Bluestem Prairie

Minnesota DNR unveils new pollinator license plate to help preserve critical habitat

From a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources press release:

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Sarah Strommen today unveiled the design of Minnesota’s newest critical habitat license plate, featuring native pollinators including a bee and butterflies. The new license plate is available now online and at deputy registrar and driver’s license offices statewide.

“Many Minnesotans share a commitment to maintaining healthy populations of bees, butterflies and other native pollinators,” Strommen said. “This beautiful new critical habitat license plate is an opportunity to show your support for pollinators while providing important funding to preserve habitats.”

There is no need to wait for current license plate tabs to expire, as the license fee is prorated when a critical habitat license plate is purchased.

The $30 annual contribution to the Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) Critical Habitat Program helps to preserve important wildlife habitat and plant communities such as wetlands, prairies, old growth forests and endangered orchid sites. Contributions over $30 go toward buying and managing important natural habitats, which are preserved as public lands. These lands are open to compatible public use, like hunting, hiking and wildlife watching.

The winning license plate design by artist Timothy Turenne depicts the monarch butterfly, Minnesota’s state butterfly, and rusty patched bumble bee, recently designated as the state bee.

In addition to purchasing the new license plate, Minnesotans can take other steps to help pollinators:

• Grow milkweed, the monarch host plant, and other native flowers to provide nectar resources.
• Provide open ground and unmown roadsides as appropriate.
• Reduce pesticide use.

The DNR supports native pollinators by restoring and managing the ecosystems and plant communities they rely on for food. For example, restoration and management activities on DNR-administered lands provide approximately 1.1 million acres of habitat in the northern conservation core for monarch butterflies. The DNR continues implementation of Gov. Tim Walz’s 2019 Pollinator Executive Order through participation in the Mid-America Monarch Conservation Strategy and other proactive and durable pollinator conservation measures.

More information about Minnesota’s pollinators is available on the DNR website.  

More information about Minnesota’s Critical Habitat License Plates is available on the DNR’s critical habitat page.

At the Duluth News Tribune, John Myers has more in Minnesota pollinator plates finally available:

Better late than never, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources on Thursday unveiled its latest critical habitat license plate for vehicles, the new design emblazoned with pollinators.

The pollinator plates were originally proposed in 2017. But the same state computer system malfunctions that caused Minnesota driver's license backups — the Minnesota License and Registration System — also delayed the new license plates, DNR officials said. The $73 million failed computer system couldn’t produce the new, six-number plates.

MNLARS has since been replaced and the new plates are now available wherever residents renew their plates or tabs, online or in person.

The winning license plate design by artist Timothy Turenne depicts the state butterfly — the monarch — and rusty patched bumblebee, recently designated as the state bee. Pollinators, including the two species featured on the license plate, been generally declining across the U.S. due to habitat loss and likely issues with pesticides.

Vehicle owners who want the new plates pay an extra fee of $30 per year with the money going to critical habitat acquisition projects through the Reinvest in Minnesota program. In 2019, the plates generated $5.3 million to help buy and manage critical habitats for all types of species.

The new pollinator plates join a host of others on Minnesota vehicles that help wildlife, including chickadees, loons, moose and lady's slipper flowers. The state also offers habitat plates for deer hunters, turkey hunters, pheasant hunters, anglers and state park fans.

Related posts:

• More MNLARS debacle fallout: DNR's pollinator critical habitat license plate on hold
• Vote for new pollinator critical habitat license plate; online poll closes Tues. Feb. 7 at 5 p.m.

Photo: Minnesota's newest critical habitat license plate depicts a bee and butterflies. (Photo courtesy of Minnesota DNR via Duluth News Tribune)

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Rapid City Journal: After 4 months, still no decision on whether AG Ravnsborg will be charged for killing Joseph Boever

For the Rapid City Journal, Arielle Zionts reports in After four months, still no decision on whether Attorney General Ravnsborg will be charged in fatal crash:

Four months after Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg hit and killed a pedestrian with his car, a prosecutor has yet to make a charging decision or have any communication with the media and public about the status of the case.

The fact that the decision is taking more than a third of a year has upset the family of victim Joe Boever and Gov. Kristi Noem.

"I share South Dakotans' frustration about the amount of time this has taken. To have more than 100 days go by without resolution on this is a disservice to the victim's family,” Noem told the Argus Leader last month.

“Obviously, given that the days have continued to tick by, her frustration has not decreased,” spokesman Ian Fury said Wednesday.

“I’m just appalled at the whole thing,” said Nick Nemec, Boever’s cousin. “It does seem like justice delayed is justice denied for everyone, for the family of the victim and for the alleged perpetrator because he’s left hanging out there.”

Read the whole article, subscribe to the Journal, and follow @Ajzionts on Twitter.

Related posts:

•  AP: Prosecutors waiting on debris testing in SD Attorney General killing of Joseph Boever 
•  Governor Kristi Noem takes off her positive pants, given pace of Ravnsborg investigation

Photo: Joseph Boever (left) was struck and killed by South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg (right) four months ago.

If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post. Those wishing to make a small ongoing monthly contribution should click on the  paypal subscription button.

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Federal court rejects bid by EPA, pesticide industry to keep bee-killing sulfoxaflor on market

From the Center for Food Safety, a January 12, 2021 press release our pollinator appreciating readers will welcome.

