On Tuesday, September 23rd, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Rep. Julie Greene (DFL – Edina), Rep. Cheryl Youakim (DFL – Hopkins), Rep. Nathan Coulter (DFL – Bloomington), Rep. Steve Elkins (DFL – Bloomington), Senator Alice Mann (DFL – Edina), Mayor James Hovland, and Mayor Tim Busse will host a community conversation on gun violence prevention.
What: Edina and Bloomington Elected Leader’s Community Conversation on Gun Violence
When: Tuesday, September 23rd, from 6:30-8:00 p.m.
I want to thank everyone who has reached out regarding the need for legislative action in the wake of last week’s tragedy at Annunciation Church. I share your passion for sensible gun violence protection legislation, and I am eager to take action. Before I was a House member, I was a Committee Administrator for the Minnesota Senate Judiciary Committee right after the Sandy Hook tragedy. We heard multiple proposals, but the legislature was unable to get any substantial legislation passed due to partisan gridlock.
When we had a DFL trifecta in the 2023-24 session, we were able to pass Universal Background Checks and Extreme Risk Protection Orders (Red Flag Laws). As the Chair of the House Education Finance Committee, I successfully ushered through increased funding for school counselors, psychologists, social workers, and nurses, as well as other wrap-around services for our students. Building that support system and investing in our students’ mental health are just some ways we can prevent the outcome of what we saw at the Annunciation School.
All that being said, we still have work to do. Along with other community leaders, I joined the Mom’s Demand Action’s press conference calling for further action around assault rifles and high-capacity magazines. Our caucus is all too familiar with tragedies like these that have happened in all of our communities. It also hit very close to home at the beginning of the summer with the murder of Melissa and Mark Hortman as well as the attack on John, Yvette, and Hope Hoffman.
Every Minnesotan deserves to feel safe in our public spaces whether it be our schools, places of worship, their work, a movie theater, in a local park, or anywhere in our communities. If Governor Walz’s calls for a special session to get to work on this, I hope our colleagues across the aisle are willing to consider sensible gun violence prevention solutions. That requires our Republican colleagues to join us in earnest to protect our kids. But rest assured, no matter if its in special session, the 2026 regular session, or beyond, we will continue to push legislation forward that keeps our kids and our communities safe from gun violence.
Resources for Families During the School Year
The Minnesota Department of Education announced the opening of a broadly inclusive application for families in need of educational benefits.
Completing just one form unlocks resources for families such as summer grocery benefits, utility discounts, and test fee waivers. The required income for these programs has also been increased. Families can apply anytime during the school year. You can learn more and apply here.
In the Community
Thank you to Edina Police Chief Milburn and Fire Chief Slama for the meeting to catch up on the city’s public safety initiatives!
I also meet with Edina Schoolboard Chair Garbers and Superintendent Bittner to hear how the first week of school went and ways we can partner. We had so much fun, we forgot to take a picture!
I rounded out the week meeting Americorp Executive Director Quandrud to hear about all of their amazing program initiatives.
The 7th Annual St. Louis Park Art Fair is here! Come celebrate community and shop local artist and maker booths. There will also be a variety of events and activities for the whole family. You can learn more here. If you’re interested in volunteering for the event, you can sign up here.
Keep in Touch
Please always feel free to reach out to me with questions or input at rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn.gov or 651-296-9889. Email is the quickest way to get in touch.
Thank you for the honor of representing our Hopkins, St. Louis Park, and Edina neighbors at the State Capitol.
No one should have to experience the heartbreaking tragedy that happened at Annunciation Catholic School and Church. My heart goes out to the families who lost their precious children, those who were injured, as well as the other students, parents, teachers, and community members who must now carry the trauma following yet another incident of senseless gun violence. That this shooting occurred during the first week of school – a time that should be full of excitement, joy, new friends, and hope for the future – makes it particularly heartbreaking.
We have to acknowledge the fact that gun violence is a uniquely American problem. Every life lost is one too many, and we must never allow ourselves to become numb to these tragedies or accept them as a normal part of reality. While we’ve made progress in recent years to make our communities safer through criminal background checks, red flag laws, and other actions, there is clearly more to do.
In the coming weeks and months, we will have renewed conversations about how to recommit ourselves to building a safer future for everyone. We will keep listening to our neighbors – with the voices of survivors at the center – about how to address the causes of this violence, including easy access to types of weapons designed to inflict mass harm. Simply put, we cannot accept a status quo where gun violence is normal. On the day of the tragedy, Principal Matt DeBoer welcomed prayers for the families and parishioners of Annunciation. He also reminded us of a proverb – “When you pray, move your feet”. We need to move our feet and take action. All Minnesotans should feel safe in our public spaces whether it be a school, place of worship, place of business, a movie theater, or a local park.
There are resources available for members of our community:
211 United Way offers free, confidential information about mental and physical health care and other emergency services. Call 2-1-1 any time, or visit org.
Mental Health Minnesota provides anonymous, confidential peer support, and the Minnesota Warmline is available seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 651-288-0400, or you can text “Support” to 85511.
For immediate crisis support,the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24/7/365. Call 9-8-8, text 9-8-8, or click here to access an online chat feature to connect with a crisis counselor.
Everytown Survivor Network: Text “SURVIVOR” to 644-33 to join a nationwide network of gun violence survivors. The Survivor Network offers peer support, trauma-informed programs, advocacy opportunities, and resources to help survivors heal and make their voices heard.
Information and resources for talking to children about gun violence are available here for parents and for educators.
