Latest news with #TinaSmith
CBS News
4 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
New $5M federal grant to assist with Rapidan Dam flooding recovery, including replacing County 9 bridge
Federal grant to help repair damages done by 2024 floods in southern Minnesota Federal grant to help repair damages done by 2024 floods in southern Minnesota Federal grant to help repair damages done by 2024 floods in southern Minnesota Nearly a year ago, the Rapidan Dam and surrounding area were hit by major flooding. It cost one family their home and damaged infrastructure in the area. But now, help for repairs is on the way in the form of a $5 million federal grant that will assist with recovery. "It was an unprecedented event for Blue Earth County," said Ryan Thilges, Blue Earth County public works director. Many people will remember the dramatic flooding along the Rapidan Dam that did major damage to roads and bridges. When the river began to rise last June, the nearby County 9 bridge was closed and never reopened due to unsafe conditions. The bridge was eventually torn down, leaving a void in the county. "It's a really important farmer market road that's left a 15 miles detour to go around, now. So, combines and farm equipment have to make an arduous and long detour in the interim until we can get the new bridge done," said Thilges. WCCO Thilges said a federal grant will help get a new bridge built. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith say the grant covers 42 counties and will go towards surveying and repairing damage done by last year's flooding. "It's a very arduous, very financially-challenging process so as much help as we can get we certainly have been in touch with Sen. Smith and Sen. Klobuchar's office as well as Congressman Finstad and a lot of our state and local legislators as well," said Thilges. Thilges said the plan now is to begin construction on the new County Road 9 bridge by the end of next year. And the hope is to have it fully built and open by the end of 2027 or early 2028. He believes it's a win for southern Minnesota, with other communities soon benefitting from much-needed repairs. "It's great for Blue Earth County but also for the state of Minnesota and those areas that were impacted by the devastating flooding," said Thilges. Lawmakers said the grant is available through the Federal Highway Administration's Emergency Relief Program.
Bloomberg
7 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Does Sen. Smith Agree With Musk's Disgust for Tax Bill?
Senator Tina Smith (D) Minnesota discusses her opposition to the Tax Bill stating costs will go up for most Americans if the legislation is passed. She also talks about why she doesn't support cuts to Medicaid, and whether or not she agrees with Elon Musk calling the Tax Bill a 'disgusting abomination.' Senator Smith speaks with Kailey Leinz and Joe Mathieu on the late edition of Bloomberg's 'Balance of Power.' (Source: Bloomberg)
Bloomberg
7 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Elon Musk Calls Tax Bill 'Disgusting Abomination'
"Balance of Power: Late Edition" focuses on the intersection of politics and global business. On today's show, Marc Short, former Chief of Staff for Vice President Mike Pence, weighs in on Elon Musk calling President Trump's Tax Bill a 'disgusting abomination." Senator Tina Smith (D) Minnesota discusses her opposition to the Tax Bill stating costs will go up for most Americans if the legislation is passed. Retired General Wesley Clark, Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, discusses NATO pushing the European Union to boost air defenses and how quickly this could happen. (Source: Bloomberg)
Axios
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Capitol Police arrest 25 people protesting GOP budget bill
The Capitol Police said Tuesday they arrested 25 demonstrators at the Rayburn House Office building who were protesting Republicans' budget reconciliation bill. Why it matters: The raucous protest comes as Democrats are trying to furiously counter the bill's cuts to Medicaid and other welfare programs. "Around 2 p.m., 25 people were arrested for illegally demonstrating in the Rayburn House Office Building," a Capitol Police spokesperson told Axios. "It is against the law to protest inside the Congressional Buildings," the spokesperson said. "More arrests are currently being made." Zoom in: A trio of Senate Democrats — Hawaii's Brian Schatz, Minnesota's Tina Smith and New Jersey's Cory Booker — crossed the Capitol on Tuesday to speak up at the Energy and Commerce Committee's markup about the impact that cuts to Medicaid would have on their states.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DOGE cancels nearly $4 million in federal funds meant to rehab affordable apartments
Senator Tina Smith speaks at a press conference at Vista Village, an affordable housing complex in St. Paul, Monday, April 14, 2025. The complex was set to receive a $3.8 million federal grant for maintenance and repairs, but the funding was permanently frozen. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer) At Vista Village apartments in St. Paul, residents of the affordable complex reported faulty furnaces and ice building up inside of their windows on cold days. Parts of the floor were water-damaged, and after more than 50 years of housing low-income residents, wear and tear on the building was becoming impossible to ignore. In October, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban development gave the building's nonprofit owner a $3.8 million grant to pay for needed repairs and upgrades, including a new heating system and windows. But the money never came through because the Trump administration has 'permanently frozen' the funds, CommonBond Communities president and CEO Deidre Schmidt said Monday. The grant money came from HUD's Green and Resilient Retrofit Program, which provided grants and loans to finance energy efficiency upgrades at affordable housing developments nationwide. Vista Village was the only Minnesota-based project to receive an award through the competitive program. Congress authorized $1 billion for the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program in 2022 as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. In March, the Associated Press reported that the program was being 'terminated' at the direction of DOGE. Communication about the 'permanent freeze' has been confusing and contradictory, said Sen. Tina Smith, who joined Schmidt and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter for a press conference at Vista Village Monday. Elon Musk, the world's richest man and a close advisor to President Donald Trump, has directed federal agencies to cancel funding related to climate change mitigation. 'What's going on here is actually a massive power grab, and a big money grab, because their plan is to scoop up all of this money and then use it so that they can pay for the tax cuts that they have planned for really wealthy individuals and big corporations,' Smith said. Vista Village resident Lisa Bennett, a nurse who has lived at the building for nearly seven years, said the repairs to the complex are needed. 'We're not asking for no hardwood floors. We don't want no stainless steel appliances. We don't want no recessed lighting — just for that grant to come through so that we can get our building together,' Bennett said.
