Good morning, and happy Thursday. 

Just when the fall COVID-19 surge showed signs of letting up in the state, the omicron variant has been found in California. How long before it’s found in Minnesota? The White House is announcing several new steps on fighting the pandemic today, including insurance reimbursement for at-home tests and a testing requirement before international travelers can enter the United States. 

Applications for rental assistance in Minnesota climbed in November to their highest level since May as people try to fend off eviction. MPR’s Brian Bakst reports the latest RentHelpMN figures show there were 10,200 applications last month. That’s up considerably from recent months. Minnesota Housing Commissioner Jennifer Ho said eviction filings are back to pre-pandemic levels. People actively receiving rental help or with a pending application get greater protection from removal. “The thing I’m most struck by is the level of need out there and that it’s not going away,” Ho said. “As good as I feel about our processing rates and money out the door, it’s hard not to have that balance a little bit with the fact that there are people out there and hurting.”  The assistance managed through the housing agency comes from federal COVID-19 funds. The state expects to use up the aid in the first half of 2022 but is taking new applications until then. Income-eligible renters can qualify for up to 18 months of help paying rent and utility bills.

The St. Paul School Board voted Wednesday night to close several of its schools, but spared three others that were originally proposed to shutter. MPR’s Elizabeth Shockman reports the board decided 5-2 to close J.A. Johnson and Jackson Elementary schools. There are no plans to reopen them after next June. Galtier Community School, L’Etoile du Nord and Parkway Montessori Middle School will close at that time as well and Obama Elementary in 2023, with plans to reopen them after changes are made. The amended proposal keeps open LEAP high school, Wellstone Elementary and Highwood Hills Elementary, following protests from parents, staff and students.

Some Minnesota mayors spoke out Wednesday about what they see as the negative impact of a House DFL proposal for new political boundaries. MPR’s Tim Pugmire reports the House Redistricting Committee held a public hearing on the plan for new congressional and legislative maps. Ron Grobeck, the mayor of Ottertail, said the proposal would place his small city in much larger House and Senate districts that would be spread across multiple counties. He said it would also separate Ottertail from some key neighboring communities. “When we look at the proposed map, we believe that Otter Tail County should not be split. We think it should stay intact,” Grobeck said. “We think we have a good system going, and we don’t think we should really mess with success.” Rep. Mary Murphy, DFL-Hermantown, the committee chair, says the maps already reflect hours of public testimony. But changes will be considered during a meeting next week. The state Senate and a court-panel are also working on separate redistricting plans. 

After a recount Robin Wonsley Worlobah was certified as the winner of the Second Ward Minneapolis City Council race Wednesday. She defeated Yusra Arab by 13 votes. The Star Tribune has the story. 

The Minnesota Department of Health says it will allow the sale of medical cannabis gummies but not allow people to use cannabis to treat anxiety.  Currently, medical cannabis is legally sold as liquid, pills, vapor oil or topical applications.  The health department said Wednesday  it will begin the rulemaking process for medical cannabis gummies later this month.  Sale of the gummies is expected to begin next August.  The state agency also said it again will decline to allow people with anxiety conditions to legally purchase medical cannabis products. 

I saw this from NPR: A majority of young Americans are worried about the state of democracy in the U.S., according to a new poll released this week by the Harvard University Kennedy School's Institute of Politics. The poll found that 52 percent of young people in the U.S. believe that the country's democracy is either "in trouble" or "a failed democracy." Just 7 percent said that democracy in the United States is "healthy." There are significant partisan divides. While young Democrats are roughly evenly split on whether U.S. democracy is functioning or in trouble, 70 percent of young Republicans reported that the country was either a democracy in trouble, or a failed democracy.