Connect with us

Minnesota

Tim Walz slams Trump for calling Minnesota’s Somali community ‘garbage’: ‘Unprecedented’

Published

on

Tim Walz slams Trump for calling Minnesota’s Somali community ‘garbage’: ‘Unprecedented’


NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, criticized President Donald Trump on Thursday for describing the state’s Somali community as “garbage.”

Walz said Trump’s statements of contempt for the state’s Somali community were “unprecedented for a United States president.”

“We’ve got little children going to school today who their president called them garbage,” the blue state governor said.

Advertisement

Minnesota has the largest Somali population in the country, with about 84,000 people in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area of Somali descent. Nearly 60% of Somalis in the state were born in the U.S., while 87% of the foreign-born Somalis are naturalized U.S. citizens.

TREASURY SECRETARY LAUNCHES PROBE INTO MINNESOTA TAX DOLLARS ALLEGEDLY FUNDING AL-SHABAAB TERRORISTS

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz criticized President Donald Trump for describing the state’s Somali community as “garbage.” (Getty Images)

Trump’s comments about Somalis in the state have intensified after the City Journal, a conservative news outlet, claimed last month that taxpayer dollars from defrauded government programs have been sent to the Somali militant group al-Shabab, an affiliate of al-Qaida.

The alleged ringleader of the fraud scheme is white, but dozens of people in the Somali community have reportedly been involved.

Advertisement

On Thanksgiving, Trump said Minnesota was “a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity” and that he was terminating Temporary Protected Status for Somalis in the state.

On Tuesday, the president said at a Cabinet meeting that he did not want Somali immigrants to remain in the U.S.

“We can go one way or the other, and we’re going to go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage into our country,” he said.

During the meeting, he also called Somalia-born Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., “garbage” and said Somalia “stinks.”

Gov. Tim Walz said President Donald Trump’s statements of contempt for the state’s Somali community were “unprecedented for a United States president.” (Christopher Mark Juhn/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Advertisement

On Wednesday, Trump said Minnesota had become a “hellhole” because of the Somali community.

“Somalians should be out of here,” he told reporters. “They’ve destroyed our country.”

The Trump administration launched immigration enforcement operations targeting migrants living among Minnesota’s Somali community.

“Demonizing an entire group of people by their race and their ethnicity, a very group of people who contribute to the vitality — economic, cultural — of this state is something I was hoping we’d never have to see,” Walz told reporters during a briefing on the state’s budget. “This is on top of all the other vile comments.”

Republican legislative leaders have been reluctant to condemn Trump’s remarks, although some did suggest he went too far. They also contended that the dispute would not have happened if Walz had acted more effectively to stop fraud in social service programs.

Advertisement

ILHAN OMAR PRESSED TO EXPLAIN HOW FRAUD IN MINNESOTA GOT ‘SO OUT OF CONTROL’

Republican legislative leaders have been reluctant to condemn President Donald Trump’s remarks. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

“In no way do I believe any community is all bad. Just like I don’t believe any community is all good. What we need to do is call the fraudsters in any community accountable for their actions and stop it here in the state of Minnesota,” Republican Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, who is running for governor and hopes to secure Trump’s endorsement, told reporters.

Republican state Sen. Eric Pratt, who is running for the congressional seat being vacated by Democrat U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, also would not defend the president’s comments.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Advertisement

“It wasn’t said the way that I would have said it,” Pratt said. “But what I will say is, I share the president’s frustration in the amount of fraud and corruption that’s effectively gone on in the state. I mean, it’s really put a black eye on the state, and we are in the national news for all the wrong reasons.”

Trump and Walz have repeatedly hurled insults at each other in the past, including the president hitting the Minnesota Democrat as “grossly incompetent,” a “mess” and “re—-ed” and the governor calling Trump a “wannabe dictator,” a “cruel man” and a “bad human being,” and ICE under the administration a “modern-day Gestapo.”



Source link

Minnesota

Caribou Coffee in Minnesota launches value menu

Published

on

Caribou Coffee in Minnesota launches value menu


play

  • Caribou Coffee has launched a new value menu, with items priced as low as $2.
  • The coffee chain made the change to expand the options for customers and create more flexibility, a company officer said.
  • Check the list for Caribou Coffee locations in central Minnesota.

