Latest news with #Engstrom
CBS News
20-02-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Minnesota House bill would remove restrictions on electronic pull tab games that charities say are slashing revenues
Many electronic pull tab games patrons of bars and restaurants in Minnesota have come to know include special features like bonuses, free plays and "open all" functions. Not anymore. That's because the DFL-led legislature passed a law two years ago prohibiting those elements to ensure the games don't mimic video slot machines exclusive to the state's casinos and violate gaming compacts with the tribes that operate them. But a GOP-backed bill this session would reverse all of those restrictions and allow those games once again. The legislation's supporters told a House committee on Wednesday that the change would shore up much-needed funding for good, local causes that charitable gambling organizations help. All the games with those features had to be removed by the end of last year, according to the law, and revenue has plummeted as a result, some charitable groups told reporters Wednesday. New versions that don't have those play functions have not caught on with customers, they said. "We tried to make lemonade out of lemons. We told our customers, 'It's not going to be so bad.' We don't want to have it be a self-fulfilling prophecy of some sort," said Tim Engstrom with the American Legion Department of Minnesota. "We tried our best to put a smile on this. And the customers — they still didn't like the new games." Revenue from e-pull tabs at the American Legion in Bloomington dropped by 44% this January compared to last January, Engstrom said. The first month of implementation, these organizations worry, does not portend well for the rest of the year unless there are changes. Overall, revenues after prizes were paid out totaled $386 million for charities last year, said Rachel Jenner, executive director of Allied Charities. The bill, sponsored by GOP Rep. Bjorn Olson of Fairmont, advanced in committee on Wednesday along a party line vote. Democrats on the panel rejected the plan and said there should be a better way to support charitable efforts than relying on revenue from the games. "I also really believe in having integrity and honoring promises and the words that we give, especially to our sovereign government neighbors," said Rep. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger, DFL-Woodbury. DFL lawmakers when they greenlit the changes in 2023 also pointed to a court decision that said the proper process wasn't followed to initially bring those games with "open all" features online. "These programs are really important to our communities and our state and I think that direct appropriations and funding those types of programs is a way the state can contribute to their mission," said Rep. Sandra Feist, DFL-New Brighton. "I don't know how we got here that we're asking charities to run gambling operations to fund their important services. In a sports betting bill that has buy-in from all key stakeholders, charitable gambling organizations would stand to get 45% of the revenues. But the future of that legislation is uncertain, and those groups say any funding from it might not even be enough to make them whole if the restrictions on games stay. Allied Charities still supports that bill because the $40 million windfall from it would be "more tax cuts than we've seen ever," said Jenner, the group's executive director. But she was frank about the financial outlook: "If we continue to see the losses that we're seeing now that sports betting revenue will not offset those losses." Olson acknowledged the bill will likely change given the make-up of the Minnesota House requiring bipartisan support to pass bills and the DFL-controlled state Senate, and he said he is open to compromise.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Historic downtown Texarkana building in early stages of becoming apartments
TEXARKANA, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) – Another historic building in downtown Texarkana could soon be given new life as an apartment building. A representative from Overland Property Group spoke to the Texarkana, Texas City Council Monday night about the adjoined stretch of properties they recently purchased from 301 to 319 Pine Street and their plans to turn it into affordable housing while maintaining the historical significance and charm. 'We would be looking at doing a full historic renovation. They call them a historic adaptive reuse where you do a historic renovation of these buildings, but then you give them a new use.' says April Engstrom, Overland Property Group's Director of Development for Texas. More Texarkana News The location is next door to another historic building that recently reopened as an apartment building, Lofts at the Grim. 'So the Grim has served as a catalyst project of what what our downtown can look like and and will look like in the future, and so we're just glad that more people are catching on to it.' says Vashil Fernandez, the Director of Planning and Community Development for the City of Texarkana, TX, 'The idea behind that is just that they will continue to grow and then our downtown will be completely redeveloped.' That's why the city is working with Overland to facilitate the redevelopment process for what would become Landmark on Pine. 'So as part of our goal to revitalize downtown, we have things that we can use to help the property owners or developers.' says Fernandez, 'We've been talking to the developers about looking at our tax abatement program that we have for historic commercial properties in our in our city. As well as looking at other opportunities where we can help with, like some of our EPA funds and different things of that nature.' The group is looking to clear an early hurdle and apply for state housing tax credits to help fund the project, but first they needed official support from the city. 'So in Texas, if you are working with housing tax credits, the state requires that you get a resolution of support from the city, which is fine by us, you know, we don't develop and sell. We develop and own and operate indefinitely.' says Engstrom. She says Overland has been around for over 20 years and over that time has sold only a couple of the more than 70 properties they have developed. 'It's just not our business model. So for us to come into a new city or any town at all, we want to be good neighbors. We don't wanna just, you know, railroad our way into a new town, develop and burn bridges or anything like that.' says Engstrom. The city council unanimously approved the resolution supporting the application for tax plans to use housing tax credits along with historic tax credits to fund buildings that would not only provide around 40 units of income-based housing for seniors 55 and up, but also part of the National Register of Historic Places. They expect to submit the application for the housing tax credits by the end of the month and are very confident it will be approved though they will not know for sure until July. Overland is based in Kansas but say their largest footprint is in Texas and they are excited to make their mark on Texarkana. 'It's been really great in Texarkana to realize that they… care about historic preservation which you would hope that they do because they have so much cool architecture and so it's been, you know, a really great and cohesive match so far.' says Engstrom. If everything goes smoothly it could be completed by the summer of 2027. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
