Volunteer water monitors sought to help protect Minnesota lakes and streams

St. Paul, Minn. – The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is recruiting volunteers to help track water quality changes in lakes and streams across the state. Minnesota’s volunteer water monitoring programs are among the largest citizen science programs in the nation, but in order to reach all the lakes and streams across Minnesota, more volunteers are needed.

More than 1,300 Minnesotans volunteer to track the health of their favorite lake or stream through the Citizen Lake and Citizen Stream Monitoring Programs. As part of the program, volunteers are asked to perform a short and simple test at their designated lake or stream once per week throughout the summer. Equipment and training are provided by the MPCA.

Volunteer data helps water resource managers to see trends in water quality and make watershed management decisions throughout the state. For some lakes and streams, volunteer-collected data is the only data available, making citizen involvement critical to ensuring to the long-term health of Minnesota’s waters.

Citizen Water Monitoring volunteers benefit from the program by learning more about their favorite lake or stream, connecting with their community, and helping to maintain and protect one of our state’s most precious natural resources.  

To become a volunteer or learn more about the program, visit the MPCA’s website at www.pca.state.mn.us/cmp, or call 651-296-6300 (Twin Cities) or 800-657-3864 (Greater Minnesota).

Tax Freedom Day Arrives in Minnesota on April 29

Washington, DC (Apr 7, 2014)—Minnesota’s Tax Freedom Day, the day on which Minnesotans have collectively earned enough income to pay off their total federal, state, and local tax bill, will arrive on April 29 this year, making it the 45th state to reach Tax Freedom Day. According to the annual report released this morning by the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, national Tax Freedom Day falls on April 21, three days later than last year.
The states with the earliest Tax Freedom Days are Louisiana (Mar 30), Mississippi (Apr 2), and South Dakota (Apr 4). The latest dates fall in New Jersey (May 9), Connecticut (May 9), and New York (May 4). 
The study’s key findings include:

• The national Tax Freedom Day is three days later than last year due mainly to the continuing economic recovery, which will boost federal tax revenue collected through the corporate, payroll, and individual income tax.
• Americans will spend more on taxes in 2014 than they will on food, clothing, and housing combined.
• Americans will spend 42 days working to pay off income taxes, 15 days for excise taxes, and 11 days for property taxes. Click here for a full breakdown.
• Americans will pay $3 trillion in federal taxes and $1.5 trillion in state and local taxes, for a total bill of more than $4.5 trillion, or 30.2 percent of the nation’s income.
• If you include annual federal borrowing, which represents future taxes owed, Tax Freedom Day would occur on May 6, 15 days later.

Tax Freedom Day is a significant date for taxpayers and lawmakers because it represents how long Americans as a whole have to work in order to pay the nation’s tax burden.
“Arguments can be made for why the collective tax bill is too high or too low, but in order to have an honest discussion, it’s important to understand where we stand,” said Tax Foundation Economist Kyle Pomerleau. “Tax Freedom Day gives us a vivid representation of how much we pay for the goods and services provided by governments at all levels.”
Historically, the date for Tax Freedom Day has fluctuated significantly. The latest-ever nationwide Tax Freedom Day was May 1, 2000 – meaning that Americans paid 33.0% of their total income in taxes. A century earlier, in 1900, Americans paid only 5.9% of their income in taxes, meaning Tax Freedom Day came on January 22.

Feed My Starving Children event

Grand Forks—Over two thousand Greater Grand Forks community members will be on duty at the Grand Forks Public Works Building from Friday through Sunday, April 4-6, working two-hour shifts to fill bags with food.  For the fourth consecutive year, Grand Forks community volunteers will be filling bags with life-saving food for starving children around the world.

The Greater Grand Forks Community volunteers lead by Twin Cities-based Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) staff will package more than 400,000 lifesaving meals. The event will take place over three days with the first shift beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 4 and the last one to be held from 4:30-6:30 p.m., on Sunday, April 6, at the Grand Forks Public Works Building, 724 N. 47th St.

 “This is a great opportunity for our community to ‘pay it forward’ by coming together to fill food bags for starving children,” said Jodie Storhaug, chair of the GGF FMSC MobilePack committee. “The response by Grand Forks and the surrounding communities has been great!  We have raised over $81,000 but we still have lots of work ahead to meet the $88,000 goal to pay for the food we will package.”