Caribou Coffee, a coffeehouse known for its handcrafted beverages made with real ingredients, is rolling out a new value menu at participating locations nationwide. 

Beginning May 7, a company release stated, Caribou Coffee is serving Caribou Everyday Value Menu items, including to-go favorites and barista-made beverages. 

Advertisement

The Everyday Value Menu features a curated lineup of Caribou classics now offered at prices starting at $2, the release stated. Guests will be able to enjoy signature items such as a small, specialty-grade brewed coffee, streusel-topped blueberry muffins and Caribou’s Cold Press, its version of cold-brewed coffee.

The value menu also introduces a new a bacon breakfast sandwich. It features crispy bacon, a cage-free scrambled egg patty and melted cheddar cheese layered on a toasted English muffin for $4. These prices are before tax.  

“For many of our guests, their daily coffee ritual is a meaningful part of their day, and we know how much it matters that it delivers on quality, convenience and value,” Matt Reiter, chief commercial and strategy officer for Caribou said in a release. “At Caribou, we’re committed to creating a consistent, high-quality experience every time someone walks into one of our coffeehouses, with a range of options that fit into their day. The Everyday Value Menu expands the ways we do that and creates even more flexibility and value for guests.”

Advertisement

Caribou’s Everyday Value Menu includes:

  • $2 small brewed coffee: A rotating selection of regular and seasonal coffees, brewed every hour to ensure maximum freshness
  • $3 Blueberry Muffin: A blueberry muffin topped with streusel 
  • $3.50 small Cold Press coffee: Caribou’s cold brew coffee served over ice 
  • $4 Bacon Breakfast Sandwich: Crispy bacon, cage-free scrambled egg patty and melted cheddar cheese layered on a toasted English muffin

Caribou is also offering non-dairy customization at no extra charge, the release stated. Also, the Caribou Perks loyalty program allows guests to earn points with every Caribou purchase. These points are redeemable for free handcrafted beverages, bakery items and more. 

Guests can order items from the Everyday Value Menu in-store, at the drive-thru and through the Caribou Coffee app for pickup or delivery.

Caribou Coffee serves handcrafted beverages and food items in more than 800 coffeehouses worldwide. It opened its first location in 1992. Focused on smart growth, the coffee shop operates and franchises coffeehouses across 11 countries.

Advertisement

Caribou Coffee locations in central Minnesota

  • 2423 Division Street West, St. Cloud
  • 4135 W. Division Street, St. Cloud
  • 2510 W. Division St., St. Cloud
  • 310 Lincoln Ave., St. Cloud
  • 900 Cooper Ave. S, St. Cloud
  • 201 Second Ave. S, Cold Spring
  • 18157 Carson Court, Elk River
  • 19425 Evans St. NW, Elk River
  • 324 Lowell Ave. NW, Elk River
  • 533 12th St. S, Sauk Centre
  • 701 Third Ave. NE, Buffalo
  • 800 Hwy 55 E, Buffalo
  • 630 Ryans Way, Buffalo
  • 110 First St. S, Sauk Rapids
  • 880 18th St. NW, Sauk Rapids
  • 2319 First St. S, Willmar
  • 620 First St. S, Willmar
  • 12495 Fifth Ave. N, Zimmerman
  • 703 Northland Drive, Princeton
  • 1500 Elm St. East, St. Joseph
  • 520 Jefferson Blvd. NW, Big Lake
  • 705 County Road 75 NW, Clearwater
  • 1725 Pine Cone Road S, Sartell
  • 113 S. Waite Ave., Waite Park



Source link

Continue Reading

Minnesota

3M faces new lawsuit over ‘forever chemicals’ pollution in Minnesota

Published

on

3M faces new lawsuit over ‘forever chemicals’ pollution in Minnesota


The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is taking 3M back to court, saying the company hasn’t done enough to stop PFAS pollution in local water.

Minnesota sues 3M for ongoing PFAS contamination

Advertisement

What we know:

The MPCA filed the lawsuit May 1, alleging that 3M is responsible for ongoing groundwater and surface water contamination, including industrial and stormwater discharges into the Mississippi River near its Cottage Grove facility.

In its argument, the state says some locations tested for PFAS showed concentrations as high as 310,000 parts per trillion, far above the state standard. The agency claims that although the specific site “does not routinely discharge to surface waters,” a heavy rainfall could lead to contamination entering the river.

Advertisement

The MPCA also alleges that 3M has not completed required cleanup work under a 2022 order and that its groundwater extraction system is not sufficient.

Minnesota previously sued 3M over PFAS, resulting in a 2018 settlement where the company paid $850 million to help clean up drinking water in the east metro. In 2024, 3M also agreed to pay $10.3 billion over 13 years to address PFAS in drinking water systems nationwide.

Advertisement

Dig deeper:

In the lawsuit, the state is seeking civil penalties of up to $30,000 per violation per day, as well as increased cleanup efforts and compensation for damage to wildlife and natural resources.

Advertisement

A full copy of the complaint can be found below:

3M responds to lawsuit

The other side:

Advertisement

In its own court filing, 3M argues that some of the PFAS pollution came from testing firefighting foam made for the U.S. military, following Department of Defense requirements. The company says it warned the federal government about PFAS risks and should not be held responsible for contamination tied to military work.

3M wants the case moved from state to federal court, saying the environmental damage cited by the state is linked to its role as a government contractor.

The company stated it completed its planned exit from all PFAS manufacturing at the end of 2025.

Advertisement

The Source: Information provided by Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and 3M court filings.

HealthMinnesotaCrime and Public Safety



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Minnesota

Minnesota Senate approves bills to rein in ICE agents

Published

on

Minnesota Senate approves bills to rein in ICE agents


play

Advertisement
  • The Minnesota Senate passed a package of bills in response to a large-scale ICE operation.
  • The bills would allow Minnesotans to sue federal agents for constitutional violations in state court.
  • The legislation also aims to ban federal immigration agents from schools and hospitals.

The Minnesota Senate on Monday approved a package of bills aimed at reining in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers after more than 3,000 federal agents descended on Minnesota for what the Department of Homeland Security called its largest immigration enforcement operation ever.

Swarming groups of federal agents racially profiled and arrested people in the streets during Operation Metro Surge, which ignited massive resistance and resulted in the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two U.S. Citizens.

“All we want are safe communities and the fair treatment under the law,” said Sen. Ron Latz, DFL-St. Louis Park, and chief author of the bill package. “The way ICE agents and Border Patrol agents went about (immigration) enforcement was an absolute abuse of our Constitution. It contravened our constitutional principles. It was without warrants. It was stopping people without lawful basis. It was arresting people without probable cause. It just crossed so many constitutional lines.”

The Minnesota Senate is controlled by Democrats, who have made Operation Metro Surge recovery and accountability a top issue. The Minnesota House is deadlocked between Republicans and Democrats, and Republicans have largely opposed Operation Metro Surge-related bills this session. The legislative session ends on Sunday.

Advertisement

The bill passed 34-33 in the Senate with no Republican votes.

The package includes a bill to allow Minnesotans to sue federal agents in state court if their constitutional rights are violated.

For much of American history, people have had the ability to sue federal agents, but the U.S. Supreme Court has rolled back that precedent. The high court has suggested that only Congress can authorize lawsuits seeking money from federal officials.

Advertisement

Some legal scholars believe state legislatures, too, can authorize lawsuits against federal officials for violating the Constitution. The Illinois Legislature last year passed such a law, and the Trump administration promptly sued, arguing the Constitution’s supremacy clause limits states from enacting policies that conflict with federal law.

The Trump administration has said that federal agents have “absolute immunity” if they are conducting immigration enforcement. Legal experts say that immunity doesn’t extend to unreasonable or excessive use of force. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty charged one ICE officer with assault for allegedly brandishing a weapon and is weighing charges against the agents who killed Pretti and Good.

The package of bills also includes banning law enforcement from wearing face masks, and it creates a “civil right of action” in shootings in which a person can be held civilly liable if they shoot someone and fail to provide aid to the victim.

It also prohibits federal immigration agents from schools, hospitals, childcare centers and courthouses.

Advertisement

Senate Republicans say the package would cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in potential litigation because the state will likely be sued. States cannot regulate immigration law, and Republicans argue the bill package does just that.

Minnesota Reformer is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending