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Cheers to Tim and Gwen Walz
The governor and first lady rolled up their sleeves and publicly received their COVID-19 and flu vaccines on Wednesday. I was reminded of the importance of leaders promoting and protecting public health while seated among a trio of ill-informed vaccine naysayers at a wedding last weekend. You know the type: They’ve rarely cracked a book since college, but they confidently claim to have done their own medical research into vaccine safety. My seatmates proudly claimed to take their medical cues from formerly brain-worm-infected Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Fortunately, here in Minnesota we have an elected leader who turns to and trusts scientists at our world-class medical institutions. Walz is not only taking the vaccines himself, but he’s also fighting to ensure we continue to have access to the shots.
Jeers to a famous hat collecting dust
The tam-o’-shanter hat tossed by Mary Tyler Moore on Nicollet Mall in the opening sequence of her 1970s hit show regrettably lacks a permanent public home. Stuffed in a manila envelope in a file drawer at the Connecticut home of the late actress for years, the hat is without a resting spot where it can be viewed for eternity, Moore’s widower S. Robert Levine told the New York Times in a recent interview. In our hearts, the hat, a little piece of history that is perhaps one of television’s most famous artifacts, belongs here with us, right? Last summer, much of Moore’s estate was auctioned off, but not that woolen hat. There appears to be broad agreement that the hat belongs in a museum on public display, but it has yet to find a home. Surely, some savvy civic leaders can help Minneapolis catch and keep the hat after all?
Cheers to state Sen. Grant Hauschild
The Hermantown DFLer loudly articulated the treachery of President Donald Trump’s cancellation of $464 million in projects in Minnesota, including the $50 million for the high-voltage direct current transmission station in his hometown. In statements on social media, Hauschild called Trump’s actions “deeply wrong & profoundly unethical. Funding should never depend on how a state voted. If this stands, northern MN families pay the price.” Hauschild then called on Republican Trump ally U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber to speak up against the president’s decision. If Stauber’s ever going to stand up to Trump, now would be the time. Public projects shouldn’t be capriciously canceled by a president unable to otherwise help his Republican Party negotiate its way out of a budget shutdown.
Jeers to Kristi Noem
The Homeland Security Secretary pledged to swarm the Super Bowl with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents because superstar Bad Bunny is performing at halftime. Noem seems to think that undocumented immigrants will flock to the game Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., because Bad Bunny sings some of his megahits in Spanish. Note to Noem: Bad Bunny was born in Puerto Rico and is a bilingual U.S. citizen. Noem, the former South Dakota governor, said of the NFL’s decision to bring Bad Bunny to the game, “They suck and we’ll win and God will bless us.” In a showdown between the NFL and endlessly charming Bad Bunny on one side and MAGA on the other, I’m betting heavy on the superstar’s team all day, every day and double on Super Bowl Sunday.
Cheers to Joe Duggan and Pheasants Forever
They’re leading a coalition effort to turn 276 acres, including 1.6 miles of Rainy River shoreline across from Ontario, into a protected public wildlife area. The 12-year effort became final Monday and the Lessard-Anderson Wildlife Management Area, located 35 miles west of International Falls, joins more than 1,500 such lands in the state. These properties are open to public uses from hunting and trapping to foraging and wildlife observation. Even though this property is north of pheasant habitat, Duggan urged Pheasants Forever to take the lead when the land came up for sale some 18 months ago. The state Department of Natural Resources then followed through and bought it from the group. Duggan said the deal will be more valuable as time goes on. And thus, our debt to Duggan and Pheasants Forever will also grow over time.
Jeers to sex discrimination in employment
There are those who need to be fined as a continuing public reminder that women are fully capable of driving trucks, and men can point to the exits on airplanes and toss out single-serve pretzels. A state Department of Human Rights investigation found that Lakes Concrete Plus in Bemidji fired an employee by telling her that driving a concrete truck was not “women’s work,” while Colorado-based Key Lime Air, operating at the Thief River Falls Regional Airport, refused to hire a male flight attendant because women are “better” at the work. Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero said both cases involved “blatant workplace sex discrimination.” Thanks to Lucero and the watchdogs on her staff for enlightening these companies by hitting them in the pocketbooks.
