Midwest
Minnesota Gov Tim Walz, up for Harris VP, criticized for 'remarkable lack of leadership' during COVID, riots
As Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is eyed as a potential vice presidential pick for Vice President Kamala Harris on the 2024 Democratic ticket, some critics are pointing to his handling of COVID-19 and riots across Minneapolis in 2020 that rocked the state’s urban areas.
“[H]e’s been a disaster for Minnesota and is by far the most partisan governor that I can remember having,” Minnesota GOP Chairman David Hann told Fox News Digital. “Going back to 2020, certainly — he did nothing to try to stop the riots going on in Minneapolis. I think he was fearful of alienating his ‘progressive’ base, who were supporting the riots. Kamala Harris was raising money for the rioters.”
Democrats, meanwhile, believe Walz is a strong candidate — as he was elected governor twice since 2018 and served in Congress for 12 years — in a key swing state that could help Harris win in November.
“Governor Walz has been a strong leader, a great partner with the [l]egislature, and he would be an excellent choice for Vice President,” Minnesota Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman told Fox News Digital in a statement. “We worked together over the last two years on the most productive session in Minnesota in decades, passing policies that will help Minnesotans build better lives for themselves and their families.”
OBAMA STRATEGIST SHOUTS OUT ONE CANDIDATE FOR HARRIS RUNNING MATE
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks during a news conference for the Biden-Harris campaign discussing the Project 2025 plan during the third day of the 2024 Republican National Convention near the Fiserv Forum on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)
Hortman added that “the last two years are a shining example that Tim Walz is good at working with strong women in full collaboration to get things done.”
“I am thrilled by Kamala Harris’ candidacy and believe Gov. Walz would be a strong addition to the ticket,” the state representative said.
HARRIS SNUBS ONE OF THE FEW DEMS OPEN TO BEING HER VP: REPORT
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is being eyed as a running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris. (Montinique Monroe | Jim Vondruska)
Some critics point to Walz’s memorandum mandating indoor masking during the coronavirus pandemic, which he enacted in 2020 and ended in 2021. The Upper Midwest Law Center sued, calling the mandate unconstitutional, but an appellate court ultimately sided with Walz.
Walz also set up a hotline to report residents who violated COVID-19 mandates, as FOX 9 Minneapolis reported at the time.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was elected governor twice since 2018 and served in Congress for 12 years.
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Republican State Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka asked Walz to “please take [the] Hotline down” in a post after it was established, calling the move “unnecessary.”
“We can all show a bit of kindness to our neighbors as we manage our times and needs differently in the stay at home efforts,” the state senator said at the time.
Gazelka also noted Walz’s delay in sending the National Guard to Minneapolis when riots broke out downtown following George Floyd’s murder in May 2020.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, left, speaks to Blue Earth County Public Works Director Ryan Thilges. (Michael Goldberg/AP)
“I called the White House after [four] days of unbridled rioting with the Governor frozen on what to do,” Gazelka wrote on X on Sunday. “I know that Gov[.] Walz and Pres[ident] Trump talked. I know Walz finally brought the Guard out in full for the next night. But Walz was [three] days too late. Pressure may have made him move.”
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Hann similarly said Walz “waited for three days before he could bring himself to ask for the National Guard to be deployed.” He also pointed to the “defund” police movement’s roots in Minnesota following Floyd’s murder and subsequent rioting in the Twin Cities.
“He displayed a remarkable lack of leadership in dealing with the riot that was very destructive and the aftermath of which is still affecting the quality of life and the business climate in Minneapolis.”
A protester stands next to a burning car holding a sign in support of the Black Lives Matter movement on Thursday, May 28, 2020 during the third day of protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. (Anadolu Agency / Getty Contributor)
As a result of the delayed action, hundreds of businesses across Minneapolis and St. Paul were devastated by the destruction and had to ask their local government for help recovering — on top of what they lost during pandemic-related closures.
RIOTING, LOOTING LINKED TO GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTS LEAVES TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION ACROSS AMERICAN CITIES
Charles Stotts and wife Kacey White, owners of Town Talk Diner on Lake Street in Minneapolis, watch as water pours out of the restaurant on Thursday, May 28, 2020. (Andy Rathbun/MediaNews Group / St. Paul Pioneer Press via Getty Images)
However, the criticisms from Republicans did not end in 2021 after COVID.
In March, following Walz’s State of the State address, he described Minnesota as the “best state in the country for a kid to grow up.” He listed his goals for boosting school funding, requiring “100%” clean energy by 2040, protecting abortion rights and protecting LGBTQ minors, according to The Pioneer Press.
House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth issued a response noting the challenges Minnesota is facing under Walz’s leadership, first noting a nearly $18 billion surplus in Walz’s $72 billion budget that was initially supposed to be returned to taxpayers but was spent on other state initiatives instead.
“We grew government in a way that is unsustainable.”
“We know that when there is tax relief offered for young families … as great as that sounds, and we are appreciative of that point, if Minnesota wasn’t such an expensive place to live,” Demuth said in March. “In addition to that $18 billion of surplus that is now gone, taxes and fees — our state budget — was raised by another $10 billion. We grew government in a way that is unsustainable.”
