We're moving Minnesota forward, doing the good work, together. That's what Melissa would want. And it's what our communities across the state deserve. We all deserve to be safe while participating in our shared democracy. My colleagues and I have been working with the Minnesota State Patrol, Minnesota Department of Public Safety, and Capitol Security all summer, fall, and winter to improve safety at the State Capitol for visitors, staff, and elected officials. The bipartisan Advisory Committee on Capitol Area Security commissioned a comprehensive report on Capitol Security and adopted a series of recommendations to enhance safety while maintaining the accessible nature of the State Capitol. Following these recommendations, Governor Walz recently issued an executive order implementing weapons screening at the Minnesota State Capitol for the legislative session. With 37 other State Capitols having some restrictions on firearms or screening, this is an overdue, reasonable step to protect the ability for Minnesotans to safely engage with and observe their state government in action. The screening process will closely resemble entering many other government buildings, as well as major sporting events or concerts, with modern equipment able to screen most individuals in just a few seconds, while bags and other large items will need to go through a scanner.  PHOTO CREDIT: Andrew VonBank, Minnesota House Photography I understand this process represents a bit of a change, but I’m glad we’re taking action to keep Capitol visitors, lawmakers, and staff safe. Screenings will serve as a deterrent to those who attempt to bring illegal weapons into the Capitol to commit violence, intimidate people, or interfere with the orderly work of government. Additional information is available from the Department of Public Safety. Committee WorkI believe Minnesotans deserve to have integrity and trust in their public tax dollars. This week, we picked right up where we left off last year in the State and Local Government Committee I co-chair: by taking up a bill that creates an Office of Inspector General in our state government. Fraud in any sort of form is unacceptable and demands a bipartisan response. I’m hopeful my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will join us in treating this with the seriousness it deserves. We need to protect public dollars for the people who need it the most. Connected to CommunityI-394/I-94 Improvements are UnderwayBig changes are coming on a busy stretch on I-394/I-94! Here are a few details and detours worth putting on your radar: Big weekend closure — Feb. 27 (10 p.m.) through March 2 (5 a.m.) I-394 is fully shut down in both directions between Hwy 100 and downtown Minneapolis. Plan your alternate route ahead of time: take Hwy 169 to I-694 to I-94. Starting Feb. 22 and lasting through the year: The Penn Ave. bridge over I-394 is closed through November — use North Wayzata Blvd., Theodore Wirth Pkwy., and South Wayzata Blvd. to get around it. Through mid-summer, westbound I-394 is down to two lanes between downtown and Hwy 100, with traffic shifted into the E-ZPass lanes — but no tolls or carpool requirements apply during this time.  Several ramps are also closed through mid-summer: the westbound I-394 exit to Park Place Blvd./Xenia Ave. (detour via Louisiana Ave. to Wayzata Blvd.), the eastbound I-94 to westbound I-394 ramp, and the westbound I-394 ramps at Penn Ave. Nightly through fall (10 p.m.–5 a.m.): Expect intermittent lane closures on I-394 (both directions, between downtown and Hwy 100) and on I-94 (both directions, between the Lowry Hill Tunnel and Hwy 55). You can learn more about the project by clicking this link. Thank you, CommunityAfter a brief hiatus due to unseasonably warm weather, Fire & Ice returned this year! Thank you to all the city staff and volunteers who make this such a fun winter festival for our Plymouth community. ?????? #PlymouthProud  Keep in TouchPlease continue to contact me anytime with your feedback and questions. I value your input! Thank you for the honor of serving our Plymouth and Medicine Lake families in the Minnesota House. Warmly, Ginny Klevorn
State Representative |