Minnesota News Network

Anglers don’t panic, you can still fish

The Minnesota DNR says do not believe it. A social media report that was going around saying the Minnesota fishing season would be canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic is not true.  The false report was made on Minnesota DNR letterhead and encouraged anglers to request access to their favorite fishing areas in the state. The DNR says that all bodies of water will be open for fishing this season.  The fishing opener this year for trout is April 18th, walleye, sauger and northern pike on May 9th and muskie on June 6th,

$300M COVID response package headed to Gov. Walz after MN Legislature passes it Thursday

A 300-million-dollar COVID response package is on its way to the desk of Governor Tim Walz after the Minnesota House and Senate passed it Thursday. Duluth Democrat Erik Simonson objects it doesn’t help law enforcement and first responders, who can’t shelter at home and if they come down with COVID-19, could be forced to use up their sick time and health insurance. Simonson told fellow lawmakers, “These are unprecedented times, members, and I don’t know — I cannot figure out for the life of me — why we ignored these folks.” Senate Republican Majority Leader Paul Gazelka responds the measure didn’t have the nod from the trades and the business community on the Workers Compensation Council. “Both of those sides had to agree, and the fact that they did not support this led me to believe that we shouldn’t be doing it,” Gazelka says.

Republicans in the Senate say the COVID relief package doesn’t do enough to help small businesses. “They’re working on the margins to begin with and then, when we’re shutting ’em down, they’re not gonna be coming back,” says East Grand Forks Senator Mark Johnson. Saint Cloud Senator Jerry Relph says the business loans in the current package only help “restaurants, public gatherings and some of the service providers such as cosmetologists, barbers, etc. This bill needs to go far, far beyond those narrow businesses.”

Senate Majority Leader Gazelka says of the nearly 600 million dollars the legislature has appropriated so far for COVID-19 relief, only 30 to 40 million is for small businesses. “In the next phase moving forward, that is an area that I expect some help. Again, all of us working together, what can we do to make sure that these small businesses make it through this tough time,” Gazelka says.

Walz stay-at-home order to Minnesotans takes effect tonight, Repubs hope it doesn’t last long

Governor Tim Walz’s stay-at-home order to Minnesotans takes effect at midnight tonight (Fri 11:59pm) and top Republicans say they hope it’s in effect for as little time as possible. Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka says the governor has the power to make that emergency declaration, however, “I’m also asking him to weigh heavily the consequences to all of the jobs out there, the job creators, and what’s gonna happen — are those jobs still gonna be there after.”

Gazelka says Minnesotans understand what’s necessary to slow the spread of coronavirus and he’s encouraging the governor to lift the stay-at-home order as soon as he can. Walz is banking that a two-week stay-at-home order will slow the spread of COVID, so the state has time to marshall more hospital beds and medical supplies before cases begin to peak in Minnesota.

MDH confirms 2nd COVID-19 death in MN

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is confirming the state’s 2nd death from COVID-19. There are 346 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state. As of today, 31 people are hospitalized with coronavirus in Minnesota–that’s up from 26 yesterday. At least 12,950 COVID-19 tests have been completed. MDH issued this statement today acknowledging the state’s second confirmed death from COVID-19: We are saddened to report that a second Minnesotan has died from a confirmed case of COVID-19. As with the first death announced March 21, this second death involved a resident of Ramsey County in their 80s. Officials are expected to provide more information during a 2 pm media briefing call.

MN Sec of State Simon considers voting options amid COVID-19

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon is considering voting options to safeguard Minnesota’s upcoming elections amid the current COVID-19 pandemic. Simon says “every day now I hear from Minnesotans who wonder how or even if we’re going to be voting in elections later this year. It’s a very high-stakes year obviously, and my answer is clear, the 2020 statewide elections in Minnesota must go on as scheduled.” Simons says there’s “no doubt in my mind that an election held during a pandemic will have to rely a lot more on a strong push in participation by mail.” Simon says with any significant changes there are many costs to consider–and would take months of planning. Click here for a link to Simon’s video message on voting considerations.

