Month: May 2020

Mugoo’s Pizza will reopen Wednesday, May 6, for takeout of pizza and lavosh only. Owner Justin Paul said they are looking forward to seeing people they haven’t seen for a while. “We’re going to open up for just pizzas and lavosh,” said Paul. “Opening up 5-9 p.m. for takeout, no delivery yet.  Wednesday through Saturday, the same hours. Looking forward to seeing some people we haven’t seen for a while.”

The off-sale doors for Best Buy Liquor will be used to pickup orders said, Paul. “Order through us and then for pickup go through the off-sale doors,” said Paul. “Just tell them your name, and we can run it out to you or give us a call, and we can run it out to your car for you also.”

The number for Mugoo’s Pizza is 281-3130.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office is receiving reports about Publishers Clearing House Scam in the area.  The Scam starts with a phone call or an email advising they won the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes.  One reporter was told their prize would be delivered in 45 minutes and that they would have to be home for delivery.  If the complainant was at work, they were asked if they could leave and then, were advised to go to their vehicle and honk the horn to prove they were in the vehicle.  After honking the horn, they were given instructions to write down the name and badge number of the person calling, package code number, and UPS driver names that were delivering the money prize.

Publishers Clearing House doesn’t email or call big winners.  All prizes of $500.00 or greater are awarded by either certified letter, express letter, or in person.  You never have to pay to receive a legitimate Publishers Clearing House win.

Do not give out confidential information when you enter and do your research before you respond.  Talk to a relative or friend or call the police if you feel it is too good to be true.

Governor Tim Walz today signed Executive Order 20-51, providing a roadmap for safely restarting elective surgeries. Starting next week, doctors, dentists, and veterinarians who create a plan to keep patients and healthcare professionals safe may begin offering these procedures, which can treat chronic conditions, prevent and cure disease, and relieve chronic pain.

Executive Order 20-51 will allow hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and clinics – whether veterinary, medical, or dental – to resume many currently-delayed procedures once facilities have developed criteria for determining which procedures should proceed during the COVID-19 pandemic and provided a plan to maintain a safe environment for facility staff, patients, and visitors.

“Minnesota has made significant progress in building up critical resources to combat COVID-19,” said Governor Walz. “We’re proud that this progress will allow our medical professionals to safely resume certain procedures to keep Minnesotans healthy and improve their quality of life.” 

“We remain committed to preserving and acquiring protective equipment to protect our front-line employees from COVID-19,” said Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. “But health conditions haven’t been put on hold during this pandemic. This action will help Minnesotans get care for chronic pain, treat and prevent disease, and address their health concerns.”

Executive Orders 20-09 and 20-17 delayed non-essential and elective surgeries, consistent with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, allowing health care facilities to preserve resources and reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Since these Executive Orders were issued, Minnesota has made and continues to make significant headway in securing additional personal protective equipment and improving testing and hospital surge capacity.

Although postponement of non-essential or elective procedures has proven to be an effective means of preserving essential healthcare resources for the COVID-19 response, Minnesota Department of Health guidance recognizes that extended delays in the provision of certain care may pose substantial risks to patients. Non-essential or elective procedures are often clinically necessary to treat chronic pain and conditions, or to prevent, cure, or slow the progression of diseases.

This Executive Order is effective immediately upon approval by the Minnesota Executive Council.

The Minnesota House Agriculture and Food Finance and Policy Division today advanced additional resources to help farmers who are impacted by COVID-19, including another extension of the deadline for farmer lender mediations. Click here to read a letter from the Minnesota Farmers Union in support of the legislation voted on during today’s hearing. Lawmakers approved all legislation with unanimous support. 

“I am pleased that DFL and Republican lawmakers were united today in advancing important COVID-19 aid and flexibility for Minnesota farmers,” said Rep. Jeanne Poppe (DFL-Austin), chair of the Ag and Food Division. “Helping our family farms during this pandemic should not be a partisan issue and I am grateful for the hard work of many different people that inspired this bill and brought it to fruition.” 

