Legalectric

LISTEN HERE: http://minnesotapuc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?event_id=1856

It’s pretty disturbing.  Today started out with the Commission asking Intervenors to pick their least awful route option.  WHAT?!?!  That is NOT how a line is chosen. I think they’re using that to build a “record” (NOT!) for whatever decision they may make.

As the Commission was reminded, the Commission is to choose a route, only AFTER a Certificate of Need is granted, based on the criteria in the statutes and rules.  Commissioner Sieben turned to a pretty manipulative attempt at burden of proof shift, looking for a statement to get them off the hook.  NO!

NO?  That’s correct.  This is the Commission’s job, and if there’s no need, deny the application.  If there’s no acceptable route, deny the application.  The ALJ made a Recommendation, and the Commission has to deal with that.

Then there’s the push about System Alternative SA-04.  That route would go right through my Association of Freeborn County Landowners’ community, and AFCL filed an Exception regarding that SA-04 route:

We’re BAAAAAAAAAACK!  Went up for the Wooden Boat Show in Grand Marais, and stayed in Tettegouche, got the LAST site way back in February!  Yes, here’s the classic intro photo, looking into the driveway.  The site was huge, but backwards, electric on wrong side, and table and space was directly behind.  Oh well, turn the trailer around, no problem!  The view from the other side was better:

The first day was pretty dreary… but the sun came out Friday – Monday, and it was a touch warm in the day so we hauled out the emergency blankets and snapped them over the bunks.  Makes a huge difference, and just $14 a pop.  At night it was cool, just perfect, and no rain, despite a pretty strong chance for Sunday.

Last week, I ordered a new toy, because cooking is a big part of this for me, and the three burner stove that comes with the camper doesn’t work with a griddle, and it gets really crowded for a meal for guests, soooooooo…

It’s a Camp Chef Ranger III, and the two burners fit the griddle just right, and have one open for whatever.  Gotta have corncakes!  Tomorrow or so, the table for this will arrive, and then I’ll have the white table for prep, need that room to roam.  Everything I could ask for!  Sadie was pretty happy with the results, as was Alan.

No bears!

In addition to going up to Grand Marais, we went to see Aaron Brown‘s Great Northern Radio Show, which brought back a lot of memories of doing live radio, every week, for how long, over at the New Riverside Cafe.

As we walked in to the auditorium at Reif, I heard, “That’s Carol!!!  Carol Overland!!!” And it was Ron Gustafson and Linda Castagneri!  It’s got to have been 8 years since we’ve seen them, what a treat!  They were the foundation of the Excelsior Energy Mesaba Project resistance, and a joy to work with, so motivating, fired up.  The were “the face of Mesaba.”

What a pleasant shock — they’ve moved out of state, and aren’t here all that often.  Thank you, Linda and Ron, for a good time of catching up, and remembering that this was one time where “the people” prevailed!  And Enchiladas Suiza to die for!

Spending another almost week in the camper… I could easily live like this… maybe a camp host next year?  Trouble is, work is so unpredictable, and have to be able to be wherever, whenever!  Phone signal at Tettegouche was just right, and there was ZERO before, so this trip, it was possible to put in a good day’s work in the woods.  Is that cool or what!

Little Sadie concurs!

Alan Muller followed up on the report of an ICE detention facility near us in Elk Run, part of Pine Island.  Pine Island is one of several sites being considered for an ICE detention facility, a jail, a fenced and guarded holding place for asylum seekers, and others grabbed by ICE.  On June 19, 2018, the Pine Island City Council approved a resolution of support of “Management & Training Corporation” and “it’s partners,” unidentified, to build and operate an ICE detention facility HERE!

Pine Island lets ICE know it’s still interested in detention facility

Management & Training Corporation?  Seems to me they doth protesteth too much!

MTC’s Involvement in Operating ICE Detention Centers

MTC’s Imperial detention center

Here’s a view inside the Imperial ICE detention facility via San Diego Union-Tribune.  Here are some statistics on that Imperial facility.  Here’s an interesting post by some folks with a video camera outside Imperial.

MTC is doing the same hustle in Uintah County, near Evanston, Wyoming and Hopkins Park, Illinois, and other sites too.  Does this Hopkins Park resolution look familiar?

