With Congress poised to pass a $2 trillion COVID-19 stimulus deal, the Minnesota Better Business Bureau says consumers should be on high alert for phishing scams. Spokeswoman Bao Vang says thieves may attempt to steal personal or financial account information by sending deceptive electronic messages that trick unsuspecting consumers into disclosing personal information. Vang says […]
Lawmakers could return to State Capitol to pass COVID response bill
Legislative leaders are thinking about briefly calling lawmakers back to the State Capitol from their extended recess which was prompted by the coronavirus pandemic. “A Thursday possible session where we can vote on a package of responses to COVID-19,” says Democratic Representative Jennifer Schultz from Duluth. Republican Senator Scott Jensen from Chaska says, “Governor Walz […]
Walz asking Minnesotans to report COVID-related price-gouging, discrimination
Governor Tim Walz is asking Minnesotans to report price-gouging to the state attorney general’s office — and to notify the state Human Rights Department about incidents of discrimination related to the COVID pandemic. Walz says, “To our Asian-American Minnesotans who are being unfairly targeted in certain situations…, we need to lift up and make sure […]
Emergency biz loan program to accept applications by week’s end, 149K+ unemployment applications in MN
State Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Commissioner Steve Grove says they expect to start accepting applications by week’s end for emergency small business loans authorized by Governor Tim Walz’s executive order. Grove says, “Half of all Minnesotans work for a small business, so this is a critical support line that we’re eager to get moving […]
Gov. Walz hesistant to give shelter-in-place order, says may be better way to combat COVID-19
Governor Tim Walz is hesitant to issue a shelter-in-place order for Minnesota, arguing there may be a smarter way to combat COVID-19 than keeping everyone in their homes. Walz is banking that closures and social-distancing measures already in place will spread out COVID cases so hospitals are not overwhelmed, and asks Minnesotans to continue their […]
Walz says bar, restaurant closures will continue in MN, schools possible also
“There is going to be an extension around that, “Governor Tim Walz said today about his now one-week-old order closing bars and restaurants in Minnesota because of COVID-19. And for how long could that closure order continue? “Can’t be indefinite, but what I don’t want to set things up for is that, I can’t tell […]
Zero-interest, 50% forgivable state loans available to small businesses hurt by COVID closures
Small businesses ordered closed in Minnesota because of COVID-19 will soon be able to apply for emergency loans between 25-hundred and 35-thousand dollars, under a program Governor Tim Walz just set up with 30 million dollars in special funds. The governor says, “I’m not sure any state has moved on this, but I can’t wait […]
Walz says it may become necessary to keep schools closed through rest of academic year
Could Minnesota schools stay closed for the rest of the academic year, as the governor of Virginia ordered in that state? Governor Tim Walz says, “As the situation evolves, it may need to become necessary to do that.” Walz says he’s trying to project forward as much as possible because uncertainty is what’s stressful for […]
State income tax filing deadline pushed back to July 15th
State officials have pushed the Minnesota income tax filing deadline back three months to July 15th, matching an earlier decision by the federal government. Governor Tim Walz says, “I made this decision because it’s the right thing for Minnesotans… but I also ask Minnesotans to understand, this has ramifications on some of the resources that […]
Gov. Walz orders moratorium on renter evictions in Minnesota
Governor Tim Walz has ordered a moratorium on eviction proceedings against those who don’t pay their rent, citing economic effects of COVID-19. “We can’t make this worse,” Walz says. “We can’t [put] people out in the streets. This will not do anything in terms of stopping the spread of this, and of course it will […]