 On Friday, Melissa and Mark Hortman were honored at the State Capitol. They were joined by their Golden Retriever Gilbert. Speaker Hortman is the first woman and one of fewer than 20 Minnesotans to lie in state in the Capitol. On Saturday, Governor Walz attended their funeral at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis.
"Mark and Melissa lie peacefully at the center of our state and our hearts today. Their memorial, guarded by service dogs and men and women in uniform, casts a momentary shadow over L'Étoile du Nord as we honor their life’s work to make Minnesota shine brighter for all," said Governor Walz
 On Friday, Governor Walz declared a peacetime emergency and directed state agencies to provide additional assistance to support recovery efforts following severe storms that caused widespread damage to property and critical infrastructure in Beltrami County. On Tuesday, Governor Walz traveled to Bemidji to survey the damage and thank the personnel leading response efforts.
"Minnesota will deploy every available resource to aid communities throughout Beltrami County as they recover from storms that brought hurricane-force winds, devastated infrastructure, and left thousands without power," said Governor Walz. "I’m grateful for the tireless work and rapid response from emergency management officials, first responders, and community members. Together we will rebuild and heal."
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