In Federal Court Rejects Bid by EPA, Pesticide Industry to Keep Bee-Killing Pesticide Sulfoxaflor on Market Despite Known Risks to Endangered Species, we learn:

(San Francisco, Calif.) The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit today rejected the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) request to allow farmers to continue using the bee-killing pesticide sulfoxaflor while the agency assessed the pesticide's harm to endangered species.

Today's ruling comes in response to a lawsuit filed by the Center for Food Safety and Center for Biological Diversity challenging the EPA's 2019 approval of sulfoxaflor's use across more than 200 million acres despite the agency's conclusion that the pesticide is "very highly toxic" to bees.

In its request to the court, the EPA admitted that its 2019 approval of the pesticide violated the Endangered Species Act because it failed to conduct any assessment on the pesticide's harm to the nation's federally protected species. But instead of removing the unlawful pesticide from the market, the EPA asked the court to permit the continued sale and use of sulfoxaflor while the agency took at least 7 years to complete the required assessment. 

"The EPA has repeatedly approved pesticide uses without any consideration of their harm to our nation's most imperiled species," said Sylvia Wu, senior attorney at Center for Food Safety. "But the Ninth Circuit told EPA that it does not get to put off its legal duty just so that pesticide companies can continue to sell their toxic products."

The EPA reapproved of sulfoxaflor uses in July 2019 after its initial 2013 registration of the pesticide use on soybeans, cotton, strawberries, squash, and citrus was struck down by the appeals court because the agency failed to assess the pesticide's impact on bees.

"This important legal victory underscores that the EPA cannot ignore its legal obligation to assess the harms of this dangerous pesticide to endangered species," said Stephanie Parent, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. "Sulfoxaflor must come off the shelves while the EPA meets its duties under the Endangered Species Act."

Photo: Bees, via the Center for Food Safety.

If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post. Those wishing to make a small ongoing monthly contribution should click on the  paypal subscription button.

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MN House Environment & Natural Resources committee moves funding forward on 17-2 vote

It's good to watch lawmakers discuss a bill and vote on it in committee without yelly moments, while airing disagreements. So it was in the first meeting of the Minnesota House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy on Tuesday afternoon.

At Session Daily, Nate Gotlieb reports in House panel approves $61 million for environmental projects:

An annual bill that approves funding for dozens of water quality, research, environmental protection and environmental education projects has been approved by a House committee after falling victim to a partisan disagreement last summer.

On Tuesday, the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee approved HF30, which would appropriate $61.4 million for dozens of projects statewide, by a 17-2 vote. The bill, which has no Senate companion, now heads to the House Ways and Means Committee.

It is nearly identical to one that was approved by DFL-controlled House last spring but was sidelined after the Republican-controlled Senate tied its passage to delaying the implementation of proposed clean car standards.

Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL-South St. Paul), the committee chair and bill sponsor, is optimistic it would become law this session. He said that hope stems from recent comments by Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria), who chairs the Senate Environment Natural Resources and Finance Committee, and has said he expects the legislation to be moved.

The bill would appropriate money from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, the source of which is Minnesota State Lottery revenue. The 17-member Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources, which includes five Republican and five DFL lawmakers, recommends which projects to fund.

In recent years, DFL and Republican lawmakers have clashed on whether the trust fund should be used to pay for wastewater treatment projects. Democrats say bonding should be used to pay for such projects, while Republicans say using the trust fund to pay for wastewater infrastructure is prudent.

No funds for wastewater treatment projects are included in the Hansen bill.

Ingebritsen's comments were reported by Tony Kennedy in the January 8 Star Tribune Outdoors section article, Held-up outdoors projects, issues piled high for Minnesota lawmakers:

In another outdoors story line, Republicans and Democrats will deal once again with an as-yet-unapproved set of enhancement projects advanced in 2019 by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). Money for the $61 million compilation is in the bank, but both sides have said Republicans withheld Senate approval last year as a way to push back against state implementation of a "clean car" emissions rule for new cars.

Two Republicans — Sen. Carrie Ruud of Breezy Point and Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen of Alexandria — both said in interviews this week that it's time to set the LCCMR projects in motion. In addition to the projects advanced by LCCMR in 2019, a second bill will be introduced at this year's session, a record-setting package of LCCMR enhancement projects assembled in 2020. The new measure offers $70.8 million in lottery proceeds for 88 projects ranging from clean water initiatives to conservation of imperiled turtles and preservation of wild rice.

"We should get those two bills off our plate,'' said Ruud, who chairs the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance Committee. "They need to get done and out the door so we can put people to work and get the projects done.''

Ingebrigtsen, who chairs the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Finance Committee, said he's expecting early movement on the LCCMR legislation.

Approval also is expected for a $127 million bill laying out dozens of new Outdoor Heritage Fund projects related to hunting, fishing, nongame wildlife, clean water and other resources. Constitutionally directed tax money for the enhancements comes from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.

Ruud, Ingebrigtsen, Meier and Rep. Rick Hansen, D-South St. Paul, provided outlooks for the session in separate interviews with the Star Tribune. Hansen is chairman of the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance & Policy Committee.

He said his committee will quickly revive last year's LCCMR projects bill. Until the Senate takes similar action, Republicans will be holding the measure hostage, Hansen said.

Hansen was as good as his word, bringing HF30 to a vote in the session's first meeting of the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy committee.  After airing his concerns with the "clean car" emissions rule for new cars, minority lead Josh Heintzeman, R- Nisswa, voted for the bill, as did all Republican members save Jeff "Goose Poop" Backer, R-Browns Valley, and Steve Green, R-Fosston.

