Star Tribune
Walz campaigns on new benefits passed in Minnesota’s 2023 legislative session
Minnesota’s recent slate of progressive policies have become fodder for the presidential campaign, as Gov. Tim Walz touts what he terms family-friendly programs, and Republicans and the state’s largest business groups call for another look.
Since Vice President Kamala Harris named Walz her running mate, the Democratic campaign has called for national implementation of some of the policies passed in Minnesota’s 2023 legislative session, including an expanded child tax credit, paid leave and free meals at school.
“I’m really grateful Governor Walz has been able to elevate this issue on a national stage,” said Rep. Sydney Jordan, DFL-Minneapolis, who carried the school meals bill in the House. “I hear regularly from colleagues across the country in other statehouses about how they can do that in their state.”
Walz also campaigns on paid family and medical leave and the state’s expanded child tax credit, bringing them up in the vice presidential debate and in subsequent television appearances.
During the pandemic, federal relief funds temporarily expanded the child tax credit and gave all public school students free meals at school through the end of the 2021-22 school year.
Minnesota is one of the states where legislatures voted to continue both programs by using state funding after the pandemic funds lapsed. Minnesota expanded the state child tax credit for lower-income families to partly cover the extra money that had come through the federal credit, and extended the free school meals program with state funding. Minnesota also became one of 22 states with a form of paid family and medical leave, though the program will not take effect until 2026.
The cost of living has been central to both presidential campaigns, with both Harris and former President Donald Trump saying they want to lower costs, especially for families. During the vice presidential debate, both Walz and Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance, said they supported expanding the child tax credit.
Throughout the campaign, Walz has pointed to universal free school meals and Minnesota’s expanded child tax credit as policies that have made it more affordable to raise children, as well as touting the paid leave program.
More than 4,000 Haitians live in Minnesota, many under temporary protected status. Many say rhetoric targeting immigrants in Ohio and Pennsylvania adds to their stress and uncertainty.
Read the original article
A man found shot to death in an alley was identified Saturday as an 18-year-old from Anoka.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner said Saturday that Isaiah Khalel Goodwin died from multiple gunshot wounds Thursday on the 4200 block of Queen Avenue North.
Minneapolis police found Goodwin in an alley there after reports of gunfire on the 4200 block of Penn Avenue. Investigators said in a statement that an illegal narcotics deal may have played a role before gunfire erupted.
Both men involved in the incident ran from the scene, but Goodwin collapsed in the alley and died at the scene, according to police. Police haven’t arrested anyone yet.
“Gunfire in the middle of a neighborhood in the middle of the afternoon is frustrating and unacceptable, “ Police Chief Brian O’Hara said in a statement Thursday. “This senseless violence is tragic and unfortunate, but I am confident our investigators will work hard to determine what happened and arrest those responsible.”
Goodwin was the 58th homicide victim in Minneapolis this year, according to a Star Tribune database. There were 50 deaths by this time last year.
A man died Friday after police say a suspect stabbed him during a fight in St. Paul’s West Seventh neighborhood.
St. Paul Police Sgt. Mike Ernster said the fight happened sometime before 5:23 p.m. Friday when officers were called to the 200 block of East 7th Street. They arrived and found a man bleeding in a gas station parking lot from “apparent stab related injuries.”
Fire department medics responded and brought him to Region’s Hospital, but the man died from his injuries. His death marks the 22nd homicide in St. Paull this year, according a Star Tribune database. There were 27 by this time last year.
The suspect in Friday’s stabbing stayed at the scene where authorities brought them into custody. Investigators are still piecing together what happened, but Enster said early reports suggest the suspect and victim fought in a nearby store when the stabbing happened.
The Ramsey County Medical Examiner is expected to release the victim’s name and exact cause of death by next week.
