Minnesota

$1 million for early intervention, counseling; lenders encouraged to work with homeowners

November 16, 2007 -- Saint Paul – To further assist homeowners facing foreclosure, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced an additional $1 million in state funding for early intervention efforts and foreclosure prevention counseling. The Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) initiative will support efforts to reach homeowners before they become seriously delinquent in their mortgage.    » read more »

November 13, 2007 -- Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty today ordered that the United States flag and the State of Minnesota flag be flown at half-staff at the State Capitol complex from sunrise until sunset on Wednesday, November 14, 2007, in honor and remembrance of Officer Mark T. Bedard.

Governor Pawlenty will attend funeral services for Officer Mark T. Bedard at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis, Wednesday at 11:00 a.m.

The following is the text of the Governor’s official proclamation:    » read more »

- Emmy Award-Winning "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" Builds A New House For The 100th Family In A Special Two-Part Edition, Sunday, November 25 On ABC
Eight Families from Previous Builds Worked as Special Volunteers

$51 million package includes military income and pension tax exemption

November 12, 2007 -- Saint Paul – Building on his foundation of support for military families and veterans, Minnesota Governor Pawlenty today announced 35 initiatives to provide additional services and assistance for those who have courageously served in the nation’s armed forces and for Minnesotans now on active duty. The $51 million package will be presented to the legislature when it convenes in February, 2008.    » read more »

Minnesotans urged to get vaccinated to prevent influenza

November 8, 2007 -- Minnesota has recorded its first culture-confirmed case of influenza for the 2007-08 season in a 44-year-old woman from Dakota County. The woman’s illness was caused by the B/Shanghai-like strain of the virus, the Minnesota Department of Health reported today. The woman’s virus is a good match for this year’s vaccine, health officials said. The specimen was submitted by the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview.    » read more »

NGA’s “Securing a Clean Energy Future” Initiative Pledges to Reduce Greenhouse Gases by Deploying Energy Efficient Computers in States

November 7, 2007 -- Washington D.C.-- The National Governors Association (NGA) today announced an innovative clean energy partnership between the NGA Chair's Initiative Securing a Clean Energy Future (SCEF) and the Climate Savers Computing Initiative (CSCI), founded by Google and Intel, to spur deployment of more energy efficient computers and servers in state offices and agencies.    » read more »

Minnesotans appear to have embraced new public health measure, which took effect Oct. 1

November 6, 2007 -- Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Sanne Magnan today said implementation of the state’s new Freedom to Breathe law is going as anticipated. The department is helping to ensure compliance with the smoke-free law by providing additional information to facility operators who have questions about the law.    » read more »

State also receiving $4.8 million for projects related to flooding in southeastern Minnesota

November 1, 2007 -- Saint Paul – Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty announced today that the U.S Department of Transportation has released $123.5 million in emergency relief (ER) funding to the State of Minnesota for emergency response, recovery and rebuilding of the I-35W Bridge. An additional $4.8 million was released to help pay for repair or reconstruction of roads damaged by flooding in southeastern Minnesota.    » read more »

Governor says he fully supports state assistance for steel plant project on Iron Range

October 31, 2007 -- Saint Paul – Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty said today that Essar Global has committed to fully comply with all U.S. and international law, including those prohibiting certain investments in Iran, and that he will support continued state assistance for Essar’s proposed steel project on the Iron Range.    » read more »

Focus will be on effects to Minnesota and solutions

October 29, 2007 -- Duluth – Minnesota Governor Pawlenty and Will Steger, world-renowned Arctic explorer and Minnesotan, are joining forces to bring attention to the impact of global climate change in Minnesota and possible solutions.    » read more »

October 24, 2007 -- Three agencies have been chosen to receive state HIV prevention funding for programs designed to reach foreign-born residents in Minnesota who are most at risk for HIV. The grants were made by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) in response to legislation passed in 2007.

In announcing the grants Wednesday, MDH’s STD and HIV Section Manager Peter Carr said the programs were “necessary to promote knowledge and understanding about HIV in a culturally specific way, including addressing HIV stigma, in order to reduce the risk for HIV infection.”    » read more »

Only four other cases reported in Minnesota in the past century

October 23, 2007 -- Minnesota’s second case of human rabies in seven years has prompted state health officials to remind Minnesota residents to seek immediate medical attention if they have had contact with a bat. A man in his 40s who was exposed to a bat in north-central Minnesota in mid-August died Saturday, Oct. 20, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported today.    » read more »

States to promote exchange of ideas; develop trade and investment opportunities

October 23, 2007 -- New Delhi, India – Taking the first step toward a long term relationship with a key Indian state, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty signed a sister-state partnership agreement between the State of Minnesota and State of Haryana during a ceremony today in New Delhi, India with Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

This is the first sister-state agreement in the history of India and Minnesota's second sister-state agreement.    » read more »

TriWest Healthcare Alliance partnership is result of Governor’s Yellow Ribbon Task Force

October 10, 2007 -- St. Paul – To further support the 2,600 men and women who have recently returned from a 22 month Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment, Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced that mental health professionals will be stationed in Minnesota Army National Guard armories around the state.    » read more »

Consumers urged to discard product

October 9, 2007 -- Six cases of Salmonella infection in Minnesota residents have been linked to eating Banquet brand turkey or chicken pot pies, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) said today. The finding prompted health and agriculture officials to warn consumers not to eat any Banquet brand pot pies. An investigation is ongoing.    » read more »