Kare11
Winona LaDuke to step down from Honor the Earth
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.
Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities and across Minnesota in our YouTube playlist:
WATCH MORE ON KARE 11+
Download the free KARE 11+ app for Roku, Fire TV, and other smart TV platforms to watch more from KARE 11 anytime! The KARE 11+ app includes live streams of all of KARE 11’s newscasts. You’ll also find on-demand replays of newscasts; the latest from KARE 11 Investigates, Breaking the News and the Land of 10,000 Stories; exclusive programs like Verify and HeartThreads; and Minnesota sports talk from our partners at Locked On Minnesota.
Kare11
Enrollment moves upward in Universities of Wisconsin system
MADISON, Wis. — Overall enrollment in the Universities of Wisconsin system’s four-year schools ticked upward this fall compared with last year, data released Tuesday shows.
The system released enrollment numbers as of the 10th day of the 2024 fall semester. They show overall enrollment stood at 164,431 students, up 1.2% from the 10th day of the 2023 fall semester.
UW-Green Bay saw 975 new students for a 10.5% increase in enrollment, the largest percentage jump among the 13 four-year schools. Enrollment at UW-Madison, the system’s flagship university, increased nearly 3%. UW-Superior, the most remote campus, in Douglas County in far northwestern Wisconsin, saw a 3.6% increase.
Five schools saw their enrollment shrink, including Eau Claire, Oshkosh, Parkside, Platteville and Stout.
Overall enrollment at the system’s two-year branch campuses fell 22%. The most dramatic drop-off was at UW-Stevens Point’s Marshfield campus, where enrollment plunged nearly 45% compared with fall 2023.
UW officials have blamed declining numbers of high school graduates and more graduates eschewing college for the workforce for faltering enrollment.
Kare11
Student at Anoka Technical College stabbed with screwdriver
An adult male was arrested after the incident.
ANOKA, Minn. — A student was stabbed in the hand at Anoka Technical College Tuesday, authorities said.
A spokesperson with the Anoka Police Department told KARE 11 that officers were dispatched early in the afternoon. At the school, it was learned a student was stabbed in the hand with a screwdriver.
An adult male was taken into custody, officials said. The student was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Anoka Technical College said in a statement that safety and security is the top priority for everyone on campus:
Just before noon today, an incident occurred between two students at Anoka Technical College, in the automotive lab, resulting in one of the students receiving an injury to the hand. The Anoka Police Department responded and took the suspect into custody. The victim was treated by on-campus security officers before going to the hospital for further evaluation and treatment.
At Anoka Technical College, our top priority is the safety and security of everyone on campus. This incident is being investigated by the college and local law enforcement. Support services are available for students and employees impacted by this situation.
Kare11
BCA identifies man shot by police in St. Paul
The BCA said the 40-year-old man was still hospitalized at Regions Hospital on Tuesday.
ST PAUL, Minn. — Police have identified the man shot and injured by officers after pointing a gun at police on Monday evening.
According to a press release from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), Earl Bennett, 40, was shot by police near Allianz Field.
Officials said Bennett does not have a permanent address but has been staying in the Twin Cities Metro area.
Bennett is hospitalized in critical but stable condition at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.
The incident started just before 7:45 p.m. Monday when police were called to the 400 block of Pierce Street for reports of shots fired. Officers found a man with a handgun when they responded to the scene.
St. Paul police spokesman Sgt. Mike Ernster told reporters on Monday night that when officers approached the man, he put the gun to his own head. Police began to negotiate with the man for a peaceful surrender, but he reportedly refused to drop the weapon, instead walking south on Snelling Avenue.
Police attempted to use “less lethal” means to subdue Bennett, but when he lifted his handgun and pointed it at police, multiple officers fired their weapons, striking the suspect.
The BCA said it is in the early stages of its investigation.
All the officers who discharged their weapons have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings