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Desert Hot Springs, CA PERMIT NO 00005
Friday, April 30, 2021 Vol. 24 No. 33
Get Away Without Going Away Photo courtesy of Getty Images
5 family staycation ideas that won’t break your budget By Desert Star Staff Family vacations are a great way to bond and take a step back from the hectic schedules that accompany everyday life,
but sometimes time or money (or both) make planning an elaborate trip a non-starter. However, a staycation - a vacation you take right in your
hometown (or nearby) - can be much less expensive and fit into nearly any amount of available time with the added bonus of skipping out on
potentially stressful travel. Consider these staycation ideas to take advantage of your local area’s attractions and prove you don’t have to go far to spend quality time together. Visit local landmarks. Just because it’s not a traditional
vacation doesn’t mean you can’t pretend to be tourists. Start by visiting the places you recommend to friends and family from out of town or pick up a city guidebook Continues on Page 3
Faith Leaders Demand Action on Police-Accountability Bills
By Mike Moen The Derek Chauvin verdict and the death of Daunte Wright have renewed calls for Minnesota lawmakers to adopt the latest proposals surrounding police accountability. Across the state, some faith leaders say they want to see these ideas approved. Earlier this month, the DFL-led House passed a host of proposals that were part of an omnibus bill. Included is a limit on police authority to conduct traffic stops for minor violations. There’s also funding for community groups working on crime prevention. James Alberts, the pastor of Higher Ground
Church of God in St. Cloud, said they’d established an agreement with local police to improve communication, helping to ease tensions, but he said that shouldn’t stop broader reforms. “If we are going to entrust law enforcement to be the morality that we hope that they are, there has to be checks and balances when we come across individuals that fail to meet that standard,” Alberts urged. A coalition of faith leaders is calling on the Republicancontrolled Senate to hold hearings on the proposals. Some GOP lawmakers have said specific ideas put law
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Despite the action taken last year, police accountability groups in Minnesota say the state has much more work to do in this area. (Adobe Stock)