power-sharing agreement. A Democratic senator had her burglary trial delayed, and a Republican senator was arrested in a police sting and charged with one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. Lawmakers adjourned on May 19 without a budget deal, which was followed by weeks of secret negotiations. Lawmakers this session also confronted a tough fiscal reality: The state is spending more money than it's bringing in and is expected to blow through its reserves as soon as 2028. While tax revenues have regularly exceeded expectations, the cost of providing government services — particularly care for the elderly and disabled — has grown even faster. 'The budget we are passing will fund the services Minnesotans rely on to live their daily lives, including care for people with disabilities and seniors, maintenance for roads and bridges, funding for courts and correctional facilities, and support for veterans,' Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, said in a statement. 'We are making difficult but responsible decisions to reduce the budget without sacrificing core services.' Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks, who hopes to be the majority leader in 18 months, criticized the budget for not cutting spending and taxes. 'We are here today not because we agree with this budget,' Johnson said. 'Minnesotans deserve much, much better.' Legislators could find themselves back in St. Paul later this year: Federal cuts — like those included in the Trump-backed One Big Beautiful Bill Act — could quickly put the state in a more dire financial position. In 2024, Minnesota spent $18.5 billion on Medical Assistance, Minnesota's Medicaid program, and the federal government covered $11 billion of that. Any Medicaid cuts on the federal level will have major ramifications for the state budget, especially DHS. Many lawmakers are expecting to return to the Capitol sometime in the fall or winter for another special session to grapple with the steep cuts to Minnesota's budget once the federal cuts are signed into law, as expected. Here's some key takeaways from the now completed budget, pending the signature of Gov. Tim Walz, who has 14 days after he receives them to sign or veto the bills passed during the Tuesday special session: The budget is smaller than the record-breaking $72 billion two-year budget passed by the DFL-controlled Legislature in 2023, which was bolstered by the American Rescue Plan and other federal spending under President Joe Biden. The budget bills take a step towards resolving the deficit projected to begin in the 2028-29 budget years, but don't avert it entirely. It closes the gap between revenue and spending by 45%, and will leave approximately $1.9 billion on the bottom line at the end of the biennium. But current projections — which are likely to change significantly based on the economy and federal budget — predict a $290 million deficit in 2028-29. The budget will cut approximately $283 million from projected expenditures over the next two years, with most of the savings coming from the Department of Human Services. Republicans, who control half of the House, won a major concession from the DFL: the repeal of MinnesotaCare eligibility for undocumented adults. The vote came after impassioned speeches from Democrats opposed to the bill. Rep. Kaohly Her, a St. Paul Democrat, said she was 'illegal' because her father lied on an immigration paper to expedite her family's journey to the United States, highlighting the desperate circumstances many immigrants find themselves in. She later clarified that she and her family are American citizens. Lawmakers opted not to give agencies a bump in funding to cover inflation, except for areas of the budget where inflation is built into funding formulas, like education and some areas of DHS. The move saves money across the budget, but will squeeze state agencies as the cost of providing services outpaces their funding. The budget holds education funding steady for the next two years. It also funds pay raises for home care and nursing home workers. The Legislature was also expected to pass a $700 million infrastructure package to pay for upgrades to the state's roads and bridges. The package, known as a bonding bill around the Capitol because it's funded with borrowed money, requires a three-fifths supermajority to pass. It was expected to garner enough votes to pass, though as one of the last bills.