We'll have more about the clean car rule in future posts.

Here's the Minnesota House Information Services YouTube of the hearing. We've set it to scrolling to the beginning of the discussion of the bill. Occasionally, there are some hiccups with the Zoom technology. 

Update: Committee member Kelly Morrison's tweet sums it up:

Thanks to @reprickhansen for carrying HF30, which includes #LCCMR recs from 2020 (held up last year over unrelated issues). Passed 17-2. Next stop: Ways and Means. Let’s get this done so important projects to protect air, water, land and wildlife can proceed! #ENRTF #mnleg pic.twitter.com/yzcvvKvK8Z

— Kelly Morrison (@Morrison4MN) January 12, 2021

Image: Morrison's tweet of the committee Zoom.

If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post. Those wishing to make a small ongoing monthly contribution should click on the  paypal subscription button.

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US Supreme Court refuses Minnesota Sands lawsuit to overturn Winona County frac sand ban

Over the years, we've posted about the threat the frac sand (silica sand for fracking) industry has posed for the lovely southeastern corner of Minnesota and the valiant organizing its citizens have done to preserve the bluffs and farmland they so love.

The ban of frac sand mining in Winona County is one of their triumphs, and it's one that just survived an industry attempt to overturn the ordinance through the United States Supreme Court.

Matt McKinney reports in the Star Tribune article, U.S. Supreme Court rejects suit against Winona County frac sand ban:

A sand mining company's bid to overturn the Winona County ban on frac sand mining has failed after the U.S. Supreme Court refused its case.

A lawsuit first filed by Minnesota Sands nearly four years ago sought to overturn the ban enacted in 2016, saying the moratorium was unconstitutional because it interfered with interstate commerce and violated the Constitution's commerce clause.

The ban was the first in the state to prohibit mining the rich silica sand deposits along the Mississippi River valley. The sand has tremendous value for the fracking industry. Silica sand is 95% quartz and consists of round, extremely hard granules that prop open cracks in shale rock, allowing the extraction of oil, gas and natural gas liquids. The ban allows mining for construction sand, a cheaper and less-pure material used on roadways .

Minnesota Sands first filed a lawsuit against the county in 2017. The Winona County District Court upheld the ban, as did the Minnesota Court of Appeals in a 2-1 decision in 2018. In March of last year, the seven-member state Supreme Court affirmed lower court rulings that let the ban stand, with two justices dissenting in full and one dissenting in part.

"The people of Winona County and throughout southeastern Minnesota have organized to oppose the frac sand industry for many years because this industry is incompatible with stewardship of the land and with healthy, thriving communities," read a statement from the Land Stewardship Project released Tuesday. The organization supported the ban's creation. "In passing the ban, the Winona County Board of Commissioners was fulfilling the proper role of local government, listening to the will of the people, and acting boldly to protect the common good for both people and the land."

The Winona Daily News' Josh DeLaRosa reports in LSP commends SCOTUS rejection of suit against frac sand ban:

Land Stewardship Project has expressed satisfaction with the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision to not overturn Winona County’s frac sand ban.

On Monday, the court elected to not hear Minnesota Sands, LLC’s suit, which could had resulted in the ban eventually being uplifted.

Minnesota Sands LLC, citing Southeast Minnesota Property Owners, claimed the ban violates equal protection, due process and private property rights.

It added that silica sand has been mined in the state for over 100 years and that it is unique because it is “extremely” hard and round and made up of quartz, which makes it valuable for use in energy production around the country.

“The Land Stewardship Project is pleased that the court has made the right decision, respecting the people of Winona County’s right to keep their communities safe from this harmful industry,” LSP said in a statement Tuesday morning.

The frac sand ban was passed in 2016 and Minnesota Sands, LLC subsequently sued in an attempt to overturn the decision. The Winona County District Court upheld the decision a year later, as did the Minnesota Court of Appeals in 2018, the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2020 and most recently the U.S. Supreme Court this past Monday.

Back in October when Minnesota Sands, LLC announced it had filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court, LSP called the move “disappointing, but unsurprising.”

“The land has inherent value, and the health of the land and of people are interconnected,” LSP said at that time. “All decisions about land use must be made with the needs of the future in mind.”

“The people of Winona County have understood for many years that the frac sand mining, processing, and transport industry offers no benefit to rural communities and is too harmful to be allowed to operate in their communities.”

The entire LSP statement, LSP Statement on U.S. Supreme Courts Rejection of Suit against Winona County Frac Sand Ban:

Yesterday, the United States Supreme Court announced that it would not hear frac sand corporation Minnesota Sands, LLC’s, suit attempting to overturn the Winona County frac sand ban. Thus, the ordinance preventing any frac sand mining, processing, or transportation operations within the southeastern Minnesota county’s jurisdiction remains in place. The Land Stewardship Project is pleased that the court has made the right decision, respecting the people of Winona County’s right to keep their communities safe from this harmful industry.

The frac sand ban was passed in 2016 following a 17-month grassroots campaign in which residents put their values into action to protect their communities. After Minnesota Sands sued the county in an attempt to undo it, the ban was upheld by the Winona County District Court in 2017, the Minnesota Court of Appeals in 2018, and the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2020. In October 2020, Minnesota Sands petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the case.

