A major public health crisis facing the next Minnesota governor is unlikely to play out in the same fashion as COVID-19 did for Democratic Gov. Tim Walz. 

It was March 13, 2020, when Walz stood before journalists at the state Capitol to announce a little-understood action amid increased coronavirus concern across the globe.

“We are going into a heightened state of readiness to protect Minnesotans,” Walz said, announcing he had signed a peacetime emergency order just before.

Minnesota remained on emergency footing for 474 days. And many tools did come out in the form of more than 100 additional executive orders from the governor that built off the first.

Ex-cop Kimberly Potter will be sentenced today in the killing of Daunte Wright. In December, a jury convicted Potter of first- and second-degree manslaughter. Prosecutors are asking the judge to sentence the former Brooklyn Center officer to 7 years in prison, the presumptive term for someone with no criminal record. Defense attorneys are asking for probation. Watch the proceedings live today  on our YouTube channel📺

With the new district maps, some Minnesota lawmakers soon have to decide – whether to face off with colleagues, to relocate or to retire. Dozens of pairings of Minnesota legislative incumbents are creating awkward situations at the Capitol. Candidates have until six months prior to the general election on Nov. 8 to establish their new residency. That means making decisions by early May.

Delayed care during pandemic takes huge emotional toll. Throughout the pandemic, hospitals pulled back on elective procedures periodically because of a rush of COVID-19 patients and staff shortages. Those postponed treatments will take months to reschedule after the latest COVID wave subsides, leaving patients to cope with the emotional and physical toll of delaying their care.