>> YOU KNOW ABOUT COVID-19 AND YOU KNOW THERE'S A LOT THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT.

YOU KNOW ABOUT THE ACTIONS WE'VE TAKEN TO COMBAT IT.

AND YOU KNOW HOW THESE ACTIONS HAVE DISRUPTED YOUR LIFE.

MANY OF YOU ARE OUT OF WORK.

BUSINESSES, LARGE AND SMALL, ARE SHUTTERED ACROSS THE STATE.

THE COMPANIONSHIP WE NORMALLY LEAN ON TO GET THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES, A HUG FROM A GRANDPARENT, A CUP OF COFFEE WITH A FRIEND OR JUST LAUGHING WITH CO-WORKERS, THOSE THINGS ARE... >> WE'RE BRACING FOR A STORM OF EPIC PROPORTIONS.

WE'RE USED TO LONG WINTERS IN MINNESOTA.

WE ARE RESILIENT PEOPLE.

WITH A DEEP RESERVE OF COURAGE, OPTIMISM AND GRIT.

BUT THIS WILL BE LIKE A WINTER WE'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

AND AS WE'VE DONE FOR GENERATIONS, ONCE THE LEAVES FALL OFF THE TREES, AND THE SKY TURNS COLD AND GRAY, WE PREPARE.

THERE'S NO STOPPING THE STORM OF COVID-19 FROM HITTING MINNESOTA.

BUT WE ARE PREPARING FOR IT.

WE'RE BUILDING OUR HOSPITAL CAPACITY SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT WHEN OUR NEIGHBORS, ARE SICK AND NEED THE CARE THAT THEY NEED, THEY'RE ABLE TO GET IT.

WE'RE INCREASING TESTING TO BETTER TRACK THIS DISEASE.

AND WE'RE INCREASING VENTILATORS AND ICU BEDS FOR WHEN OUR SICKEST NEIGHBORS NEED IT.

AND JUST AS WE WOULDN'T SEND A LOVED ONE OUT INTO THE COLD WITHOUT THE PROTECTION THEY NEED, WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO FIND MORE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR THE SELFLESS DOCTORS, NURSES, FIRST RESPONDERS AND SO MANY OTHERS ON THE FRONT LINES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19.

BUT MINNESOTANS WON'T JUST PREPARE FOR COVID-19, WE WILL LEAD THIS FIGHT.

THE BRILLIANT MINDS AND HARD WORK OF MINNESOTANS WILL HELP LEAD THE WORLD'S RESPONSE TO THIS CRISIS.

MAYO CLINIC IS LEADING A NATIONAL TRIAL TO USE THE BLOOD FROM PATIENTS WHO HAVE RECOVERED FROM COVID-19 AS A TREATMENT FOR OTHERS WHO FALL ILL WITH THIS DISEASE.

HOSPITALS ACROSS THIS STATE FROM THE LARGEST SYSTEMS TO THE VERY SMALLEST ARE PREPARING IN NEW AND INNOVATIVE WAYS FOR THE SURGE IN PATIENTS THAT WILL COME.

3M WORKERS ARE PRODUCING MILLIONS OF PROTECTIVE FACE MASKS EVERY MONTH.

MEDTRONIC IS PUBLICLY SHARING THE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS FOR ITS VENTILATORS TO SPARK RAPID MANUFACTURING OF THIS CRITICAL EQUIPMENT, DESPERATELY NEEDED TO SAVE LIVES.

FROM DULUTH TO HALLOCK TO St.

PAUL.

SMALLER COMPANIES AND EMPLOYEES ARE HALTING PRODUCTION TO PRODUCE MASKS, MAKE HAND SANITIZER AND HELP IN ANY WAY THEY POSSIBLY CAN.

AND YOU, THOSE OF YOU STAYING HOME ARE DOING SOME OF THE MOST CRITICAL WORK OF ALL.

I KNOW IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE IT TO YOU.

MINNESOTANS ARE HARDWORKING PEOPLE WHO, WHEN THE TIME COMES, THEY STEP INTO THE FIGHT.

IN MANY STORMS, THAT MEANS PLOWING OUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

FILLING SANDBAGS OR TRUDGING THROUGH THE SNOW TO CHECK ON A LOVED ONE.

BUT NOW IT MEANS STAYING HOME.

WHAT YOU ARE DOING ISN'T PARALYSIS, IT'S ACTION.

STAYING HOME REDUCES FACE-TO-FACE CONTACT AND, THUS, THE THREAT OF VIRUS TRANSMISSION BY UP TO 80%.

STAYING HOME IS THE ONLY VACCINE WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

YOU ARE SLOWING THE SPREAD OF THIS DISEASE.

