Latest news with #Magnuson
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Federal judge approves Trump DOJ motion to scrap consent decree for Minneapolis police
The Trump administration has been granted a motion to end the federal consent decree that sets out reforms for Minneapolis Police Department resulting from a Department of Justice investigation launched after the murder of George Floyd. U.S. District Court Judge Paul Magnuson granted the request on Tuesday, dismissing the case with prejudice, meaning it can't be filed again in the future. In the wake of the opinion being issued, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey issued the following statement: "The bottom line is that we are doing it anyway. We will implement every reform in the 169-page consent decree. "Minneapolis is making great progress on police reform, and we don't need permission from Washington or a federal judge to keep pushing forward." Judge Magnuson, a William Mitchell College of Law graduate nominated to the federal court by President Ronald Reagan in 1981, said in his opinion that he had "grave misgivings about the proposed consent decree serving the public interest." The consent decree was agreed with the City of Minneapolis under the Biden Administration, which followed an extensive DOJ investigation that concluded Minneapolis Police Department had engaged in a pattern or practice of conduct that violated the U.S. Constitution and federal civil rights laws. The findings included the use of excessive force, discrimination against Black and Native American people, the violation of the rights people engaged in protected speech, and discrimination against people with disabilities. Magnuson continued to claim the federal consent decree is "superfluous" because MPD is subject to a separate consent decree with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, which requires the city and MPD to limit when officers can use force, including chemical irritants and tasers. It also prohibits the use of certain pretext stops, as part of wider reforms to tackle "race-based policing" and protecting the civil rights of the community. "In the Court's view, the considerable sum of taxpayer money allocated for the proposed consent decree's oversight and execution, including paying the monitor $750,000 per year, would better fund hiring police officers to bolster the City's dwindling police force and promote public safety," said Magnuson. The number of sworn police officers in Minneapolis dropped significantly after Floyd's murder by then-Sergeant Derek Chauvin and the riots that followed – with many taking disability payments or early retirement. In 2024, the city recorded its first increase in police officers in five years. It follows a significant increase in funding to MPD since 2020, with the policing budget in Minneapolis rising to just under $230 million in 2025, compared to $180 million in 2022. Advocates say that the federal consent decree and the state consent decree don't completely overlap, and scrapping the federal agreement could leave gaps in reforms and in result in less powerful accountability, the Sahan Journal reports.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Decatur's new communications manager leaves after one week
May 7—Decatur's communication manager, Samantha Magnuson, stayed one week in her new job before returning to her former job, Mayor Tab Bowling confirmed Wednesday morning. Bowling said Magnuson decided to go back to her former position as the city of Madison's communications manager. He would not comment on why she chose to leave Decatur. The mayor said there "really wasn't a second choice" behind Magnuson during the selection process. "We have to have someone," Bowling said. "I may look at hiring someone on a contract basis." Decatur has been without a communications/public relations person since 2022 when Emily Stewart left after five years for another job. The city employed Steve Garner's Do It With You marketing company on contract to handle its social media needs. It also had a contract with Ellen Didier's Red Sage Communications for the "Positively Decatur" social media campaign. In December, the City Council upgraded the communications liaison to a manager-level position and increased the salary. Magnuson was hired at a salary of $94,713 per year. — or 256-340-2432
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City's new communications manager begins job
May 3—Decatur's new communications manager, Samantha Magnuson, knows she has a big job ahead of her. Magnuson started with Decatur on Monday, filling a position that's been vacant since 2022. "It's exciting to really build a department and create a strategy for our communications," Magnuson said Thursday during a meeting with staff at The Decatur Daily. "What I've seen in my experience is a lot of municipalities don't have a plan quite established." When asked about her initial priority, Mayor Tab Bowling laughed and said, "Which one?" Bowling said he knows City Hall has a lot of communication needs as Magnuson comes in during a controversial period. Her hire was almost a direct result of criticism the city received in recent years for its communications and public relations. The city's last communications person left almost three years ago, and city leaders chose to fill this gap without a full-time employee. They hired Steve Garner's Do It with You Marketing company on an independent contract of $1,300 a month, or $15,600 a year, to handle its social media posts. Garner's contract was month-to-month, which Bowling said ended Wednesday with Magnuson's hire. After paying Ellen Didier's Red Sage Marketing $168,000 a year to do the "Positively Decatur" marketing campaign, the City Council approved in November a $200,000 per year contract extension to continue the campaign. The city hired an interim communications person, Tim Hall, of Tim Hall Communications, in June on a six-month contract. When the contract ended in November, Hall recommended before leaving that the city make it a full-time position. The council approved in December upgrading the PR person to a manager-level position. Human Resources Director Richelle Sandlin said Magnuson's starting annual salary is $94,713. Magnuson said Bowling's "broad" instruction as she gets started "is to help manage the message that goes out from City Hall." Magnuson said her top priority is building community trust, especially relating to the fatal police shooting of Steve Perkins and the death of John Scott Jr. after an arrest. "We are all aware of the events that have been happening," she said. "So now we want to make sure that people understand those who work in Decatur City Hall are truly public servants and they want the best for the city. Building that relationship is a priority." A University of North Alabama graduate, Magnuson, 35, has been in the media business for 14 years. She started at the WHNT television station in various roles, including producer. She then worked for eight years as the city of Madison's communications manager. She said she has been hired to improve all of the city's communications platforms, whether digital or interpersonal. The city website is going to be a primary project that she'll be working to improve. "We want to make sure that is a window to the world and a connection for Decatur residents," Magnuson said. "And we also want to tell Decatur's story and make sure we showcase the great things that are going on in this city. We have to make sure the website is up to date and be that portal of information." Magnuson said she also wants to be a bridge between media and the city. "I've worked in media and news, so I know that it's a tough gig," she said. Magnuson and her husband, Doug, have two children. He works at Fresenius Kidney Care on Spring Avenue Southwest. — or 256-340-2432
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City's new communications manager begins job
May 3—Decatur's new communications manager, Samantha Magnuson, knows she has a big job ahead of her. Magnuson started with Decatur on Monday, filling a position that's been vacant since 2022. "It's exciting to really build a department and create a strategy for our communications," Magnuson said Thursday during a meeting with staff at The Decatur Daily. "What I've seen in my experience is a lot of municipalities don't have a plan quite established." When asked about her initial priority, Mayor Tab Bowling laughed and said, "Which one?" Bowling said he knows City Hall has a lot of communication needs as Magnuson comes in during a controversial period. Her hire was almost a direct result of criticism the city received in recent years for its communications and public relations. The city's last communications person left almost three years ago, and city leaders chose to fill this gap without a full-time employee. They hired Steve Garner's Do It with You Marketing company on an independent contract of $1,300 a month, or $15,600 a year, to handle its social media posts. Garner's contract was month-to-month, which Bowling said ended Wednesday with Magnuson's hire. After paying Ellen Didier's Red Sage Marketing $168,000 a year to do the "Positively Decatur" marketing campaign, the City Council approved in November a $200,000 per year contract extension to continue the campaign. The city hired an interim communications person, Tim Hall, of Tim Hall Communications, in June on a six-month contract. When the contract ended in November, Hall recommended before leaving that the city make it a full-time position. The council approved in December upgrading the PR person to a manager-level position. Human Resources Director Richelle Sandlin said Magnuson's starting annual salary is $94,713. Magnuson said Bowling's "broad" instruction as she gets started "is to help manage the message that goes out from City Hall." Magnuson said her top priority is building community trust, especially relating to the fatal police shooting of Steve Perkins and the death of John Scott Jr. after an arrest. "We are all aware of the events that have been happening," she said. "So now we want to make sure that people understand those who work in Decatur City Hall are truly public servants and they want the best for the city. Building that relationship is a priority." A University of North Alabama graduate, Magnuson, 35, has been in the media business for 14 years. She started at the WHNT television station in various roles, including producer. She then worked for eight years as the city of Madison's communications manager. She said she has been hired to improve all of the city's communications platforms, whether digital or interpersonal. The city website is going to be a primary project that she'll be working to improve. "We want to make sure that is a window to the world and a connection for Decatur residents," Magnuson said. "And we also want to tell Decatur's story and make sure we showcase the great things that are going on in this city. We have to make sure the website is up to date and be that portal of information." Magnuson said she also wants to be a bridge between media and the city. "I've worked in media and news, so I know that it's a tough gig," she said. Magnuson and her husband, Doug, have two children. He works at Fresenius Kidney Care on Spring Avenue Southwest. — or 256-340-2432
Miami Herald
27-04-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Homeschooling took off during the pandemic. It's still rising in Minnesota
Jaden Magnuson began homeschooling her 9-year-old son last fall instead of sending him back to elementary school in the Elk River district. "It is a leap of faith, but one that a lot of other families are taking," said Magnuson, whose worries ranged from school bus bullying to ideology overshadowing academics. The number of homeschool students in Minnesota has jumped about 18% since the 2022-23 school year. That's an especially large increase considering that overall K-12 school enrollment is up less than 1% over the same time period. More than 31,000 of the state's roughly 900,000 students are now homeschooled. Homeschooling numbers first boomed nationwide in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the trend has had staying power, something that school leaders and homeschool advocates credit to the lingering effects of the educational disruptions of 2020. If it continues, it will put more pressure on traditional public school districts. "The pandemic was a major catalyst for some of this exceptional growth in