Here is your InForum Minute for Wednesday, Jan. 26.
One person is in the hospital after a house caught fire early Wednesday morning, Jan. 26.
According to Fargo fire marshal Ryan Erickson, the victim was the only one inside the house when the fire started just after 5 a.m., in the 1400 block of 2nd Avenue South.
As of 7 a.m. Wednesday, crews are still actively fighting this fire, and are having difficulties putting it out because of the wind, according to Erickson.
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Xcel Energy is also on scene, as they work to make sure utility poles are stable. Full story here.
Lawsuit takes aim at Moorhead's ban on flavored tobacco, vaping products
MOORHEAD — A shop that sells vaping products is suing the city of Moorhead over an ordinance passed last fall banning the sale of flavored vaping products.
The suit filed by Northland Vapor Co. claims the ordinance violates the Minnesota Constitution because it is not rationally related to a legitimate government goal; it is too vague; and it constitutes an improper government "taking."
The company is seeking an injunction to keep the law from going into effect or being enforced by the city, or, in the alternative, that the city compensate the business for a regulatory taking. Full story here.
Gov. Tim Walz proposes $5 billion boost to child care, schools, paid family leave programs
ST. PAUL — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan on Tuesday, Jan. 25, put forth a $5.1 billion plan to boost funding for child care and pre-K resources around the state.
The pair of Democratic-Farmer-Labor officials pitched their proposal at an early learning and elementary school. And they said the spending was critical to supporting Minnesota families, especially coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Their expansive plan would add 6,000 new state-funded pre-kindergarten slots, boost early learning scholarships, increase funding to the state's child care assistance program and send out money to help stabilize child care providers around the state as they grapple with the financial strain of the pandemic. Full story here.
