Greetings District 10! It has been a nice Summer so far—the Aitkin & Crow Wing County Fairs were fantastic! Minnesota Drought & Burning Restrictions Update This summer’s drought has brought drought conditions to a level not seen since 1988. As a result, this week the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) updated burning restrictions. Because of the worsening drought, there is an increased wildfire risk, resulting in tighter burning controls. The DNR put much of the state in a “restricted phase”. The new DNR restrictions apply to about 300 communities within three major watersheds: the Mississippi River Headwaters, the Rainy River watershed and the Red River watershed. That includes Minneapolis and St. Paul, nearly all central Minnesota and much of northern Minnesota. According to the DNR, it would take up to 9 inches of rain, spread out over a month, to significantly ease the drought. The state’s Drought Task Force will continue to monitor and give updates on the situation.Please Read the Drought & Burning Restrictions: DNR Information The Great Minnesota State Fair—August 26 through September 6, 2021! The Minnesota State Fair starts next week! The Fair is urging fairgoers to wear masks and get vaccinated—but stopping short of a mandate. Masks & vaccinations will NOT be required at the Minnesota State Fair this summer, but both are encouraged during the 12-day event. The State Fair leaders considered mask or vaccine requirements but ultimately opted for a largely voluntary approach to manage pandemic risks. Masks will be required on public buses to and from the Fair. They also will be required for unvaccinated individuals on fair trolleys and are recommended indoors, and in crowded outdoor locations for people older than 2 who are medically able to wear them. School Mask Issue Mask policies are currently varied by school district. Before the first day of school, please check with your local school for updated information.Take care and enjoy the remainder of your summer! If you’re looking to hear more from the Capitol, please like me on Facebook. As always please feel free to contact my office with any questions you might have. My office can be reached by phone at (651) 296-4913 or at sen.carrie.ruud@senate.mn.Talk to you soon! Carrie Ruud |
