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Dear neighbors,
The Minnesota State Fair kicks off this week, running from August 21 through Labor Day on September 1. If you’re visiting the Fair this year, make sure to stop by the nonpartisan Minnesota House of Representatives booth inside the Education Building!
I’ll be at the booth on Thursday, Aug. 21, from 10 am-12 pm, and on Wednesday, August 27, from 12 pm – 2 pm. You can meet House members, take our popular opinion poll on legislative issues, grab a Capitol Dome Hat, and learn how to stay informed of what’s happening at the Capitol.
I’d also encourage you to stop by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) grounds and fish pond, and grab a free take-home poster at the DNR Info Booth! You can also ask questions to DNR staff, meet some animals, and even catch some live music!
The city of South St. Paul is holding an event on Wednesday, August 27, from 7:00 – 9:30 pm at Fred Lawshe Park, commemorating the fact that in 1920, South St. Paul women became the first in the nation to vote following the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Marguerite Newburgh cast her ballot at what was then the original City Hall, now Fred Lawshe Park, making her the first woman in the country to vote after the amendment’s certification.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is accepting applications for $12 million in grants to help communities plant, maintain, and protect trees across the state. Grants are available through two programs: Community Tree Planting Grants and ReLeaf Grants. Both support local efforts to address the impacts of emerald ash borer and grow healthier, more diverse community forests.
The DNR is also beginning work to update the Public Waters Inventory (PWI) by 2032 due to legislation DFLers passed in 2024. The DNR is planning to update the PWI for twelve counties each year for the next seven years and will begin work in Clay, Aitkin, Benton and Blue Earth counties.
More details on the PWI update process, including opportunities for public engagement, can be found here.
Please continue to share your questions, ideas, and feedback throughout the year. You can reach me by email at [email protected] or by phone at 651-296-6828.
For more regular updates, you can subscribe to these regular legislative updates if you haven’t already, here, and you can also “like” and follow my official State Representative Facebook page.
Sincerely,
Rick Hansen
State Representative
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