Latest news with #ParkTavern
CBS News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
What bills did and didn't pass the Minnesota Legislature this year? Here's a list of what cleared the finish line so far as a special session looms
Divided Minnesota lawmakers couldn't get their work done before the clock ran out Divided Minnesota lawmakers couldn't get their work done before the clock ran out Divided Minnesota lawmakers couldn't get their work done before the clock ran out The Minnesota Legislature adjourned on Monday, though a special session looms to finish up the remaining budget bills that will piece together the next two-year state spending plan. On Tuesday, unofficial working groups met to finalize some of the remaining proposals on the to-do list. But lawmakers already sent some bills to Gov. Tim Walz's desk for signature before the gavel fell before the midnight deadline. Here are some of policies that got the final OK during the 2025 regular session. This list will grow once lawmakers return to complete their work: Closure of Stillwater prison Included in the judiciary and public safety budget is a provision allowing the closure of the state's second largest prison by 2029. State officials endorsing the facility's closure said conditions have worsened to a point where it is no longer economically feasible to keep the 111-year-old building operating due to maintenance costs. Meanwhile, critics say doing so without a plan is irresponsible and they worry about overcrowding at other facilities and displacement of corrections officers. DWI policy reforms in wake of Park Tavern tragedy Following the drunk driving crash that killed two and injured others at Park Tavern last summer, lawmakers extended the amount of time people who have multiple DWI convictions need to use ignition interlock devices to operate a vehicle. Lake weed removal safety The new law boosts safety protections for employees who use scuba equipment to remove lake weeds, after two young men drowned on the job. The bipartisan Brady Aune and Joseph Anderson Safety Act, named in their honor, requires divers be scuba certified and trained in first aid and CPR, mandates certain equipment and requires employers to provide it and calls for a standby diver. Defunding Minneapolis-Duluth train project Over the weekend, lawmakers greenlit a bill that would cancel $77 million in earmarked funds for the Northern Lights Express project, a proposed passenger rail project between Minneapolis and Duluth, and shift that money to cover unemployment insurance for hourly school workers during the summer. The Republican co-chair of the House Transportation Committee said the move blocks access to federal funds, which the Department of Transportation said would cover 80% of the project's cost, because there's no longer state match. The project had been a top GOP target, while protecting and supporting sustained jobless benefits for school bus drivers, food service workers and teacher aides are priorities for Democrats. Protections for service dog trainers A new law will ensure individuals training service dogs have the same housing protections as the people who rely on the animals to navigate daily life. The measure ensures service dogs in training are exempt from homeowners association and apartment rules that do not allow dogs.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Minnesota Senate passes stricter DWI rules for repeat offenders
The Brief The Minnesota Senate passed a bill reforming DWI laws after a fatal crash at Park Tavern in St. Louis Park involving a repeat offender. The legislation extends the DWI "lookback" period from 10 to 20 years, eases ignition interlock program entry, and increases license revocation times for serious DWI offenses. The bill now awaits Governor Walz's approval. ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Minnesota is set to put in place tougher laws targeting repeat DWI offenders following the deadly crash at the Park Tavern in St. Louis Park last year. What we know On Saturday, the Minnesota Senate approved a conference committee report to reform the state's DWI policies. The legislation, authored by Senator Ron Latz (DFL-St. Louis Park), aims to prevent repeat offenders from driving under the influence. This legislation comes in response to a tragic crash at Park Tavern in St. Louis Park last September. The backstory Earlier this month, Steven Bailey pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree murder in the Park Tavern crash. Authorities said Bailey tested more than four times over the limit, with a blood-alcohol level of .325, after he crashed into the tavern's patio space in September 2024. Video showed Bailey driving his vehicle, attempting to back into a parking spot, but hitting another car. Then, as he pulled out of the spot, police say the vehicle accelerated into the patio area, where a group of Methodist Hospital workers had gathered for the night. The crash left two people dead and a dozen others hurt. Dig deeper The new bill changes the following: It extends the "lookback" period for prior offenses from ten to 20 years. The legislation modifies requirements for participation in the ignition interlock program, aiming to make it easier for individuals to enroll. It also lengthens the license revocation period for individuals who commit criminal vehicular homicide or criminal vehicular operation, particularly when the person has a prior DWI-related incident. What's next The bill now heads to Gov. Walz's desk for approval.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Yahoo
