Some abuse victims upset with archdiocese agreement

By Brian Lambert
MinnPost
October 21, 2014

http://www.minnpost.com/glean/2014/10/some-abuse-victims-upset-archdiocese-agreement

In the 13th paragraph of her latest story on the Archdiocese sex abuse scandals, MPR’s Madeleine Baran writes, “The media event at the Landmark Center [last Monday] glossed over several factors that might have altered the public's perception of Anderson's deal with the archdiocese. Other lawyers and abuse survivors — including some present in the room that day — regarded the agreement with deep skepticism. Anderson's firm had signed a secret agreement on behalf of his clients without consulting most of them. Twelve of the 17 so-called child protection protocols were simple restatements of long-standing church policy. And although Anderson would insist otherwise, his public reconciliation with the church appeared to compromise the adversarial nature of his relationship with the archdiocese.”

USA Today devotes some space to Minnesota State football coach Todd Hoffner, the guy still trying to get his life back together after that over-zealous prosecution for a home video. George Schroeder writes, “In April, an arbitrator ruled Hoffner had been wrongly fired and must be reinstated. Hoffner left behind the head-coaching position he'd only recently accepted at Minot (N.D.) State, and told USA TODAY Sports that returning to his former position was important for closure and to completely restore his reputation. ‘I had goals of being exonerated and vindicated,’ Hoffner said last April. ‘Those were two things I wanted to see through.’ Now, he's seen his football team ascend to No. 1. [In Division II]. Minnesota State-Mankato is one of 13 undefeated teams in the Top 25.”

Kieran’s is suing Block E developers for driving down its business. Kristen Painter of the Strib writes, “[Owner Peter] Killen says they’ve tried to cooperate with the project team but have received no relief from the sawdust piles and Styrofoam particles impacting its customers, or the drop in customer traffic caused by the storefront being obstructed. With sales down 27 percent last month compared to a year ago, Killen says the lawsuit, filed Monday, is his last resort to combat the damage to the business.”

The latest on the illusion of privacy. Nick Woltman of the PiPress says, “Two percent of mid-sized Minnesota investment advisers have experienced a cybersecurity breach that resulted in the loss of client data, according to survey results released Monday by the Minnesota Department of Commerce. … These incidents involved theft, loss or unauthorized use of confidential client information. The rate of these incidents in Minnesota is slightly above the national average of 1.1 percent.”

Personal stash. Its a long trip, you know. The AP says, “An Amtrak passenger from Minneapolis has been arrested after a search of his luggage turned up 17 pounds of marijuana, 14 pounds of marijuana-infused edibles and some hashish. The Tri-Agency Safe Trails Task Force says Amtrak personnel contacted authorities last week to report a passenger who smelled of marijuana.”

It was a media day at the new Vikings palace. The AP story by Jeff Baenen says, “Reporters and photographers were given a tour of the construction site, where officials said $184 million of $803 million of contract work has been finished … . [Michele Kelm-Helgren] said more than 650 workers are at the site daily, and over 200 Minnesota companies are involved. That workforce is expected to swell to more than 1,100 by next summer. ‘That's what it's about: Minnesota jobs,’ Kelm-Helgren said.” Jobs, and lifting “the people” up to “major league” status.

For the Strib Rochelle Olson writes, “Cranes are the key. Construction manager Dave Mansell says it’s about ‘maximizing hook time’ right now. Most everything at the site needs to be lifted and set down. Cranes operate from early morning until past midnight, providing the synchronicity required to keep everyone on the site working toward the finish date.”

Meanwhile, about the birds: St.Paul writer/teacher Margo Galt, i.e. The Wise Old Owl, says in a Strib Commentary, “Star Tribune reporter Brandon Stahl has roused astonished outrage at the death of 4-year-old Eric Dean of Pope County, whose stepmother beat him repeatedly, yet county child protection did nothing to stop it. Minnesota, it turns out, has one of the country’s worst records on child protection. Gov. Mark Dayton has convened a panel to look into this. Not to be confusing, Wise Old asks: What’s the connection between a lack of child protection and bird deaths from non-friendly glass in the Vikings stadium? Wise Old hoots at even having to ask the question. It’s a matter of compassion and — she gives two hoots here — preventing damage once the danger is identified.”

Why not debate evolution, too? Says MPR’s Tim Pugmire about yesterday’s Secretary of State debate: “The voter ID debate is getting renewed attention in this year’s race for Minnesota secretary of state, which is an open seat due to Democrat Mark Ritchie’s retirement. … Republican Dan Severson, who ran for the office four years ago, highlighted his proposal to create an ‘express lane’ voting option for Minnesotans who voluntarily show a photo ID at the polls. Severson said he came up with the idea after voters rejected a photo ID constitutional amendment in 2012.”

What you can get away with in Superior. Shelley Nelson of the Forum News Service says, “Charges won't be filed against a Superior police officer accused of striking a woman during an arrest Jan. 5. However, the Bayfield County district attorney who reviewed the facts in the case said officer George Gothner's actions that evening brought ‘disrepute to his police agency.’ Gothner, a 16-year veteran of the Superior Police Department, prompted public outrage after the arrest of Natasha Lancour, 29, of Superior, outside Keyport Liquor and Lounge in Superior. Video captured by his dash camera showed Gothner striking Lancour in the face with a closed fist when she was resisting efforts to take her into custody. Bayfield County District Attorney Fred Bourg, the special prosecutor, stated Lancour admitted resisting Gothner's efforts to arrest her.” She’s lucky she wasn’t homeless in St. Paul.