ST PAUL, Minn. — Health care workers rallied at the state capitol, demanding Minnesota’s healthcare systems support the liberation of Palestine, aid its hospitals and workers, and allow employees to openly voice their opinions. 

The World Health Organization says only a fraction of hospitals still function in Gaza after the bombings by Israeli military with health care workers being among those killed. Leaders of the Israeli military say that Hamas stores weapons and hosts operations at hospitals. 

But Health Care Workers for Palestine says there is nothing complicated about ensuring Palestinians have access to health care and are urging their employers to take a stand.

Organizers are asking Minnesota’s healthcare systems to support the liberation of Palestine, aid their hospitals and their workers, and allow employees to openly voice their opinions. 

“We have been watching a live streamed genocide directly targeting hospitals for over a year and watching hospitals be bombed,” said organizer Alycia Garubanda. 

Garubanda says multiple Minnesota healthcare systems have silenced conversations about Palestine. 

The group says HCMC banned a Palestinian physician from teaching more about Palestinian Health. 

HCMC calls that a “false narrative” and in a statement said that “we are saddened by the notion that hosting specific people or sharing specific messages is the only valid way to stand in solidarity. Activism takes many forms and we all have the ability to contribute in ways that align with our own values.”

“There’s a real, I think feeling of censorship and repression. I think that a lot of healthcare workers are afraid to speak out,” said Pediatrician Aarti Bhatt. “I don’t think that’s political. I think people do need access to health care to live healthy lives.”

Health Care Workers for Palestine also says a webinar from PrairieCare’s DEI Clinical Consultant was taken down. The group says the webinar mentioned Palestinian mental health, along with the needs of other BIPOC communities.

Prairie CARE said in a statement that the presentation was never banned and as a healthcare provider it will ”support a peaceful end to the suffering in the Middle East with compassion for all those affected.”

The Jewish Community Relations Council said it longs to see peace between Israel and its Palestinian neighbors.

“This peace can be achieved as soon as Hamas, the genocidal terrorist government of Gaza, surrenders and returns the estimated 100 hostages,” the statement read. 

Maryam, who asked to not use her last name, is a nurse, student and Palestinian. 

“Everything that we’ve ever known, friends, family, everyone’s being, like, bombed and massacred,” said Maryam. “No Palestinian has a chance to even grieve that.”

Maryam said the oath that health care workers take goes against staying silent. 

“What I’m calling for is for them to stand by their oath that they swore to and advocate for the injustice that is happening in the world,” she said.

MINNETONKA, Minn — In a letter to district families and staff addressing “significant financial challenges,” Minnetonka Public Schools Superintendent David Law acknowledges he’s received questions on what “caused this.”

“Dozens of metro school districts and districts across the state that are in the same spot that we’re in,” Law said. “All of us are in the same financial straits. If we’re not there this year, they’ll be there next year.”

That comes as a surprise to many families, because in 2023 the Minnesota Legislature passed a $2.3 billion increase in public school funding. The phrase “fully funded schools” was used a lot. 

And with that big boost in taxpayer money that included free lunches for all students, the question is raised: How could a district like Minnetonka have a $6 million budget deficit?

But Superintendent Law says many people don’t realize there were limitations to that funding increase.

“That historic investment in education included some things that doesn’t allow us to pay teachers,” he said. “There was an investment in free lunch for students that was very important for a lot of people across the state and our families that are receiving that are benefiting from that. [But that and other funding streams included in the bill] don’t allow us to pay our operating costs during the school year.”

The biggest cost for every school district is the salaries paid to teachers and staff. The 2023 Education Bill included a one-time 4% increase to the funding formula followed by a 2% increase the next year. 

But one thing Law is trying to explain to Minnetonka families is that those percentages did not keep up with inflation.

“You know, inflation was higher than 4% during that time. And so it didn’t catch up to the costs and it didn’t cover 20 years of underfunding,” he said.

Faced with the prospect of laying off teachers and staff, 48 districts across the state this year have questions on their ballots for taxpayers, many of them to decide whether to increase the per-pupil funding amount paid through property taxes.

Those ballot questions can be tough asks for those people who believe public schools already receive enough money through the legislature.

And through prior referendums, some districts like Minnetonka have already reached the amount allowed by the state to avoid disparities between public districts —  so that is no longer an option.

“The majority of our funding is people in front of kids. Over 70% of our funding is teachers, so if we have to make a reduction, 70% of that reduction likely will be the people that are in front serving kids. So we’re doing everything we can to avoid that,” Law said.

With large and small districts facing many of the same funding problems currently, Superintendent Law believes there will be a lot of talk about it at the next legislative session.

Hydrangeas are a fan favorite around here and knowing when, how and whether to prune them will have them looking their best year after year – if you follow a couple of rules to remember.

If your hydrangea is just blooming now in late summer/fall, put it on your calendar to prune it in late winter or early spring. This time frame is appropriate for Limelight, Quickfire, Burgundy Lace and Annabelle hydrangeas (which is the classic “snowball” type). PeeGee hydrangeas – which produce creamy white flowers in late summer that age to rosy pink – are also in this category. These varieties bloom on new wood, meaning the blooms come on stems that grow new each year.

Other hydrangeas bloom on what is called “old wood,” meaning the buds for next year’s flowers are set on the growth that happened this season. This occurs with oakleaf and bigleaf hydrangeas, lace caps, climbing and all varieties that bloom blue or pink – like endless summer and summer crush – among others. You should prune these types before August… so not again more this year.

But the bottom line is… unless you need to control the size or shape of your hydrangea, you don’t NEED to prune at all. If you choose to prune, cutting out the oldest, biggest canes will help to control the size and can reinvigorate the shrub.

To get bigger flowers, cut them all the way back to the ground, but also consider that leaving some stems 18” to 24” high. That can help reduce flopping next year.