The Latest: Prison releases could begin next week

MINNEAPOLIS – The Latest on the coronavirus outbreak in Minnesota (all times local):

10:35 a.m.

Minnesota Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell says the release of some state prisoners because of the coronavirus could happen as early as next week.

Civil rights advocates have called on state officials to release some medically at-risk and nonviolent inmates to help limit the spread of COVID-19 and save lives.

Schnell said on Minnesota Public Radio that releasing some prisoners early is likely the best way to create more space, but that the safety of the public will be the biggest factor in deciding to release inmates early.

“So that we don’t have massive spread and so that we don’t ultimately have to bring people out of the prisons into the community health system that itself may become overburdened as this goes forward,” he said.

The Department of Corrections said there are certain disqualifying factors under state law, including court ordered in-custody treatment, out-of-state warrants, and sex offender programming.

Prisoners who could be released include nonviolent offences, low risk to public safety and being within 90 days of regularly scheduled release.

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6:40 a.m.

Two construction companies are suing the city of Brooklyn Center after their projects were suspended over concerns about the coronavirus.

In their lawsuit, S.R. Weidema, Inc., of Maple Grove, and R.L. Larson Excavating, Inc., of St. Cloud, say that together they will lose nearly half a million dollars each week that work is delayed.

The companies argue Mayor Mike Elliott wrongly postponed their projects because of a family’s concern that construction dust could harm their children who have asthma and add to their concerns about contracting COVID-19.

The Star Tribune reports the lawsuit filed in Hennepin County District Court this week says other construction projects in the city were allowed to continue under state and federal guidelines.

Elliott said in a written statement that his duty was to “protect the health and safety of our citizens” using emergency powers available to the city.