Star Tribune
Rent control ruling too late to help one St. Paul tenant
During the rent stabilization case, a quasi-judicial proceeding, city officials were asked to dive deep into these policies and other state statutes since the city’s ordinance says no extraordinary rent increase will be granted to landlords violating Minnesota’s habitability law.
Housing Justice Center attorneys delivered many of the same arguments they made last year in an eight-count civil lawsuit filed by Mohamed and other tenants against Marquette and its affiliates.
They alleged that the property management company is aiming to displace the building’s large Muslim Somali population through a mass renovation, which is simultaneously exposing tenants to hazards and being used to justify rent hikes.
Marquette sent city staff reports documenting recent tests for asbestos at the Haven, which found no evidence of the material. Angie Wiese, director of St. Paul’s Department of Safety and Inspections, said the city will sometimes require such tests before issuing construction permits, though asbestos and lead generally fall under the purview of the state and county.
An asbestos and lead expert contracted by the Housing Justice Center wrote a follow-up letter to the city saying Marquette’s testing was based on limited samples. He also referenced older environmental assessment reports that said prior testing confirmed the presence of asbestos in the building’s popcorn ceiling and lead coatings in the bathtubs.
“These third-party documents reinforce my opinion that Marquette has violated and continues to violate lead and asbestos safety laws,” the expert wrote.
Minnesota could see the first winter storm of the season next week following a blissfully warm fall.
The weather will decidedly shift into winter next week, with a storm system moving into the Minnesota and Wisconsin area Tuesday, said National Weather Service Twin Cities meteorologist Brent Hewett. The storm system will bring rain, and possibly heavy rain, with temperatures in the 40s, he said.
Those further north or west with cooler temps could see some snow from that storm system. In the Twin Cities metro, the weather will likely stick to rain, he said.
“Behind that system, there’s still a pretty good amount of uncertainty, but we’ll definitely see a shift towards cooler temperatures, with highs in the 30s and lows in the 20s,” Hewett said.
We are still a week away, but those temperatures suggest the ingredients to possibly bring snow or ice, Hewett said.
Now is a good time to prepare for cold weather, especially if people were out of practice following last year’s warm winter, he said. Make those snow tire appointments and add your winter safety gear back into your vehicle, including extra coats, flashlights and a small snow shovel, he said.
“If there’s any remaining outdoors stuff you need to tackle, tackle it this weekend when its in the 50s,” Hewett said.
DULUTH – The Nephews’ home was uncharacteristically dark on Wednesday evening, without even the omnipresent light from off the back deck, where the late Kat Ramsland had kept her beloved plants. But the yard was aglow with the handheld candles and battery-powered tealights of the hundreds of people who gathered for a walk to remember the members of two families recently killed.
It’s been a week since Erin Abramson, 47, and her son, Jacob Nephew,15, were found dead from gunshot wounds in their home on Tacony Street, then Ramsland, 45, and Oliver Nephew, 7, were later discovered also dead from gunshot wounds alongside Tony Nephew, who seemingly killed all four before taking his own life at the home on a corner lot across the street from Denfeld High School.
The quiet walk organized by neighbors covered the nearly mile-long route between the homes in the West Duluth neighborhood. At both stops, the names of the victims were said, bells chimed and sky lanterns were lit in their memory.
“No one knows what to do,” said one of the organizers, Ramsland’s neighbor Lindsey Jungman.
They’ve found comfort in tending to Oliver Nephew’s gift library in the side yard, a spot he made for passersby to take a gift or leave a gift. The neighbors have been making sure the recent onslaught of donations, stuffed animals and toys, have stayed dry. By the end of the memorial walk, tiny lights lined the space.
City Councilor Janet Kennedy, Mayor Roger Reinert and Police Chief Mike Ceynowa were among the walkers. Abramson’s running group wore glow-in-the-dark neon. Former art students of Ramsland, who taught at Lake Superior College, chatted amongst themselves about her favorite drink — iced caramel macchiatos. Squad cars from the Duluth Police Department, lights activated, led the flood of walkers through the streets and blocked intersections.
Also there: members of Twin Ports Ghostbusters, who dress in tan jumpsuits, drive a variation on the Ectomobile and raise money for the Ronald McDonald House. Oliver Nephew was an honorary member of the group, with his own tan uniform. Dawn Jensen held a smiling photo of him, big grin, taken during a parade in Superior.
The Ghostbusters crew met him when it was invited to his 6th birthday party — the sort of Oliver Nephew event that turned into a block party. He was known for knee-high hugs and his red curls, and was a one-kid welcome wagon.
Two family members from Minnesota were killed when their SUV struck a semitrailer truck that was pulled over partly in the lane of traffic along the Kansas Turnpike and then hit another semi that was stopped.
The crash occurred about 4:10 a.m. Monday on northbound Interstate 35 near Wichita, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol. Killed in the accident were 78-year-old Thomas Reller and 27-year-old Octavia Reller, according to the patrol. Both were from Zumbrota.
A semi was “partially in the roadway from a previous crash” when the Minnesotans’ SUV hit the big rig and then another semi that was involved in the earlier crash, a patrol statement read.
The two semi driver came away with minor injuries, the patrol said.
