SEPTEMBER IS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MONTH, AND IS A MONTH WHERE MANY EMPLOYERS LOSE WORKERS DUE TO HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE GETTING BACK IN SESSION. MINNESOTA’S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN JULY WAS 3.9%, NEARLY WHERE IT WAS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC. MINNESOTA’S WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION RATE IS DOWN TO 67.8% FROM OVER 70% PRE-PANDEMIC.
THE FIVE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSWOMEN KNOWN AS “THE SQUAD” ARE SET TO VISIT MINNESOTA TOMORROW AND SATURDAY TO PROTEST ENBRIDGE ENERGY’S LINE 3 PIPELINE REPLACEMENT PROJECT. IN RESPONSE, REPUBLICANS MICHELLE FISHBACH ALONG WITH PETE STAUBER AND TOM EMMER ISSUED A STATEMENT IN WHICH THEY POINT TO HOW LINE 3 WILL HELP MEET THE STATE’S ENERGY NEEDS, AND HOW THEIR CRITICISM’S OVERLOOK THE MANY POSITIVE IMPACTS.
THE SELF-IMPOSED LABOR DAY DEADLINE IS RAPIDLY APPROACHING FOR THE WORKING GROUP THAT IS TASKED WITH FIGURING OUT HOW TO DIVVY UP THE $250 MILLION IN HERO PAY FOR THOSE WHO CONTINUED TO WORK THROUGH THE PANDEMIC. THERE’S APPROXIMATELY 1 MILLION MINNESOTANS THAT WORKED IN FIELD THAT WERE CLASSIFIED AS ESSENTIAL BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THE STAFF AT ALTRU CLINIC IN GRAND FORKS IS WEARY AS A SEPTEMBER SURGE IN COVID 19 CASES LOOMS. IN THEIR COUNTY, ACTIVES CASES ROSE FROM ABOUT A DOZEN IN EARLY JULY TO 181 AS OF TUESDAY. THEY ARE SEEING ABOUT 21 PEOPLE PER DAY OVER THE PAST WEEK TEST POSITIVE. THEIR CHIEF OF NURSING SAID ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO HANDLE COVID, THE INDUSTRY’S WORKFORCE HAS SHRUNK DUE TO THE STRAINS OF THE PANDEMIC.
ZEBRA MUSSEL LARVAE HAS BEEN CONFIRMED IN RAINY LAKE. FOUR OF FIVE DNR WATER SAMPLES TAKEN IN JULY CONTAINED THE LARVAE, SUGGESTING THERE IS ALREADY A REPRODUCING ZEBRA MUSSEL POPULATION IN THAT LAKE THAT STRADDLES THE MINNESOTA-ONTARIO BORDER.
FUNERAL SERVICES FOR WADE PETERSON OF WARROAD WILL BE HELD THIS MORNING (11 AM) AT WARROAD BAPTIST CHURCH. VISITATION IS ONE HOUR PRIOR. WADE PETERSON WAS 43.
A FUNERAL SERVICE FOR ELDYNE R. DRAGON OF BAUDETTE WILL BE HELD THIS AFTERNOON (3 PM) AT HELGESON FUNERAL HOME IN BAUDETTE. VISITATION IS ONE HOUR PRIOR. INTERMENT WILL BE HELD AT CLEMENTSON CEMETERY. ELDYNE DRAGON WAS 97.
Republican State Sen. Michelle Benson, of Ham Lake, has launched her campaign for Minnesota governor. Speaking to supporters in Blaine, she attacked Democratic Gov. Tim Walz for his handling of the pandemic and public safety. She spoke shortly after GOP Sen. Paul Gazelka, of East Gull Lake, said he’s resigning as Senate majority leader. It’s a step Gazelka has said he would take if he was going to run for governor.
Ontario has become the fourth Canadian province to announce residents will soon have to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 to enter restaurants, theaters, gyms and other indoor public venues. Premier Doug Ford said Wednesday the vaccination certificate program will take effect Sept. 22.
Last modified: 09/02/2021
