Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis Veterans Affairs research workers laid off amid federal cuts
Veterans Affairs impacted by government spending cuts
Veterans Affairs is being impacted by government spending cuts implemented by President Donald Trump. In Minneapolis, at least 12 employees at the Veteran’s Affairs Healthcare System in Minneapolis got laid off.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The Veterans Affairs Healthcare System serves about 100,000 veterans in the Minneapolis area. The VA is assessing how it will be impacted by government spending cuts.
Cuts at Minneapolis VA health care system
What we know:
No medical staff are impacted by these cuts, but 12 other employees are being laid off. FOX 9 is told some of the jobs impacted are researchers, engineers, and technicians. A former employee, who did not want to be identified, has worked at the Minneapolis VA for about six years in a variety of roles.
How grant researchers laid off impact VA
What they’re saying:
That employee was laid off on Monday. She researched medical grant funding. It was a job she started six months ago, so she was considered a probationary employee. She told FOX 9 that these research jobs can bring in critical dollars for veterans.
“Without having a grants manager to assist in applying for healthcare-related funds, we won’t have any health research funds coming into the Minneapolis VA. In fiscal year 24 we had $30 million plus come into the Minneapolis VA for healthcare-related research,” said the anonymous employee.
FOX 9 obtained the termination email the research employee received on Monday. She was told to turn in her computer and badge. In the email, it says it was performance-based. She also sent us her performance review and she received all exceptional.
Veterans also laid off
Veteran experience:
Another employee who was laid off last month and is a veteran was only with the Department of Veterans Affairs for a month and a day. He worked in the Debt Management Center, and he’s disappointed to be part of the cuts.
“As somebody who believes in fiscal responsibility, yes, I believe in managing it, but doing it from a little more of a thought-out method where you understand what the tactical impacts are with regard to administrative decisions,” said John Helcl who was laid off by the VA.
According to the Associated Press, the VA temporarily stopped billions in cuts for contract services.
The AP added that the VA is concerned that it would hurt veteran health services.
We reached out to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to find out the basis of the layoffs that are federally mandated. They were unable to grant our request for an interview or provide a statement.
Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis construction workers call on developers to take stand against ICE
Minneapolis, MN
Fan behind Anthony Edwards’ orange bracelet has beaten cancer
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The story behind Anthony Edwards wearing a bright orange bracelet since last season has received a positive development, after Timberwolves fans learned Luca Wright has beaten leukemia.
Anthony Edwards, Luca Wright connection
What we know:
Last January, the 6-year-old Minnesotan met “Ant” for the first time following a game against the Detroit Pistons, proclaiming him to be his favorite player, and asking him to wear a bracelet that symbolizes leukemia awareness, resilience and support for those affected. During the interaction, the fan had created a sign with a to-do list: “1. Beat Cancer. 2. Be The Next MJ.”
Leukemia is a type of cancer that spreads throughout the bloodstream, infecting bone marrow and a person’s lymphatic system by rapid production of abnormal white blood cells that can’t fight infection.
Since then, the Wolves’ MVP has worn a bracelet that proclaims, “Love Like Luca” on it for every game he has played, vowing to wear it “until he hangs up his sneakers.”
Ant has gone on to explain how the gesture connected with him given that he lost both his mother, Yvette, and grandmother, Shirley, to cancer when he was 14 years old. The No. 5 jersey he wears currently is a tribute to them both.
Luca bracelet latest
Dig deeper:
More than a year later, Wolves fans have received the update they hoped for – now 7-year-old Luca has beaten his cancer.
What’s next:
Ant has since responded to the news with his own social media video, calling it “God’s gift” and saying, “Let’s do this Luca.”
No word yet on whether he intends to keep wearing the bracelet, though he’s previously said he has a stash of replacements near the team bench should one ever be broken.
The Source: Information provided by the Minnesota Timberwolves public relations department.
Minneapolis, MN
Family of Minneapolis brothers killed by cousin says their deaths were preventable:
A Minneapolis family is struggling to make sense of a tragedy that has left them heartbroken.
Family tells WCCO 14-year-old Xavier Barnett and 23-year-old Akwame Stewart were killed Monday.
The brothers were very different, but equally loved. Barnett was a good student and athlete. Stewart was a painter, creative and thoughtful. Two brothers, loved and full of promise, gone.
Police say the accused shooter is their cousin, 23-year-old Eddie Duncan.
Court records show Duncan was released on bail Monday on charges of fleeing law enforcement and possession of a gun modified with an “auto sear switch.”
Court records also show Duncan was ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation, but not until next month, on March 24.
Deasia Freeman, Barnett and Stewart’s sister, says this loss could have been prevented.
“They all failed us. We got two innocent lives gone for no reason. Didn’t do nothing to nobody,” Freeman said.
Family members say the system and Duncan’s family let them down.
Freeman says Duncan’s family saw the warning signs and still bailed him out
“If you knew this man was thinking like this, y’all should have kept him in there and he should not even have bail,” she said.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office says they noted Duncan was a public safety risk and asked for a high bail, much higher than a typical request.
“In Minnesota, there is a constitutional right to bail, and the bail amount is set by the Court. Our office noted a public safety risk with Mr. Duncan and asked the judge to set bail at $70,000, or $35,000 with conditions; both of which are higher than we would typically request in this scenario. The judge set bail in that amount. Mr. Duncan posted $35,000 bail with conditions of release, as is allowed under the Minnesota Constitution, and was released from custody. Our thoughts are with all those impacted by yesterday’s violence. This was a terrible tragedy for this family and our community,” a spokesperson for the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office said.
For Freeman and her family, the hardest part isn’t just the legal process but living each day without their brothers.
Even in the heartbreak, she says the memories of the good days, the laughter and love they shared will carry them through.
“I wish I could get just one more phone call from them asking me where I’m at,” Freeman said as tears rolled down her face.
Court records confirm Duncan left the scene of the crime and fled to nearby Brooklyn Center. There, a search warrant says Duncan “fired a gun at officers, striking two squads,” when police arrived. That’s when officers returned fire, shooting and killing him.
Three officers have been placed on critical incident leave as the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension leads the investigation into Duncan’s fatal shooting.
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