Kare11
LGBTQ students bring anti-bullying message to MN Capitol
Despite living in a trans refuge state, four students told KARE 11 it took switching schools before truly feeling safe and seen.
ST PAUL, Minn. — OutFront Minnesota was out front at the Minnesota capitol on Tuesday. The group, which works to promote the human rights of LGBTQ Minnesotans, held it’s annual lobby day to advocate for legislation.
For one group of LGBTQ teens in attendance, that platform begins with one critical step.
“Protecting us,” said Ace, a 16 year old from Andover who uses the pronouns he/it. “I was a target of a lot of bullying, especially in my early years. Kids can be cruel. It doesn’t matter how young they are. Responsibility should be taken either with the school, the student itself, or the parent.”
Ace wasn’t the only one who came to share a message based on personal experience.
“I used to attend Champlin Park High School,” said Archer, a 16 year old who uses he/they pronouns. “I was having a tough year, so I ended up going into a mental health program. After getting out of that program, I came to this school.”
Archer and Ace were just some of the students who have now enrolled at Northwest Passage Charter School in Coon Rapids.
“At Northwest passage, all the bathrooms are gender neutral,” Archer said. “Everything is on one level, so there’s no elevators or stairs needed, and all the staff are really helpful.”
While the students are grateful to have found a place where they feel safe and seen, they also know that’s not the case everywhere in Minnesota.
“I’ve had many friends who have had problems with the school system and I just want what’s right for them,” said 15 year old Alex Erickson (they/them) who lives in New Brighton but also attends Northwest Passage.
While signs of support and love surrounded the students during their trip to the capitol on Tuesday, their hearts were still heavy with lingering questions about the death of a fellow LGBTQ student in Oklahoma earlier this month.
On Feb. 7, a non-binary teen named Nex Bendict was allegedly attacked in a school bathroom in Oklahoma. The next day, they were dead. The medical examiner’s office says Nex did not die from trauma, but other details of the investigation, including the results of a toxicology report, have yet to emerge.
Through it all, Nex’s mother says they were a target of bullying for who they were.
“I’ve tried my best to avoid (the news about Nex) because it brings up bad memories of my past,” Ace said. “I nearly ended up like that. If I hadn’t moved around as much as I did, I don’t know what would have happened.”
“It could have been me and that’s scary,” Archer said. “It could have been one of my friends.”
Though Minnesota prioritized, and passed, a trans refuge bill last session, the students say the reality for many Minnesota kids varies, which is why they will continue to push for awareness — and legislation — to address bullying.
“Responsibility should be taken either with the school, the student itself, or the parent,” Ace said. “I’m here because it matters so our voice doesn’t get suppressed. A lot of kids, especially if they have become targets of bullying at a young age, we stop trying. We stop speaking up for ourselves. We become complacent. Don’t be complacent with how people treat you.”
“Yeah, when it happens so much you get used to the behavior and you don’t even realize that it’s wrong,” Alex said.
Now this group of students is hoping to share that message of hope with others like them, and to those who don’t share their experience they also have a message.
“We are real, we are here and we’re not broken,” Archer said. “We can’t be fixed, there’s nothing wrong with us and we are going to continue to exist as we always have.”
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This merger will include 70 banking centers across Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin.
SAINT PAUL, Minn. — St. Paul-based Bremer Financial Corporation and Old National Bancorp announced a merger Monday.
After the merger is completed, Old National will become the third-largest bank in the Twin Cities, according to the press release. The smaller Bremer Bank had $16.2 billion in total assets, $11.5 billion in total loans and $13.2 billion in deposits as of Sept. 30.
“For more than 80 years, we’ve been honored to carry out the legacy of our founder, Otto Bremer,” Jeanne Crain, President and CEO of Bremer, said in a press release. “When our majority shareholder, the Otto Bremer Trust, reaffirmed its interest in selling Bremer Bank, we appreciated the opportunity to identify a partner through a collaborative process to ensure the best possible outcome for our customers, employees, and our communities. With Old National, we have confidence we found a great fit.”
The partnership includes 70 total banking centers in Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin. The merger is expected to be finalized in mid-2025.
For shareholders, each share of Bremer common stock will be converted into the right to receive 4.182 shares of Old National common stock plus $26.22 in cash, which equals about $116.76 per share, based on Old National’s estimate in the press release.
As tempting as it is to slide unwanted foods to your dog or cat, check this list before doing so.
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — Do you share a bite of your meals with your beloved pet?