Smoke rises from a fire on a police cruiser on May 30, 2020, in Philadelphia. The first of six people charged with setting fire to police vehicles in Philadelphia during the 2020 riots against police brutality after the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis has been sentenced. ((AP Photo/Matt Rourke, file))
Hann made similar comments, condemning the governor’s “terrible mismanagement” of state funds.
“He set up the state for a structural deficit going forward, as he’s put in place spending regiments that will far exceed our ability to fund. … His and his policies have been detrimental to businesses.”
She also noted that children are scoring lower in statewide educational tests.
Additionally, many critics of Walz’s leadership have noted an increase in violent crime not only in the Twin Cities but across the state starting around 2020. While violent crime slightly decreased in 2023, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, it is still higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Walz’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
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Detroit, MI
On the front lines of chronic absenteeism: What Detroit’s Health Hubs do to get kids to school
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Upbeat on-hold music blared from Jerrica Mickens’ cellphone for nearly 50 minutes as she searched on her laptop for affordable housing for a parent in Detroit.
Mickens was on a three-way call with a mother and a legal aide hotline the morning of April 21 in her Central High School office. As the two waited for a representative to answer questions about the mother’s landlord troubles, Mickens asked what else her family needed. Did they want to pick up a box of groceries for the month? Did the kids need new clothes? Did anyone in the family need mental health services?
Mickens is one of nine “navigators” whose job is getting to know school communities and discerning their needs. They play a critical role in the Detroit Public Schools Community District’s 10 Health Hubs. Since launching in 2023, the hubs have contributed to improved attendance in the district and helped thousands of families, officials say.
Mickens’ time and care is often a lifeline for parents in survival mode. Sometimes, she said, families just need someone to listen.
“My passion is serving people,” said Mickens. “So if that’s what a person needs, then I’m gonna be here for that.”
The navigators lead parents through a complex web of district resources, social services, and nonprofit assistance they may not otherwise know how to access. Their offices serve as a one-stop-shop to triage the root causes that keep students from regularly attending school, such as poor health, unstable housing, and food insecurity.
At the hubs, students are connected with vision and hearing screenings, as well as medical, dental, and mental health care. The centers connect families with housing, utility assistance, and legal services. The school community can stop in for food and hygiene product distribution.
From July 1, 2023, through June 14, the hubs served families 19,200 times and more than 1,100 referrals were made.
“We know that for students to show up ready to learn and focus on their academics, their basic health and well-being needs must be met first,” said Superintendent Nikolai Vitti. “Schools are the natural, trusted, and most convenient hub for families to access these vital resources.”
Prolonged absenteeism has long been a problem for Detroit schools due to systemic socioeconomic barriers, which in turn severely hinders students’ learning.
Michigan students are considered chronically absent when they miss 18 days or more in a 180-day school year.
Nearly 61% of the district’s students were chronically absent in 2024-25. Though the rate was considerably higher than the statewide average of 28%, DPSCD has outpaced the rest of Michigan in reducing absenteeism since the COVID-19 pandemic.
District officials attribute the improvement to many long-term efforts – like creating a culture of improving attendance among leaders, hiring more counselors to address mental health needs, and student incentives – but they believe the hubs are a key piece.
Overall, the district’s chronic absenteeism rate decreased by 5.2 percentage points last year compared to 2022-23, the last year before the hubs opened. Academic performance has also improved, with third-grade reading proficiency and graduation rates reaching historic highs last year.
“K-12 students who accessed the Health Hubs during the 2024–25 school year had better average daily attendance and lower rates of chronic absenteeism than students who did not access the Hubs,” said Vitti, though he didn’t provide detailed numbers.
Jaiden Mabins, who recently graduated from Osborn High School, said his attendance improved and his postsecondary plans were affected by Mickens’ work as a navigator at his school.
In 10th grade, Mabin’s home burned down, which meant moving in with his sister near 10 Mile – a considerable distance from his school on the east side of Detroit. The limited transportation options forced him to stay home many days, he said.
“Ms. Jerrica, she helped us find a new place, still close in the neighborhood for school,” said Mabins.
The navigator gave him new clothes, school supplies, and a laptop. When it came time to think about his post-high school options, she helped him fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Addressing Detroit families’ needs beyond the school day
At 11:50 a.m. at Central High School, 17-year-old Jeremy McKinney was led by a school employee through Mickens’ office door, held open by two stacked boxes of canned green beans overflowing from the hub’s food distribution pantry.
McKinney squinted when he introduced himself, struggling to see. His glasses had been stolen. The navigator got him on the waiting list to get a new pair from a nonprofit that regularly visits the school.
Around 185 pairs of glasses have been given to kids in the district since the hubs opened, according to DPSCD.
As Mickens got back to packing boxes of groceries for scheduled pick-ups, she paused periodically to answer calls from parents.
“Oh Lord Jesus, I hope I can help her,” she said of a mother whose house flooded. Once a new place was secured, Mickens said she knew an organization that would build new beds for the kids. She could also help them get gas cards to get to school and some clothing.
