Caps on indoor gatherings such as wedding receptions increased from 10 people up to 50.
Gov. Tim Walz is scaling back indoor crowd restrictions, designed to slow the spread of COVID-19, amid improving measures of pandemic activity.
Wedding receptions and private indoor gatherings can increase, as of noon Saturday, to 50 people rather than 10 — though facilities still can’t exceed 25% of their fire code capacity. Similarly, restaurants can host up to 250 people, but must operate at no more than 50% of capacity and maintain social distancing of groups.
Restaurants also can remain open until 11 p.m. instead of 10 p.m., despite concerns that viral transmission happens in later hours when customers become less cautious. Continue reading.
On Wednesday, Governor Walz announced that the State of Minnesota has ramped up its COVID-19 vaccination efforts, and is now administering two times the number of shots given per day on average compared to just last week. The increase in vaccination rate follows Governor Tim Walz’ directives given last Monday designed to accelerate the availability of vaccine across the state.
To date, More than 600,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Minnesota.
On Tuesday, Governor Walz announced Minnesota’s COVID-19 Recovery Budget – his budget proposal for the next biennium. As Minnesota continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Walz’s budget supports working families, ensures students catch up on learning, and helps small businesses stay afloat while driving economic recovery.
On Monday, Governor Walz accelerated plans to make COVID-19 vaccines more broadly available across Minnesota. The actions included a new 72-hour goal for vaccine providers to administer 90 percent of their vaccine doses within three days of receiving them, and all doses within one week.
The first pawn in a months-long budgetary game of chess has been played.
Calling it the “Minnesota’s COVID-19 Recovery Budget,” Gov. Tim Walz unveiled his $52.4 billion 2022-23 budget proposal Tuesday, that includes tax increases on the wealthiest Minnesotans and big corporations, further assistance for struggling smaller businesses, help for students falling behind and dipping into the state’s budget reserve.
“We know that when workers are supported, when children are supported, when quality of life is supported, it creates an economic environment where things thrive,” Walz said. “We’re going to ask those that are most fortunate and those corporations that have profited during this time to pay a fair share to make sure we can continue to provide the services we need. Continue reading.
SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA —House Education Policy Committee Chair Ruth Richardson and House Education Finance Division Chair Jim Davnie released the following statements on the Due North Education Plan released today by Governor Tim Walz:
“We know COVID-19 has significantly exacerbated existing opportunity inequities for our students and families across the state,” said Rep. Ruth Richardson (DFL-Mendota Heights), chair of the House Education Policy Committee. “Our committee is focused on delivering legislative support strategies to ensure all of our students- especially our Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Asian students and children with disabilities experiencing unacceptable disparities – have an equitable opportunity to access the resources they need now, and after the pandemic to realize their full potential.”
“While many students have been struggling academically, many have also been struggling with their social emotional needs, even before the pandemic,” said Rep. Jim Davnie (DFL-Minneapolis), who chairs the House Education Finance Division. “Our values ought to inform the action we must take to deliver the educational support systems Minnesota’s children need and deserve. I look forward to partnering with the governor on these initiatives.”
After spending most of last year trying to undo Gov. Tim Walz’s emergency powers, Republicans in control of the Minnesota Senate are trying a new strategy.
They’ve introduced more than half a dozen proposals this session that would not end the peacetime state of emergency outright but would dramatically change how long the governor could wield executive power without legislative approval and limit his ability to shutter schools and businesses in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s one of our strongest messages that we’ll push this year,” said Sen. Andrew Mathews, R-Princeton, whose measure would allow businesses to fully reopen if they have a COVID-19 safety plan in place. Continue reading.
Governor Walz, Lieutenant Governor Flanagan, House and Senate DFL Energy Leads Announce Plan to Achieve 100 Percent Clean Energy in Minnesota by 2040
On Thursday, Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan announced a set of policy proposals that will lead Minnesota to 100 percent clean energy in the state’s electricity sector by 2040. The policies build on the success that Minnesota has already achieved in reducing dependence on fossil fuels and increasing the use of clean energy resources to power the state while ensuring reliable, affordable electricity.
“The time to fight climate change is now,” said Governor Walz. “Not only is clean energy the right and responsible choice for future generations, clean energy maximizes job creation and grows our economy, which is especially important as we work to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. I am proud to announce a set of policy proposals that will lead Minnesota to 100% clean energy in the state’s electricity sector by 2040. Minnesotans have the ingenuity and innovation needed to power this future, and we are ready to pioneer the green energy economy.”
