Star Tribune
Minnetonka considers new dog leash rules
A sign with the rules for dogs is displayed at the entrance to Purgatory Park in Minnetonka on Tuesday. (Renée Jones Schneider)
During public comment periods on the park plan, officials heard from residents who urged them to allow dogs off leash throughout the park, saying it provides a crucial exercise opportunity for both the animals and their humans. Others said they’d had problems with dog bites or dogs running into neighboring yards.
“We’ve heard from residents all over the city that they do go to Purgatory [Park] for the beautiful nature and to let their dogs run off leash,” said Matt Kumka, the city’s park and trail project manager. And, he added, “We heard that some folks did have unwanted interactions with dogs at times.”
In a meeting late last month, council members began discussing whether they want to allow retractable leashes and, if so, if they should max out at 6 feet long or 20 feet. Council Member Deb Calvert suggested retractable leashes could be especially helpful for older adults, who might not be able to walk as fast or far as other dog owners.
“They’re losing what was their dog park, and I feel like we need to toss a proverbial bone in their direction,” Calvert said during the council meeting last month.
The council also appears poised to create an advisory group to help decide which areas of the park should be open to off-leash dogs and whether those spots should be marked by signs or fences.
If the mayor and council approve the new proposals, Kumka said officials don’t necessarily expect an increase in citations but that “it would improve clarity regarding the expectations of behavior and a bit more of an opportunity to provide education for the folks in the parks.”
The dominance Becker High’s football team showed all season was evident in the Class 4A state semifinals Thursday at U.S. Bank Stadium as the No. 1-ranked Bulldogs controlled the game from the outset in a 28-7 victory over Marshall.
Beck will face the winner of the Orono-Totino Grace semifinal in the championship game Nov. 22 at 1 p.m.
Becker finished the game with 322 total yards compared to Marshall’s 202. Becker never let Marshall gain momentum.
Sawyer Brown both threw a touchdown pass and caught a touchdown pass for Becker, which remains undefeated at 12-0.
Marshall ends the season with a record of 10-2.
Star Tribune
Trump expected to choose vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary, AP sources say
NEW YORK — President-elect Donald Trump is expected to nominate anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr to serve as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, according to two people familiar with the discussions who spoke on condition of anonymity.
HHS is a massive Cabinet agency that oversees everything from drug, vaccine and food safety to medical research and the social safety net programs Medicare and Medicaid.
Kennedy, a former Democrat who ran as an independent in this year’s presidential race, abandoned his bid after striking a deal to give Trump his endorsement with a promise to have a role in health policy in the administration.
He and Trump have since become good friends, with Kennedy frequently receiving loud applause at Trump’s rallies.
The expected appointment was first reported by Politico Thursday.
The region has been rocked over successive years with allegations of child labor in the all-important meat-packaging industry. In 2023, Downs Food Group — which operates a plant in Madelia — paid $300,000 to settle child labor allegations brought in Watonwan County court. The company disputed those charges.
According to the state’s terms, Smithfield will also put on a 30-minute presentation at an industry event to communicate the importance of child labor compliance. Smithfield is owned by Hong-Kong-based WH Group, the largest pork company in the world.
St. James, a city of 4,793 in south-central Minnesota, has long been a food-processing hub, attracting a sizable immigrant population, including many Hispanic residents, to work in the plants. In 2022, the city website noted Smithfield expanded a parking lot to add 140 jobs as they added three production lines.