The people of Winona County and throughout southeastern Minnesota have organized to oppose the frac sand industry for many years because this industry is incompatible with stewardship of the land and with healthy, thriving communities. In passing the ban, the Winona County Board of Commissioners was fulfilling the proper role of local government, listening to the will of the people, and acting boldly to protect the common good for both people and the land. Now, despite Minnesota Sands’ desperate attack on this democratically-enacted decision, hills, bluffs, water, air, and communities in Winona County will remain protected from frac sand companies’ destruction.

We only wish photographer and Price of Sand filmmaker Jim Tittle, an old college friend who died of brain cancer in 2020, were here to learn the news. When his parents' home in Hay Creek Township in Goodhue County was threatened by a proposed sand mine, he started photographing images of the changes mining inflicted on the landscape, as well as creating the documentary film. I was writing about the industry--and his pictures helped renew the friendship. In 2018, he and Wendy Johnson released "Promise in the Sand." 

Photo:  Bird's eye view of a Wisconsin sand mind. Photo by Jim Tittle. Used with permission in 2013.

Related posts:

• MN Sands takes Winona County frac sand ban to SCOTUS; Land Stewardship Project fires back
• Outstanding decision! MN Supremes uphold Winona County frac sand mining ordinance
• State Supreme Court to hear MN Sands challenge of Winona Co frac sand ordinance on April 10
• Johanna Rupprecht: family farmers and rural people can fight back for their values & future
• Frac Sand Interests Object to LSP Having Hand in Winona Co's New Sand Mine Ban Lawsuits
• Winona Co. soil & water board wants fracking sand moratorium; opposition spreads to Olmsted
• One-year moratorium for new frac sand mining gains traction as senate committee approves bill
• Frick off: fracking sanding permits and moratorium momentum slow in Winona Co
• Frac sand: anatomy of a grassroots campaign

If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post. Those wishing to make a small ongoing monthly contribution should click on the  paypal subscription button.

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MN Reformer: Minnesota House Speaker’s office says BCA, Public Safety department leading investigation into St. Paul rally

We've been posting about the participation and presence of several Republican House members at the Storm the Capitol rally last Wednesday. Now there's a new development.

From the Minnesota Reformer:

Minnesota House Speaker’s office says BCA, Public Safety department leading investigation into St. Paul rally

By Ricardo Lopez

January 12, 2021

The Minnesota House Speaker’s office said Tuesday that the investigation into the “Storm the Capitol” rally held in St. Paul last week would be led by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) with involvement from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, on Monday said the House would investigate the involvement of six House lawmakers who attended or spoke at the St. Paul rally, which featured violent rhetoric. 

A spokesman for Hortman said the BCA and Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington’s office are conducting a broad investigation, and that any information gleaned could be forwarded to the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office for potential criminal charges. 

Information about the six lawmakers who attended may also factor into ethics charges, if necessary, the spokesman said. 

“You can bet we will fully investigate exactly what was said and done, and whether any of that is worthy of prosecution,” Hortman said Monday during a legislative forum. 

The St. Paul rally — which remained peaceful with no attempts to breach the Capitol — nonetheless featured heated words. It later migrated to the governor’s residence, where the Minnesota State Patrol moved Gov. Tim Walz’s son to a different location because of the tense scene. 

The Capitol rally featured at least one speaker, Alley Waterbury, a local Republican Party leader from Woodbury, who warned of “casualties.” 

Six GOP House lawmakers attended the rally and some spoke. They are: state Reps. Susan Ackland of St. Peter; Steve Drazkowski of Mazeppa; Mary Franson of Alexandria; Glenn Gruenhagen of Glencoe; Eric Lucero of Dayton; and Jeremy Munson of Lake Crystal.

The Star Tribune reported that Lucero and Drazkowski stoked chants against a state court judge who approved Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon’s agreement to waive witness requirements and extend the deadline for counting mail ballots.

On Tuesday, the Minnesota House Republican Caucus issued a statement saying it condemned “the violence and violent rhetoric at the events in Washington D.C. and Saint Paul on January 6.” Some of the members who signed attended the St. Paul rally. 

The New House Republican Caucus similarly issued a statement condemning the storming of the U.S. Capitol, and denied that any violent rhetoric or violent threats were used “while we were present.”

Emails seeking comment from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Public Safety Department were not immediately returned.

Photo: A "Storm the Capitol" rally attracted several hundred pro-Trump supporters in St. Paul on Jan. 6. Photo by Ricardo Lopez/Minnesota Reformer.

If your like this story from the Minnesota Reformer, please consider giving a donation here.

Related stories:

• Emily Gruenhagen missed something about that Storm The Capitol rally in St. Paul
• Unmasked, part 3: Minneapolis Star Tribune fills in Storm the Capitol context for Susan Akland
• Digest: Murdock Asatru Folk Assembly news in West Central Tribune and New York Times
• Unmasked, part 2: letters condemning Akland's Storm the Capitol speech poured into Free Press
• Unmasked: Susan Akland's non-apology apology about storming the Minnesota state capitol
• Correcting the timeline on a report about Stop The Steal; Akland constituents talk back
• Tim Miller emails House colleagues, staff to incorrectly argue masks aren’t effective
• Minnesota House sedition faction reply to Protest and Dissent letter, defend attack on state voters
• Couldn't get to DC: Akland, Drazkowski, Franson, Gruenhagen, Lucero & Munson storm MN state capitol
• From the Journal of the House: Eight members protest & dissent those who signed Paxton letter

If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post. Those wishing to make a small ongoing monthly contribution should click on the  paypal subscription button.

Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email sally.jo.sorensen@gmail.com as recipient.

NEW: I'm now on Venmo for those who prefer to use this service: @Sally-Sorensen-6

Emily Gruenhagen missed something about that Storm The Capitol rally in St. Paul

In a letter to the editors of the Mankato Free Press, Rally in Minnesota was peaceful, Emily Gruenhagen, wife of Gaylord Republican Glenn Gruenhagen, asserts that there was no connection between the gathering in the US Capitol and the event at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul.

She writes:

It’s a sad day in America when liberals try to indict those who attended a peaceful rally at the State Capitol on Jan. 6 by trying to make a connection between them and the violent protesters who stormed the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

We attended that rally in St. Paul and this is what really happened. My husband Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen was among the state reps who spoke. Rep. Susan Ackland introduced herself and shared why she ran for office. Glenn spoke about the governor’s prolonged executive orders which have put excessive burdens on families, schools and businesses, even causing many to lose their businesses altogether.

In addition, two pastors spoke, offering words of encouragement followed by much needed prayers for our nation. Obviously, it’s been a difficult year for our entire nation and people desperately need to hear a word of hope and encouragement from their spiritual and legislative leaders.

As we were leaving the rally, there was a call for everyone to get down on their knees and fervently pray for our country, and most did. Anyone who would try to equate a peaceful, prayerful rally in St. Paul with the violence that was instigated by a relatively small group in Washington D.C. has demonstrated their desire to restrict the Constitutional rights of those they disagree with. This is un-American.

Let me be clear, there was no connection between the two rallies.

Shame on anyone who would try to impugn those who were exercising their 1st Amendment right to peaceably assemble in Minnesota. Is this a sign of things to come under a Biden-Harris administration? God help us if that is the case.

This is curious stuff. The graphic at the top of this post--an invitation to the event--clearly states that the rally is for those who couldn't make President Trump's call to the nation's capitol.

She also claims that "liberals" have tried to make this connection. The media has repeatedly reported that the St. Paul rally was peaceful.

But not all speakers were calling for a peaceful transition of power from the Trump administration to that Joseph Biden, nor a peaceful end to Governor Walz's peacetime emergency. And then there was the cheering when it was announced that those rallying in Washington D.C.

It's not just the invitation. Those at the rally made the connection when the invasion of the Capitol building was announced.

First, here's the video of Akland's speech. It's clear that criticism of her praise maskless protestors is completely on target. 

*Roll tape 📼📼📼* pic.twitter.com/Z9LLNj4kNr

— Mark Vancleave 🎥+📰=🎉 (@MDVancleave) January 11, 2021

Here's  copy from Trump supporters protest at Minnesota Capitol, decrying certification, the Minneapolis Star Tribune article reporting about pro-insurrection rhetoric shared at the rally:

They cheered and sang, and they talked about armed revolt. They posed for pictures and wore Colonial-era costumes, and they laughed when they found out a mob breached the U.S. Capitol Building.

The roughly 500 supporters of President Donald Trump who gathered outside Minnesota's fenced-off State Capitol on Wednesday mixed violent rhetoric with jubilation at a four-hour rally that later moved to the governor's residence amid chaos in Washington.

"Now you know why Trump wanted us there!" said Alley Waterbury, a local Republican Party leader from Woodbury who emceed the rally. "My God you guys, we are going to fight, we are going to go down, there's going to be casualties. I'll be the first casualty, I do not care."

Organizers from the group Hold The Line dubbed the event "Storm The Capitol," though they cautioned on Facebook that breaching the fence would result in arrests. Instead, they saved their energy for talk of armed revolution and charges of treason for those who stood in Trump's way.

"This is 1776 … the time for talk is over," one man said. "Be on the right side of history because we are about to make it."

The lack of violence in St. Paul was in contrast to clashes in Washington, D.C., between pro-Trump supporters and law enforcement that unfolded as a joint session of Congress got underway. In Washington, Trump supporters breached security at the U.S. Capitol, forcing House and Senate recesses not long after the certification debate began.

In St. Paul, protesters hoisted Trump flags and homemade signs. Others walked around with recordings of past Trump speeches playing on their phones. Numerous attendees donned camouflage and carried rifles, pistols and other firearms. Up to 20 were there on behalf of a state chapter of the Three Percenters Original group. A smaller group wore garb popular with the Boogaloo Bois anti-government extremist group.

The state leader of the Three Percenters Original group, an Iron Range man who identified himself only as Matt, said the group followed Trump's call to assemble on Wednesday to protest alleged election fraud. But he rejected descriptions of his group as an anti-government militia, and said that they "don't care who is president as long as the president abides by the Constitution."

"We're here because the president who we support has called patriots to the Capitol," he said. "We're here to follow suit in our own state." . . .

We have more at Unmasked, part 3: Minneapolis Star Tribune fills in Storm the Capitol context for Susan Akland.

Emily Gruenhagen would  have you think that this was a prayer meeting. 

Good one.

Related posts:

• Unmasked: Susan Akland's non-apology apology about storming the Minnesota state capitol
• Correcting the timeline on a report about Stop The Steal; Akland constituents talk back
• Tim Miller emails House colleagues, staff to incorrectly argue masks aren’t effective
• Minnesota House sedition faction reply to Protest and Dissent letter, defend attack on state voters
• Couldn't get to DC: Akland, Drazkowski, Franson, Gruenhagen and Lucero storm MN state capitol
• From the Journal of the House: Eight members protest & dissent those who signed Paxton letter

 Image: The invitation for the rally.

