Dakota County
Tribune
Farmington | Rosemount and the surrounding areas
www.dakotacountytribune.com
NEWS Many may run in 2nd District
September 10, 2015 • Volume 130 • Number 27
Rosemount students arrive for first day
It’s shaping up to be a crowded field, after U.S. Rep. John Kline announces he’s not going to run in 2016. Page 2A
Cities take steps to ensure body camera data private by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
OPINION Learning from the students A workshop in the Twin Cities had educators learning from high school students and other groups of school leaders. Page 4A
THISWEEKEND
Students at Rosemount Elementary School arrived for the first day of classes when teachers and staff members greeted them for the start of the 2015-16 school year. Children exited buses, arrived on foot or by bike, and there were a few tears for parents dropping off their children for the first day. More photos are online at SunThisweek. com/tag/Rosemount. (Photo by Tad Johnson)
Ramble Jam
Swon Brothers bringing the energy Bluegrass bash at Caponi The second annual Caponi Art Park Bluegrass Festival runs Sunday, Sept. 13, as a fundraiser for the nonprofit art park. Page 19A
SPORTS Farmington on the rise The Farmington football Tigers hold on to earn a victory against Apple Valley to start season 2-1. Page 12A
‘The Voice’ stars headline country festival by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
It may not be Oklahoma, the home of the Swon Brothers, or Nashville, the home of country music, but Zach Swon recognized Minnesota’s energy and passion for country music about a month ago. Zach Swon, and his younger brother, Colton, last performed in Minnesota on Aug. 8 at We Fest in Detroit Lakes. “The crowd was incredible,� Zach said. “If we get any of those fans back, it will be a great time. ... Every time you play in Minnesota, you feel the energy there.� The Swon Brothers performed with Blake Shelton at We Fest, something Zach said is always a good time. Shelton chose to coach the Swon Brothers during the fourth season of NBC’s “The Voice.� The duo went on to finish third. Zach said it was a game changer. Although the duo has been playing together for more than 10 years, “The Voice� brought them to a whole new, bigger audience. They have received nominations
Zach and Colton, who make up the Swon Brothers, will play at 10 p.m. Saturday during Ramble Jam at the Dakota County Fairgrounds in Farmington. The duo gained fame after placing third during the fourth season of NBC’s “The Voice.� (Photo submitted) for the Country Music Awards, Academy of Country Music and Country Music Television awards for their work on their self-titled major label debut album, which featured the hit “Later On.� They were also special guests
on the 2015 run of Brad Paisley’s Country Nation World Tour. The experience helped the brothers refine their sound and gain a new pal in Shelton. See SWON BROS, 6A
Local duo ready to rock Ramble Jam Erin and Madison playing biggest event of their career
PUBLIC NOTICE The Dakota County Tribune is the official newspaper of the Rosmeount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District . Page 13A
INDEX Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Announcements . . . . . 6A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 12A Public Notices . . . . . . 13A Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 14A
News 952-846-2033 Display Advertising 952-846-2019 Classified Advertising 952-392-6862 Delivery 763-712-3544
by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Ramble Jam has been a hotbed of emerging country artists through the years, but perhaps no one fits the bill better than Erin and Madison, a local country duo who are neighbors of many attendees. Erin Straw, 16, the lead singer, hails from Lakeville. while guitarist Madison Petersen, 14, lives even closer to the Dakota County Fairgrounds, the site of Ramble Jam, in Farmington. They form Erin and Madison, who will open Ramble Jam’s festivities from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday. The group has been Local country music duo Erin and Madison will play playing together for a few from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday during Ramble Jam. The years, and this will be the duo feature Erin Straw, 16, of Lakeville, and Madison pinnacle of their budding career. Petersen, 14, of Farmington. (Photo submitted)
“We couldn’t be more excited,� Petersen said. The duo volunteered for Ramble Jam last year and watched the bands as fans. Now they’re the ones doing the entertaining. They’ve performed at many private parties, restaurants, wineries, coffee shops, city festivals and art fairs through the years. “Sometimes there’s hundreds of people, sometimes it’s just our parents,� Straw said. Thousands are expected for Ramble Jam. The two teenagers “literally don’t do anything besides this,� Straw said. “Music is our sport.� They have eyes on Nashville, which is where many of their fellow performers at Ramble Jam got their start. But they wouldn’t call this paying See LOCAL, 6A
During the 2015 Minnesota Legislative session, several lawmakers discussed whether the video captured on body-worn cameras by law enforcement was private. Several bills advanced through the process, but nothing became law. Local law enforcement agencies aren’t going to wait for the Legislature to act with regard to what data will be private. Burnsville and Farmington approved resolutions on Tuesday to temporarily classify body-worn camera data as private, except where prohibited by current law. Access will be limited to those who may need it to advance an investigation and for police accountability purposes. “Technology has outpaced state statute,� Farmington Police Chief Brian Lindquist said. Burnsville passed the motion as part of its consent agenda during Tuesday’s City Council meeting, and Farmington brought the motion up for a brief discussion. Exceptions to the privacy definition include if an incident involves the use of a deadly weapon by a peace officer or it involves the use of physical force that causes bodily harm by a peace officer. Also, there are exceptions if the subject of the data collected requests that it be made public. “I’m not trying to hide anything,� Lindquist said. “There is no one that benefits more from data than police and the city.� It’s a temporary classification to allow the Minnesota Legislature time to establish the law. Current data from bodyworn cameras is governed by Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, meaning most data is public. Law enforcement may record incidents such as mental health crisis, neighbor disputes, death scenes and footage captured in private homes. Incidents may be highly personal, emotionally traumatizing and not intended for the eyes and ears of others. Lindquist said there few circumstances where a police officer can enter an individual’s home, such as if they’re in hot pursuit, have a search warrant, believe evidence is being destroyed or if a life is in danger. “When an officer enters that home with a camera and that data is downloaded, it’s considered public data,� Lindquist said. “Your neighbors can come down and say they want to see that video, and I couldn’t stop you. You can ‘go’ into their home with no reason whatsoever.� The current law’s exemptions include limits if the data includes information on juveniles, sexual assault victims or information that is part of an active investigation. Email Andy Rogers at andy.rogers@ecm-inc.com.
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