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Friday, February 2, 2024

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weekly briefing

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Governor Walz, Lieutenant Governor Flanagan Announce Winners of State?s Name a Snowplow Contest

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Lieutenant Governor Flanagan speaks to press in front of "Barbie's Dream Plow"

On Tuesday, Governor Walz, Lieutenant Governor Flanagan, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) announced the eight winning names of the 2023-24 Name a Snowplow contest. Taylor Drift, Beyonsleigh, and Fast and Flurrious join the state?s snowplow fleet as winners of the contest. Each newly named snowplow will be assigned to one of MnDOT?s eight districts. More than 32,500 voters cast a ballot in this year?s contest.

*"Whether it?s a** November election or a snowplow naming contest, you can count on Minnesotans to turn out and vote,"*?said Governor Walz. *"Thank you to the Minnesotans who submitted creative names and voted for their favorites, and a big thank you to our snowplow drivers who are always ready to keep our roads safe and help us get to work, school, and back home safely."*

*"Rain or shine, blizzards or clear skies, we have a fleet of snowplows and drivers ready to clear the roads and make our lives easier and safer in the winter," *said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan.* "From Beyonsleigh to Barbie?s Dream Plow, Minnesotans? creativity was on full display for this contest that celebrates the important work of our snowplow drivers."*

The winning names, in order of vote totals, and their future homes are:


* *Taylor Drift *? District 2 (Northwest Minnesota)
* *Clark W. Blizzwald *? District 3 (Central Minnesota)
* *Dolly Plowton *? District 1 (Northeast Minnesota)
* *Waipahinte *(Dakota word for ?snowplow?) ? District 8 (Southwest Minnesota)
* *Beyonsleigh *? District 4 (West Central Minnesota)
* *You?re Killin? Me Squalls *? District 6 (Southeast Minnesota)
* *Fast and Flurrious *? District 7 (South Central Minnesota)
* *Barbie?s Dream Plow *? Metro District (Twin Cities)
Governor Walz speaks to Minnesota snowplow drivers in front of "Barbie's Dream Plow"
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Governor Walz Welcomes Secretary Vilsack to Minnesota to Highlight Clean Energy Investments

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Governor Walz, Secretary Vilsack talk to the owners of Miller's Market in St. Charles, Minnesota

On Thursday, Governor Walz and United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack visited Miller's Market, a family-owned grocery store in St. Charles to highlight how the Biden-Harris Administration is advancing affordable and reliable clean energy in rural America, specifically through the Rural Energy for America program. Miller's Market received a $64K grant to install a 50 kW solar array, saving the business approximately $92,832 per year in energy costs.?

*"Jon Miller's family-owned grocery store has been a fixture in St. Charles for 45 years. Whether it's solar power on a roof or a new wind turbine on a farm, the Biden-Harris Administration is helping Minnesotans like Jon make critical upgrades to their farms and businesses,"* said Governor Walz.

Secretary Vilsack cracks a joke to Governor Walz while speaking to press at Miller's Market
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Lieutenant Governor Flanagan Highlights the Success of Minnesota's Farm to School Grant Program

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Lieutenant Governor Flanagan walks through the lunch line at SLP Middle School

On Wednesday, Lieutenant Governor Flanagan ate lunch at her alma mater, St. Louis Park Middle School, to discuss the meaningful impacts that Farm to School has with students, farmers, and food hubs alike.

*"This school lunch wasn?t just free, it was also locally grown! Our Farm to School program makes it easier for schools to provide meals grown and raised in Minnesota, supporting our farmers and fueling our kids,"* said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan.?*"Thank you to all the wonderful students and staff for welcoming me back to my old stomping grounds. Proud to show off my Park Pride today."*

Lieutenant Governor Flanagan eats lunch at St. Louis Park Middle School
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Governor Walz Speaks at 34th Infantry Division Deployment Ceremony

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Governor Walz speaks to deploying soldiers.

On Thursday, Governor Walz attended the deployment ceremony for the 34th Infantry Division, also known as the "Red Bulls." In February, more than 550 soldiers from the 34 ID will be deployed for ten months to the Middle East. They will first train at Fort Cavasos in Texas before deploying to Kuwait to provide leadership, command, and planning for Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve.

*"It was my honor to be with our 34th Infantry Division and their families as they prepare to deploy overseas. There?s no higher form of service than defending our nation?s freedom. We look forward to welcoming the Red Bulls home soon,"?*said Governor Walz.

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Governor Walz, Lieutenant Governor Flanagan Break Ground on Latino Economic Development Center's Plaza Del Sol Project

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Governor Walz and Lt. Governor Flanagan watch as ground is brokem on Plaza Del Sol

On Monday, Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan joined the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) to break ground on the Plaza Del Sol project, an existing building that is being renovated and once done will be home to multiple businesses in different areas of growth. The Plaza Del Sol project received $3.5 million in the Governor and Lieutenant Governor's 2023 Infrastructure Plan.

*"I was proud to break ground on the Latino Economic Development Center?s new Plaza del Sol building ? a project that will support small businesses, build our workforce, grow our economy, and invest in the future of our state,"* said Governor Walz.

*"The Latino Economic Development Center?s new Plaza del Sol project will not just support small, Latino-owned businesses ? it will also create community,"* said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan.* "By investing in our small businesses and the organizations that support them, we?re building a stronger economy for all."*

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Governor Walz, Lieutenant Governor Flanagan Announce New Initiative to Address Food Insecurity in Minnesota

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Governor Walz speaks to an audience at Second Harvest Heartland

On Monday, Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan joined Second Harvest Heartland in announcing a new initiative to address food insecurity in Minnesota.?

*"We?re proud to stand with a strong coalition of leaders from government, business, philanthropy, and nonprofits to double down on our work to cut hunger in Minnesota,"* said Governor Walz.* "No one should go to bed hungry. And if there?s any state that can make that happen, it?s Minnesota."*

*"We?ve invested millions in our food banks and made school breakfast and lunch free. Now we?re working with a coalition of partners ? leaders from business, philanthropy, and nonprofits ? to build on this work. Because we can and should live in a state where no one goes hungry," *said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan.

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Governor Walz, Lieutenant Governor Flanagan Celebrate the Anniversary of the PRO Act Being Signed Into Law

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On Wednesday, Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Protect Reproductive Options Act being signed into law. The PRO Act established reproductive freedom as a fundamental right for every Minnesotan. The PRO Act also established that every Minnesotan has a fundamental right to make decisions about their own reproductive health, including the right to use or refuse reproductive health care, to continue a pregnancy and give birth, and to obtain an abortion.?

*"One year ago today, I signed reproductive freedom into law in Minnesota. While politicians and judges move to further strip Americans of their fundamental rights, I?m committed to ensuring Minnesota remains an island of freedom, decency, and compassion,"?*said Governor Walz.

*"Governor Walz **and I signed the PRO Act into law one year ago today. We ensured Minnesotans? right to an abortion and reproductive health care stays protected. We know what?s on the line. We?re not done fighting for reproductive freedom for all,"* said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan.

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Social Media Post of the Week [ [link removed] ]

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Governor Walz takes a ride with a Minnesota snowplow driver [ [link removed] ]
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LG speaks in front of "Barbie's Dream Plow", captioned "From Barbie Land to Minnesota" [ [link removed] ]
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