'Safe Place for Newborns Law' Strengthened in Light of Oakdale Baby Killing

State Rep. Nora Slawik talks about bipartisan work that has resulted in expanding the law to better protect newborns.

Nearly everyone in our community remembers the tragic killing of a newborn baby by Oakdale teenager Nicole Beecroft in 2007. While we don’t have exact statistics on how often stories like these occur, even one time is one time too many. Often in this situation, young mothers are scared, embarrassed and feel like they have no options and no hope. As the mother of a teenage daughter and the sister of someone who became pregnant as a teenager, I have an understanding of these situations and how scary they can be.  In response to these tragedies over the last several years, a bipartisan group of state legislators, along with the Minnesota Department of Human Services, worked to strengthen our Safe Place for Newborns law. This law was first …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Hannah Gruber

11:28 am on Thursday, October 18, 2012

Hi Oakdale Resident, I would recommend directly contacting Rep. Slawik about some of your questions regarding the law (as I'm not sure if she has seen your question here) - I think she'll have the best answers for you. Her email is: rep.nora.slawik@house.mn Thanks for your feedback!   more ›

Minnesota Legislative Session: The Good, The Bad and The Undecided

Retiring Rep. Nora Slawik said Legislature’s become a “frustrating place,” and she’d like to see a new tone.

When Minnesotans look back on the legislative session that ended last week, one issue likely comes to mind—the Vikings stadium. “Unfortunately the session was dominated by the Vikings, and I just wish we’d get back to basics,” said Rep. Nora Slawik (DFL-Maplewood). “I want to talk about education, health care, jobs.” Oakdale’s legislators said there were some disappointments in the session that ended last Thursday, but also some big accomplishments. Sen. Chuck Wiger (DFL-Maplewood) said he was shocked he was able to get $2 million in funding for renovations for the Harriet Tubman Center East back into the bonding bill after it had been eliminated by leadership and in the version passed in the House. Although he doubted the amendment would …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Patty Busse

7:27 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012

Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed the tax bill that included Oakdale's TIF extension. Here is the letter: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/120486955/Ch_296_HF_247_Veto-attach. Earlier today, I incorrectly posted that a bill he had signed contained the Oakdale provision. Sorry for the confusion!   more ›

VIDEO: Rep. Nora Slawik Gives Final Speech on House Floor

Rep. Nora Slawik was one of the departing Minnesota House members to speak Thursday, May 10. Slawik announced earlier this year that she won't seek re-election.

• Videos (1)

UPDATED: Oakdale’s Legislators Vote ‘Yes’ on Vikings Stadium

The bill didn’t include funding for early childhood education that local legislators had hoped to get.

Oakdale’s representatives at the Minnesota State Capitol both voted in support of a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings. The stadium bill passed through the House and Senate Thursday, and was awaiting the governor’s signature Thursday afternoon. Rep. Nora Slawik (DFL-Maplewood) said the No. 1 reason she supported the bill was that it will create jobs. “I think that it is going to bring a tremendous amount of construction jobs and we have a lot of people that are on our union benches not working,” she said. Another reason for her support, she said, is that the Vikings add to the state’s quality of life. “Having the Vikings is part of Minnesota’s culture,” she said. “I grew up where there were no major sports teams, and it makes a …

• Photos (1)

Oakdale TIF District Extension Part of Vetoed Tax Bill

Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed the Omnibus Tax Bill, which included a provision to extend the city’s deadline to certify the tax increment financing district on Tanner’s Lake.

Legislation that would give Oakdale extra time to get development going on the Tanner’s Lake redevelopment site was vetoed Friday by Gov. Mark Dayton as part of the Omnibus Tax Bill. Current law gives the city until July 1, 2013, to certify a tax increment financing (TIF) district on land that once housed Blackies Eatery & Saloon and Toby’s on the Lake. The city was hoping to get that extended to Dec. 31, 2017, according to the text of the Senate bill.  City Administrator Craig Waldron told the Senate Taxes Committee in February that the slow economy prevented a potential developer from moving forward with an apartment and restaurant proposal, and that the city is now working with a new developer on a similar plan. After the veto, Waldron …

• Photos (1)

Slawik, Wiger Say They’re Ready and Waiting for Vikings Stadium Bill Vote

Oakdale’s representatives at the Capitol talk Vikings stadium, ‘LIFO’ bill, commercial property taxes, fireworks and school funding

