Star Tribune
In Twin Cities suburbs, a push to help endangered state bee reshapes landscapes
A bumble bee collects pollen off a Meadow Blazing Star in Dana Boyle’s garden. (Aaron Lavinsky/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Landscaping vs. erosion
Hong has pitched an idea to developers to allow homeowners to choose their landscaping, much the same way they might choose the home’s paint color or countertops, and to give them the option of planting native grasses and pollinator gardens. If someone just bought a new house that came with sod and in-ground irrigation, “it’s asking a lot of the homeowner to rip that all out and do something different,” Hong said.
She tried the state Builders Association, and then local cities and watershed districts, but the talks weren’t productive. For now, she keeps lobbying for the idea when she can.
The counterargument is that most builders choose sod for new houses because of state and federal rules about stormwater and erosion control, said Nick Erickson, the senior director of housing policy for Housing First Minnesota, the state trade association for builders.
Homebuilders are responsible for erosion on a new homesite, and the fastest way to stabilize the project after the house is built is to lay down sod. Waiting for native grasses to fill in isn’t practical, said Erickson.
“Thirty years ago, you could sell a house and leave it with untilled soil, but that’s not allowed anymore,” he said, noting a homebuilder who doesn’t control the flow of water running off the building site could be fined. The need for native plantings might be acute, but so is the need for mitigating water pollution, Erickson said: “This is a situation where you’re putting two interests against each other.”
The future of the rusty patched bumblebee hasn’t been written yet, and experts say it’s hard to know what will happen as habitat losses continue.
After returning to the church from the march, attendees took turns placing their signs with the names of people who died at the altar with hundreds of candles. They listened while speakers including Rev. DeWayne Davis, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, Simpson program manager Mary Gallini and others. Gov. Tim Walz did not attend, but Flanagan attended on his behalf to present an official proclamation of Dec. 12 being known as “Minnesota Homeless Memorial Day.”
Some speakers such as Cathy ten Broeke, assistant commissioner of the Minnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness, said they hope the memorial won’t be necessary in the future if there is work done to end homelessness.
“They are all of our relatives, and I hope that we recommit ourselves tonight to the work to ensure that we no longer have to have a memorial service remembering any one of our relatives experiencing homelessness when they die,” she said.
Star Tribune
Austin Navarro of Albert Lea sentenced to 25 years in prison for murder of 2-year-old child
An Albert Lea man was sentenced Wednesday to 25 years in prison for murder of a 2-year-old boy.
Austin Michael Navarro, 26, also received a concurrent 32-month sentence for physically assaulting his 12-week-old son.
Navarro pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and third-degree assault charges in Freeborn County District Court on Sept.18.
He assaulted the two children while they were under his care on July 6, 2023, prosecutors said.
Navarro admitted in a plea hearing that he punched and kicked both children multiple times.
The 2-year-old was the child of his then-girlfriend. The toddler died after sustaining grievous wounds, including broken ribs, a lacerated liver and a traumatic brain injury.
The 12-week-old infant survived the assault but sustained several injuries to his head and body, including fractured ribs.
“My heart goes out Austin Navarro’s victims, as well as their families. While nothing can undo the pain Navarro caused, I hope that Navarro’s conviction is able to bring them some measure of solace,” Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a statement Thursday.
Nine votes were needed to override Frey’s veto, but the vote was 7-6 in favor — not enough to overturn the resolution, which expressed solidarity with “nonviolent campus activism opposing war and supporting Palestinian human rights.”
The university has disputed that the protest at Morrill Hall was nonviolent, saying protesters spray-painted security cameras, broke interior windows and barricaded exits, trapping staffers for “an extended period of time.” University police and Hennepin County sheriff’s deputies arrested 11 protesters.
The university said the protesters caused over $67,000 in damage to doorways, walls and flooring; violated multiple university polices; and caused emotional harm to employees as they piled up furniture and copy machines to prevent workers from leaving.
The vote to override was supported by Council Members Robin Wonsley, Jason Chavez, Aurin Chowdhury, Jeremiah Ellison and Jamal Osman, as well as Council President Elliott Payne and Council Vice President Aisha Chughtai.
Those voting to sustain the veto were Council Members Michael Rainville, LaTrisha Vetaw, Katie Cashman, Emily Koski, Andrea Jenkins and Linea Palmisano.
That’s the same breakdown as the original 7-5 vote to approve the resolution, except that Jenkins was absent.