If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post. Those wishing to make a small ongoing monthly contribution should click on the  paypal subscription button.

Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email sally.jo.sorensen@gmail.com as recipient.

NEW: I'm now on Venmo for those who prefer to use this service: @Sally-Sorensen-6

Unmasked, part 3: Minneapolis Star Tribune fills in Storm the Capitol context for Susan Akland

In Unmasked: Susan Akland's non-apology apology about storming the Minnesota state capitol , Unmasked, part 2: letters condemning Akland's Storm the Capitol speech poured into Free Press, and Correcting the timeline on a report about Stop The Steal; Akland constituents talk back

we've shared the district reaction to the remarks made by first-term legislator Susan Akland, R-St. Peter, at the Minnesota state capitol Stop the Storm rally.

We looked at Trey Mewes' article in the Mankato Free Press, St. Peter freshman lawmaker regrets rally controversy, in which Mewes reported these statements from Akland:

State Rep. Susan Akland faced her first political controversy in only her second day in office after she made an impromptu appearance Wednesday at a conservative rally at the state Capitol.

Akland, R-St. Peter, said Saturday her appearance and speech at the rally were taken out of context after the Star Tribune reported part of her speech to rallygoers where she “told the crowd she was happy to see them unmasked.”

“Our actions matter and our words matter,” she said. “And I regret that my attendance at the event is viewed as furthering division. That was not my intent and not the leader that I plan to be for my district.” . . ,

Critics jumped on the Star Tribune’s reporting that Akland told the crowd she was happy to see them unmasked, as Akland is a retired nurse married to a doctor. While Akland said she didn’t remember exactly what she told the crowd, she said that comment was taken out of context as she meant she was happy to see so many people at the rally.

“The statement was not a call to defy masks or defy masking guidelines,” she said. . . .

That text has been scrutinized by Star Tribune reporters on twitter. Let's take a look at the case they made.

First, a press statement from the Minnesota House majority caucus leadership was shared:

New this morning: House DFL leadership calling for six GOP state House members who participated in Jan. 6 "Storm the Capitol" rally "to be held accountable if they fail to denounce threats made against public servants and our democratic process." pic.twitter.com/DgF8S0J9td

— Stephen Montemayor (@smontemayor) January 11, 2021

After sharing the statment, Stephen Montemayer looked at Akland's reaction to his article in the Star Tribune:

In @Mankatonews interview, one of the participants, newly elected Rep. Susan Akland said "I regret that my attendance at the event is viewed as furthering division" but accused me of taking her statements out of context. (1/2)

— Stephen Montemayor (@smontemayor) January 11, 2021

And what he wrote:

I wrote that Akland "told the crowd she was happy to see them unmasked."

(Checks recording)

"I had my mask on cause it’s keeping my face warm," Akland told crowd as she began her speech. "But I’m glad you don’t have yours.”

— Stephen Montemayor (@smontemayor) January 11, 2021

Soon, Star Tribune videographer Mark Vancleave replied with the video of her remarks:

*Roll tape 📼📼📼* pic.twitter.com/Z9LLNj4kNr

— Mark Vancleave 🎥+📰=🎉 (@MDVancleave) January 11, 2021

Akland told the Mankato Free Press "she didn’t remember exactly what she told the crowd..." but it's clear the Star Tribune didn't take her remarks out context. 

Related posts:

• Unmasked: Susan Akland's non-apology apology about storming the Minnesota state capitol
• Correcting the timeline on a report about Stop The Steal; Akland constituents talk back
• Tim Miller emails House colleagues, staff to incorrectly argue masks aren’t effective
• Minnesota House sedition faction reply to Protest and Dissent letter, defend attack on state voters
• Couldn't get to DC: Akland, Drazkowski, Franson, Gruenhagen and Lucero storm MN state capitol
• From the Journal of the House: Eight members protest & dissent those who signed Paxton letter

Video still: State representative Susan Akland speaking at the Storm the Capitol Minnesota rally on Wednesday, January 6. Still from Strib's Mark Vancleave video tweet.

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Digest: Murdock Asatru Folk Assembly news in West Central Tribune and New York Times

A letter in the West Central Tribune and a feature article in the New York Times continue the saga of the establishment of the Asatru Folk Assembly in Murdock, Minnesota.

The group is classified as a white supremacist hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, and other pagan groups in American aren't too fond of it either.

In Hrafnarfjall stands with Murdock,  Crystal resident Laura Bainbridge, Co-founder of Hrafnarfjall, speaks out as one of those pagans:

I am co-founder of a Norse Pagan group in Minnesota called Hrafnarfjall.

Hrafnarfjall has been around since 2016, and it was founded on principles of inclusivity.

All followers of the Old Norse ways, whether called Ásatrú, Norse Pagan, or Heathenry, should share a common concern right now: The Ásatrú Folk Assembly.

With the purchase of a church in Murdock, the Ásatrú Folk Assembly have gained some mention of late.

Please let me be clear: They are NOT us.

Hrafnarfjall denounces their ideology. We stand with Murdock in opposing the dangerous ideals they espouse.

On their website, the Ásatrú Folk Assembly state that their ethics include supporting "strong, healthy, white family relationships," define "our people" as white people, the ideology known as Folkish.

