By Rich Larson, News Director
With 4-5 more inches of snow expected before 4pm, Northfield schools will close early today. Each school will be dismissed two hours before its usual dismissal time. Portage students will continue their regular online schedule.
The announcement was made by Northfield Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Matt Hillmann at approximately 11am.
Rice County extends in-person trial suspension
On Wednesday, the three Rice County District Judges issued an administrative order stating that jury trials will remain suspended in Rice County until
May 2, and all new cases will not begin until May 3.
On November 30, Minnesota State Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie Gildea suspended all jury trials throughout the state due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. Earlier this year, Justice Gildea issued a second order stating that in person trials could resume as of today, at the discretion of each county.
The three judges cited health concerns for jurors, witnesses, attorneys, defendants and others, as well as the ability to hold all other hearings via teleconference in their decision. The order stated the decision is in place to protect public health, reduce the size of public gatherings and reduce unnecessary travel in the face of Covid-19.
Rice County Attorney John Fossum said there are currently more than 200 trials backlogged at the county courthouse. The county had been expecting to resume trials today, but with the judges’ order, those trials will now have to be re-calendared.
Fossum said that 90-95% of all cases in Rice County are resolved before they go to trial, but even at that rate, he thought it might take two years to get through the entire backlog. However, he said, backlogs at a courthouse are nothing new.
“Will We ever be caught up? Well, we’ve never been caught up before, so I don’t know why we would be now. There are just always things to do, and there are always a lot of cases. We have a lot of cases to process through the system and we have three district court judges and three district courtrooms. In 27 years, I’ve never seen a courtroom that was all caught up with nothing left to do.”
Fossum said the county has seen some speedy trial requests, and he expects those will be calendared first.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Rice County Attorney John Fossum can be heard here.
Lippert bill seeks to reduce fuel intensity
Representative Todd Lippert introduced a bill into the House of Representatives on Thursday called the Future Fuels Act. The bill would set a higher standard for emission controls and carbon intensity for fuel.
Lippert said, because the State of Minnesota is no longer meeting its climate goals, this is a necessary step to get things back on track.
“This would put a low carbon fuel standard in place for Minnesota. It would reduce the carbon intensity of our fuels from a baseline, starting now, by 20% by 2035. It will be good for biofuels, it will help clean biofuels as we go, and it would support electrification, too. So, it will be a policy that would help us move in the right direction, and start reducing our emissions in the transportation sector.”
The representative went on to say that the reduction in carbon intensity will drive investment in emerging clean fuel technologies, improve soil health for our farmers, and support clean air and public health.
According to statement issued by Lippert’s office, the legislation is supported by a diverse coalition of agriculture, environmental, scientific, electric vehicle, biofuel, and climate advocates and organizations, many of whom provided testimony during a hearing on Thursday before the House Climate and Energy Committee.
Senator David Senjem, the chair of the senate Energy and Utilities Committee is sponsoring the bill in the senate.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Representative Todd Lippert can be heard here.
State of the City, Council meeting on tap
The next two days are busy ones for City Hall. Tonight, Mayor Rhonda Pownell will present the annual State of the City address. Normally, the address
would be made in a live setting, but due to the global pandemic, this year the State of the City has been pre-recorded and will be presented on Northfield Public Broadcasting channels 180 and 187 as well as the City’s YouTube channel.
During the address, Mayor Pownell will discuss programs and projects the city has taken on over the year as well as plans for the coming year. The presentation will also include the announcements of all the recipients of the Mayor for a Day Award, the Board and Commission Member Excellence Award, the Living Treasure Award, the Human Rights Award and the City Employee Excellence Award. Special guests of the mayor’s address will include City Administrator Ben Martig, Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Peterson, Library Director Natalie Draper and Chief of Police Mark Elliott.
The address will be broadcast at 6:30pm, and will be available in both English and Spanish.
And tomorrow night, the Northfield City Council will meet at 6pm. Among the items on the agenda will be a presentation of the 1% for the Arts Annual Report and another regarding National Library Week. The regular agenda items include consideration of a resolution supporting Regional Passenger Rail service, discussion of the federal American Rescue Plan, and a final presentation on the 2018-2020 Strategic Plan.
In all matters, the City Council is always eager to receive feedback from the public. The easiest way to do that is through the eComment button on the City Council page of the city’s website. To visit the eComment page, click here.
