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Winona LaDuke to step down from Honor the Earth

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The move comes after a Becker County court recently ruled against the organization in a years-old sexual harassment case and handed down a $750,000 penalty.

PONSFORD, Minn. — Honor the Earth co-founder and executive director Winona LaDuke announced Wednesday that she is stepping back from her role with the organization.

In a lengthy Facebook post, LaDuke explained that the decision comes after a Becker County court recently ruled against the Indigenous organization in an eight-year-old sexual harassment case.

In 2014 and 2015, a contract employee named Margaret “Molly” Campbell raised a sexual harassment claim while working for Honor the Earth. “At the same time, our community was facing Enbridge’s Sandpiper, a large oil pipeline that would run between our two largest wild rice lakes. I and others were working around the clock to stand up to the outside threat posed by Enbridge… As a result, I did not rapidly and adequately act on the complex personnel and sexual harassment issues our organization faced internally,” LaDuke said in the post.

LaDuke, who was serving as the organization’s executive director at the time of the allegations, went on to say that she “deeply” regrets not responding to Campbell’s claims “with the appropriate level of care and urgency.”

Campbell eventually took her case to the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, which determined Honor the Earth did not engage in discriminatory practices.

However, last week a Becker Country Court found Honor the Earth guilty and ordered the organization to pay $750,000 in punitive damages.

“I am disappointed that Honor the Earth was forced to address these issues through litigation in the State court system. I do not believe that Honor the Earth is an enemy of Gender Justice or Molly Campbell, and I believe there are many better forums for conflict resolution than those prioritized by a colonial system of justice,” LaDuke wrote.

LaDuke submitted her resignation letter to Honor the Earth’s Board of Directors on Monday, April 3. Krystal Two Bulls began transitioning into the role last fall after joining the organization as Executive Co-Director and will assume the sole leadership role in Honor the Earth. 

Honor the Earth was established by LaDuke and Amy Ray and Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls in 1993. The organization says its mission is to “create awareness and support for Native environmental issues and to develop needed financial and political resources for the survival of sustainable Native communities.”

LaDuke has been a vocal leader in protests against the Enbridge pipeline projects.

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Local volunteers for both campaigns make final push

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With the election seemingly razor-thin, volunteers will continue working until the final ballot is cast.

MINNEAPOLIS — With only a few days left until Election Day, volunteers from both campaigns are doing what they can during the final push.

On Saturday, Kamala Harris supporters canvassed in north Minneapolis. They knocked on doors encouraging those who hadn’t voted yet, to do so. 

In Lakeville, Trump supporters gathered with Congressional District 2 candidates, as they geared up to reach those final voters.

“Donald Trump lost by a small margin here in Minnesota and we want that to be different this year, this time around,” said Crystal Mcdonnell. Mcdonnell canvases not only to try and sway voters to Trump but also to help them fulfill their civic duty.

“(We) offer assistance in registering to vote, give rides to fellow patriots who may not have the means to get out and vote,” Mcdonnell said.

In north Minneapolis, first-time canvasser Samirya Strong was doing her part to help her candidate win.

“We need to activate everyone who is able to vote, to vote up and down for freedom and justice and equality for all,” Strong said.

With the election seemingly razor thin, this type of leg work from both campaigns will continue until the final ballot is cast Tuesday night.

RELATED: Everything you need to know before casting your ballot



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Young children pulled from burning townhome Saturday

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Four people, three children and an adult, were taken to the hospital Saturday night after a townhome fire on County Road D East.

VADNAIS HEIGHTS, Minn. — A witness said multiple children were pulled from a burning townhome in Vadnais Heights early Saturday evening. 

Chief Chris Hearden with Vandnais Heights Fire said in a press release that four local fire departments were called to a fire in a townhome complex at around 5:40 on Saturday evening. 

When crews arrived in the 1000 block of County Road D East, they saw fire and heavy smoke pouring from a townhome. 

 A neighbor told KARE 11’s Ian Russell that he ran to help, but the flames were too hot for him to go inside. He said he heard the kids screaming and then saw them pulled from the home.

“Tried my best to run in there… the fire, the smoke… don’t know the blueprint, don’t know the surroundings, couldn’t see nothing so I got out of there,” said Venjoseph Brown, obviously shaken. “I was no use… and there was still kids in there. If it was that bad on the outside, I could wonder what they was goin’ through.” 

Officials confirmed two young children were pulled from the burning building by emergency crews. Two other victims, an adult and another child, were able to escape on their own. All four were taken to Regions Hospital and Hearden said their conditions are unknown at this time. 

Engines from Vadnais Heights, Little Canada, Maplewood and White Bear Lake worked to knock down the fire, which appeared to be out as of 7:15 p.m. Crews on scene noted that damage to the first floor of the townhome was extensive. 

The Vadnais Heights Fire Department, Ramsey County Fire Investigation Team and the State Fire Marshall’s Office are all investigating the cause of this fire. 





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Neighbor says children were pulled from burning townhome

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VADNAIS HEIGHTS, Minn. — A witness said multiple children were pulled from a burning townhome in Vadnais Heights early Saturday evening. 

Fire crews from a number of east metro departments were dispatched to the home at 1087 County Road D East around 5:45 p.m.  A neighbor told KARE 11’s Ian Russell that he ran to help, but the flames were too hot for him to go inside. He said children were pulled from the home. At this time it is unclear how many victims or what their conditions are. 

Engines worked to knock down the fire, which appeared to be out or at least under control as of 7:15 p.m.

This is a developing story. KARE 11 will update as details become available.



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