Folkish practitioners believe that, in order to be accepted and welcomed in practice, one must be able to trace bloodlines back to Old Norse regions.

This ideology has earned the Ásatrú Folk Assembly a spot on the Southern Poverty Law Center's list of hate groups. They join the ranks of the United Skinhead Nation, and the Vinlanders Social Club with this designation.

This ideology has NO place in following the Old Norse ways. It was not of the old ways, has no basis historically, and even the Gods themselves interacted with others.

This ideology should concern all of us — it has given all of us, Norse Pagans, Heathens and Ásatrúar the wrong sort of notoriety.

It's up to us to change that. Who are we to tell the Gods who they may and may not call?

Hrafnarfjall is proud to stand against the Ásatrú Folk Assembly and all those whose ideology is exclusionary, bigoted and biased.

If you wish to know more about Hrafnarfjall and its ideals, please see http://www.kohrafnarfjall.org.

For the Sunday New York Times, Maria Cramer reports in Fear Spreads in Minnesota Town as ‘Extremist Group’ Moves to Open Church:

Maria Barron came to rural Minnesota 10 years ago from Mexico so her husband could work in a nearby dairy farm.

They quickly grew to love the pastoral fields in Murdock, a town of fewer than 300 people. They joined a Roman Catholic church and felt safe when their children, 12 and 14, played outside with children of Mexican and Central American families that settled nearby.

But in December, that feeling of security crumbled when Murdock’s mayor and City Council gave an organization for “ethnic European folk,” known for excluding anyone who is not white, a permit to open a church on Main Avenue, about four blocks from Ms. Barron’s church.

The group, the Asatru Folk Assembly, which describes itself as centered around a “native, pre-Christian spirituality,” has been identified as a white supremacist hate group by other Pagan believers and organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The 3-1 vote in December to approve a permit for the group has made Murdock, which was mostly known for soybeans, corn and its proximity to enormous dairy farms, the subject of intense national attention.

The decision alarmed many residents, particularly residents of color who until recently lived comfortably in the majority-white town. Ms. Barron said she and other mothers had discussed taking turns to watch their children when they play outside. When the elementary school asked Latino families to participate in a video production, Ms. Barron said, many declined.

“I don’t feel threatened right now. But I feel worried,” she said. “What worries me is losing our sense of peace.”

Many residents fear that similar groups will try “to get some sort of toehold here because they feel this is some refuge where they can come and foment this hate,” said Pete Kennedy, 59, an engineer who has lived in the town for about 50 years.

Town leaders have insisted they had no choice but to grant a conditional-use permit, or CUP, because of legal protections that forbid governments from using land-use regulations to impose a substantial burden on people trying to practice their religion. . .  .

Read the rest in the New York Times.

Related posts:

• Tales of Murdock: AFA’s newest MN Apprentice Folkbuilder has an interesting personal history
• Murdock Area Alliance Against Hate launches Green Ribbon campaign against white supremacy
• Creator of "Stop the Asatru Folk Assembly" Change.org petition adds a note about donations
• West Central Tribune: city leaders & Murdock Area Alliance Against Hate to criticism of town
• Arrival of Asatru Folk Assembly in Murdock prompts Swift Co Sheriff office patrol contract
• From Willmar to Washington: more on Murdock's approval of Asatru Folk Assembly hof permit
• Star Tribune: Murdock council anonymous vote on Asatru Folk Assembly permit may have violated Minnesota's open meeting law
• Murdock city council approves permit for whites-only Asatru Folk Assembly to re-purpose church
• Baldurshof: Third Hof of the Asatru Folk Assembly setting up in Murdock, Minnesota
• AFA gothar coordinator's life changed from police shoot-out & prison to serving old Gods
• Bluestem in the news: Strib & the Intercept
• Quiet protest is start of anti-hate movement in Murdock (West Central Tribune)
• WC Trib: "Murdock City Council, on advice of city attorney, not commenting" on whites-only group
• Resident: "We really don’t want to be known in Murdock as the center of hate in Minnesota"

Photo: "Victoria Guillemard, left, and Ben Kowalskygrahek stand Wednesday, Dec. 9, outside the Murdock building of the Asatru Folk Assembly, a whites-only organization, in protest of the group's presence in the small Minnesota town. Kowalskygrahek said his sign reads, in Old Norse, "Where you see evil declare it evil and give your enemies no peace." Mark Wasson / West Central Tribune.

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Unmasked, part 2: letters condemning Akland's Storm the Capitol speech poured into Free Press

Late last night, we posted Unmasked: Susan Akland's non-apology apology about storming the Minnesota state capitol that includes a Mankato Free Press article taking a look at the St. Peter first-term Republican's feels about attending Wednesday's state version of  Storm the Capitol.

She now claims media coverage took her comments about masks out-of-context; she didn't really know what the rally was about.

Obviously, her constituents hadn't seen her excuses, claims of being pro-mask, and the wonderful claim at the end of St. Peter freshman lawmaker regrets rally controversy:  "“I’m sort of a peacemaker so I don’t like this, this conflict,” she said."

Yes, that October 31, 2020 Facebook photo above of her standing maskless in front of a monster truck that's crushed a vehicle spray-painted "Dictator Walz," and two labeled "Socialist" and "Democrats" is clear street cred for peacemaking status.