Union County reports two separate one-vehicle fatalities on Highway 34 last week
Union County reports two separate one-vehicle fatalities on Highway 34 last week

Yahoo

timea day ago

  • Yahoo

Union County reports two separate one-vehicle fatalities on Highway 34 last week

Jun. 9—A Clarinda man and an Osceola woman were killed in separate Union County one-vehicle accidents five days apart. According to a Union County Sheriff's report, in the early hours of Tuesday, June 3, a 1983 Honda motorcycle, driven by John Pace, 54, of Clarinda, was traveling eastbound on Highway 34 when it didn't navigate the turn properly. The motorcycle traveled into the north ditch of the highway where it came to a rest on its side and Pace was located on the ground south of the motorcycle. The accident was found around 4 a.m. by a driver of a semi who had seen the lights and turned around to check. Pace was deceased at the scene and has been taken for autopsy. The investigation is ongoing. On June 8, the Union County Sheriff's Office received numerous 911 calls at approximately 11:50 a.m. regarding a reckless driver who was all over the roadway eastbound on Highway 34 past Highway 169. As the vehicle was close to the Clarke County line and without a Union County deputy in the area, a call was transferred to Clarke County. Union County was then advised that the vehicle, a 2015 Chevrolet Traverse, driven by San Vega, 43, of Osceola, was involved in an accident at mile marker 102 in Union County where it went off the roadway, down an embankment and came to rest in the Grand River. The caller told Clarke County they were able to get the Traverse stopped on the side of the road. When they went to put the vehicle in park, it was instead put into reverse. Vega lost consciousness and lifted her foot off the brake, causing the vehicle to reverse down the hill. Witnesses were unable to stop the vehicle. A Clarke County deputy and first responders arrived on scene after the car went down the hill. They were able to get Vega out of the vehicle before it became fully submerged in the water. Vega was transported by an ATV from the water to the Clarke County ambulance to be transferred to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines where she was declared deceased. Medics reported to deputies they smelled alcohol on or around her person. The investigation is ongoing. This is the third vehicle fatality reported in Union County this year.

Former Dallas Cowboys player bonds out following arrest in fatal crash in Richardson, police say
Former Dallas Cowboys player bonds out following arrest in fatal crash in Richardson, police say

CBS News

timea day ago

  • CBS News

Former Dallas Cowboys player bonds out following arrest in fatal crash in Richardson, police say

Former Dallas Cowboys cornerback arrested, confesses to leaving scene of a fatal crash, police say Former Dallas Cowboys cornerback arrested, confesses to leaving scene of a fatal crash, police say Former Dallas Cowboys cornerback arrested, confesses to leaving scene of a fatal crash, police say A former Dallas Cowboys player has bonded out of jail after allegedly confessing to being involved in a crash that killed a motorcyclist over the weekend, officials said. Kelvin Joseph Jr., 25, was arrested on Saturday, June 7, for a DWI and collision involving personal injury or death, the Richardson Police Department said. What happened the day of the crash At about 4:50 a.m., officers were called to a crash involving a motorcycle in the 2400 block of U.S. 75. Officers said at that time, no other vehicles or people were at were found at the scene. They discovered the victim, 27-year-old Cody Morris, dead at the location. About an hour later, Richardson PD said Joseph called the Plano Police Department and said he was involved in that crash that killed Morris. When Richardson police officers contacted Joseph, they "observed signs of intoxication." Kelvin Joseph Jr. 25, has been arrested in connection with a fatal motorcycle crash, police say. Richardson Police Department According to officers, it is believed Joseph was traveling in a BMV northbound when he was involved in the crash with Morris. Joseph was then arrested. Police said his bond amount was set at $1,000 for the DWI charge and $25,000 for the collision involving death charge. Police said he bonded out Sunday, June 8. Morris remembered by family Friends and family took to social media to share memories of Morris, who was a wife and mother of two children. Many said she loved riding motorcycles and would be truly missed. Who is Kelvin Joseph Jr.? The Louisiana native was picked by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft and spent two seasons with the team. In 2022, Joseph was names as a person of interest in connection with a fatal shooting at a nightclub in Lower Greenville in Dallas, police said. During the investigation, he was cleared of all charged after two suspects were arrested. In 2023, the Cowboys traded the cornerback to the Miami Dolphins, and he then bounced from team to team, including the Kansas City Chiefs. He joined the UFL in February 2025 and signed with the DC Defenders. In a statement following Joseph's arrest in the fatal crash, the UFL said, "We are aware of the incident and are gathering information. We have no further comment at this time."

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