Airport snow plow drivers reached tentative deal on contract

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Workers who clear snow from runways, streets and sidewalks at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport have reached agreement on a tentative contract, union leaders said Saturday.

Teamsters 320 union representatives will present the contract to its members for a vote next week. The pact with the Metropolitan Airports Commission affects about 85 employees including those who work at Holman Field, Crystal, Airlake, Flying Cloud, Anoka County-Blaine and Lake Elmo airports.

Terms of the agreement were not released.

The last few weeks of negotiations, including a vote by union members to authorize a strike, have “been difficult for everyone involved,” Metropolitan Airports Commission Chair Rick King said.

“At the end of day, we all share the same goals: fair compensation for employees and unfettered operation of an airport system that creates tens of thousands of jobs and generates billions of dollars every year for the area economy,” King said.

The two sides had hit an impasse over pay raises and severance days. The commission said the pay varies by season. In 2019, the median gross pay was $103,280 with 48 employees earning more than $100,000. In 2020, the median gross pay was $89,601 with 18 employees making more than $100,000.

Union steward John Fredin said “we are pleased that we can continue to serve the public and keep the runways clear and safe for all travel.”

Proposed Fargo-Moorhead science museum gets $1 million gift

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A proposed science museum in the Fargo and Moorhead, Minnesota area has received a $1 million donation from a local business leader.

Officials with the Fargo-Moorhead Science Museum say the gift from John Ballantyne will help with facility planning and feasibility studies for the facility in the community of about 250,000 people.

Ballantyne is co-founder of the Fargo biological sciences company Aldevron and serves as its chief scientific officer.

“The concept of the museum and what it means for the area is long overdue and just based on a relatively brief conversation with the board, I know the group has what it takes to make this a reality,” Ballantyne said.

The museum would focus on the study of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, collectively known as STEM. The plans includes a mobile STEM classroom.

Aldevron’s operations began in a laboratory at North Dakota State University in 1998 and have grown to include sites in Madison, Wisconsin, and Freiburg, Germany.

FEC rejects campaign finance complaint against Rep. Omar

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Federal Election Commission has tossed out a 2019 complaint against Rep. Ilhan Omar from a conservative group alleging the Minnesota Democrat illegally spent campaign funds on her now-husband’s political consulting firm.

The Star Tribune reports the from the Virginia-based National Legal and Policy Center questioned whether Omar’s campaign paid Tim Mynett’s E Street Group for personal travel expenses. The complaint covers a period from August 2018 to September 2019, when Omar’s campaign paid more than $369,000 to E Street, according to campaign finance records.

Omar announced her marriage to Mynett in March 2020, and she severed ties with his firm later that year. She denied any impropriety but said she wanted to avoid a perception of conflict.

In a unanimous decision, the commission found there was no reason to believe Omar’s campaign “knowingly and willfully violated” federal law or regulations by either “converting campaign funds to personal use” or “improperly reporting payee information.”

Omar is currently serving her second term representing Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District. She married Mynett after the two finalized divorces with previous spouses.

Last day: Minneapolis’ 1st Black police chief leaves quietly

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minneapolis’ first Black police chief served his last day in office on Saturday.

Medaria Arradondo, 54, who announced last month he was retiring, had a variety of positions with the department for 30 years. He started as a patrol officer in north Minneapolis in 1989 before becoming an inspector of the first precinct in 2013. He was promoted to chief in 2017.

Arradondo was unavailable for comment on his last day in office. An official for the department said he wanted to go out quietly.

In proclaiming Saturday as Medaria Arradondo Day, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the chief has “embodied decency, community, and courage in his historic tenure” and “has been unabashed in his commitment to truth, justice and transparency.”

Arradondo was named to take over the department following the firing of his predecessor for her handling of the fatal police shooting of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, who had called 911 to report hearing a possible sexual assault near her home.

Arradondo was one of five high-ranking Black officers to sue the department for discrimination in 2007. They settled for $185,000.

The proclamation said Arradondo leaves a legacy of tirelessly advocating for the Black community and civil rights.

“Chief Medaria Arradondo has helped shoulder some of the heaviest moments in our city’s history, showing up in his childhood community to be present with mourners at 38th and Chicago in the days following the murder of George Floyd,” the document said.

Man apprehended after allegedly shooting at Willmar police

WILLMAR (AP) — A 36-year-old man was apprehended after allegedly firing a handgun at Willmar police during a traffic stop and fleeing into a nearby neighborhood.

Police said one round was fired at an officer, who was not hit or injured but immediately called for backup about 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

The suspect ran into a neighborhood, where authorities used drones and aircraft from the Minnesota State Patrol to search for him. After a robotic camera confirmed that the alleged shooter was inside a garage, SWAT teams used tear gas and a battering ram attached to a vehicle to take him into custody, KARE-TV reported.

The man was found with self-inflicted injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. He was released on Sunday and taken to the Kandiyohi County Jail.