Hopkins Park locals are not thrilled about MTC’s proposal either:

Hopkins Park residents fight private immigration detention center proposal

Some Pembroke residents say detention center isn’t welcome

Back to Pine Island’s Elk Run…

As if Elk Run’s troubles with Chronic Wasting Disease wasn’t enough:

Sharpshooters begin destroying elk herd

In January, a female at the farm near Pine Island was found to have CWD, a fatal brain disease. A USDA agency is killing all 700 elk. 

… there are the economic problems…

Legacy of Pine Island biotech park: foreclosures, unpaid taxes and interchange to nowhere

Questions linger at stalled Elk Run development

REMEMBER THIS?!?!  tRump’s “Statement on Preventing Muslim Immigration” during campaign and AFTER sworn in January, 2017?

Just in, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Hawaii v. Trump – check the language in 3(b) below:

Trump v Hawaii 17-965_h315

Bottom line (click for larger version):

#notmyPresident signed an Executive Order today reversing HIS policy to actively jail children. Good, the pressure got him to cave.  It was probably Neilsen’s interrupted dinner, with others in the restaurant cheering on the protesters, that did it.  After all this time of blaming everyone on earth but HIMSELF, a shotgun approach at anything that moved, lie after lie after lie, he takes a step in the right direction.  ONE step, out of many that are needed.

Here’s the text of the Executive Order — the language is pretty mealy-mouthed, but it’s a start.  There’s MUCH more to be done.  “Affording Congress…”  GOOD GRIEF!

Affording Congress an Opportunity to Address Family Separation

Issued on: June 20, 2018

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq., it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. It is the policy of this Administration to rigorously enforce our immigration laws. Under our laws, the only legal way for an alien to enter this country is at a designated port of entry at an appropriate time. When an alien enters or attempts to enter the country anywhere else, that alien has committed at least the crime of improper entry and is subject to a fine or imprisonment under section 1325(a) of title 8, United States Code. This Administration will initiate proceedings to enforce this and other criminal provisions of the INA until and unless Congress directs otherwise. It is also the policy of this Administration to maintain family unity, including by detaining alien families together where appropriate and consistent with law and available resources. It is unfortunate that Congress’ failure to act and court orders have put the Administration in the position of separating alien families to effectively enforce the law.

Sec. 2. Definitions. For purposes of this order, the following definitions apply:

(a) “Alien family” means

(i) any person not a citizen or national of the United States who has not been admitted into, or is not authorized to enter or remain in, the United States, who entered this country with an alien child or alien children at or between designated ports of entry and who was detained; and

(ii) that person’s alien child or alien children.

(b) “Alien child” means any person not a citizen or national of the United States who

(i) has not been admitted into, or is not authorized to enter or remain in, the United States;

(ii) is under the age of 18; and

(iii) has a legal parent-child relationship to an alien who entered the United States with the alien child at or between designated ports of entry and who was detained.

Sec. 3. Temporary Detention Policy for Families Entering this Country Illegally.

(a) The Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary), shall, to the extent permitted by law and subject to the availability of appropriations, maintain custody of alien families during the pendency of any criminal improper entry or immigration proceedings involving their members.

(b) The Secretary shall not, however, detain an alien family together when there is a concern that detention of an alien child with the child’s alien parent would pose a risk to the child’s welfare.

(c) The Secretary of Defense shall take all legally available measures to provide to the Secretary, upon request, any existing facilities available for the housing and care of alien families, and shall construct such facilities if necessary and consistent with law. The Secretary, to the extent permitted by law, shall be responsible for reimbursement for the use of these facilities.

(d) Heads of executive departments and agencies shall, to the extent consistent with law, make available to the Secretary, for the housing and care of alien families pending court proceedings for improper entry, any facilities that are appropriate for such purposes. The Secretary, to the extent permitted by law, shall be responsible for reimbursement for the use of these facilities.

(e) The Attorney General shall promptly file a request with the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California to modify the Settlement Agreement in Flores v. Sessions, CV 85-4544 (“Flores settlement”), in a manner that would permit the Secretary, under present resource constraints, to detain alien families together throughout the pendency of criminal proceedings for improper entry or any removal or other immigration proceedings.

Sec. 4. Prioritization of Immigration Proceedings Involving Alien Families. The Attorney General shall, to the extent practicable, prioritize the adjudication of cases involving detained families.

Sec. 5. General Provisions.

(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented in a manner consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

DONALD J. TRUMP

THE WHITE HOUSE,

June 20, 2018.