Public Affairs

Normal reactions to abnormal circumstances. Prodding for an "aha moment." Navigating the "supposed tos."  The "human being vs. human doing" conundrum.

We'll take a look at what might be frazzling you these days when we're joined by Dr. Andrew John, a professor in the Doctor in Counseling Psychology program at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Animal Allies Humane Society is temporarily closed to visitors. Interested adopters are encouraged to make an appointment to visit the pet of their interest if they would like to adopt.

Nemo

Stay home. Stay home, stay home, stay home.

Dr. Catherine McCarty says she can't say it often enough, and she repeated the message again this morning.

The University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth Campus epidemiologist talked about what we've learned about the coronavirus so far (enough to start work on a vaccine), the projected death toll (100,000 only in the "best case scenario") and what lessons we've already learned to carry into the future: "We should never have gone to work sick."

On the one hand, folks are supposed to stay home.

But on the other hand, they are allowed to shop for food.

And since food supplier Sysco Minnesota had some perishable stuff sitting around (about a ton and a half, to be precise), they offered it to the community.  Now Bent Paddle Brewing Company, Clyde Iron Works, Pier B Resort Hotel and the 2020 Census are putting on a Free Farmer's Market this afternoon.

Plus how one kid is spending his break (so far) enjoying "chemistry" with his family.

Maybe you want to use this time at home to learn a new skill.

Maybe you want to use this time at home to start healthier habits.

Maybe you want to use this time at home to figure out how to keep your family out of your hair.

Whatever your plan, Arlene Coco has a suggestion for that.

(Arlene recommended Yummly and BigOven for meal suggestions, and scroll down for some recipes she provided to get you started!)

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's "stay-at-home" order is is designed to slow the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and buy as much time as possible for the state's health care system to prepare it.

Minnesotans are being asked to maximize "social distance," wash their hands frequently, avoid all contact with others if they're sick, and take particular precautions to protect folks with compromised immune systems.

In other words, pretty much everything it's impossible to do when you're homeless ... or working with people who are.

Cook County businessman Mike Larson talks about making the tough decision last week to shut down his vacation-rental business. 

And Cook County has joined a number of rural, vacationland counties in the region asking vacationers, second-home owners and those fleeing coronavirus to stay home - for now.

Animal Allies Humane Society is temporarily closed to visitors. Interested adopters are encouraged to make an appointment to visit the pet of their interest if they would like to adopt.

Sunflower

Native people in America are facing the same situation the rest of the country finds itself in - but with a few significant differences.

Testing supplies and personal protection equipment are in short supply, as they are everywhere else, but among Native people, there is a disproportionate level of infectious disease, with 1 to 3 times the mortality of the overall population.

There is a higher level of lung disease and diabetes, many Native communities lack safe water  and a quarter of the people are uninsured.

We're bringing back the golden days of radio, updated for our new circumstances!

 This morning we debuted Neighbors, a combination interview/call in program to help keep us connected in these uncertain times.

 "Look Out for the Helpers" is a local group doing just that: looking out for the helpers.  In this case, that means raising money to provide local healthcare workers with coffee, bakery items and meals.

Things were always pretty busy at AICHO.

The American Indian Community Housing Organization's Dabinoo'Igan Emergency Domestic Violence Shelter provides ten beds and is open 24/7, and Executive Director Michelle LeBeau says every day, they have to turn people away for lack of space.

The Permanent Supportive Housing program has 32 adults and 42 kids.

But all those adults and kids are staying put now, which means AICHO has more people consuming meals and other resources.

Simba

Simba is an orange tabby Domestic Short Hair who is 4 1/2 years old. He came to Animal Allies as a stray from Duluth Animal Services and is now looking for his new loving home! Hakuna Matata is what you will have if you take this handsome king home. Simba is such a gentle heart and will win you over with cuddles and affection. 

Charlie

The school buses showed up this morning, but they weren't there to take kids to school.

Instead, they were delivering breakfasts and lunches for Duluth school kids to over 70 locations, as they plan to do at least through March 27th.

Maybe it's something to think about that when the Governor issued the order to close public schools, one of the biggest concerns was the kids that might end up going hungry without the meals the school provides.