homeschooling," said Rob Prigge, executive director of the Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators (MACHE), a group first established in the '80s. "It used to be very much under the radar, but COVID changed that." Distance learning thrust education into the spotlight, fueling cultural debates and parents' worries about what ideas and values students are exposed to in class. Ongoing concern about learning loss as well as mental health and behavior issues among students has also pushed more parents to explore what's best for their own child, both academically and emotionally, school leaders say. Plus, pandemic-era remote work led many parents to reprioritize flexibility in their family schedules. While many families cite religious values as one of the reasons they homeschool, it's often no longer the sole or primary driver of the decision, Prigge said. A 2023 survey from the National Center for Education Statistics showed that homeschoolers most frequently cited a concern about the school learning environment as the reason for their decision to teach at home. The boost in popularity of homeschooling also has ripple effects on the larger education system. Any concentrated or rapid shift in enrollment from traditional public schools can hurt districts' budgets because state funding is doled out on a per-pupil basis. Enrollment declines exacerbate budget shortfalls that have grown wider in recent years as costs rise and one-time pandemic relief funds dry up. The resulting cuts to programs or staff that lead to larger class sizes can push more families out of a district, said Dayle Annand, MACHE's director of outreach. "It's not the school district's fault when they have to make those tough calls," Annand said. "But it can cause frustration among families if they realize their children's needs aren't being met." Anoka-Hennepin, the state's largest school district and one that has had to make cuts to close budget shortfalls, saw the number of homeschool students in the district more than double from the 2022-23 school year to now. Superintendent Cory McIntyre said the district does not have data to give a "definitive answer for the increase." A community survey shows high approval ratings for the district's teachers and programs, he said, but resources and networks for homeschooled students are improving and "parents are making that choice based on their needs and the needs of their student." In Minnesota, homeschooled students can still participate in extracurricular activities or athletics in their resident district, though the district may require a fee. Overall, homeschooling is paid for primarily by parents, but homeschoolers in Minnesota can receive tax credits or deductions to help cover textbooks or other lesson materials, which may include private online curriculum. Online learning through a state-approved online school, however, is a public school option and those students aren't categorized as homeschooled. Mark Raymond, the superintendent of Dassel-Cokato Public Schools - a district where homeschooling is especially popular - said he's always looking for ways to partner with the families who homeschool. "I don't think there's a right or wrong decision in education as long as all students are receiving what they need when they need it," Raymond said. "Sometimes our traditional system doesn't meet the needs of families or students, and when we can partner with them to offer what we can, that's great for us." Homeschools in Minnesota do not need to be accredited and state standards set for public schools do not apply. The state does not provide curriculum for homeschools but requires instruction in the basic subject areas of reading and writing, math, science, health, and social studies, including history, geography, government and citizenship. And students must take an annual standardized test agreed to by the local school district's superintendent. Homeschool cooperatives - designed to bring a group of homeschoolers together, often once a week - can also offer students additional classes, activities and social opportunities. The Dassel-Cokato area has at least three co-ops run by parents that together serve a couple of hundred students. The public school district there has about 2,100 students. "We've always had a large homeschool population," Raymond said. "It makes it easier to offer a quality homeschool experience when you have other people around you to offer assistance and support." Abby Barberg, one of the leaders of HOPE Co-op, which meets weekly in Cokato, agreed. The co-op model and extracurricular options at the public schools have helped dispel negative stereotypes about homeschoolers lacking socialization, she said. People see the students out in the community on field trips, volunteering or playing on a sports team. The model of staying at home and learning all subjects from one parent is rare now, Prigge said. "The definition is no longer inherent in the word 'homeschool,'" he said, adding that he and other school leaders across the state have had discussions on how best to refer to and categorize the schooling models. In the Twin Cities metro area, some of the biggest jumps in homeschool numbers in the last two years were concentrated in the pockets of Anoka and Wright counties. Compared to the size of their student body, some small central Minnesota districts, such as Verndale, New York Mills and Paynesville, have seen dramatic increases as well. In Elk River, Magnuson said a note from the school asking about preferred pronouns was what ultimately pushed her and her husband to choose homeschooling over public school. Her son wasn't reading at grade level and was frequently getting pulled from class to sit in a calming room, she said. "I just felt like that priority and the environment wasn't helping him learn what he needed to," Magnuson said. She said her son now eagerly starts his school work in the morning and no longer worries about getting bullied on the bus. "What works for us isn't going to work for everybody," she said. "But a lot of parents who have concerns do want to see if this works for their family." _____ (MaryJo Webster of The Minnesota Star Tribune contributed to this story.) _____ Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
