GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — School closures lead to child care questions
On Sunday, Governor Tim Walz announced that schools would be closed to students from Wednesday, March 18 through Friday, March 27. Some schools are choosing to close earlier. After the announcement, the State Information Hotline opened inside the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC). Sunday afternoon, about 10 people with the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Minnesota Department of Education were answering questions related to education and child care.The State Information Hotline is open between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Metro number: 651-297-1304
Greater Minnesota: 1-800-657-3504
Cindi Yang, director of the Child Care Services Division at DHS said parents can also call and ask questions about provider availability through Child Care Aware of Minnesota at 1-888-291-9811 (8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) or visit parentaware.org. During Sunday's press conference, state leaders urged child care centers to stay open as school closures will lead to more parents in need of child care services.
All five Democrats in Minnesota's congressional delegation signed a letter to Vice President Mike Pence Sunday seeking more COVID-19 testing kits and more of the chemical that's required to complete those laboratory reactions. Sen. Smith, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and Minnesota's five Democrats - Reps.Betty McCollum, Collin Peterson, Angie Craig, Dean Phillips and Ilhan Omar - signed the letter to Vice President Pence asking for accelerated action. The dispatch informs the vice president, who is heading federal government's coronavirus battle, that medical providers throughout Minnesota are concerned about the lack of testing supplies and other required chemicals.
A call comes into 911. The emergency is that the dogs are fighting, or there's a noise in the house and someone might be breaking in. Deputy Justin Alderink with the Anoka County Sheriff's Office said if they get that call, it's labeled as a possible burglary. He said the calls are typically from kids who can't decipher if that strange noise in the house a real threat. That's why the sheriff's office is hosting "Home Alone" sessions for kids. The classes cover anything from kitchen safety to CPR. Officials hope that having a discussion with parents, who will then talk to their kids, reaches an audience police normally wouldn't reach. The sheriff's office said for this one hour class, they're looking for parents or guardians with kids seven and under who want to learn about how to better prepare your kids to stay home alone. Registration is open online now.