State lawmakers back at MN Capitol to pass COVID response legislation

Lawmakers are temporarily back at the State Capitol today for floor sessions to pass emergency legislation in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Governor Tim Walz has asked for an additional 356 million dollars, over and above the 200 million that lawmakers approved earlier before they returned to their districts when the coronavirus pandemic started gaining a foothold in Minnesota. The governor’s plan includes money to assist child care centers, food shelves, homeless shelters and veterans. It would also set up a 200-million-dollar fund that state agencies could use as they deem appropriate to combat COVID-19 and lessen its effect on Minnesotans. Lawmakers have been assembling their plans remotely and getting input electronically from constituents.

Minnesota business leaders say Walz stay-at-home order appropriate at this time

Leaders of Minnesota’s business community generally have good things to say about the stay-at-home order issued by Governor Tim Walz. Minnesota Chamber of Commerce President Doug Loon says he appreciates that it’s of short duration with “a robust list of exceptions.” Loon says, “It creates a balance, and… we want to emphasize that we need a balance between protecting public health and safeguarding our state’s economy for the long term, and we believe we can do both.” Loon says one unique feature of the governor’s order is “a process by which individual businesses can petition to see if they’re covered under the exceptions. And again, it’s flexible going forward so that there can be new interpretations of it, so that we can keep critical pieces of our economy going.”

Charlie Weaver with the Minnesota Business Partnership says the governor’s stay-at-home order “allows our state to effectively confront this public health threat while ensuring key sectors of our economy continue to function.”

But Senate Republican Majority Leader Paul Gazelka says while he shares the governor’s concerns about the safety of Minnesotans, he has grave concerns about a statewide stay-at-home order “and the consequences for the families of Minnesota when their jobs and businesses that provide their livelihood are lost.”

Gov. Walz issues stay-at-home order, Saturday thru April 10th

Governor Tim Walz is asking Minnesotans to stay at home from first thing Saturday morning through April 10th to “give Minnesota time to ready for battle” against the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor says testing wasn’t in place soon enough to “flatten the curve”, and Walz says the goal now is to slow down the rate of COVID infections and buy time until the state gets a “surge” of intensive care units in place. He says,
“If you get sick… and if you need an I-C-U, and if that I-C-U is available with a ventilator and all of the things you need, you have a 10 times greater chance of surviving this.” The governor says 85 percent of people who get COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms, but 15 percent require hospitalization — and a third of those hospitalized need to be in the intensive care unit. Walz is opting for a two-week shelter-in-place order because he says a longer one will not reduce the number of infections, just delay them.

The governor says under his order Minnesotans can still leave their homes to get groceries, fill the gas tank, see the doctor, care for others including pets — even get outside, but not close to other people.

The stay-at-home order does *not* apply to those in health care and related fields, law enforcement and first responders, employees at emergency shelters and congregate living facilities, child care, food and agriculture, energy, water and wastewater treatment, and critical manufacturing.

Walz asking Minnesotans to report COVID-related price-gouging, discrimination

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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

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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 […]

Oturu turning pro

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Minnesota center Daniel Oturu said Monday he is declaring for the NBA draft after leading the Big Ten in rebounding and blocked shots as a sophomore. Oturu made the announcement with a letter to fans on Instagram, saying he planned to hire an agent. The 6-foot-10 Oturu averaged 20.1 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.5 blocks […]

State income tax filing deadline pushed back to July 15th

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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

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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 […]

Gov. Walz not yet ready to issue shelter-in-place order for MN

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Governor Tim Walz is holding back on a shelter-in-place order, despite action by a number of other states including Wisconsin that are trying to control COVID-19. “Forty to 80 percent of us will eventually get this, even if we shut it down now,” he says. The governor says he wants more information on how effective […]