When there are warning signs of a threat, it’s important to take them seriously; intervention can prevent tragedy. Most mass shooters share their plans in advance, especially young people and those planning shootings in schools. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has a “See It Say It Send It” app available to report tips anonymously, including threats to schools or places of worship. You can also call the BCA’s tipline at 1-877-996-6222 or email bca.tips@state.mn .us.
Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs), also known as “red flag laws,” are an effective way to prevent tragedy. Under an ERPO, a petition can be filed to temporarily restrict access to firearms for someone who may pose a threat to themselves or others. More information on this process is available here.
We continue to hold space for the victims, their families, and everyone whose lives were shattered by these events and keep them close to our hearts. Even as we grieve, we must move forward with a commitment to taking action. Our children, families, and communities deserve to be free from violence, and we will continue to listen, learn, and work together to keep our communities safe.
Back-to-School season is underway! As the wife of a school teacher and a mother of three college graduates, I know that the start of the school year can be a mix of emotions and a flurry of activity. I’m wishing all students, families, teachers, support staff, and administrators a smooth start to the school year!
As a legislator and the former Chair, and current Co-Chair, of the House Education Committee, I am proud of the work we did last biennium. We sought and enacted bold solutions to looming challenges such as: addressing 20 years of underfunding our schools by indexing the education formula to inflation and guaranteeing at least a 2% annual increase, investing in the READ Act to improve literacy rates, increasing funding for student support staff to address student mental health, and universal free school meals to make sure every student has the nutrition they need to learn.
Last legislation session, economic uncertainty and mercurial changes at the federal level led to hard decisions and unfortunate reductions in education funding. With a 67-67 tie in the State House, it took extra time to negotiate the final K-12 bill both with our House GOP counterparts and the DFL-led Senate. But we successfully fought off attempts to dismantle free school meals for our students and kept as many cuts out of the classroom as we could.
As students across Minnesota head back to school, I’d also like to share an important reminder from the Department of Revenue: Save those back-to-school shopping receipts! Minnesota offers two valuable K-12 tax benefits that can help offset education costs:
K-12 Education Credit (refundable, income limits apply)
Last year: 44,000+ families received this credit
Average benefit: $379 per family
K-12 Education Subtraction (no income limits)
Last year: 114,000+ families claimed this benefit
Average benefit: $1,438 per family
Eligible students must be in grades K-12 at public, private, or qualified home schools. Purchases made this year can be claimed on next year’s tax return.
I am wishing all students, families, teachers, and school staff that the year ahead is filled with lots of learning, new friends, and good health. Please feel free to contact me anytime with questions, input, or suggestions at rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn.gov or 651-296-9889. Email is the quickest way to get in touch. Thank you!
It’s hard to believe we’re halfway through August. As we await crisper air and changing colors, we can look forward to our Great Minnesota Get Together! The State Fair kicks off on Thursday this year and runs through Labor Day. If you’re planning to visit, I hope you’ll stop by the nonpartisan House Public Information booth in the Education Building to take the 2025 legislative survey.
New Laws Effective August 1
More new laws took effect earlier this month on the first. Highlights include required access to free water at ticketed events of 100 or more people, protections for children who appear in online media, and assistance for homeowners and tenants when dealing with HOAs. Minnesota’s new law to crack down on impaired driving is a personal one.
Last year, the St. Louis Park community was shaken by an unimaginable tragedy when an intoxicated driver crashed into the outdoor patio at the local Park Tavern restaurant, killing two people and injuring twelve others. The driver had five prior DWI convictions in Minnesota.
In response, we took a close look at the state’s DWI laws, and this session, we passed legislation to strengthen and modernize the interlock program, requiring it more aggressively for repeat offenses while also making it easier for people to access the program.
I would like to thank the advocates at Methodist hospital and Park Tavern, as well as the families who were tragically affected by this tragedy. Without your voices at the table, sharing your stories, this bill would not have gotten across the finish line. And, a shout out to Representative Larry Kraft and Senator Ron Latz for their tireless work on this important piece of legislation.
Photo credit: Andrew VonBank, MN House Photography
High School Page and Undergraduate Internship Programs
Are you a high school junior or college student interested in the Minnesota Legislature? Consider applying to the 2026 House High School Page Program or the Undergraduate Internship Program! It’s a great way to get an up close look at how a bill becomes a law, advances out of committee, and passes during a House Floor session. There are also ample opportunities to participate in research and policy.
To learn more information about the High School Page Program, click here. The deadline to apply is December 4. To learn more information about the Undergraduate Internship Program, click here. The deadline to apply is November 7.
Community Visits
A big thank you to Doyle-Connor Co and folks from the Concrete Association for giving me a tour recently of the Minnetonka Blvd construction site just east of Hwy. 100 in St Louis Park. As a former city Councilmember I always find infrastructure projects fascinating!
Thank you to the Edina League of Women Voters for inviting me to their happy hour last night! There is something energizing about being around a group of folks that care about public engagement.
Keep in Touch
Although the legislative session is done for the year, my public service is not. Please always feel free to reach out to me with questions or input at rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn.gov or 651-296-9889. Email is the quickest way to get in touch.
Thank you for the honor of representing our Hopkins, St. Louis Park, and Edina neighbors at the State Capitol.
Have a great week!
Cheryl Youakim State Representative
Melissa and Mark Hortman loved music. Their children recently joined The Minnesota Current for a segment featuring their favorite bands and songs. Thank you, Colin and Sophie, for putting together this beautiful tribute. Listen to the full segment here: https://vist.ly/32gm7
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