Governor Walz Extends Peacetime Emergency Into November As Pandemic Continues

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz convened the fifth special session of the year where he extended the state’s COVID-19 peacetime emergency.

According to Walz, the 30-day extension into November is needed to ensure the state can continue to react quickly and effectively to the pandemic.

Walz says the COVID-19 virus is unpredictable and continues to devastate Minnesota’s communities, as well as the nation’s. He said quote “This emergency is not over.” unquote

Senate Republicans have opposed Walz’s emergency powers, and have called for an end to the state of emergency. But the DFL-controlled House continues to uphold the emergency.

It’s the seventh extension of the order since March.

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In other news, a new survey of Minnesota teachers finds that nearly 30% of educators are thinking about quitting or retiring due to the stress, workload and risks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The survey was conducted by teachers’ union Education Minnesota. Nearly 10,000 teachers and administrators responded.

According to the union, a majority of educators reported being stressed, overwhelmed, frustrated and worried about their mental health.

Additionally, the Teachers Retirement Association of Minnesota says applications for retirement benefits increased by 35% in August and September 2020, compared to the same time last year.

The teachers union is calling for districts to adapt and adjust in light of these responses, including removing unnecessary tasks from educators’ plates and abandoning plans that ask for a single teacher to manage half a class online and half of an in-person class at the same time.