Dear neighbors,  

I hope you and your loved ones have been enjoying summer activities and events in our area! Here’s a brief update on the work I’ve been doing lately:  

Matt McNeil Show Segment on CWD 

I had the opportunity to be a guest on The Matt McNeil Show this weekend! We had a great conversation on AM950 Radio about chronic wasting disease (CWD) – a fatal, neurological disorder that affects deer and similar species – and what the state is doing to stop it from spreading. CWD is a serious threat to Minnesota’s wild deer, our economy, and family and community traditions that involve hunting. We need to do all we can to control it.  

If you’d like to hear more about possible solutions to this growing issue, you can listen to our conversation here.  

Assistance for Frontline Workers 

Frontline workers put their own health at risk to keep the rest of us safe. The state budget my colleagues and I passed recently includes $250 million to support Minnesotans who face heightened risks of exposure to COVID-19 due to the nature of their work. Members of a new bipartisan group are working to determine who should receive financial support and how it should be allocated. They’ll make recommendations to the Legislature later this year. If you’d like to follow along, you can find more information here.  

Learn More About Aquatic Invasive Species Research 

The Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC) at the University of Minnesota studies aquatic invasive species and develops solutions to reduce their impact on our lakes, rivers, wetlands, and wildlife. If you’d like to learn more about the center’s work and recent findings, I encourage you to check out their Research and Management Showcase. The annual event will take place on Wednesday, September 22 this year, and there will be in-person and online options available. More details will be posted on MAISRC’s website when registration opens.  

Community Events and Activities  

Night to Unite  

I’m looking forward to seeing some familiar faces and meeting new people at Night to Unite this year! For those of you who aren’t familiar with this tradition, Night to Unite, which used to be called “National Night Out,” is an annual event that encourages neighbors to gather and get to know one another. First responders often join events held in the communities they serve.  

The challenges many of us experienced over the past year and a half highlighted how important it is to have a strong community and to look out for our neighbors. While Night to Unite might look a bit different due to ongoing concerns about COVID-19 and the variants that are emerging, I’m glad it’s possible to hold events safely this year.  

Please continue sharing your questions, ideas, and input! You can reach me by email at rep.rick.hansen@house.mn or by phone at (651) 296-6828. 

Sincerely,  

Rick Hansen 
State Representative