Latest news with #MarkDayton
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fact Check: Walz once appointed Minnesota shooting suspect to advisory board. Here's context
Claim: Vance Boelter, accused of shooting two Democratic Minnesota state lawmakers and their spouses in June 2025 (one couple died), was once appointed to an advisory board by Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Rating: Context: Because Boelter was originally appointed to the board in 2016 by former Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton, Walz actually reappointed him in 2019 for a second term, which ended in January 2023. Boelter is reportedly not a Democrat himself, and Walz's office confirmed that the governor does not meet with prospective appointees prior to appointing them. In mid-June 2025, a rumor began to spread that Vance Boelter, the accused shooter of two Minnesota Democratic state lawmakers and their spouses on June 14, had once been appointed a member of the Governor's Workforce Development Board by Democratic Gov. Tim Walz. One of the targeted couples died. For example, this post on Facebook criticized the authorities for not releasing the alleged assassin's supposed manifesto and speculated the reason they hadn't was because Walz had political ties to Boelter (archived): The post read: Boelter, a former appointee of Democrat Governors Dayton and Walz to the Workforce Development Board, has ties to evangelical groups and a security firm. Is this a deep-state cover-up to protect their own? We demand transparency—RELEASE THE MANIFESTO NOW! The post had gained 4,600 reactions and 1,300 reshares as of this writing. Many of the commenters took it to mean Walz was an accomplice in the killings. "Five bucks says Walz is directly implicated," one said. The claim appeared on other Facebook posts. Further, Snopes readers searched the site seeking to verify this information. Indeed, Boelter, 57, sat as a member of the Governor's Workforce Development Board. A Dec. 9, 2019, news release (archived) from Walz's office announced a list of appointees to the board, and Boelter was one of them. His appointment was set to end on Jan. 2, 2023. The most recent board meeting minutes Snopes could find that included his name were from Oct. 26, 2022. Walz replaced him on the board with someone else in March 2023. However, Boelter's 2019 appointment by Walz was reportedly a reappointment. Boelter was first appointed in 2016 by former Gov. Mark Dayton (like Walz, a Democrat), according to The Minnesota Star Tribune. Dayton was elected in 2011 and left office in 2019, when Walz took over. The Daily Beast shared an appointment letter signed by Walz that was archived on the state of Minnesota's website. Snopes contacted the Governor's Workforce Development Board staff, which declined to comment. A spokesperson for Walz's office replied, providing more context regarding the board appointments (more on this later). Workforce Development Boards exist across localities in the U.S. Their role is to cultivate talent, linking it to economic growth, and to develop strategic plans to set funding priorities. For example, they might advise on training for a local workforce to meet the needs of companies investing locally. The Star Tribune further reported, citing an unnamed board member, that while Boelter served as the appointee of two successive Democratic governors, the board is bipartisan. The Minnesota Star Tribune reported in another article that Boelter had registered to vote as a Republican and, citing his roommate David Carlson, that he had last voted for U.S. President Donald Trump, a Republican. It also appeared, according to various reports, that Boelter was an evangelical Christian and staunchly opposed to abortion. In addition, according to the Star Tribune, while it's true Walz had reappointed Boelter to the board, he did not know him personally, according to an unnamed source in Walz's office (a detail Snopes has not independently verified). The governor's office is in charge of appointing hundreds of people to various advisory boards and commissions. Snopes found the Workforce Development Board included 58 members as of this writing. These various boards do not have the power to legislate. "These are unpaid, nonpartisan, external boards that the legislature creates and the Governor does not interview applicants for," the spokesperson for Walz said in an emailed statement. "They are not appointments to a position in the Governor's cabinet. They also have no authority to make decisions, change laws, or implement policies." Chapman, Isabelle, et al. "What We Know about the Minnesota Shooting Suspect." CNN, 15 June 2025, Accessed 16 June 2025. Faircloth, Ryan, et al. "Suspect Showed Few Signs of Political Extremism before Lawmaker Shootings." 16 June 2025, Accessed 16 June 2025.. "Governor's Workforce Development Board - Minutes." 