Dear Neighbors,  

Recently, our White Bear Lake community was faced with another heartbreaking tragedy that claimed the lives of beloved NHL reporter Jessi Pierce and her three children. My heart aches for Jessi’s husband, family, and loved ones.  If you’re able to stop by to pay your respects to the family, a public visitation will be held Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Mueller Memorial in White Bear Lake. Mike her husband and the Hinrich family released a statement for the first time since the fire, writing: 

“We are completely devastated at the tragic loss of Jessi, Hudson, Cayden and Avery Hinrichs. We have lost a beautiful wife, daughter, sister and friend in Jessi, and three amazing children who were the light of our lives, Hudson, Cayden and Avery, whose lives were all taken too soon.  

“We thank everyone for the extraordinary amount of love and support during this difficult time. From the fire departments and first responders to the White Bear Lake and Mahtomedi communities to the Minnesota Wild, the NHL, local hockey communities, and the nationwide support, we are grateful for the outpouring of compassion we have received. 

“We ask for continued privacy during this extremely difficult time as we grieve this unthinkable loss.“ 

May our community continue to wrap our arms around them as they grieve this devastating loss. 

Being with our White Bear Lake community right now means a lot to me. I had a great time meeting with friends from the White Bear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.  

We chatted about their priorities, heavily centered on meeting the needs of constituents and the importance of maintaining state funding to crucial programs. Thank you so much for the visit, it always brightens up my day when members of the community visit the Capitol. 

House Floor Action 

Today marks the end of the first committee deadlines, which signals the halfway point for the 2026 legislative session. Early this week, the House Chamber voted unanimously to repeal César Chávez Day in Minnesota. I stand in solidarity with Dolores Huerta and all victims and survivors of sexual abuse; repealing this day is an important step toward healing and justice. 

Last night, my DFL colleagues tried reasoning with Republicans again, pleading for at least one of them to abandon their partisan priorities and put Minnesotans first. Since they kept stalling these bills in committee, we brought them to the House floor to force Republicans to tell Minnesotans whose side they are on. Despite our attempts, they rejected legislation to: 

• Ban high-capacity magazines  

•  Ban assault weapons  

•  Ban ICE from schools  

They voted against every measure that would save lives and protect children. Republicans are denying reality at a time when Minnesotans deserve leaders with the courage to act. 

Legislation Targeting Neighbors with High Needs 

Last week, I highlighted a discriminatory bill targeting our neighbors with high needs living in group homes. Let me be clear: the circumstances where people have incurred harm or death in care settings are tragic and each worthy of their own investigation. It’s vital to center the conversation around who we are really talking about: people living with disabilities who rely on support from other people. 

The root causes of this issue are not our high-needs neighbors. Instead, the causes are a workforce shortage, a housing shortage, a SUD treatment shortage, a lack of investment in well-trained staff and retention efforts, and inadequate health and safety resources.  

This state-sanctioned redlining policy does not support a response to these needs. As lawmakers, we do not have the authority to tell communities who can live where. We must acknowledge the problem head-on and provide funding for local city resources to support our high-needs neighbors. Ultimately, people must confront their own discomfort with high-needs communities living in their neighborhoods.  

The solutions are written on the wall: stop cutting critical funding to human services programs at the state and federal levels, provide cities with public health and safety resources that match their populations’ needs, and educate the community on how to report concerns through a statewide public health campaign. What is not a solution is to systemically discriminate against vulnerable communities and tell them they don’t belong. Read more here.  

Disability Services Day on the Hill 

Disability Services Day at the Capitol is truly one of my favorite days of the year. I was honored to speak with so many advocates about how the decisions we make in the legislature directly impact their daily lives and well-being. 

As lawmakers, it is vital that we take the time to listen to and learn from Minnesotans who rely on these essential services. I take my responsibility to represent our community deeply to heart. Our job is to amplify the voices of those in need and ensure their lived experiences and wisdom are woven into the very fabric of the legislation we pass. 

For far too long, disability services have faced repetitive budget cuts. Even as we better identify and address these needs, the demand for resources continues to grow. We cannot talk about "slowing program growth" without acknowledging the real human beings behind those statistics. 

I encourage everyone to reach out to their legislators. Share your story and be clear about the support you need. Effective policy and budgeting should be centered around the people we serve, not determined by government entities in a silo. Your voice is—and must remain—the most influential one at the table. 

Thank you for your tireless advocacy for yourselves and your neighbors. It matters. Your input is crucial in shaping how the State of Minnesota cares for one another.

Brion Curran State Representative  

Proudly Serving District 36B   

Minnesota House of Representatives