Impact of federal health care cuts, severe weather preparedness and more





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April 17, 2025

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Table of Contents

* Healthcare cuts roundtable [ #roundtable ]
* Protect your home from severe weather [ #severeweather ]
* Energy conservation research [ #energyresearch ]
* Solar on public buildings grants [ #publicbuildings ]
* Commerce in the news [ #news ]










Grace
State officials wrap up statewide series of roundtables on impact of proposed federal health care cuts

Department of Commerce leaders joined state officials, doctors, patients, and advocates at healthcare roundtables in St. Paul, Duluth, Mankato, and Rochester over the last few weeks. Commerce raised concerns about the effects that proposed federal cuts to programs like Medicaid would have on the lives of all Minnesotans.

“1.2 million Minnesotans rely on Medicaid, but cuts would affect more than just those individuals,” said Commerce Commissioner Grace Arnold. “Medicaid helps create a stable healthcare marketplace overall. Real or threatened cuts to Medicaid make healthcare that everyday Minnesotans rely on unstable and uncertain.”

Other potential impacts include loss of access to healthcare, longer wait times, higher costs for consumers, and economic ripple effects across communities.

See the Department of Health’s Medicaid Matters [ [link removed] ] website for more information.

Watch news coverage of the St. Paul roundtable. [ [link removed] ]






Lightning
Protect your home from severe weather this spring

Spring in Minnesota is beautiful, but it can also bring severe storms, flooding, hail, and potential damage to your home. Now’s the time to take action and prepare! Here are a few simple, yet crucial steps to help protect your home this season: 

1. Review Your Insurance: Double-check your policies to ensure you know what’s covered. Flood insurance isn’t usually part of standard home insurance. 

2. Trim Your Trees: A quick trim can prevent falling branches from causing damage during a storm. 

3. Seal Up Cracks: Check your foundation for cracks or holes and repair them to keep water out. 

4. Secure Your Structures: Make sure porches, carports, and garage doors are stable and secure to withstand harsh winds. 

5. Beware of Scammers: If you're approached by someone offering repairs, be cautious! Use our License Lookup tool [ [link removed] ] to verify any business or contractor before hiring. 

Let’s be storm-ready this season and stay safe!

*Read more* [ [link removed] ]






Windmills




$2 million awarded for new energy conservation research to maximize energy efficiencies and savings

The Minnesota Department of Commerce has awarded $2 million in grants for two new research projects to help Minnesota utilities identify new technologies and strategies to maximize energy efficiencies and savings, which will benefit all Minnesotans. “This research holds promise to identify significant energy efficiencies and savings for the next decade and beyond, which will move Minnesota along our path to a clean energy future,” said Commerce Commissioner Grace Arnold. “As we take actions to achieve carbon-free electricity by 2040, conservation and energy efficiency are core components of that equation.”

*Read more* [ [link removed] ]

solar
Solar on public buildings grants awarded to 17 local governments

The Minnesota Department of Commerce has awarded $1.23 million in grants to 17 local governments to install solar arrays on 23 buildings, including town halls, fire stations, community centers, and public works buildings. The grants will fund solar installations that are expected to save an estimated $2.54 million in energy costs over the next 25 years. 

*Read more* [ [link removed] ]


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*Commerce in the News*


* KARE11: Homeowner insurance rates on the rise, here's why [ [link removed] ]

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Get updates and news from the Minnesota Department of Commerce at mn.gov/commerce [ [link removed] ] or @MNCommerce on social media.

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*Minnesota Department of Commerce*
85 7th Place East, Suite 280
St. Paul, MN 55101

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