While DPSCD has always tried to fill gaps for students with attendance agents and wraparound services, district officials say the hubs streamline the process. Navigators have the time for deeper conversations with families and take detailed notes on their case files. They can also better track how the children are served by outside organizations beyond the initial referral.
All of the hubs are strategically placed so every school has a location within 3 miles.
Mickens is currently responsible for 10 feeder schools in addition to Central and Durfee Elementary-Middle School. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, she travels to the other schools to get to know parent outreach coordinators, principals, and social workers who relay family needs.
There are currently hubs in 10 DPSCD schools – Central, Denby, Henry Ford, Marygrove, Martin Luther King Jr., Mumford, Osborn, Southeastern, and Western International high schools, as well as East English Village Prep Academy.
There will also be hubs at the new Cody and Pershing high schools when they open for the 2027-28 school year. There are plans for a Detroit Lions Academy location, though an opening date has not been set.
It costs around $500,000 a year to operate each hub, said Vitti. But because most of the expenses are covered by donations from community partners, the actual cost for DPSCD is around $172,000 a year per hub, he added.
Coordinated school health plan models in New York City’s school system and the Oakland Unified School District served as models for the district. Those districts reportedly saw improvements in attendance and academic achievement, as well as lower rates of student discipline.
A third-party evaluator is currently examining how the hubs affect DPSCD student attendance. It is expected to be complete in the fall.
Later that day at Central, Mickens grabbed two tuna snack packs and a chocolate milk for a teen boy in between classes.
The navigator asked if he’d filled out the dental exam permission slip she gave him days before. No, he said, because he wouldn’t be at the school for long.
She consoled the student after learning the reason he had to leave. “No judgment,” she said.
Mickens said she understands some of the challenges the students she serves face. She dropped out when she was a ninth grader at Central years ago.
“A lot of it was because of the disconnect of social services that I needed,” she said. “ I have a heart to not let kids go through what I have.”
Hannah Dellinger covers Detroit schools for Chalkbeat Detroit. You can reach her at hdellinger@chalkbeat.org.
Cincinnati Reds (39-43, fifth in the NL Central) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (50-31, first in the NL Central)
Milwaukee; Monday, 7:40 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Reds: Nick Lodolo (2-2, 5.59 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 38 strikeouts); Brewers: Robert Gasser (1-3, 4.50 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 31 strikeouts)
LINE: Brewers -156, Reds +126; over/under is 8 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Milwaukee Brewers begin a four-game series at home against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday.
Milwaukee is 50-31 overall and 26-17 at home. The Brewers have gone 35-13 in games when they record at least eight hits.
Cincinnati has gone 20-21 in road games and 39-43 overall. The Reds have a 27-6 record in games when they scored at least five runs.
The matchup Monday is the fourth time these teams match up this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: William Contreras has nine home runs, 31 walks and 50 RBIs while hitting .301 for the Brewers. Brice Turang is 10 for 44 with a double, a triple and three RBIs over the past 10 games.
Elly De La Cruz has 13 doubles, two triples, 12 home runs and 38 RBIs for the Reds. Spencer Steer is 7 for 39 with three home runs over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Brewers: 5-5, .239 batting average, 3.30 ERA, outscored opponents by two runs
Reds: 4-6, .215 batting average, 4.45 ERA, outscored by seven runs
INJURIES: Brewers: Coleman Crow: 15-Day IL (forearm), Brandon Lockridge: 10-Day IL (knee), Brian Fitzpatrick: 60-Day IL (elbow), D.L. Hall: 15-Day IL (pectoral), Quinn Priester: 60-Day IL (wrist), Carlos Rodriguez: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Logan Henderson: 15-Day IL (back), Rob Zastryzny: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Angel Zerpa: 60-Day IL (forearm)
Reds: Eugenio Suarez: day-to-day (hand), Blake Dunn: 10-Day IL (elbow), Tony Santillan: 15-Day IL (oblique), Ke’Bryan Hayes: 10-Day IL (back), Emilio Pagan: 15-Day IL (hamstring), Nick Lodolo: day-to-day (wrist), Graham Ashcraft: 60-Day IL (forearm), Brandon Williamson: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Hunter Greene: 60-Day IL (elbow)
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Extreme Heat Warning
from MON 9:00 AM CDT until TUE 12:00 AM CDT, Stearns County, Waseca County, Goodhue County, Isanti County, Mille Lacs County, Hennepin County, Sherburne County, Meeker County, Dakota County, Le Sueur County, Renville County, Ramsey County, McLeod County, Washington County, Brown County, Rice County, Redwood County, Chisago County, Morrison County, Watonwan County, Nicollet County, Kanabec County, Benton County, Anoka County, Sibley County, Blue Earth County, Martin County, Faribault County, Scott County, Freeborn County, Kandiyohi County, Steele County, Wright County, Pine County, Pepin County, Dunn County, Polk County, Barron County, Chippewa County, Pierce County, Eau Claire County, Burnett County, Washburn County
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