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Mayo Clinic to stop MN projects if DFL moves forward on 2 bills

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In an email first reported by the Minnesota Reformer and confirmed by KARE 11, Mayo Clinic says the proposed bills will “negatively impact access to care.”

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic threatened this week to withdraw an undisclosed, billion-dollar infrastructure project from the state of Minnesota if DFL leaders move forward with two health care bills that Mayo opposes, according to an email first reported by the Minnesota Reformer and independently confirmed by KARE 11.

In the email to DFL leaders, a Mayo Clinic official said “We will need to direct this enormous investment to other states” if they do not modify the legislation. 

Mayo’s concerns center around two bills. The first, known as the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, seeks to limit patient loads by putting more nurses on hospital staffing committees, while the second would establish a Health Care Affordability Board. The DFL-led House and Senate have already advanced both bills this session into larger budget bills, and they’re currently finalizing the measures to send to Gov. Walz for his signature. 

“At the heart of this,” said Dr. Amy Williams, the Chair of Midwest Clinical Practice at Mayo Clinic, “is legislation we believe will negatively impact access to care and our ability to transform health care to support our staff and meet the evolving needs of our patients.”

But DFL legislators, as well as the Minnesota Nurses Association, are pushing back. 

Rep. Sandra Feist (DFL-New Brighton), the House author of the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, said she was “very surprised” by what she called Mayo’s “ultimatum.”

“The language that Mayo has provided would exempt nearly — if not all — hospitals in Minnesota, and would make the rest of the bill pointless,” Feist said in an interview. “So, we can’t move forward with that language. But I would very much love to work with Mayo to finesse that language, to ensure that it exempts hospitals that are safely staffed where nurses have a voice, and where this bill isn’t as necessary.”

Minnesota Nurses Association President Mary Turner, meanwhile, ripped Mayo after learning of the email.

“To have, at the last minute, corporate health care — big business — come swooping in, and basically holding our state hostage?” Turner said in an interview. “It’s despicable. And it’s dirty politics.”

Turner accused Mayo of wanting “total control over everything that has to do with patient care assignments.”

“That’s what is behind this whole thing, is control. And they’re using money, obviously, threatening us with a billion-dollar operation that they’ll move,” Turner said. “If there’s one thing nurses know how to do, it’s mobilize, and organize, and fight back. Because we do it every day at the bedside.”

Despite not having power in either chamber, at least one Republican legislative leader rushed to defend Mayo on Friday. Sen. Paul Utke, who has spoken against the staffing bill this session, released a statement saying that “Mayo Clinic, along with many other businesses, school districts, and even the Wall Street Journal are raising alarm bells about the sweeping changes Democrats are rushing to implement.”

“Nowhere else do you see the reckless abandon displayed by Gov. Walz and legislative Democrats to expand their agenda,” Utke continued, “and transform our once business-friendly state that fueled innovation and created one of the strongest economies in the nation, into something that makes even the most loyal hometown businesses reconsider.”  

Rep. Feist, however, said she’s “optimistic” about a compromise. 

“If they will come back to the table, I am sure that we can work together,” Feist said, “to find language that ensures this bill achieves its goal, and can also address Mayo’s concerns.”

Gov. Walz also addressed the Mayo situation during a session with reporters on Friday. Although he said he’s not aware of the specifics related to Mayo’s planned investments, he said he recently spoke with Dr. Gianrico Farrugia of Mayo Clinic and heard their concerns.

“We’ve always supported making sure our nurses are supported, have what they need. We also understand that Mayo Clinic is a unique entity where it’s focusing globally… I know that’s being worked on right now,” Walz said. “I think we can get a compromise that works for everyone.” 

Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities and across Minnesota in our YouTube playlist:

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Local volunteers for both campaigns make final push

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With the election seemingly razor-thin, volunteers will continue working until the final ballot is cast.

MINNEAPOLIS — With only a few days left until Election Day, volunteers from both campaigns are doing what they can during the final push.

On Saturday, Kamala Harris supporters canvassed in north Minneapolis. They knocked on doors encouraging those who hadn’t voted yet, to do so. 

In Lakeville, Trump supporters gathered with Congressional District 2 candidates, as they geared up to reach those final voters.

“Donald Trump lost by a small margin here in Minnesota and we want that to be different this year, this time around,” said Crystal Mcdonnell. Mcdonnell canvases not only to try and sway voters to Trump but also to help them fulfill their civic duty.

“(We) offer assistance in registering to vote, give rides to fellow patriots who may not have the means to get out and vote,” Mcdonnell said.

In north Minneapolis, first-time canvasser Samirya Strong was doing her part to help her candidate win.

“We need to activate everyone who is able to vote, to vote up and down for freedom and justice and equality for all,” Strong said.

With the election seemingly razor thin, this type of leg work from both campaigns will continue until the final ballot is cast Tuesday night.

RELATED: Everything you need to know before casting your ballot



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Young children pulled from burning townhome Saturday

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Four people, three children and an adult, were taken to the hospital Saturday night after a townhome fire on County Road D East.

VADNAIS HEIGHTS, Minn. — A witness said multiple children were pulled from a burning townhome in Vadnais Heights early Saturday evening. 

Chief Chris Hearden with Vandnais Heights Fire said in a press release that four local fire departments were called to a fire in a townhome complex at around 5:40 on Saturday evening. 

When crews arrived in the 1000 block of County Road D East, they saw fire and heavy smoke pouring from a townhome. 

 A neighbor told KARE 11’s Ian Russell that he ran to help, but the flames were too hot for him to go inside. He said he heard the kids screaming and then saw them pulled from the home.

“Tried my best to run in there… the fire, the smoke… don’t know the blueprint, don’t know the surroundings, couldn’t see nothing so I got out of there,” said Venjoseph Brown, obviously shaken. “I was no use… and there was still kids in there. If it was that bad on the outside, I could wonder what they was goin’ through.” 

Officials confirmed two young children were pulled from the burning building by emergency crews. Two other victims, an adult and another child, were able to escape on their own. All four were taken to Regions Hospital and Hearden said their conditions are unknown at this time. 

Engines from Vadnais Heights, Little Canada, Maplewood and White Bear Lake worked to knock down the fire, which appeared to be out as of 7:15 p.m. Crews on scene noted that damage to the first floor of the townhome was extensive. 

The Vadnais Heights Fire Department, Ramsey County Fire Investigation Team and the State Fire Marshall’s Office are all investigating the cause of this fire. 





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Neighbor says children were pulled from burning townhome

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VADNAIS HEIGHTS, Minn. — A witness said multiple children were pulled from a burning townhome in Vadnais Heights early Saturday evening. 

Fire crews from a number of east metro departments were dispatched to the home at 1087 County Road D East around 5:45 p.m.  A neighbor told KARE 11’s Ian Russell that he ran to help, but the flames were too hot for him to go inside. He said children were pulled from the home. At this time it is unclear how many victims or what their conditions are. 

Engines worked to knock down the fire, which appeared to be out or at least under control as of 7:15 p.m.

This is a developing story. KARE 11 will update as details become available.



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