26 Oct. 2022, Accessed 16 June 2025. and "Friends Say Minnesota Shooting Suspect Was Deeply Religious and Conservative." AP News, 15 June 2025, Accessed 16 June 2025. "Members / Governor's Workforce Development Board." Governor's Workforce Development Board, 2025, Accessed 16 June 2025. "On June 14, Champlin Police Responded to an Early Morning Shooting Involving a State Legislator." Champlin, MN, 2025, Accessed 16 June 2025. Orenstein, Walker, and Walker Orenstein. "Fact Check: Was Suspected Assassin Boelter Close with MN Gov. Walz? No." 15 June 2025, Accessed 16 June 2025. "Walz, Flanagan Announce Appointments." Office of Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, 22 Mar. 2023, Accessed 16 June 2025. "Walz, Flanagan Announce Appointments to the Governor's Workforce Development Board." Office of Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, 9 Dec. 2019, Accessed 16 June 2025.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
From the Archives: April 5 in the Pioneer
Apr. 5—April 5, 2015 — Hundreds of spectators gathered at the Sanford Center for the first-ever Bemijigamaag Powwow. The chairs of Leech Lake, Red Lake and White Earth Nations, as well as city officials and even Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton attended the event, which included a hand drum contest and a communal feast. April 5, 2000 — The Bemidji School District bus drivers and mechanics strike has temporarily ended with the union's call for a 17.3% contract increase set to be voted on by the school board. If they approve the settlement, the average driver's yearly salary will increase from $12,200 to $14,800. April 5, 1975 — Northern Minnesota man Clyde Hooker is compiling his beer-can-collecting knowledge and experience for an article on "Hunting and Finding the Beer Can" that will be featured in an upcoming book published by the Beer Can Club of America. Hooker and his son sport a collection of nearly 5,200 cans. April 5, 1925 — Superintendent J.C. West of Bemidji Public Schools went to Minneapolis to attend the annual gathering of Minnesota school teachers known as Schoolmen's Week. Mr. West is chairman of a large committee that has been working on coordinating high school and university efforts.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
From the Archives: Feb. 12 in the Pioneer
Feb. 12—February 12, 2015 — The 10th annual Bemidji Day at the Capitol was recently held, with civic leaders and residents traveling to St. Paul to meet with Gov. Mark Dayton. Before taking home a Paul and Babe bobblehead, Dayton answered audience questions on the transportation debate, university funding and mental health issues. February 12, 2000 — Bemidji is joining the ranks of Brighton, Mich., Mesa, Ariz., and Van Nuys, Calif., with KETT Engineering Corp., which has opened a facility for year-round vehicle testing. In Bemidji, KETT mainly does real-world testing, which means it hires drivers and technicians to compile statistics for manufacturers. February 12, 1975 — Beltrami County Nurse Virginia Wickstrom appeared before the Board of Commissioners with a report of services provided by her office. Noting that health care in the 70s has taken on a more preventative approach, Wickstrom said the agency offers immunization clinics, screenings for various health problems and more. February 12, 1925 — Eleven residents of Beltrami County have been granted naturalization papers by Judge C. W. Stanton in Bemidji's district court. R. K. Doe of Duluth conducted the naturalization examinations, and several residents of the county came to the court to consult about making petitions for citizenship.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
UPDATE: Situation in Duluth
An update from the Minnesota State Emergency Operations Center on the situation in the Duluth area. The State Patrol is now assisting with traffic control in Moose Lake, which has become an island, surrounded by flood water. Mercy Hospital and Augustana Mercy Health Care Center in the city of Moose Lake are engaged in contingency planning up to and including evacuation if necessary. Authorities in Willow River in Pine County are evacuating residents. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT ) is reporting three new road closures on Highway 73. I-35 from Carlton and Mahtowa is open. A complete list of road information is listed below. Gov. Mark Dayton and Commissioners of Public Safety Mona Dohman and Transportation Tom Sorel toured Duluth this morning to determine what state assets are needed to assist in the recovery. Evacuations 200 residents of the Fond du Lac neighborhood of Duluth remain displaced. 40 residents in the Thomson area are displaced. Evacuation sites The Red Cross reports 185 residents took shelter last night in the following centers: Fond du Lac Ojibwe School Scanlon Community Center Laura MacArthur Elementary The Salvation Army is providing meals. Department of Corrections (DOC): A work crew of 18 offenders and two staff from the Willow River Challenge Incarceration Program are sandbagging in Moose Lake at the request of the city. