Tag: Tim Walz

Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Flanagan Update: July 8, 2020

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July 8, 2020

Updates from the Governor

At the Department of Indian Work food shelf today, Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan announced $12 million to combat hunger in Minnesotan amid COVID-19. This funding will support approximately 300 food shelves and all seven food banks across Minnesota.

Approximately 300 thousand Minnesotans have visited food shelves each month since the pandemic began, representing approximately a 30 percent increase over typical visits. The $12 million in emergency support for food shelves, food banks, and other emergency food efforts across the state will help meet this unprecedented demand. Continue reading “Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Flanagan Update: July 8, 2020”

Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan Update: July 7, 2020

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July 7, 2020

Updates from the Governor

Today, Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan announced $56.6 million to help support Minnesota child care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Walz announced the funding this morning at the Learning Garden in St. Paul and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan highlighted the funding with a visit to a family child care provider in Rochester.

“Child care providers have stepped up to serve emergency workers and ensure families across Minnesota have a safe and reliable place to send their children,” said Governor Walz. “We will continue to support the critical work they do to educate our next generation, support families, and strengthen our economy.” Continue reading “Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan Update: July 7, 2020”

Gov. Wa.z and Lt. Gov. Flanagan Update: July 6, 2020

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July 6, 2020

Updates from the Governor

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) today announced that they have updated the Minnesota Driver’s Manual to include information on what drivers and law enforcement should expect during a traffic stop, particularly when a driver has a firearm.

Valerie Castile advocated for the addition to the manual to encourage consistency in traffic stops by law enforcement and ensure that drivers know what to expect. Castile’s son, Philando, died four years ago today after a Falcon Heights police officer shot him during a traffic stop. Philando Castile informed the officer that he was legally carrying a firearm.

DPS Commissioner John Harrington said being stopped by a law enforcement officer can be a stressful experience. However, knowing what to do during the interaction will help to ensure a safe interaction for all involved. Continue reading “Gov. Wa.z and Lt. Gov. Flanagan Update: July 6, 2020”

Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan Update: June 2, 2020

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July 2, 2020

Updates from the Governor

Minnesota families have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Governor Tim Walz, and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan announced a commitment by 31 Minnesota financial institutions to provide mortgage-relief options to customers facing financial hardship caused by COVID-19 for homeowners not covered by the CARES Act. This initiative will provide flexibility to Minnesotans who need help affording their mortgage payments during this unprecedented time.

Under this framework, participating financial institutions have agreed to offer the following relief options:

  • 90-day forbearance period for customers facing financial hardship caused by COVID-19 Participating financial institutions will offer mortgage-payment forbearances of up to 90 days to single- or multi-family mortgage customers directly impacted by COVID-19. The framework went into effect yesterday, July 1, 2020, so qualifying customers can begin applying for forbearance immediately.
  • Customers accessing forbearance will not be required to make a lump-sum payment at the end of forbearance plan Participating financial institutions will not require single-family customers who qualify for forbearance under this framework to make a lump-sum payment at the end of the forbearance plan. Instead these institutions will work with borrowers on repayment options, which may include:
    • Allowing customers to add the reduced or missed payments over the lifetime of their loans; or
    • Extending the maturity of the loan to make up for the missed payments.
  • No late fees or negative credit reporting for customers in a forbearance plan For single-family customers who are in an active forbearance plan under this framework, the participating financial institutions will:
    • Freeze all mortgage-related late fees for missed payments; and
    • Not report late or missed payments with credit reporting agencies.

More information is available here.

Governor Walz and Lt. Governor Flanagan wish Minnesotans a happy and safe Fourth of July this weekend. We know our celebrations will look a little different this year. And as COVID-19 cases surge in many states, we must take steps to protect our neighbors and loved ones. That’s why we are encouraging Minnesotans to wear a mask this holiday weekend. It is one of the simplest ways you can support local businesses and keep yourselves and others safe.

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Everyone can work to reduce the spread of COVID-19

  • Wear masks when in public. 10-50% of virus carriers are asymptomatic wearing masks helps control the virus and has been shown to lower COVID-19 spread.
  • Avoid enclosed spaces with groups of people, where the virus can linger in the air for long periods of time.
  • Get tested if you have cold or flu-like symptoms – Find testing locations.
  • Stay six feet away from others.
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or sleeve, or a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands afterwards.
  • Washing your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom or before eating. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
  • Avoid touching your face – especially your eyes, nose and mouth – with unwashed hands.
  • Up-to-date guidance is available from the Department of Health.

