Good morning and welcome to the first Tuesday of 2022.
Gov. Tim Walz says coronavirus cases due to the fast-spreading omicron variant likely will race through Minnesota schools in the next few weeks. Walz told MPR News Monday that modeling by the Mayo Clinic predicts a spike peaking around the third week of January. What's more, Walz said people who want to get tested for the virus will continue to face long lines and shortages for the foreseeable future. “I think the good news is now is that people are using it, they understand this test is important. The bad news is the supply chains are still strained nationally,” he said. “And I appreciate the federal government making the commitment on 500 million at-home tests, where a lot of states never did this and weren't doing the mail-in, at-home test. The problem is that 500 million means that's coming out of our supply chains.” Walz also says he’s looking for a bonding bill in the $2 billion range during this year’s legislative session and that he is open to cutting taxes for middle class Minnesotans but not for the largest corporations and wealthiest individuals.
MPR’s Elizabeth Shockman has been watching as schools prepare for another surge in cases. She reportsMinneapolis public school leaders say the spread of COVID-19 is taking a toll on their ability to staff schools. Superintendent Ed Graff said Monday they are short 285 teachers following the winter break and that the district faces between 200 to 300 teacher absences on a daily basis. Graff said teachers, support staff and district staff are being called on to fill the vacancies in addition to or instead of their normal duties. “I know that’s an extreme burden and stressor right now,” Graff said. “Looking at what options there are beyond this practice is difficult because the alternative in some cases is [that] we would then have to shut down school and move to distance learning.” In an email to families and staff on Sunday afternoon, district officials said they were not planning to move the entire district to distance learning, but that they might have to temporarily move some individual schools to distance learning in reaction to rising cases.
A five judge panel appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court to work on redistricting hears oral arguments today on a lawsuit filed 10 months ago. Assuming the divided Legislature can’t agree on a plan by mid-February, the panel will create the new maps. Peter Callaghan at MinnPost has a good rundown of what’s going on: A typical civil case involves two parties: a plaintiff and a respondent. This one involves five: four that have proposed maps and Secretary of State Steve Simon, who was sued. The map-makers are known as the Wattson Plaintiffs (for lead plaintiff Peter Wattson, a former legislative lawyer involved in past redistricting efforts); the Anderson Plaintiffs (representing Republican Party interests); the Sachs Plaintiffs (representing DFL interests); and the Corrie Plaintiffs (for lead plaintiff Bruce Corrie, who are advocating for maximum representation for communities of color). A fifth group, though not formal intervenors, has submitted a series of friend of court filings with the consent of the special panel.
MPR’s Dan Kraker reports Melvin Carter was sworn in for a second term as the mayor of St. Paul Monday in a cold ceremony at Como Park, Carter talked about the challenges of his first term, including a rise in violent crime and the ongoing pandemic. "A national uptick in violent crime and a record year for homicides in major cities has left us struggling to breathe as we eulogize our youth and search for new answers to old problems," Carter said. Carter also highlighted accomplishments, including a raise in the minimum wage and housing investments. "We sent millions in COVID relief to families and businesses, launched a Legal Defense Fund for immigrants and refugees, piloted guaranteed income and started college savings accounts for 6,000 St. Paul babies," he said Carter easily won re-election in November, capturing more than 60 percent of the vote.
And the Star Tribune reports: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and all 13 City Council members were sworn in Monday morning, marking the beginning of the first term under a new political system. A formal ceremony, which will feature the mayor's inaugural address, will take place next week. On Monday morning, the newest crop of elected leaders gathered in City Hall with family and close friends to take their oaths of office and assume their duties. Frey begins his second term with more power than any other mayor in recent memory. Voters in November approved a change that designated him as the "chief executive" for most city departments and prohibited council members from interfering with those powers.
Health care professionals are urging Minnesotans to donate blood amid a supply shortage being felt across the state. MPR’s Tim Pugmire reports Sen. Amy Klobuchar hosted a virtual roundtable discussion on the issue Monday with several blood bank officials. Blood donations have been down since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Klobuchar said hospitals rely on those community donations. “Right now, Minnesota’s blood bank donations are at a 10-year low,” Klobuchar said. “Compounding that, we’re heading into a time of the year when blood donations tend to drop off anyway right after the holidays when it’s cold in our part of the country.” An official with the American Red Cross, Tonia Teasley, said blood donations in the region are down 10 percent. She said many people are not donating because they are worried about their own health.
A lot of people (and stories in the media) are looking forward to the November midterm elections. History shows it will be a tough election year for Democrats, and this piece from 538 breaks down why. One big factor: People who are upset with the incumbent in the White House are more likely to vote in midterm elections–an effect known as “differential turnout.” | 