Good morning, welcome to the start of a new workweek. Some doctors are hitting the wall on COVID-19 and people refusing to get vaccinated.Mark Zdechlik has the story for MPR News : A year after the promise of COVID-19 vaccines led to hopes the pandemic could be extinguished, case counts and hospitalizations are surging again in Minnesota, and exhausted frontline health care workers are fighting the virus and misinformation about how to treat and prevent it. “We went from being heroes right in the beginning to pariahs now when we confront people-- this remnant group of members of our community that have chosen not to get vaccinated,” said Dr. Craig Matticks, an emergency physician with nearly 30 years experience who works at North Memorial Health and The Urgency Rooms. “We can’t remember a time where people have doubted our advice quite like this. And it's more than doubt -- it’s anger,” said Dr. Bryan Williams, who delivers critical care, and serves as the Chief Well Being Officer for M Health Fairview’s 34,000 employees. Another physician who works in M Health Fairview hospitals, Dr. Will Nicholson, has also seen a backlash from patients. “There are people who feel like the recommendations we have are an assault on their freedom,” Nicholson said. “Nobody in health care wants to take away anyone’s freedom. We want to use our freedom to help people live better lives, to not pass this stupid virus to somebody else.”
It’s not just doctors. Mara Klecker of the Star Tribune reports many teachers are at the breaking point: They're exhausted, scrambling to get students caught up academically, all while noticing kids — particularly elementary schoolchildren — are nearly two years behind in their social skills. Then there's the revolving door of students coming in and out of COVID quarantines — and the challenge of ensuring they're learning while at home. Widespread school staffing shortages mean teachers are having to fill multiple roles, with some even taking on custodial work or driving buses. If too many teachers are out with no substitutes, schools may have to switch back to periods of distance learning. In addition, the growing politicization and polarization of education topics, from mask mandates to history curriculum, have brought a new level of tension and distraction to school conversations.
Gov. Tim Walz is in London today. His agenda includes meetings with trade and education officials, according to his staff. Walz will also visit Mayo Clinic Healthcare in London and attend a reception at the U.S. Embassy in London. The governor left Minnesota over the weekend for a trade mission to the United Kingdom and Finland. Again, according to the governor's staff, the mission will focus on increasing state exports, promoting Minnesota as a premier destination for business investment, developing new business opportunities, and strengthening existing ties.
DFL Attorney General Keith Ellison will announce today that he’s running for reelection next year. He’ll say he has the backing of Sen. Amy Klobuchar and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, among others.
President Biden Friday nominated two Minnesotans Friday for top federal law enforcement positions . He chose Eddie Frizell to be U.S. Marshal in Minnesota and Andrew Luger to be U.S. Attorney in the state. Frizell is a former Minneapolis police officer and chief of Metro Transit police. He is the first Black man to be named U.S. Marshal in Minnesota. Luger served as U.S. Attorney under President Obama from 2014 until 2017 and previously worked as a federal prosecutor in Minnesota and New York. The president's nominees will have to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. “I’m confident that Andy and Eddie will serve our state with distinction as Minnesota’s U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshal and I look forward to supporting them through the confirmation process,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar said. “Andrew Luger and Eddie Frizell are exceptionally well-qualified to lead federal law enforcement efforts in Minnesota. I am confident that their experience, dedication to public service, and commitment to justice will help them lead the offices of the U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshal for Minnesota with integrity. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure a swift confirmation process,” Sen. Tina Smith said.
From MPR’S Tim Pugmire: A special panel of state lawmakers meets for the first time this week to begin reviewing cybersecurity efforts in Minnesota government. The Legislative Commission on Cybersecurity was established earlier this year to look at the policies and practices of state agencies and recommend changes where needed. Sen. Mark Koran, R-North Branch said the commission has an important job. “It is the single largest area of focus that we have to have to keep our vital services up.” Koran said. “I see the threats only increasing exponentially as our dependency on technology for every facet of our lives increases. Koran said some of the commission’s work will have to be done out of the public eye to prevent hackers from learning about specific security issues. The eight-member commission is made up of equal numbers of Republican and DFL lawmakers from the Senate and the House.
Gasoline prices are at a seven year high and clearly weighing on people’s approval of President Joe Biden. But what can a president do about gas prices? Not much,according to this story from NPR: "It's a huge toolbox, but most of the tools aren't that useful," says Kevin Book, the managing director of Clearview Energy Partners. "That's sort of the problem most presidents have." | 