Dakota County
Tribune
Farmington | Rosemount www.dakotacountytribune.com
and the surrounding areas February 23, 2017 • Volume 131 • Number 52
Rosemount deaths ruled murdersuicide
NEWS Fundraiser set for local event The Halfway to Leprechaun Days fundraiser will include a chili cook-off contest and bingo games for the whole family. Page 3A
OPINION Look around the county
Graphic submitted
Dakota County Commissioner Joe Atkins finds plenty to learn about and listen to around the county. Page 4A
A proposal to expand the 360 Communities Rosemount Family Resource Center would add another building at the current site to bring the total space to 3,400 square feet.
Bill would help expand food shelf Residents encouraged to contact legislators on behalf of Resource Center by Tad Johnson SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
THISWEEKEND
The city is Rosemount is looking for support from the Minnesota Legislature and local residents to help it fund an expansion of the 360 Communities Rosemount Family Resource Center. The current center on 145th Street and Cimar-
ron Avenue has long since outgrown the space that rests on city property and is used by the Burnsvillebased nonprofit to deliver food shelf, homework help and other services to families in need in the community. Companion bills authored by Sen. Greg Clausen, DFL-Apple Valley, and Rep. Anna Wills,
R-Rosemount, are working their way through the Legislature that would provide half of the funding needed for the projected $900,000 project. If the bill were to pass, the city of Rosemount would fund the rest of the project. The work would more than double the size of the current building, which is
1,500 square feet. Currently the food shelf at the site is located in a closet. In many instances, food donations are stacked in the office, hallways and any other available space in the site. The overflow of goods isn’t an indication of having too much food. See CENTER, 13A
Three days after the Feb. 17 shooting death of two Rosemount residents, authorities released their identities and ruled the incident was a murdersuicide. According to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner, Alicia Ann Keilen, 33, was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Her death was ruled a homicide. Justin Joseph Keilen, 42, was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, and his death was ruled a suicide. Rosemount police found the Keilens dead after responding to a call at 3:44 p.m. Feb. 17 on the 3700 block of 154th Street West. Rosemount Police and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are investigating.
Raising their voices Anniversary celebration Lakeville’s Coffee Concerts series marks its 10th anniversary with a concert featuring Minnesota Orchestra director Osmo Vänskä. Page 15A
SPORTS
Photo contributed by Jane St. Ores
Farmington on to state
The Rosemount High School Concert Choir performed at Central Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis this past weekend as part of the Minnesota Music Educators Association Conference.
The Farmington girls hockey team is on to state after winning the section tournament final over Lakeville South. Page 9A
Lewis working to replace health care law
PUBLIC NOTICE The Dakota County Tribune is an official newspaper of the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District. Page 13A
INDEX Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9A Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 11A Public Notices . . . . . . 13A Announcements . . . . 14A
News 952-846-2033 Display Advertising 952-846-2019 Classified Advertising 952-392-6862 Delivery 763-712-3544
A fee is charged at some locations to cover distribution costs.
2nd District representative commits to holding ‘productive, constructive’ in-person town hall by Tad Johnson SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Washington, D.C., politics has dominated the news cycle in the past month as President Donald Trump entered office with Republican control of the Senate and House. U.S. Rep. Jason Lewis, R-Woodbury, says he would be doing things differently than Trump, who has created international reactions to his executive orders with regard to border security and deportation of illegal immigrants. Lewis, who spoke with the newspaper on Tuesday, hasn’t dove into those topics with the House in the past month as he’s been focused on efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. “We have a job to do,” he said during a telephone
interview. “I would be derelict in my duty if I didn’t fulfill my promise that I ran on for a better health care plan for the people of Minnesota.” The new 2nd District representative acknowledges there are constituents concerned about the potential repeal of the law that created governmentsponsored health care plans in the individual market. A group of about 100 people gathered outside Lewis’ Burnsville office this month, many concerned about repeal of the ACA and Trump’s executive orders along with advocating for a face-to-face town-hall-style meeting with Lewis. Lewis, who says he’s committed to holding a town hall, said there’s been misinformation regarding
Republican plans for repeal of the ACA and some people are trying to get a jump-start on the 2018 campaign. He said there is no plan to do away with two popular provisions of the ACA — insurance companies can’t deny coverage to a person with pre-existing health conditions and children continuing on their parents health insurance until age 26. Lewis said four replacement bills have been heard by the Energy and Commerce Committee, some with features Lewis supports, such as tax credits for those purchasing insurance through a health savings account. He said the tax credits would increase based on age, since people typically need more health care as they age. The ACA has led to
MinnPost photo by Sam Brodey
Rep. Jason Lewis, R-Woodbury, has been focusing on a repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act since taking office in January. premiums increasing so fast that people are getting priced out of the market, especially young people who are healthy, according to Lewis. He said during a TPT Almanac interview that young people are opting to pay the ACA fine for not having insurance rather
k
!""'! !
$
See LEWIS, 13A
~ü
¹¤~äº ßä ߤüü
&
than obtaining coverage. “The only people who are left are people … my age who are a little sicker,” Lewis said. Another reason that health insurance premiums are increasing is because there are 1,000 coun-
¹¤~äº ß~ Øßüü
¹Ø~¯º ~ä ¤ßüü