Connect with us

Kare11

MN House passes bill to provide universal school meals

Avatar

Published

on



The DFL-led House approved the measure 70-58, overcoming opposition from Republicans.

ST PAUL, Minn. — After more than two hours of debate, the DFL-led Minnesota House of Representatives passed a measure Thursday night to provide universal school meals for all kids, overcoming opposition from Republicans who argued the measure costs too much and gives tax dollars to wealthy families and districts that don’t need the money.

The proposal will cost the state about $387 million over fiscal years 2024-25, according to estimates, but DFL leaders have said the measure will also save families anywhere from $800 to $1,000 per year on food bills. If approved by the Senate and signed by the governor, each student—regardless of their family’s income level—could receive free breakfast and lunch at school each day.

In Minnesota, an estimated one in six children report not having enough food to eat. However, one-quarter of those students experiencing food insecurity do not qualify for federal meal assistance because their families have too high of an income.

“In a state with an agricultural tradition as rich as ours, it is particularly unacceptable that any child go hungry,” said Rep. Sydney Jordan (DFL-Minneapolis), the bill author. “We know hunger is something too many students bring with them to their classrooms. And we know the current status quo is letting Minnesota school children go hungry.”

During the first two years of the pandemic, the federal government covered universal school meals for all students across the country. However, those waivers have since expired, and districts have returned to income-based federal meal eligibility. The DFL proposal that passed the House on Thursday would provide state money to essentially fill a gap between what the federal government covers.

On the House floor, several Republicans said they supported amendments to expand the income threshold for Minnesota students, so that struggling families who don’t qualify for federal meals can still get them. However, some members slammed the idea of universal school meals as “reckless spending.”

Rep. Peggy Bennett (R-Albert Lea) was among the Republicans who offered an amendment to expand eligibility – without going so far as to cover all income brackets.

“We all recognize there are some families that have been pushed into stressful situations, where students are not able to afford lunch, under the current eligibility factors,” Bennett said. “But members, paying for lunches for every student, kids that can afford it, families that can afford this, that doesn’t make sense. That’s not the answer. Money doesn’t grow on trees.”

The bill is currently churning through committee in the Senate.

Shortly after the House passed the measure, Gov. Tim Walz tweeted his support.

“It’s time to provide universal school meals to make sure every kid can succeed,” Walz said, “and that no child goes hungry. I’m ready to sign it into law.”

Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities in our YouTube playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries





Read the original article

Leave your vote

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings

Kare11

Rescue! – A chase, a crash and martial arts store workers race to save mother and babies in Fenton.

Avatar

Published

on



Employees of a Fenton martial arts school ran to the aid of a mother and her babies after the rollover crash. They said their training helped them rescue the family.

FENTON, Mo. — Employees at a martial arts business in Fenton rushed to save a mother and her twin eight-month-old babies after their vehicle was struck during a police pursuit involving federal officers on Interstate 44 in Fenton.

Surveillance video captured the moment a car being pursued by the DEA and Homeland Security struck the woman’s car on Wednesday.

Those who helped rescue them said it was a miracle they walked away alive.

The woman’s car flipped multiple times from the interstate, over the fence, and onto South Highway Drive before it landed in front of Xtreme Krav Maga & Fitness in Fenton. 

“All of a sudden, I heard a car crash, screeching noise, and my fellow employee, Lindsay, was here at the front counter, and she said, ‘Oh, that’s not good,'” said Dustin Pluth, a manager at the business.

Within seconds, Pluth sprang into action, running outside to the car.

“It was just kind of an instinct thing. Once I saw the car rolling, coming to a halt, and running up to it, I found a mom and two babies inside,” he said.

Pluth cut the mom’s seatbelt off to get her out and pulled her twin babies out of the sunroof. Then another employee, Lindsay Cross, comforted the mom while walking them inside to get warm.

“She was very terrified of just being in a car wreck number one, not knowing what was going on. She didn’t know what the outcome was, and then she was obviously worried about her kids,” Pluth said.

The business offers self-defense and martial arts classes, as well as medical training and trauma-one classes, which teach people how to become first responders.

Pluth said it’s training that helped them rescue the family.

“Luckily, the good people in this scenario had a few scratches on them, but it could’ve been a worse Christmas. And as a dad, kids being injured is the worst fear ever,” he said.

Of all places for a car accident to end, Pluth said it was the best result of a bad situation.

“She got handled and cared for, and the babies were cared for probably as quickly as we possibly could do. It’s definitely a Christmas miracle that it happened here, and they came as unscathed as possible,” Pluth said.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said several suspects were taken into custody following the federal police pursuit.

Pluth said the mom was a little banged up, but thankfully, they’re all doing well.



