Good morning. Lawmakers are away so the CapView digest will be slimmer for a bit. We’re also taking Monday off.

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is offering his insights on navigating a calamitous bridge collapse as happened this week in Baltimore.  Pawlenty was governor when the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed in Minneapolis in 2007. His administration had to navigate the tragedy, then the rebuilding efforts. Six construction workers are presumed dead following the tragedy in Maryland. Minnesota Now spoke with Pawlenty, who recounted the aftermath of the tragedy that killed 13 and injured 145 others; he also reflected on the efficiency in which the bridge was reconstructed. He said he plans to speak with Maryland’s governor in the coming days. You can listen to the interview here .

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also spoke with CNN on Wednesday about the lessons of the I-35W bridge collapse. Buttigieg spoke about what lessons can be learned from the I-35W tragedy in Minneapolis. “I’ve never seen anything quite like this, but there have been experiences in the U.S. that we are drawing from, including the 2007 Minnesota bridge collapse, where really the federal government, the whole country stepped up to get that reconstructed,” Buttigieg said. “We’re learning from that and a lot of other moments in U.S. history as part of the playbook on what to do next.” Back then, a bill to finance a new 35W bridge passed Congress and won the president’s signatures within days. That could be a taller lift in this day and age.

Now, more news about another former Minnesota governor. Jesse Ventura announced he is launching his own brand of cannabis edibles. MPR News reporter Matt Sepic writes that Ventura is partnering with Columbia Heights-based Retro Bakery, which is producing hemp-derived THC edibles under the Jesse Ventura Farms brand. The Ventura-branded edibles will be available for pre-order on Monday, with a launch party at the Hook & Ladder on April 20. Ventura posted a promotional video in which he says, “Cannabis saved my family’s life, and now it’s time for me to return to the cannabis world.”

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who was the vice presidential nominee for Democrats in 2000 and almost on a Republican-led ticket in 2008, has died. He was the first Jewish candidate on a major-party presidential ticket when he paired up with Al Gore in the oh-so-close 2000 election. Lieberman attended the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul to vouch for John McCain, who vetted him as a possible running mate. Most recently, he was active in the No Labels movement to try to find a prominent candidate to run for president as an alternative to President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. The New York Times chronicled Lieberman’s interesting place in American political history.

Minnesota’s transgender community and allies gathered at the Capitol yesterday to celebrate Trans Day of Visibility. Speakers cited work done last year, like the passage of the historic trans refuge bill, which prevents out-of-state laws from interfering in the practice of gender-affirming health care in Minnesota. Rep. Leigh Finke, DFL-St. Paul, spoke of the work she believes needs to be done this session. “We have not finished the work by passing that bill, we have opened the door to a promise that will last forever,” she said. 

It was also Disability Advocacy Day at the Capitol. Hundreds of people packed the rotunda. The legislation on the table includes educator awareness around ableism and another that would phase out subminimum wages. Ellie spoke with Felix Burnelle and his mom, Haley. They met with their representative yesterday afternoon. Felix is a 7-year-old with mental complexities. It was his first time at the Capitol. “For all these people to show up here, this is representation for such a greater population. And just to be among our people,” his mom said. 

A Minnesota education committee debated a proposal yesterday to create a statewide health education standard. Dana Ferguson reports that health education is currently a requirement to graduate. It's left up to school districts to decide what gets taught based on state guidance. Pediatrician Dr. Eileen Crespo said the standards are needed to ensure kids get accurate information no matter where they live. "We are not doing a good job preparing our children to live healthy, thriving lives. Kids today are facing multiple challenges to their mental and physical health. And the earlier we can teach them about how to take care of their own health and well-being the better." Conservative groups and GOP lawmakers raised concerns about losing local input. They said that specifics about the health instruction should be set by school boards. Rep. Patti Anderson, a Dellwood Republican said, “It is, again, telling our local administrators or teachers or parents that we, the state, know better than they do, what should be taught in the subjective area of health."