Under the coronavirus aid package passed by the Minnesota Legislature Thursday, child care providers can apply for a $4,500 monthly grant, with larger centers eligible for an additional monthly grant of up to $15,500, based on capacity.
Even if restrictions on gatherings subside in the wake of COVID-19, having voters come into voting precincts to cast ballots this fall — not to mention having poll workers staff election sites — might not be a wise option.
Federal stimulus bill; Rep. Angie Craig’s HUMBLE Act gets new attention; Klobuchar’s husband sick with coronavirus infection; and more.
State Government
The bill provides money for child care centers, homeless services, food banks and small business loans. It also establishes the COVID-19 Minnesota Fund, which will receive $200 million to “protect Minnesota citizens” and “maintain state government operations.”
Health
Under the legislation’s guidelines, grants from the emergency fund can cover supplies and space but also staff overtime, hiring or training.
National
On Wednesday night, the Senate passed the third and largest coronavirus (COVID-19) response package: a $2 trillion bill.
Eric Black Ink
You can decide for yourself whether this reflects an abiding belief that he is handling the crisis well, or is something more like a reflexive rally-round-the-leader impulse.
Health
Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm also said the supply chain continues to be a problem when it comes to COVID-19 testing, especially when it comes to collecting samples.
State Government
What Minnesota’s stay-at-home order restricts (and doesn’t) — and how it will be enforced.
State Government
“It doesn’t mean you don’t step out of your house,” the governor said of the executive order. “This does not mean that you can’t do some of the things that keep life functioning on. But it does mean that we’re getting more restrictive.”
National
While the conspicuous coronavirus stock sales drew attention to her bill, Craig said there’s a lot of information members of Congress are privy to that should prompt concern.
State Government
By splitting up the conference calls by party, lawmakers were able to avoid triggering rules on open meetings.
Eric Black Ink
Trump did everything he could to minimize and dismiss the COVID-19 threat from mid-February to mid-March, which was roughly the opposite of what his experts were trying to get him to say and do.