Packing sessions

Packing sessions, each beginning with a 15-minute overview of FMSC’s work

around the world, will take place at the following times:

Friday, April 4: 10:00-noon; 12:30-2:30 p.m.; 3:00-5:00 p.m.; 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 5: 9-11 a.m.; 11:30-1:30 p.m.; 2:30-4:30 p.m.; 5-7 p.m.

Sunday, April 6:  9:00-11:00 a.m.; 11:30-1:30 p.m.; 2-4 p.m.; 4:30-6:30 p.m.

There are only a few volunteer slots open. If you go online and find them full, keep checking, as slots tend to open up, especially during the last week.  Go to www.fmsc.org, then to MobilePack Events, and North Dakota (GF event number is 1404-22). Click the “Get Involved” button and then select “volunteer to pack.”

In addition, community members can support this event through prayer and making a donation to cover food costs. To donate, go to www.fmsc.org, then to MobilePack Events and North Dakota (GF event number is 1404-22).

Volunteers are also asked to bring non-perishable food items to the MobilePack Event for distribution to local food shelves in Greater Grand Forks.

MDA to begin annual survey of farmers

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is encouraging farmers to take part in its annual pesticide and fertilizer use survey. The 2014 survey is directed to corn, soybeans, wheat, and hay producers. The data helps MDA track the use of agricultural chemicals on Minnesota farms and provides guidance to educational and research programs.

The survey process should begin on approximately April 14 and be completed by April 23. Questions will focus on the 2013 growing season and survey farmers on best management practices when it comes to nitrogen application and pesticide rates applied to corn, soybeans, wheat and hay. The annual survey is completely voluntary and no personal questions are asked of producers.

The MDA has conducted this annual survey for the past decade. And while Minnesota farmers may be getting calls from multiple agencies and companies conducting a variety of different surveys this time of year, the information gathered from this survey is critical for research purposes.

The survey is conducted for the MDA by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Statistics Service out of their regional offices in Missouri.

 
If you have questions about the MDA’s annual survey, or if you wish to view results of previous surveys, visit the MDA website at http://www.mda.state.mn.us/chemicals/pestfertsurvey.aspx. Producers can also call the Minnesota Department of Agriculture at 612-327-2607 between 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday – Friday.

MnDOT offers tips on renting limousines, party buses for prom

ST. PAUL, Minn. — It’s that time of year when prom goers are out in full force, renting buses, limousines and other passenger vehicles to get to their destinations. The Minnesota Department of Transportation has some tips about renting vehicles so the trip is safe.

“One of the best things to remember is that the cheapest price doesn’t always mean it’s the best option,” according to Mike McKay, Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations, which licenses and regulates more than 400 limousine operators and 350 passenger carriers in the state.

In the limousine industry, there are many variances of quality and price. Shopping for a service based on price alone can mean the limo/bus won’t show up or be late, McKay said. It also can mean the limo/bus could break down on route to the prom or getting a chauffeur without the proper insurance.

McKay said limo/party bus renters can make sure the limo/bus operator is licensed and has liability insurance by checking with MnDOT. All for-hire motor carriers/limousine services are required to carry commercial insurance and register with the state. McKay said potential renters should ask to see copies of the vehicle’s most recent annual inspection report, limousine operator certificate, certificate of registration, and identification of authority card.

Other tips for choosing a safe and licensed limo/bus operator:

·         Shop for the best company. Check online reviews and the Better Business Bureau.

·         Choose your ride. Figure out exactly how many people will be in your group and that will determine the type of vehicle you need. Ask the company to show you the specific vehicle you will be renting.

·         Get a signed contract. Reliable and professional services will provide a signed service contract.

·         Read the contract carefully. The contract should include terms such as cost, deposit required, refund and tip policies, pick-up/drop-off times, arrival and departure locations, specific type of limo requested, and services expected.  

McKay also reminds renters that alcoholic beverages are not allowed for minors. If alcoholic beverages are found in limos and buses carrying only minors, the driver is normally required to return the passengers to their original pick-up location.

MnDOT routinely conducts inspections of limos/buses during prom nights with the State Patrol, McKay added.

For questions, contact MnDOT’s Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations at 651-215-6330.