 On Friday, Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan visited Fridley Middle School to serve breakfast and announce new data highlighting the impact of the free school meals program. Nearly 4.3 million more breakfasts and 4.5 million more lunches were served to students last fall by the free school meals program than in the same period in 2022.
"The data is clear: more students are eating breakfast and lunch at school, ensuring they have the food they need to succeed and helping families save money on their grocery bills," said Governor Walz. "This investment is a win for our kids, our families, and the long-term success of our state."
"I’m proud that more students than ever are eating school breakfast thanks to our free school meals program," said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. "For growing kids, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. In Minnesota, our students are getting the food they need to fuel their busy days, no questions asked and at no cost to families. This is how we’re making Minnesota the best state for kids."
 Last week, Lieutenant Governor Flanagan was named USA Today's 2024 Minnesota Woman of the Year. Access the official article here.
"What an honor to be named USA Today’s Minnesota Woman of the Year," said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. "For too long, women have been forced to make ourselves small. As we begin Women’s History Month, let’s keep taking up space to fight for the things we believe in."
 On Tuesday, Governor Walz spoke to leaders in law enforcement and human services about the state's efforts to reduce opioid addiction and overdoses. Last year, the Walz-Flanagan administration invested over $200 million towards substance use disorder - from prevention and harm reduction to treatment and recovery.
"The opioid epidemic has claimed the lives of thousands of Minnesotans. We could not hold the line, much less make progress, without our law enforcement partners. I was grateful to meet with law enforcement officials to discuss our state's efforts to address the opioid epidemic," said Governor Walz.
 On Tuesday, Governor Walz also attended at a rally at the Capitol to speak in support of two pieces of legislation that would require safe gun storage and reporting of lost or stolen firearms.
"The bottom line: Basic gun safety is about curbing gun violence, protecting our loved ones, and keeping guns out of the wrong hands. We’ve got bills on the table that require safe gun storage and reporting lost or stolen guns. Let’s get them passed," said Governor Walz
"Across the country, people – especially children – are losing their lives to preventable gun violence. In Minnesota, we’re taking action to keep our loved ones safe," said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan
On Tuesday, Governor Walz announced over $50 million in grants to expand broadband access to an estimated 8,900 homes and businesses throughout Minnesota.
"We’re investing in broadband infrastructure statewide to help thousands of Minnesotans connect to jobs, education, health care, and their communities," said Governor Walz. "Helping more Minnesotans get online at high speeds is one of the ways we’re making Minnesota the best state for families, workers, and businesses."
Twenty four broadband expansion projects will receive grants from the Department of Employment and Economic Development’s (DEED) Office of Broadband Development, helping deploy new broadband infrastructure around Minnesota. Using the grant funding, providers plan to expand high-speed broadband – offering speeds of at least 100 megabits per second (Mbps) download and 20 Mbps upload – in 25 counties across Minnesota.
As Minnesota continues to face record-high winter temperatures, Governor Walz announced on Thursday that Minnesota has unlocked federal funding for small businesses impacted by this winter’s historic drought conditions. Amid the warmest winter on record, federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available because of ongoing federal drought declarations affecting 81 Minnesota counties. Governor Walz urges small business owners to apply for assistance as soon as possible.
"From skiing and snowshoeing to winter festivals, snowy winters are part of our way of life in Minnesota. The low precipitation we’ve experienced this winter has had a real economic impact on small businesses that rely on snow and winter tourism to grow and survive," said Governor Walz. "I encourage all impacted business owners to apply for assistance as soon as possible."
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