CONGRESSWOMAN MICHELLE FISHBACH INTRODUCED TWO PIECES OF LEGISLATION WITH A PRO-LIFE THEME. THE FIRST WAS THE DE-FUND PLANNED PARENTHOOD ACT, WHICH WOULD PROHIBIT THAT ORGANIZATION FROM ACCESSING ANY FEDERAL FUNDS UNLESS THEY CERTIFY THAT THEY WILL NOT PERFORM OR SUPPORT ENTITIES THAT PERFORM ABORTIONS. THE PROTECTING LIFE AND TAXPAYERS ACT ENSURES THAT TAXPAYER DOLLARS DO NOT GO TO ANY ORGANIZATION THAT HAS NOT CERTIFIED THAT WILL NOT PERFORM OR PROVIDE FUNDS TO ANY ENTITY THAT PERFORMS ABORTIONS, WITH EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE, INCEST, AND TO PROTECT THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER.
YESTERDAY, LIFECARE MEDICAL CENTER SHARED THAT AVERY PAUL GOODIN WAS THE HOSPITALS NEW YEARS BABY, BORN BACK ON JANUARY 4TH. HE WAS BORN TO PARENTS SHANTAY NYGAARD AND BRENT GOODIN. BABY AVERY DID SPENT TIME IN A NICU OUT OF THE AREA, BUT IS BACK HOME AND DOING WELL.
THOSE INTERESTED IN A FISHING TRIP TO THE BOUNDARY WATERS CANOE AREA WILDERNESS CAN BEGIN APPLYING FOR PERMITS NEXT WEDNESDAY AT 9 AM. THE NUMBER OF PERMITS THIS YEAR IS UNCHANGED, AFTER THERE WAS A REDUCTION LAST YEAR AFTER COMPLAINTS OF OVERCROWDING.
MINNESOTA LOST JOBS IN DECEMBER, SNAPPING A STREAK OF 14 CONSECUTIVE MONTHS OF GROWTH. THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE ALSO WENT UP BY .2%, TO 2.5%, BUT IS STILL WELL BELOW THE NATIONAL RATE OF 3.5%.
IT’S NO SECRET THAT EGG PRICES ARE HIGH, RECORD HIGHS AS A MATTER OF FACT IN DECEMBER. SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, FEED PRICES, AND INFLATION HAVE HAD AN EFFECT, BUT MOSTLY IT’S DUE TO AVIAN INFLUENZA. NEARLY 58 MILLION BIRDS IN TOTAL HAVE BEEN AFFECTED AND AT LEAST ONE AFFECTED FLOCK HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN 47 STATES.
A UNIVERSAL SCHOOL LUNCH BILL IS ALREADY ADVANCING THROUGH THE HOUSE. THE BILL WOULD PROVIDE FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH TO ALL SCHOOL STUDENTS AT SCHOOLS THAT ARE PART OF THE FEDERAL LUNCH PROGRAM. ABOUT ONE-THIRD ON MINNESOTA STUDENTS ALREADY QUALIFY FOR FREE MEALS, AND THEY ESTIMATE THAT ONE IN SIX CHILDREN IN THE STATE DO NOT HAVE CONSISTENT ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD. THEY SAY THAT CAN AFFECT CLASSROOM PERFORMANCE AND ALSO LEAD TO STIGMA AMONG THEIR PEERS. THE COST IS DIFFICULT TO PINPOINT, BUT THEY ESTIMATE A PROGRAM COULD COST ABOUT $185 MILLION PER YEAR. GOVERNOR WALZ CALLED FOR A BUDGET OF $813 MILLION OVER FOUR YEARS.
AS WE SAW AT THE THIEF RIVER FALLS AIRPORT, 2022 WAS A GOOD YEAR FOR AIR TRAVEL. ALL EIGHT OF THE COMMERCIAL AIRPORTS IN NORTH DAKOTA ALSO SAY THEY SAW A JUMP IN PASSENGERS, A 16% INCREASE FROM 2021. THEY SAY THE INDUSTRY IS STILL FACING CHALLENGES SUCH AS A PILOT SHORTAGE AND OTHER AVIATION RELATED JOBS.
Last modified: 01/20/2023
