Good morning and happy Thursday. 

More from MPR’s Tim Pugmire on the Republican candidate forum this week: Five of the Republicans running for governor revealed Tuesday night that they have had COVID-19, but they remain firmly opposed to any vaccination mandates. Michelle Benson, Paul Gazelka, Scott Jensen, Mike Murphy and Neil Shah discussed their personal health histories and vaccine views during a 3rd District candidate forum in Wayzata. Jensen and Murphy said they have not been vaccinated. The others have been.  Jensen, who is a physician and former state senator, stressed that he does not tell his patients what to do on vaccines, even though many doctors and public health officials have been urging people to get vaccinated. “The patient should champion their own health care,” Jensen said. “The doctor should be a resource. So, I have not been vaccinated. I don’t intend to. And I encourage my patients to make a good decision and to talk to their families, and parents get to choose for their children.” Benson, a state senator who chairs the health and human services finance and policy committee, is also opposed to mandates. “I don’t think it’s the job of the press and politicians to tell you how to make these decisions,” Benson said.

And a new poll matches the Republicans head-to-head with DFL Gov. Tim Walz. The KSTP/Survey USA poll shows Walz consistently at about 47 percent and each of his GOP challengers in the mid-30s with undecided registering about 15 percent. It is 11 months before the election, after all and many people may not yet be familiar with the Republican candidates. The poll shows 55 percent approve of the job Walz is doing with 41 percent disapproving. President Biden’s approval is lower at 48 percent with and equal number disapproving. 

And a national poll from NPR has some warning signs for Democrats headed into the midterm elections: Americans don't feel the direct payments or expanded child tax credits doled out earlier this year helped them much, according to the latest NPR/Marist poll , and they don't see Democrats' signature legislation as addressing their top economic concern — inflation. Additionally, they're down on the job President Biden is doing, don't give him much credit for the direct payments or tax credits, and have soured on the direction of the country. Biden’s job approval rating in this poll is 42 percent. 

Hennepin County Sheriff David Hutchinson said Wednesday he crashed his vehicle near Alexandria, Minn., after drinking alcohol. The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating the single-vehicle rollover crash that happened around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday on Interstate 94, five miles east of Alexandria. The Patrol’s incident report says Hutchinson was wearing his seatbelt and alcohol was involved. Hutchinson was driving a 2021 Ford Explorer, which the State Patrol says is owned by Hennepin County. In a statement, Hutchinson said he “made the inexcusable decision to drive after drinking alcohol and I am sorry." “As the Chief Law Enforcement Officer in Hennepin County, I am held to a higher standard. I regret the choice I made and apologize to the citizens I serve, the staff I work with, and the friends and family who support me,” he wrote in the statement. The Douglas County Attorney's Office will review the case for possible charges.

MPR’s Brian Bakst reports: Minnesota nursing home operators say they need more long-term intervention to head off a worsening crisis in their industry.  Care providers told a state Senate committee Wednesday that they appreciate National Guard reinforcements and other short-term measures taken so far. But they said deepening staffing and occupancy problems create a continuing threat to their viability.  Nicole Mattson of the trade association Care Providers of Minnesota said facilities statewide are seeing 2,000 more job vacancies than hires each month. That’s led to limits on patient admissions. “It’s a perfect storm of increased cost, increased turnover, increased number of open positions and low census that has created a recipe for disaster,” Mattson said.  State lawmakers are expected to consider a financial rescue package during the next session, including money for higher care worker pay.  Meanwhile, State regulators are assuring nursing home administrators that requests for emergency staffing help won’t lead to extra scrutiny. The Health Department’s top nursing home official stressed during the hearing that facilities shouldn’t hesitate in asking for help. Some long-term care officials say they fear triggering compliance investigations if they seek the help. The health department says while their charge is patient safety, they don’t want to punish facilities asking for help.