Read the original article

Leave your vote

Continue Reading

Kare11

Carol singing and Beef Wellington pies

Avatar

Published

on



Tracie Munce, owner of Merlin’s Rest, joined KARE 11 Saturday to discuss the upcoming singalong and share a dish.

MINNEAPOLIS — A neighborhood bar in south Minneapolis is sharing a popular recipe and announcing the return of a favorite holiday tradition.

Merlin’s Rest, which has been in the Longfellow neighborhood for nearly two decades, will host its annual pub carol singalong on Sunday, Dec. 22·from 2 to 4 p.m.

Merlin’s not only has the most extensive selection of single malt Scotch and Irish whiskey in the state, but it also serves award-winning pub classics like bangers and mash and authentic fish and chips.

Owner Tracie Munce joined KARE 11 Saturday to discuss the upcoming singalong and share a dish.

Recipe: Beef Wellington

  • 3lb ribeye roast
  • ¾ cups Beef Stock
  • Steak seasoning
  • 1 ¼ lb crimini mushroom
  • ½  shallots
  • ¼  onion
  • 4 Tbls garlic
  • 1 long stalks of rosemary
  • 1 TBS bisto gravy mix mixed with 1 TBS cold water
  • 1 cups water mixed with 1TBS beef base and 1 TBS garlic base
  • 8oz  of sliced and diced thinly Ham
  • Puff pastry sheets

Coat thawed ribeye with oil and sprinkle steak seasoning all over the roast, cook each side for about 5-8 minutes then transfer to a roaster with about 1-2 cups of beef stock, fat side up. Cover with aluminum foil and roast at 350 degrees for 2 hours – remove from the roaster and let rest – save the juice for gravy.

Clean and quarter mushrooms and place into a food processor, pulse into a small dice. Rough chop shallot and add into the mushroom, pulse a few more times. 

Remove rosemary leaves from stem & rough chop, combine with mushrooms and shallots

In a large skillet add 1 Tbs butter and add the mushroom mixture, cook on medium-high heat until all the water has evaporated, about 15 minutes, put in a large bowl

Cube beef, take off fat, and add to the mushroom bowl

Thin, long slices of ham then chop and to beef and mushroom mixture. Salt and Pepper (about 1TBS of each) and combine

Dice onion and garlic and sauté in 1TBS butter until just browning, add juice from roasting the ribeye and about 1 cup of Beef stock. Let boil then add slowly the bisto slurry to thicken. Add a small amount of gravy mixture to the beef mixture to moisten – do not need much gravy. 

Cut pastry into large squares and place into jumbo muffin tin. Add ½ cup of meat & mushroom mixture and pull puff over top of meat, pinching to seal everything in. Brush top with egg, and sprinkle with smoked paprika. Bake for 25-30 mins at 350

Add your side of choice with Wellington pie and a side of gravy.



Read the original article

Leave your vote

Continue Reading

Kare11

Cozy beverages for holiday gifts

Avatar

Published

on



Jamie Preuss from So Happy You Liked It joined KARE 11 Saturday to demonstrate how to DIY a hot buttered rum mix and homemade Irish cream.

GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — There might not be anything more heartfelt at the holidays, than homemade gifts. While cookies might be your go-to… how about mixing things up, with a homemade drink mix?

Jamie Preuss from So Happy You Liked It joined KARE 11 Saturday to demonstrate how to DIY a hot buttered rum mix and homemade Irish cream.

Recipe: Hot Buttered Rum 

  • 1 pint vanilla ice cream, softened 
  • 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon1 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 oz dark rum
  • 6-8 oz hot water

Using a hand mixer, combine all ingredients except ice cream.

Once combined, add softened ice cream, and blend to thoroughly mix in. 

Freeze the mixture for at least 2 hours. 

In a mug, combine hot water, rum, and 1 heaping spoonful of mixture. Stir to dissolve.    

Recipe: Homemade Bailey’s Irish Cream

  • 2 T cocoa powder
  • 2 t instant espresso
  • 1 t vanilla
  • 1 t almond  
  • 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 cup cream
  • 1 1/2 cup Irish whiskey, optional

Mix cocoa and espresso powder with 2 tablespoons of hot water and mix to combine. 

Add all ingredients except the cream to a blender (including whiskey if you are using it), and blend to fully combine. 

Add the cream to the blender and pulse to combine. Don’t blend

too long because this will start to aerate the cream and make the drink super thick!

Transfer to 1 large or several smaller flip-top glass jars. Give them as gifts or keep them for yourself! 

The mix will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.     



Read the original article

Leave your vote

Continue Reading

Copyright © 2024 Breaking MN

Log In

Forgot password?

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Add to Collection

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.