Photo courtesy of the Star Tribune
As Governor Walz Calls for Further Supply from Federal Government, Minnesota Launches COVID-19 Vaccine Pilot Program
On Monday, Governor Tim Walz announced that Minnesota has launched a COVID-19 vaccine pilot program in partnership with local public health and school districts. These sites will initially serve adults 65 years of age or older, as well as prekindergarten through grade 12 educators, school staff, and child care workers. The community vaccination pilot program will be the foundation for mass vaccination clinics in Minnesota communities once the federal government increases vaccine supply. The nine pilot sites launched this week with a small number of doses for eligible Minnesotans.
Governor Walz looks forward to partnering with the Biden administration on procuring more vaccines for Minnesotans. He sent a letter with other governors last week expressing frustration with the previous administration’s botched COVID-19 vaccine distribution and urged the federal government to purchase as many doses of the safe and effective vaccine as possible so states can get more shots in arms in the coming weeks.
Governor Walz Visits Long-Term Care Center, Discusses Vaccination Effort
Today, Governor Walz visited a rehabilitation and skilled nursing care center to discuss the successful vaccination effort in long-term care settings. As of Thursday, more than 203,000 Minnesotans have gotten at least their first dose of vaccine. Nearly 42,000 Minnesotans have received both doses. The most recent data reported to the State of Minnesota shows that 43,000 individuals in long-term care settings have received a shot via our pharmacy partners.
Governor Walz today appointed Roslyn Robertson as Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI). Robertson’s extensive history of leadership at DLI most recently includes her service as Temporary Commissioner. This appointment follows an application review and interview process beginning with a call for applications last fall. Robertson replaces Nancy Leppink as Commissioner for a term beginning today.
Governor Walz Orders Flags Flown at Half-Staff in Honor of Lives Lost to COVID-19
United States flag at half mast, seen from below with the sun behind
On Monday, Governor Walz directed all flags at state and federal buildings in Minnesota to be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 to remember, mourn, and honor lives lost due to COVID-19. Governor Walz encouraged all Minnesotans to light a candle in their window as a sign of remembrance and unity during these challenging times.
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SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan today announced a set of policy proposals that will lead Minnesota to 100 percent clean energy in the state’s electricity sector by 2040. The policies build on the success that Minnesota has already achieved in reducing dependence on fossil fuels and increasing the use of clean energy resources to power the state while ensuring reliable, affordable electricity.
“The time to fight climate change is now,” said Governor Walz. “Not only is clean energy the right and responsible choice for future generations, clean energy maximizes job creation and grows our economy, which is especially important as we work to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. I am proud to announce a set of policy proposals that will lead Minnesota to 100% clean energy in the state’s electricity sector by 2040. Minnesotans have the ingenuity and innovation needed to power this future, and we are ready to pioneer the green energy economy.”
“We must take immediate action to protect our earth for future generations,” said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. “Burning fossil fuels pollutes our environment, permanently changes our climate for the worse, and wastes money on inefficient and outdated practices. This plan sets a clear path and destination for Minnesota’s clean energy future. Minnesota should be a state that continues to lead on the clean energy economy, and we know we can.”
This week, in the wake of last week’s events in Washington D.C., Governor Walz visited American history monuments across Minnesota to call for calm, civility, and peace. At the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul, a Civil War Memorial in Wasioja, and a Vietnam War Memorial in Duluth, Governor Walz encouraged Minnesotans to reflect on the greater context that led to this dark moment in history.
As our nation works to hold those who incited last week’s violence accountable, Governor Walz urged Minnesotans to reflect on how divisive rhetoric undermined our democratic institutions over time and called on Minnesotans to come together to restore democracy for all.
An annual panel with state leaders erupted with Walz making accusations of gaslighting and GOP drawing comparisons to George Floyd protests.
Gov. Tim Walz condemned Republican legislators for continuing to sow doubts about the November election results and said he wants to hear them say, “President Trump permitted sedition.”
“How do we talk about reaching a compromise on the budget when we can’t agree that our elections were fair?” Walz asked during an annual event Monday with legislative leaders, where he accused Republicans of “pretty epic gaslighting.”
In one of the DFL governor’s sternest public rebukes of his GOP colleagues to date, Walz described how the State Patrol removed his son from their home last week and took him to a safe location. The 14-year-old had to leave the governor’s residence as Trump supporters threatened Walz during a rally at the State Capitol on the same day as the insurrection in Washington. He was crying as he tried to look for Scout, the family’s dog, Walz said. Continue reading.