MN moves to strengthen DWI laws after fatal St. Louis Park crash
Minnesota lawmakers are moving to strengthen the state's laws on people who repeatedly drink and drive in the wake of a crash last year that killed two people and injured many others at a bar in St. Louis Park. The hope is that future tragedies will be prevented by making more repeat drunken drivers use ignition interlock devices. The devices require drivers to blow air into a tube to verify whether they are under the legal blood-alcohol limit before starting a vehicle. On Labor Day weekend in 2024, a man with a history of convictions for drinking and driving drove his vehicle into the patio of Park Tavern, leading to multiple deaths and injuries. Steven Frane Bailey, 56, of St. Louis Park, who pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree murder and three counts of criminal vehicular operation causing great bodily harm on Wednesday, said he had been drinking vodka at home before the crash. He said he drove to the Park Tavern but attempted to flee the parking lot after crashing into two cars. Instead, he accelerated and went through a fence onto the patio while going around 40 mph, crashing into occupied tables. Charges said Bailey had a blood-alcohol content of 0.335% — more than four times the legal limit of .08%. Under the terms of his plea agreement, he faces 25 to 30 years in prison. If a widely supported proposal moving through the state Legislature this year becomes law, Bailey would have been required to have an ignition interlock device in his vehicle, which could have stopped him from driving, backers say. Minnesota law currently requires people to get one of the devices if their driving privileges are revoked for a second alcohol or drug offense within ten years. The state also requires an ignition interlock if someone has had their third offense, if one or two of the offenses are over ten years old. Bailey had a valid driver's license, but he also had five convictions for driving under the influence between 1985 and 2015. Since his record spanned more than three decades before the fatal crash last year, he wasn't required to have a device installed in his car, bill backers said. 'It spurred us, those of us who represent St. Louis Park in the Legislature, to look for appropriate improvements to the DWI laws so that this could be prevented in the future,' said bill sponsor Sen. Ron Latz, DFL-St. Louis Park. 'Unfortunately, not everyone who should use the ignition interlock is on it.' Latz said his bill could reduce the likelihood of fatal crashes like the one at Park Tavern. It increases the lookback period for driving while intoxicated convictions from 10 to 20 years. It also ties the time requirement for interlock devices to the number of DWIs over a lifetime. Right now, the time requirement maxes out at six years when someone has four or more DWIs over a lifetime. Under the new bill, an interlock device would be required for 10 years if someone had 3 or more convictions. The bill also aims to get more people to participate in the interlock program by removing financial barriers. It allows people to pay off the $680 license reinstatement fee while participating in the interlock program rather than upfront. It also increases criminal penalties for driving without an interlock if you're required to have one. And there would also be a requirement that someone completes treatment for addiction before graduating from the interlock program, rather than just beginning treatment. The Senate took up the House version last week but unanimously passed a slightly different version of the bill. With one week left, what's happening with the MN budget at the Legislature? Joe Soucheray: No other governor has tried to pull off this pathetic budget stunt Gov. Walz encourages legislators, and anglers, to get the lead out Minnesota Senate OKs new anti-fraud office, but much work remains Ethics panel deadlocks on complaint against Minnesota Senate President An amendment backed by Sen. Bobby Joe Champion, DFL-Minneapolis, and adopted by the Senate creates protections for people in the interlock program who lose their vehicles for financial reasons. If someone loses their vehicle or if it becomes inoperable, they'd be able to remain in the interlock program. The House also overwhelmingly passed its version of the bill, backed by Rep. Larry Kraft, DFL-St. Louis Park. The chambers will have to reconcile out the small differences between their bills and pass them again before a final version can head to the desk of Gov. Tim Walz to be signed into law.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Tougher DWI rules in MN prompted by Park Tavern crash passes Senate
