Hello Neighbors, I am grateful that the big winter storm this week missed us to the South. I heard the snow was heavy and wet, which would not have been fun to dig ourselves out of. I want to open by recognizing a few local accomplishments from the past week. The high school dance season recently wrapped up, and Aitkin Coach Christensen was named Section 4A Dance Coach of the year and Little Falls dancers Kyla LaValle, Chelsea Williams, and Caylin Sachs participated in the All State Dance Team. We had many successful athletes around the district and I'm proud to highlight a few! At the Capitol, we heard HF4 on the House floor on Monday. This bill is a Constitutional Amendment that would automatically refund money from a budget surplus to taxpayers across the state. Since it is a Constitutional Amendment, after passing the legislature it would show up on the ballot in 2026, allowing voters in Minnesota to have the final say. Our families, small businesses, schools, and everyone in between have been bearing the burden of increased taxes and the cost of living in the past few years especially. I have heard time and time again that the people just need relief, and in the event of a budget surplus, this bill would do just that. Unfortunately, this bill was voted down since it tied 67-67. However, we will continue to fight for legislation that provides economic relief in meaningful ways. My bill, HF1034, was introduced on the House floor this week as my first bill of the session. It came to a vote and was passed unanimously! This bill provides crucial funding for the aeronautics and commercial over-the-road technical program in ISD 482, Little Falls. This is a great bill for our area and for the betterment of students in the district. Programs such as these do two things: one, they give students another option for vocation outside of the more standard career options that come from a 4-year college degree, and two, they create more skilled workers for these relevant workforces. Equipping students with these skills provides them with more opportunities and helps bolster our workforce in these industries. I want to give a shoutout to Little Fall's own John Ahlin, for being named a recipient of the Minnesota State High School League 2024 ExCEL Award. John was one of 36 recipients, out of nearly 300 student submissions across the state. This award is granted to students who demonstrate excellence in community service, education, and leadership. Congratulations, John, and I wish you the best as you continue to represent Little Falls well. Next week, we look forward to continuing business as usual, with the tied chamber as we operated this week. I look forward to updating you on the highlights next Friday. BTW: by the way, check out West Side Cafe this weekend. Also, make sure you find a fish fry. There's one at Jeremy's Belview if you're looking for a restaurant or at the Royalton American Legion every Friday from 5-8pm, with both shrimp and fish. |