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) The DNR reports there are two groups of campers stranded at Savanna Portage State Park. The seven campers are in contact with park staff and have food and supplies. The DNR has closed the following state parks at least through the weekend: Jay Cooke Savanna Portage Campground at Moose Lake. Other temporary closures include: The Willard Munger State Trail from Carlton to Duluth is closed until further notice due to washouts. Cuyuna County State Recreation Area, where the mountain bike trails and Miner's Mountain Road are, are closed. Hill Annex Mine State Park, where tours are, are cancelled for today and questionable for the weekend. For updates on the status of these and other parks and trails visit or call the DNR information Center at 651-296-6157. Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT ) MnDOT is relocating employees and resources from across Minnesota to help with flood response. New closures Hwy 73 north of Cromwell Hwy 73 at County Rd. 61 at south end of Moose Lake Hwy 73 and 27, west of Moose Lake at the exit, closed, under water Updated road openings Interstate 35 northbound between Hwy 210 and Mahtowa Highway 2 from Iron Horse Bar and Grill to the golf course Continued Road Closures Interstate 35 southbound between Hwy 210 and Mahtowa, detour in place Hwy 2 from Floodwood to Brookston Hwy 2 from I-35 to Boundary Avenue in Proctor Hwy 23 from Hwy 39 in New Gary Duluth to just south of the St. Louis River in Fond Du Lac, completely closed evacuating the community. Hwy 33 at milepost 9 near Independence Hwy 61 at Knife River, detour in place Hwy 65 eight miles south of McGregor, under two feet of water, detour in place. Hwy 73 west of Moose Lake Hwy 200 between Hwy 2 and Hwy 65, open to local traffic only Hwy 210 from Carlton to Duluth (through Jay Cooke State Park) Hwy 210 four miles east of McGregor, detour in place Due to flooding, travel is not advised until conditions improve and MnDOT crews can make progress to recover roadways. For updated information, call 511 or visit
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Buffer tax credit is both sensible and deserved
In 2015, the Minnesota buffer law was signed into law by Gov. Mark Dayton. Since, the state's corn growers have worked diligently to comply with the law requiring the installation of vegetative buffers along waterways on farm property. In fact, the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources noted in April that Minnesota's farmers are now 98 percent in compliance for installing buffers on public waters. The state's corn growers have done their part in complying with the buffer law. It is now time for Gov. Dayton and legislators to address the fact that the law currently penalizes farmers by continuing to tax buffer acres at valuations that assume these acres are still producing crops and income. Farmers and most Minnesotans understand that if there is a significant reduction in the value of a home or business, by law, the assessed value must be lowered to its new/lower market value, resulting in lower property taxes on that property. This same concept should apply to farmers who continue to be unfairly assessed by paying taxes on land that is no longer producing income. Continuing to tax unproductive acres at maximum value is an unfair financial penalty at a time of significant economic stress for Minnesota farm families. To fix this issue, the Minnesota Corn Growers Association has supported bipartisan legislation – HF 4395/SF 3960 – to provide a much-needed $50-per-acre property tax credit for farm acres that are required to be removed from production and converted into buffers. In each bill, the credit would be funded utilizing Clean Water Funds, which were designated for projects and initiatives aimed at improving water quality in our state. The legislation provides farmers with fair compensation using funds that have been designated for this exact use. And Gov. Dayton agreed. In an April 20 release, Dayton credited the legislative authors of each bill 'for authoring this sensible, bipartisan proposal to support Minnesota farmers, who are working to protect clean water throughout our state' and further noted, 'I strongly support this legislation, and encourage Republican legislative leaders to send it to me, as a clean bill, as soon as possible.' To further stress the need for this legislation, 15 agricultural organizations also signed onto a joint letter delivered to Gov. Dayton and legislative leaders Wednesday urgently requesting its passage. Farmers are doing their part to comply with the buffer law. We have now reached a point in the 2018 legislative session when Minnesota's agricultural community needs to see Gov. Dayton and legislators do their part by passing this legislation. Anything short of that this year would be considered a major failure. Kirby Hettver president Minnesota Corn Growers Association DeGraff