Of particular importance, division members approved legislation (House File 4599) authored by Rep. Todd Lippert (DFL-Northfield) that extends the deadline for farmer lender mediations. Extending this deadline buys time for farmers who are unable to participate in face-to-face mediations due to public health guidelines. Many rural Minnesota residents don’t have reliable internet options, and alternatives like Zoom or Webex are not available or practical for many farmers, which makes mediation during this public health crisis nearly impossible.

“Our family farms were struggling well before the COVID-19 pandemic, and now the virus has only compounded the issues that farmers and rural communities are facing,” said Rep. Lippert. “By extending the Farmer-Lender Mediation provision that was already a part of our initial COVID-19 response, we will be able to offer more time to Minnesota’s farmers. We want to help farmers weather this storm and stay on the farm. This is important for farmers and their families, for rural communities, and for our food supply.”

Rep. Lippert’s bill would provide that the mediation period is extended to 150 days or until December 1, 2020, whichever is later. It would also expand eligibility to include farmers who initiate mediation under the Farmer-Lender Mediation Act in August of 2020. These changes would be effective retroactive to the original date of enactment of the COVID-19 law (i.e., April 16, 2020).

On Monday, Senate Republicans shared ideas from small businesses and churches to safely reopen as Minnesota enters the third month with a stay at home order. Despite billions in federal stimulus dollars being pumped into the state, nearly 600,000 Minnesotans have filed for unemployment, and thousands of small and local businesses and churches, have closed their doors to the public, and some have closed for good.

“I am disappointed with the Governor’s decision to extend the blanket stay-at-home order across Minnesota,” said Senator Mark Johnson (R-East Grand Forks). “Our small businesses are doing all they can to stay afloat. Businesses in Northwestern Minnesota are facing a particularly tough time, as our neighbor to the west, North Dakota, have already begun to open up. Our state does not need to choose between preserving public health or helping our economy; we can do both.  We all want to protect our parents, sisters, brothers, friends, neighbors, classmates, and loved ones, and our businesses do too. I ask Governor Walz to change Minnesota’s approach to dealing with Covid-19 focusing on evidence-based solutions and listening to our businesses on the front lines and their plans that will allow us to open up Minnesota safely and smartly.” 

Speakers at the press conference included a salon owner, restaurant and bar owners, and the pastor of a small church. They shared the various efforts they’ve made to re-open following CDC guidelines. They also shared what might happen if the business closures remain in place any longer than planned. 

Senate Republicans also announced the formation of a Senate taskforce dedicated to economic recovery from COVID-19.

The purpose of the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Taskforce (CERT) is to safely and efficiently reopen Minnesota’s economy in accordance with the state and federal public health guidelines. Chaired by Minnesota businessman Mike Vekich, CERT membership will include Senators from both caucuses, representatives from private businesses, health care, trade unions, higher education, local government, and the financial industry. 

Late in the evening on Monday, May 4 the Grand Forks Fire Department learned that a firefighter has tested positive for COVID-19.  As a result of the positive case, and the fact that this firefighter had been working at Fire Station 5 located at 1002 47th Ave S, the Fire Department made the decision to temporarily close Fire Station 5 so that a thorough cleaning could be conducted to protect other employees and the public.

The firefighter with the positive case last worked on Thursday, April 30. How the firefighter acquired the virus is currently under investigation. Two other firefighters who worked closely with the positive case are now on self-quarantine for 14 days.

The GF Fire Department, in line with all city departments and recommendations enacted by the City, had already put physical distancing and disinfecting practices in place to help minimize interactions between shifts to help keep operations in place. 

“The safety of our people is the priority.”  Said Grand Forks Mayor Michael R. Brown.  “We have diligently taken steps to mitigate risk to our team members.” 

The department is currently working with a local contractor to conduct a thorough disinfecting of Fire Station 5 so it can be reopened as soon as possible.  Until then, the service area for Station 5 will be temporarily covered by Stations 3 and 1.