Public schools safe, but not out of the woods

Your daily Minnesota news roundup starts … NOW. After a torrent of pushback from parents and educators, Minneapolis Public Schools has pulled back on a plan for closing as many as 16 schools. There had been a vote scheduled for Nov. 10 to pick one of three proposals that all involved school closures, but the board has instead said no school will close in 2027-28. Simply pausing the plan, though, will not address declining enrollment and other issues. In the wake of the murder of George Floyd, the Minneapolis City Council established the Office of Community Safety, but now progressive members of the council are pushing for it to be eliminated. They argue that it does not have the power to effectively oversee city police, and a public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 27 to hear a proposal about cutting it. Following the raid on Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Washington, D.C., home earlier this week, federal authorities have now seized her phone and subpoenaed her relatives. At the same time, a group of ethics lawyers have called for an investigation into whether the raid violated the Hatch Act, which prevents the use of official authority for the purpose of influencing an election. Related: Federal raid on Rep. Ilhan Omar’s home raises plenty of questions The cost of health insurance continues to rise but UnitedHealth Group has posted more than $4 billion of profits this quarter — 75% more than last year. “Our third quarter results reflect the discipline and execution our teams are bringing to every part of our business, as we continue evolving UnitedHealth Group to deliver a simpler, more supportive experience for patients and the clinicians who care for them,” said Stephen Hemsley, chief executive officer of UnitedHealth Group. One way they appear to be simplifying the experience for patients is by taking health insurance away from almost 2 million of them.  In other healthcare news, a new air-medical base in Duluth looks to close gaps in Northern Minnesota where there are fewer medical facilities and greater distances between them. Life Link III is relocating from Cloquet, and includes new facilities like heated indoor patient transfers. The St. Paul City Council has authorized a study into the potential impact of robotaxis on both safety and the local economy. This follows the approval of an ordinance by the Minneapolis City Council mandating a monitor in the driver’s seat for any robotaxi, a move that was vetoed by Mayor Jacob Frey. Expect a vote today on whether that veto will be upheld or overridden.  And finally in your Minnesota news roundup: The recent spate of lawsuits against industrial manufacturers continues with a new suit brought against Owens Corning, which manufactures asphalt roofing shingles in (wait for it) Shingle Creek. The lawsuit comes after the EPA found that the factory violated the Clean Air Act with excessive sulfur dioxide pollutants. Related