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Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
South St. Paul group launches petition for Pam Bakken recall election
A group calling for South St. Paul City Council member Pamela Bakken to step down said it filed paperwork Friday morning asking for her official recall after a child in her care was exposed to methamphetamine. The Minnesota Department of Human Services suspended the in-home day care license held by Bakken, citing an 'imminent risk of harm' to the children in her care after officials began investigating a child who reportedly had swallowed an unknown substance. On March 4, officials determined Bakken was responsible for the neglect. 'Dakota County determined that you were responsible for maltreatment of a minor by neglect. Specifically, Dakota County determined that you are responsible for neglect because a child in your child care program was exposed to methamphetamine,' the Department of Health said. Molly Smith, chair of the Committee to Recall Bakken, said the city council should have asked for Bakken's resignation during the investigation into what happened to the child. 'The facts stand – and they are simple: a 3-year-old boy ingested meth while in Council Member Bakken's care at her in-home daycare, the State found Pam responsible for the situation, and yet she – and others – have remained silent,' Smith said in a statement announcing the petition. 'What's just as concerning is that Pam Bakken broke the oath she swore when elected – to uphold the laws and regulations of our great State – by willfully disregarding what she was required to do. No person – but especially not elected officials – are above the law.' The temporary license suspension, issued Dec. 9, follows the recommendation of Dakota County Community Services, which is handling the investigation. It reads: 'You are prohibited from providing family child care. You are also prohibited from operating as a legally unlicensed child care provider at this time.' Bakken, according to her campaign materials, has run an in-home day care for 20 years and raised six children in South St. Paul. She was elected to the council in 2020 and again last November, coming in third in a close race to elect three candidates from a field of four. Her business was licensed for up to 14 children, including up to 10 under school age and up to four infants and toddlers. South St. Paul City Clerk Deanna Werner confirmed that the paperwork had been certified Friday morning and that the petition was back in the hands of the group. MN robotics teams preparing to compete in the big one: FIRST Championship South St. Paul: As a kid, he checked out a Cat Stevens vinyl from the library. As a grandpa, he tried to return it. Apple Valley: Home & Garden Expo this weekend — for free Burnsville graduation date scheduled on major Islamic holiday Mendota Heights med tech company to lay off 124 workers after acquisition The group then has 30 days to gather the required number of signatures, which in this case is based on 25 percent of the last voter turnout, she said. That means by May 12, the group will need to have at least 2,763 signatures that have been verified by the city clerk for the next step, which is to put the recall on a ballot for a special election, she said. 'Special elections cost money – something that will be a burden on the City financially,' Smith said in her announcement. 'But, that's the only avenue for recourse the citizens have been given. I truly wish members of Council would speak up for what's right and join the community in calling for Bakken's resignation – and I wish Pam would simply step down.' The Pioneer Press reached out to Bakken by phone and email and had not received a reply as of Friday evening.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Local shops see influx in customers as gardeners prepare for spring planting
Despite a lot of people being excited to start working on projects that come with the spring season, garden experts said you might want to hold off on planting for a bit. While there are some plants, especially vegetables, that can do just fine in the cold, what really can hurt any plant is a frost. Home & Garden Expo returns with every way to improve your home Plus, the ground hasn't had much time to warm up. Bob Harris, general manager at Gerlach's Garden and Floral said it's a bit too early to start getting some things into the ground. Construction on Kahkwa Bridge set to resume in near future 'The young plants are usually very tender. People like to get them and get them out, but you could lose them very fast,' said Harris. 'Usually you have a good feel, but they always tell you after the last frost but you never know when that is going to be. A lot of people put them in and protect them, but when the ground is still cold, you're really not doing much. Harris said what you can do is make sure you have seeds, fertilizer and any equipment ahead of time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Erie postal workers, community protest potential privatization of USPS
United States Postal Service workers fought back Sunday amid the Trump Administration's talks to privatize the historic mail service. Over 100 postal workers and concerned citizens took to Perry Square Sunday evening to protest against a potential privatization of the United States Postal Service (USPS). Political protest held concerning Congressman Mike Kelly The United States Postal Service has been around since the early days of our country, but now the service could be operating differently under the trump administration. President Trump has reportedly been looking to privatizing the mail service, which would switch ownership of the USPS from the government to private businesses operating for profit. On Sunday afternoon postal service workers and community members came together in support of the historic mail service. 'First and foremost, it would impact the community who we service every day. We're the United States Postal Service, we're not a business, and what we're here to serve is the public, and some of these customers out there, we're their only contact with the outside world,' said Mark Murphy, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 284. Meteorologist Tom Atkins speaks at Erie Yacht Club seminar The message of the protest at Perry Square was to 'fight like hell,' and while the protest was peaceful, attendees fought by waving signs and wearing bright red t-shirts. Murphy and local political leaders also took to the stage to speak out against the potential privatization. 'What's going on in the federal level really concerns me, and these people are dedicated employees. They do the job, and this is written into the constitution that we need a postal service. For many years they've tried to privatize it, companies like UPS and FedEx have always tried to get their hands on the pie,' said Pat Harkins, PA state representative (D). There were well over 100 people wrapped around the stage here in Perry Square, all in defense of one of America's most historic services. Home & Garden Expo returns with every way to improve your home 'Unfortunately, we've gotten into this tone that if it doesn't make money, it's got to go. What good is it? It's not producing anything, and again, people have forgotten seriously about the whole key to service,' said Mike Kurutz, a former USPS letter carrier. 'We're service, and that's what we're intended to be, and hopefully that's how it will always remain.' Kurutz and other postal workers said they're worried that privatization would take away timely service from the community, and those who rely on the mailing service for medications or social security checks could be the ones impacted. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now But for now, the fight goes on for the USPS, with workers continuing to rally support. Sunday's protest joined over a hundred others around the nation, all against the privatization of the postal service. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