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways The Brief Legislators had the Park Tavern drunk driving victims on their minds Wednesday as the driver pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and other charges. Minnesota's Senate voted unanimously to pass a bill forcing repeat drunk drivers to use interlock ignition devices (IID) – which ensure the driver hasn't been drinking – for a lot longer. The Park Tavern driver had five prior DWIs in Minnesota and one in Wisconsin, but he'd gone long enough to drive unrestricted by the time of the crash. Under the new law, he would still have had to use an IID. ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - The deadly crash at Park Tavern in St. Louis Park was on the minds of legislators at the Capitol on the day of the driver's guilty plea. A legal solution Interlocks for longer Lawmakers are trying to find a better way to protect people from drunk drivers. Their focus is on ignition interlock devices and a vote on Wednesday means repeat drunk drivers will have easier access to them and have to use them longer, which could've stopped the Park Tavern driver. Kristina Folkerts and Gabe Harvey died when Steven Bailey crashed into its patio while his blood alcohol content was more than four times the legal limit for drivers. Despite his five prior DWIs in Minnesota and one in Wisconsin, the law as it stood allowed him to drive unrestricted. "The remedy that we came up with is now in the bill that is presented to you here today," said Sen. Ron Latz (DFL-St. Louis Park). Sen. Latz and Rep. Larry Kraft (DFL-St. Louis Park), wrote up a new law forcing repeat drunk drivers to use ignition interlock devices for a lot longer if they want to drive again. Right now, the longest is six years for drunk drivers with four or more priors. The bill would extend that to ten years after three prior offenses. It looks back at 20 years of driving history instead of ten, and it increases the punishment for driving without the device. "Once they're in, they'll be in it for a longer period of time," said Sen. Latz. "So people like the guy who killed people in St. Louis Park would have been on interlock if this law had been in place at the time." No silver bullet Improvement not elimination Lawmakers don't expect the law to stop all drunk driving, but the CDC says ignition interlocks reduce repeat DWI offenses by about 70%. Senators passed the bill unanimously on Wednesday, and the House passed their version last week. The new law won't bring back Folkerts and Harvey, but Park Tavern's owner told us when the bill was introduced that it's a step in the right direction. "If anything can be done to prevent it, it's up to everybody to really try the best we can to make sure it does not happen," said a still mourning Phil Weber. 31 other states require ignition interlock devices after a first offense, so even after this becomes law, Minnesota won't have one of the harsher punishments for DWI. What's next The bills passed in the House and Senate are slightly different, so they'll go through a conference committee and get new floor votes in both bodies. The new bill is expected to pass easily and get the governor's signature. The law would take effect on Aug. 1, 2025.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Drunk-driver who killed two in 2024 crash at Park Tavern pleads guilty
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways The man who was drunk behind the wheel when he crashed into the patio of the Park Tavern in St. Louis Park last summer, killing two people and injuring nine others, has pleaded guilty. After initially pleading not guilty, Steven Bailey, 56, reached a plea deal with prosecutors on Wednesday that has seen him plead guilty to two counts of 3rd-degree murder and three counts of criminal vehicular operation resulting in great bodily harm. Under the terms of the deal, Bailey is facing a sentence of 25-30 years in prison. Steven BaileyHennepin County Jail The shocking crash resulted in the deaths of Park Tavern server Kristina Folkerts, 30, of St. Louis Park, and Methodist Hospital employee Gabe Harvey, 30, of Rosemount. The plea deal comes after Hennepin County Attorney's Office filed news charges against Bailey on Tuesday to account for three more people who were injured in the crash, bringing the total number injured to 12. GoFundMe Video evidence showed Bailey would've had a clear view of the patio, tables, umbrellas, and people seated outside when he pulled into the Park Tavern parking lot on the evening of Aug. 31, 2024, and as he was attempting to back into an open parking space, he struck another vehicle. Rather than parking, Bailey began to drive away and "can be seen accelerating at a high rate of speed in what appears to be an attempt to flee the scene," prosecutors said when charges were filed. While attempting to flee, Bailey struck a black SUV that was driving in the parking lot, before accelerating his vehicle through a metal fence and into the patio seating area. Mr. Bailey's BMW struck multiple occupied tables and multiple people. Bailey, who had five previous DWI convictions, gave a breath test reading of 0.325, more than four times the legal limit in Minnesota.