Whether you hand your dog a piece of meat while you’re cooking or let your cat slurp some milk, it is all too common for pet owners to share with their furry friends. But during the holiday season, it is extra important to check what foods are healthy and possibly toxic before you share.
The Animal Humane Society shared a list of what common holiday foods your pet can and cannot eat.
Toxic:
- Raw or undercooked meat, eggs and bones: this can put your pet at risk of Salmonella and E. coli. Bones can splinter and become lodged in or puncture your pet’s digestive tract
- Desserts: chocolate is poisonous for both cats and dogs. Also, xylitol, a common artificial sweetener, can lead to liver failure
- Garlic, onions and chives: irritate stomachs in small amounts, toxic in large amounts
- Grapes and raisins: can cause kidney damage
- Nuts: can cause vomiting, diarrhea and pancreatitis
- Salty snacks: cause excessive thirst and sodium poisoning
- Citrus fruits: citric acid can cause minor stomach upset in small doses, and can act as a central nervous system depression if eaten in large amounts
- Milk: most cats are lactose intolerant and eating dairy can lead to diarrhea and vomiting. Dogs can have small amounts of milk, but some dogs are also lactose intolerant
For more foods to avoid feeding your pet, check the website of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). If you think your pet has eaten something poisonous, call the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661.
Foods you CAN give your pet:
- Eggs: This can be a healthy treat for your dog or cat as eggs are full of amino acids and protein. Just make sure to fully cook the eggs
- Fish: Most fish can be beneficial for your pet as long as it is fully cooked with the bones removed
- Meat: Purina reports that cooked, lean meats such as beef, chicken, turkey, liver and lamb are okay for your pet to eat. Make sure you cook the meat thoroughly and remove all skin and bones
For more on foods you can bond over with your pet, check out the American Kennel Club or Purina.
The Holiday Train will make stops in 20 communities across the state, delivering great music and picking up food and donations to help feed the hungry.
HASTINGS, Minn. — A special train will soon be rolling into Minnesota, carrying with it a load of holiday spirit, music and a commitment to helping those in need.
The Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) Railroad Holiday train will make stops in 20 communities across the state, treating guests to top flight musicians performing holiday classics and new songs of the season while collecting food and cash donations to feed the growing number of people struggling with food insecurity.
Here is the list of Minnesota stops.
- Dec. 10, 2:45 p.m. – La Crescent
- Dec. 10, 3:45 p.m. – Winona
- Dec. 10, 5:45 p.m. – Wabasha
- Dec. 10, 8:15 p.m. – Hastings
- Dec. 11, 5:15 p.m. – Cottage Grove
- Dec. 11, 7 p.m. – St. Paul
- Dec. 12, 5 p.m. – Golden Valley
- Dec. 12, 6:15 p.m. – St. Louis Park
- Dec. 12, 8:15 p.m. – Minneapolis
- Dec. 14, 4:30 p.m. – Loretto
- Dec. 14, 6 p.m. – Buffalo
- Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m. – Annandale
- Dec. 14, 9 p.m. – Kimball
- Dec. 15, 10:15 a.m. – Glenwood
- Dec. 15, 11:45 a.m. – Alexandria
- Dec. 15, 2:45 p.m. – Detroit Lakes
- Dec. 15, 4:20 p.m. – Mahnomen
- Dec. 15, 6:15 p.m. – Plummer
- Dec. 15, 7:45 p.m. – Thief River Falls
- Dec. 16, 4:30 p.m. – Elbow Lake
The train will stop and stay for approximately 30 minutes. Scheduled performers from Dec. 10 to Dec. 12 will be The Lone Bellow and Tiera Kennedy. From Dec. 14 to Dec. 16 holiday guests will hear music from Seaforth and Alana Springsteen. There is a special car on the train equipped with a concert-quality sound system and a large side door that drops down to reveal a stage.
“The Holiday Train unites people in the spirit of the season as it travels across Canada and the United States while generating critical support for our neighbors in need through the program’s support of local food banks,” said Keith Creel, CPKC President and CEO. “We are pleased to again send this magical train on a four-week trip across our network spreading holiday joy as we collect food and raise money to fight food insecurity. We look forward to again seeing all the smiles and cheers from people young and old coming together in the spirit of giving.”
While the event is free, those attending are encouraged to bring heart-healthy items or cash donations to stock local food shelves that have almost universally seen an uptick in clients. The need grows even greater during the holiday season.
Since 1999, the CPKC Holiday Train has been the engine to collect more than $24.3 million and over 5.3 million pounds of food for community food banks across Canada and the U.S.
