@usdotfhwa doing pilots on high profile enforcement of texting and driving and may implement national program soon #bikesummit
— MPLS Bike Coalition (@mplsbike) April 29, 2013
Minnesota Today from MPR News
April 29, 2013
Drivers deserve more blame than bicyclists in crashes, survey finds
Motorists tend to be more at fault for crashes involving bicyclists, but riders are to blame for a significant number of crashes as well.
Some bicyclists are calling for everyone to follow the rules, for the sake of predictability.
“One of the problems is people trying to be too nice,” Megan Gaffey writes on MPR News’s Facebook Page. “When you yield to a bicyclist just to be nice you create problems for drivers and bicyclists.”
Jim Berg adds, “We should always try to be as predictable as possible instead of being as nice as possible.” James P Berka agrees, “This is completely true.”
USDOT Secretary @raylahood via video “you are showing the rest of the country that bicycling is serious” #bikesummit twitter.com/mplsbike/statu…
— MPLS Bike Coalition (@mplsbike) April 29, 2013
Detailed bicycle safety data for Minnesota isn’t available yet, but national data for 2011 show that failure to yield was the reason most often cited for bicycle crashes. In about 40 percent of the crashes, a motorist’s failure to yield was cited, where as a bicyclist’s failure to yield was listed in 30 percent of the crashes (MPR News).
April 24, 2013
Minn. school district gets bulletproof whiteboards
A central Minnesota school district where two students were killed in a 2003 shooting is getting a new device that officials hope adds another layer of defense should a gunman enter school grounds: bulletproof whiteboards.
April 22, 2013
Sponsor drops Emmer and Davis for Newtown, Conn comments
Conservative host’s rant losing Clear Channel money
Conservative commentator Bob Davis said the parents who lost children during the Newtown, Connecticut elementary school massacre have no right to advocate for new gun restrictions. During his rant he said he’d “stand in front of them all, and tell them, ‘Go to hell.’”
A Newtown resident has offered to pay for Davis to come to their town to do that, but Davis hasn’t accepted the offer.
(more…)
April 16, 2013
Public a little on edge, but unafraid after the Boston bombings
LISTEN: Sampling of reactions to Boston Marathon tragedy
Audio via MPR News reporter Brandt Williams, sources from MPR’s Public Insight Network
The Boston Marathon explosions have some rethinking their safety at large public events. The people who run Minnesota’s largest marathon say they’re watching events unfold in Boston with an eye on what it might mean for their race, scheduled for this fall.
MPR News asked people if the bombings in Boston have changed their views on attending or participating in public events.
Here’s a sample of the responses we’ve received so far.
“No!” exclaims Tim Dufault, “If I can ever qualify for Boston I’ll be there in a heartbeat.”
(more…)
April 15, 2013
Bob Davis to Newtown shooting victims: Go to hell
Conservative commentator Bob Davis said the parents who lost children during the Newtown, Connecticut elementary school massacre have no right to advocate for new gun restrictions.
Bob Davis had some heinous things to say to victims of those impacted by gun violence during Friday’s installment of AM 1130′s Davis & Emmer show.
When the topic turned to how some of those affected by December’s mass school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut have become gun control advocates, Davis said, “I would stand in front of them all, and tell them, ‘Go to hell.’”
via City Pages.
March 21, 2013
Background checks at gun shows expected in revamped Minn. House bill
March 12, 2013
Settlement reached in molestation lawsuit involving Burnsville scoutmaster
One of two civil lawsuits against a former Burnsville scoutmaster who was imprisoned for molesting several of his Boy Scouts has been settled, according to an attorney involved in the case.
Peter Stibal II, who formerly led Burnsville’s Troop 650, is serving a 21-year sentence after being convicted in 2011 of molesting four boys in the troop.
via Pioneer Press.
March 1, 2013
Minn. House rolls out bill to address gun violence
“After hours-long hearings on gun violence in both chambers this month, Rep. Michael Paymar has released a package of policy changes that focuses on expanding background checks and stepped up penalties for gun crimes, but tosses out proposed bans on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazine clips,” via Politics in Minnesota.
February 19, 2013
Minn. Senate panel digs into background checks
Hearing will focus on background checks, avoid limits on guns and magazine sizes.
Sen. Ron Latz, DFL-St. Louis Park, said he will focus on a variety of proposals that would keep guns out of the hands of people that shouldn’t have them.
“I think most people agree that universal background checks is the first place we should start,” Latz said in a news release. “We need to focus on what we can accomplish right now to make our state safer. The outright banning of guns is a conversation that is more suited on the federal level.”
via Capitol View.
February 12, 2013
Devin Aryal, 9, shot last night on way home from daycare
Devin Aryal, 9, loved soccer, wanted to be astronaut before gunman took his life on way home from daycare last nite. twitter.com/timnelson_mpr/…
— Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) February 12, 2013
Neighbor near Oakdale slaying says shooter “had to have fired at least 20 shots” at passing cars near suburban home, strip mall.
— Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) February 12, 2013
More from MPR News.
February 5, 2013
Photos: Scenes from a gun hearing
Minnesota lawmakers are considering changes to the state gun laws. Tuesday marked the first of three days where members of the state house held public hearings on the matter. Attendance was high.
Just left totally crowded gun control hearings, 2 overflow rooms.#packed #heated #packingheat twitter.com/bengarvin/stat…
— bengarvin (@bengarvin) February 5, 2013
January 30, 2013
Quick takes from Senate hearing on gun legislation
January 16, 2013
Pine County sheriff: will not enforce Obama gun regulations
Minnesota sheriff says additional regulation of firearms would be illegal.
On a day when President Obama was preparing a slate of proposals to stem gun violence in America, Minnesotas Pine County Sheriff Robin Cole said he would consider any new federal regulation on guns to be illegal and would “refuse to carry it out.”
via Grand Forks Herald.