Oakdale’s representatives at the state Capitol said they’re ready to vote on a bill to fund a new Vikings stadium, and they'd like to see one come to the state House and Senate floors. “I’m not sure why they’re holding (the Vikings stadium bill) back, but I think we should get a vote on it this session,” said Rep. Nora Slawik (DFL-Maplewood). “It’s so close. Let’s do it.” The stadium bill made it to neither floor over the weekend. State legislators have only seven more days during which they can pass bills—however those days could be spaced out somewhat until the May 21 constitutional deadline. Sen. Chuck Wiger (DFL-Maplewood) said that a divisive racino provision in the Senate’s stadium bill will be removed. Here’s what the legislators …

• Photos (1)

Nora Slawik: Educator, Lawmaker, Advocate, Mom

Rep. Nora Slawik announced earlier this month that she would not seek re-election this fall.

By Nick Busse, Session Weekly When Rep. Nora Slawik (DFL-Maplewood) first took office, she was eight months pregnant with her second child. Much of her life thereafter, both inside and outside the House chamber, has revolved around children.  “My specialty became early childhood. Part of it was having my daughter in my first term, and the other part was it’s an intense interest of mine,” Slawik said.  Her seven non-consecutive terms in the Legislature have been marked by the dual struggles—and rewards—of a single mom raising two kids and a hard-working policymaker working diligently on early childhood issues. For a while, those two responsibilities went hand-in-hand.  Slawik’s children campaigned with her and marched with her every year in…

• Photos (1)

Beyond Football: Legislators Want Vikings Stadium to Benefit Kids

Oakdale’s legislators are introducing a bill that would devote excess revenues from any Vikings stadium legislation to an early childhood program.

Football fans, construction workers and restaurateurs have been named among those who would benefit from a new Vikings stadium. Oakdale's representatives at the state Capitol want to add one more group to the list—low-income, preschool age children. Sen. Chuck Wiger and Rep. Nora Slawik, both Maplewood DFLers, said they planned to introduce companion bills Monday that would devote any excess money raised for the facility—through mechanisms like gambling—to go toward early childhood education. “If we can find the money for a Vikings stadium, we can fund early childhood education,” Slawik said. ”We have 7,000 kids on the waiting lists for childcare and these scholarships would make a significant difference.” The money would go toward an …

• Photos (1)

Oakdale's Legislators Talk Vikings Stadium, Bonding Bill, Adjournment

Oakdale Patch checked in with local representatives as the Minnesota Legislature started its Easter/Passover break.

Minnesota State Legislators are on Easter/Passover recess this week. We thought it would be a good time to check in with Oakdale’s representatives to get their thoughts on how the rest of the session will play out. Here’s what they had to say: On adjournment: Rep. Nora Slawik (DFL-Maplewood) said she expects the Legislature to adjourn at the end of April. Sen. Chuck Wiger (DFL-Maplewood) said he expects it will be the end of April or early May. On bonding: Wiger said he expects the Legislature to pass a bonding bill yet this session. There are many needed improvements included in the Senate’s proposed bonding bill—like classroom additions at Century College—and passing a bonding bill will create jobs, he said. Through debate and compromise…

• Photos (1)

Minnesota Landowners Worried that Mining Companies Will Use Eminent Domain to Take Their Property

At the request of a constituent who owns land in northern Minnesota, Rep. Nora Slawik sponsored a bill that would eliminate mining companies' ability to take land through eminent domain.

Rep. Nora Slawik is working with a group of northern Minnesota landowners who are worried that a mining company might seize access to their property through eminent domain to explore or drill for minerals. "We do have a lot of homeowners in our area who do have cabins in the north area that are very worried that a mining company can seize a person's land by eminent domain," she said. A bill she sponsored that would strip mining companies of their ability condemn land if they can’t reach an agreement with the landowner didn’t get a hearing this session, but the issue isn’t dead yet, Slawik said. Now, she’s drafting a letter to Attorney General Lori Swanson requesting an opinion on whether the state's current eminent domain statutes could be…

•  9 Comments
• Photos (1)

up_north

7:03 pm on Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Jim, In every case this law applies to, the surface and minerals were owned by a private party who forfeited the land for not paying property taxes. The state later re-sold the surface to another private party, but kept the mineral rights. The new owners pay property tax based on the value of the surface rights. They also knew that they weren`t receiving the mineral rights when the bought the …   more ›