But on to the letters. In Akland, Hagedorn gave legitimacy to Trump lies, North Mankato resident Wess McConville writes:

The time is now to begin a recall petition on Susan Akland. Jim Hagedorn should also resign because of his votes on Jan. 6. . . .

Akland apparently also perpetuates these lies and participated in a rally that laughed and cheered when the U.S. Capitol was ransacked.

Akland, a former registered nurse and the first-term District 19A representative, announced she was glad to see the crowd unmasked at the undemocratic and extremist “Storm the Capitol” rally she attended and spoke at.

And, according to the Star Tribune, the rally was also attended by the far-right groups the Three Percenters and the Boogaloo Bois. We might as well top off the craziness of that rally with the calls that suggested for an overthrow of the government.

I don’t know if Akland supports armed revolution or far-right extremism, and I don’t know if she was among those laughing at the insurrection, but I believe you can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep. She needs to answer for her involvement that day. . . .

North Mankato resident Joseph Kunkel writes in Several Republican politicians should resign:

. . .Shame also, on our new state representative Susan Akland, of St. Peter.

One of her first actions was to speak at the “Storm the Capitol” rally in St. Paul, the same day our national Capitol was being ransacked.

But there's more. St. Peter resident Tom Leonhardt writes in Akland's actions dangerous, disgraceful:

The dangerously disgraceful actions of Rep. Susan Akland (District 19A) on the Minnesota State Capitol lawn Wednesday leaves her with no choice but to resign her office.

She willingly and willfully stood next to and joined the chorus of those who called for a cleansing “war” and the death of those who don’t share their beliefs. This happened in broad daylight, on camera and on the same day the president’s insurrectionists laid siege on the U.S. Capitol resulting in the death of several, including a peace officer.

Akland, with her clout as a representative, joined by other state Republicans, supported those in attendance who called anyone who disagreed with them “weeds'' [video here] — needing to be killed in order for them to survive as “beautiful flowers in a garden.”

The group threatened thousands of her constituents, my wife and child, friends, and all those who would question crazy, conspiratorial views and people who simply have differing ideas about the future of our beautiful state and country.

Akland needs to do the right thing and step down immediately. She has clearly shown she doesn’t have the judgement to do the job. Her refusal to resign will only make her work in St. Paul impossible and lead to an eventual recall.

By her actions, Akland has told everyone in the state and the district that she doesn’t value certain lives and they are better off dead. If that’s someone who doesn’t represent you, join the voices calling for her to step down.

Ouch.  In Akland supported sedition, North Mankato resident Georgia Holmes wrote:

According to an article in the Star Tribune about a pro-Trump rally in St. Paul Wednesday, newly-elected District 19A state representative Susan Akland attended the rally and spoke to the group.

In her speech, she supported the rioters who illegally invaded the U.S. Capitol, terrorized members of Congress and desecrated the building.

Akland should immediately resign from office and apologize to the people of Minnesota for her support of sedition.

St. Peter residents Beth Kallaus and Mary Hildebrandt write in Akland should follow science, wear mask:

We have read in the Star Tribune that at the pro-Trump rally in St. Paul Rep. Susan Akland told the crowd she was glad they were unmasked. First, why would Akland go to a "rally" to protest an election she won? That baffles us.

Second, and more importantly though, we feel it was wrong that Akland told people she was glad they were not wearing masks. She is a nurse and her husband is a doctor. Medical training and skills are based and rooted in science.

Why is she not listening to the top scientists and doctors studying this virus? As a nurse, one wears a mask where there are infectious patients to keep everyone as safe as possible. As a representative she should help keep her constituents as safe as possible.

There are thousands of doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals in our country that have literally been putting their lives in jeopardy and working tirelessly to care for patients with COVID-19. Some of these people have died or are dying from this virus. They are asking and begging people to wear masks!

Do not disrespect these doctors and nurses who are fighting so hard on the front lines.

We sincerely respect that Akland’s choice is pro-life. However, how does one reconcile believing in not killing early human life, but think it's okay to endanger human lives not in the womb? Wearing a mask protects other human beings.

We should be able to expect our lawfully elected officials to follow science and wear masks. This includes Akland.

Finally, Mankato resident Logan Campa, who unsuccessfully challenged Glenn Gruenhagen, R-Glencoe, in  2012, includes her inFascist Republicans need to face repercussions.

We'll keep an eye out for developments in this story.

Related posts:

• Unmasked: Susan Akland's non-apology apology about storming the Minnesota state capitol
• Correcting the timeline on a report about Stop The Steal; Akland constituents talk back
• Tim Miller emails House colleagues, staff to incorrectly argue masks aren’t effective
• Minnesota House sedition faction reply to Protest and Dissent letter, defend attack on state voters
• Couldn't get to DC: Akland, Drazkowski, Franson, Gruenhagen and Lucero storm MN state capitol
• From the Journal of the House: Eight members protest & dissent those who signed Paxton letter

Screengrab: Peacemaker Susan Akland at a Republican monster truck event in October. Via Facebook. Update: A reader commented with more information about the photo: "That photo with the trucks was taken by Neisens bar and grill (old Whisky River place) along 169, just E of St. Peter. I drove by that day and took a similar photo, as I live in the area."

If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post. Those wishing to make a small ongoing monthly contribution should click on the  paypal subscription button.

Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email sally.jo.sorensen@gmail.com as recipient.

NEW: I'm now on Venmo for those who prefer to use this service: @Sally-Sorensen-6