Gun Violence Prevention Laws are Working in Eden PrairieIn 2023, Minnesota Democrats passed a Red Flag (extreme risk protection order) law that would allow individuals or their friends or families who have cause for concern about themselves or a loved one to temporarily have their firearms secured by law enforcement and their ability to purchase firearms restricted. The restriction period can be from 14 days up to one year and can only be imposed if there is a serious risk of bodily harm or suicide due to mental health crisis. The first case of this law being put into action in Eden Prairie happened this month when law enforcement encountered an individual showing signs of a severe mental health episode. Law enforcement officials said that the law helped to lower the temperature of the situation and helped keep both officers and the individual safe. Data is clear across the board: gun violence prevention laws work. While we won’t solve every case of gun violence through legislation, we can make a sizable impact by continuing to find smart, data-drive approaches to ensuring our families and communities are safe, whether at school, home, or in other public spaces. Support Public MediaThe Trump/Musk Administration has proposed $1.1 billion of cuts to Public Broadcasting, which supports public media like NPR/MPR and PBS. These non-partisan media organizations are vital to ensuring access to information for all Americans and cutting these would be detrimental to us all. MPR has put together a petition to deliver to congress urging them to not support this cut, which you can add your name to here. You can also use this tool to find your federal representatives and call them to show your support for public media before the proposal head to congress on April 28! Spring Events in Eden PrairieSaturday, April 26th is the start of the summer sporting season, and you can stop by the EPBA Opening Day celebration at Miller Park, the EPSA kick-off at Flying Cloud Fields, or drop in on the City’s Arbor Day event at Staring Lake Park. I’ll be making the rounds with my family, please say hello if you see us out and about! Minnesota Making Progress on Clean EnergyIn 2023 and 2024, DFLers made generational investments in a cleaner, cheaper, and more efficient energy system, putting Minnesota on the path to 100% Carbon-Free Energy by 2040. The latest Minnesota Energy Factsheet shows our policies are working and our investments are paying off, creating high-paying clean energy jobs, lowering costs for families, and building a greener future: ? A new record low in carbon emissions, cutting another 4% between 2023 & 2024. ? Residents and businesses saved more than $307 million in energy costs from the Energy Conservation Optimization (ECO) Act. ? Minnesota ranked #1 in Midwest for overall energy efficiency and #10 nationwide! Here at the Capitol, I’m dedicated to protecting our progress from those who are seeking to repeal the legislation that made this positive change possible. Fraud Prevention ResourcesText, email, and social media scams are becoming more sophisticated and more prevalent. I want to share some helpful resources with you all on how to spot and avoid scams, and where you can go for help if you or someone you know falls victim to these fraudsters. If you’re like me, you probably have gotten some of these scam texts that say you need to pay a toll or confirm a payment--it's important to be skeptical of such texts. Those E-Z Pass texts are scams, and MnDOT has issued a fraud warning here with resources in case you accidentally click a link. Attorney General Keith Ellison has some resources on How to Spot a Scam with helpful examples and a list of common scams. Remember that it’s important to break down the stigma of embarrassment and report any cases so law enforcement can take any actions possible to try to recover funds or stop future scams. If you have concerns about a particular offer or believe you are the victim of a scam, the Attorney General wants to hear from you. You may call at (651) 296-3353 (Twin Cities Calling Area) or (800) 657-3787 (Outside the Twin Cities) or submit a Consumer Assistance Request Form.  Meanwhile, here at the Legislature, we are working on bills to support the Attorney General’s work cracking down on fraud in the public and private sectors. Some proposals include stiffer penalties on Medicaid fraudsters, a fraud investigation unit within the state’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, fighting against employer misclassification fraud, and protecting veterans from claim sharks that seek to profit off the benefits they earned in service to our country. Carlie’s Reading CornerIn October, the National Endowment for the Arts released a survey on reading for pleasure. A new feature of my newsletter will feature what I’m currently reading, and I would love to hear what you’re reading, too! I recently purchased an e-reader second hand and I recommend the Libby App via the Hennepin County Library. Currently, I’m reading What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty and listening to Vicious by V.E. Schwab. My book club will be reading Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton. |