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Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Flanagan Update: July 1, 2020

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July 1, 2020

Updates from the Governor

Today, Governor Walz, Lieutenant Governor Flanagan, and insulin affordability advocates celebrated the launch of the Minnesota Insulin Safety Net Program. The program, created by the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act, allows Minnesotans in urgent need of insulin to access the life-saving drug through their pharmacy.

For far too long, sky-rocketing costs have priced too many Minnesotans out of the medicine that they need to live. Thanks to the legislators and advocates who fought for years against great odds, Minnesotans in urgent need of insulin now have peace of mind knowing they can apply for the Insulin Safety Net Program. This program ensures that no Minnesotan will ever have to choose between the medicine they need to live, food on the table, or a place to call home. Continue reading “Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Flanagan Update: July 1, 2020”

Minnesota achieves COVID-19 testing ‘moonshot’ goal

Gov. Tim Walz lauded Minnesota on Monday for reaching its “moonshot” testing goal to closely track the spread of COVID-19, but he warned that everything from mask-wearing in public to social distancing in bars will be needed to see the state through this pandemic.

While Minnesota isn’t seeing the rapid growth in COVID-19 occurring right now in other states, Walz said he is concerned because of the recent outbreaks related to crowded bars and the gatherings over the upcoming holiday weekend that could spread the coronavirus that causes the infectious disease.

“We’re going to have to learn to live with and manage COVID-19 for quite some time,” he said. Continue reading.

Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Flanagan Update: June 30, 2020

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June 30, 2020

Updates from the Governor

Today, Governor Walz and Lt. Governor Flanagan announced a public-private partnership of philanthropic and business leaders from across Minnesota to meet the technology and connectivity needs of families who have children in school. The partnership, ConnectedMN, is led by Best Buy, Comcast, Blandin Foundation, Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation and the Minnesota Business Partnership, in collaboration with the State of Minnesota.

Before the start of the upcoming school year, ConnectedMN’s goal is to bring technology and internet access to students across the state, especially communities most in need, including Indigenous students and students of color, students from low-income families, and families who live in rural Minnesota. Continue reading “Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Flanagan Update: June 30, 2020”

Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Flanagan Update: June 29, 2020

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June 29, 2020

Updates from the Governor

Today, Governor Walz announced that, thanks to the collaborative partnership between the Walz-Flanagan Administration, the Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota (U of M) the state has completed more than half a million COVID-19 tests and has reached the milestone of developing a daily capacity of 20,000 COVID-19 tests.

As part of the state’s testing command center, the Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota (U of M) are now able to provide additional testing capacity to more than 265 health care organizations across the state. When health care providers need more testing capacity than they have available at their local laboratories, or an outbreak emerges, the state initiative’s testing command center connects the provider with COVID-10 diagnostic testing through Mayo Clinic Laboratories or U of M labs. The state has deployed this resource for numerous pop-up testing events, including Duluth, Moorhead, St. James, and Faribault, as well as in Mower County and in Minneapolis and Saint Paul following protests and large gatherings in the wake of George Floyd’s death. Continue reading “Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Flanagan Update: June 29, 2020”

Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Flanagan Update: June 28, 2020

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June 28, 2020

Updates from the Governor

As Minnesotans face an unprecedented challenge in COVID-19, there are financial, mental and physical health, and family resources available to help.

Testing: Minnesotans with COVID-19 symptoms are always encouraged to get a test. Find a testing location in your community. 

Safety at Home: Stay At Home should never mean you stay somewhere unsafe. There are places of sanctuary open for anyone facing abuse or violence. Please call Minnesota’s statewide crisis hotline – available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – at 1.866.223.1111 or text 612.399.9995. Continue reading “Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Flanagan Update: June 28, 2020”

Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Flanagan Update: June 27, 2020

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June 27, 2020

Updates from the Governor

Below is a summary of the actions Governor Walz and Lt. Governor Flanagan took this week to support public health, small businesses, child care providers, students, and Minnesota families struggling with the economic and health impacts of COVID-19.

Week in Review

On Monday, June 22 After offering free COVID-19 testing in Austin over the weekend in response to an increase in COVID-19 cases in Mower County, Governor Walz and the Department of Health continued to encourage all Minnesotans to get tested for the virus if they have symptoms.

On Tuesday, June 23 Governor Walz announced the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is accepting applications for a total of 10 days for the $62.5 million Small Business Relief Grants Program for businesses impacted by COVID-19. Governor Walz also signed six bills into law, including measures to increase reimbursement rates for child care providers, prohibit schools from suspending prekindergarten students, increase vaping prevention instruction, and require all teachers to have annual mental health training. Continue reading “Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Flanagan Update: June 27, 2020”