YOU ARE PROTECTING YOUR NEIGHBORS.

YOU ARE GIVING HOSPITALS TIME TO PREPARE TO CARE FOR THE MANY WHO WILL FALL ILL.

YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

AND YOU ARE CERTAINLY SAVING LIVES.

AS A DAD AND A TEACHER, I WANT TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO OUR CHILDREN FOR A MOMENT.

I KNOW THIS IS REALLY SCARY.

I KNOW THAT YOU MISS SEEING YOUR TEACHERS AND YOUR CLASSMATES AND I KNOW HOW VERY DISAPPOINTING IT IS THAT MANY OF THOSE IMPORTANT END OF SCHOOL ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN CANCELED.

AND I KNOW RIGHT NOW MANY OF YOU OUT THERE ARE ATHLETES, WHETHER IT'S FROM LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL TO THE OLYMPICS, YOU PREPARED YOUR WHOLE LIFE TO GO OUT AND WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS ON DIAMONDS AND FIELDS ACROSS THIS STATE AND NOW CAN'T.

BUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING MATTERS.

YOUR SACRIFICES IS KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE.

YOU'RE PROTECTING YOUR NEIGHBORS.

SOMEDAY WHEN YOU HAVE CHILDREN OF YOUR OWN, YOU'LL TELL THEM ABOUT THIS MOMENT IN HISTORY.

AND WHAT YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORS DID TO HELP THIS STATE.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND, PARENT, I KNOW HOW HARD THIS NUMBER IS.

MANY OF YOU ARE WATCHING YOUR CHILDREN AT THE SAME TIME YOU'RE TRYING TO WORK FROM HOME.

MANY OF YOU ARE OUT OF WORK AND YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE BILLS THAT ARE COMING DUE.

THIS IS HARD.

THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED.

TAKE A DEEP BREATH.

BE KIND TO YOURSELVES AND BE KIND TO EACH OTHER.

WE'RE ALL DOING THE BEST WE CAN.

THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO.

MINNESOTANS, I DON'T TAKE WHAT WE'VE ASKED OF YOU LIGHTLIMENT.

I SERVED THIS NATION IN THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD FOR 24 YEARS.

I RAISED MY HAND TO DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE FREEDOMS OF LIBERTIES THAT IT STANDS FOR.

IN A DEMOCRACY, ANY ACTION TO RESTRICT THESE RIGHTS CANNOT BE ENACTED LIGHTLY.

BUT, AT THE MOMENT THEY'RE CRITICAL AND THEY'RE SAVING LIVES.

MY PROMISE TO YOU IS TO CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE MY DECISIONS, EXPLAIN WHEN WE CHANGE COURSE, AND NEVER STOP FIGHTING ALONGSIDE YOU, THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA.

THESE LAST FEW WEEKS HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT.

BUT IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET HARDER.

LONG HOURS OF DARKNESS LIE AHEAD OF US.

WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO SAVE LIVES, AND AS HARD AS WE WORK, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SAVE LERCH.

IT'S GOING TO BE WAY COLD, LONG WINTER.

BUT HOW DO WE GET THROUGH COLD LONG WINTERS?

WE GET THROUGH THEM TOGETHER AS ONE MINNESOTA.

WE ALWAYS SHOVEL OUR NEIGHBOR'S SIDEWALK.

WE PUSH OUT A STRANGER'S CAR THAT GETS STUCK.

AND WE DONATE HATS AND MITTENS TO FOLKS WHO NEED IT.

IT'S THAT COLLECTIVE SPIRIT THAT EMPOWERS US TO ENDURE WINTER AND IT'S HOW WE'LL ENDURE THIS CRISIS AS WELL.

IT'S ALREADY HAPPENING AND YOU SEE IT EVERYWHERE.

THE WHITE BEAR LAKE PEEWEE HOCKEY TEAM WAS ON THE ROAD TO NEW ULM FOR THE STATE TOURNAMENT WHEN IT WAS CANCELED MID ROUTE DUE TO COVID-19.

WHILE THEIR SEASON ENDED ABRUPTLY, THAT TEAM IS STILL A TEAM, ALTHOUGH VIRTUALLY.

THE PLAYERS AND THEIR PARENTS HAVE STARTED A TEXT CHAIN TO CHECK IN EVERY NIGHT TO SEE HOW EVERYONE IS DOING AND IF ANYONE NEEDS A HELPING HAND.

ONE EVENING, A PLAYER'S MOM SHARED HOW SHE'S EXHAUSTED FROM HER WORK AS A NURSE.

AND SHE'S WORRIED ABOUT DOING HER JOB WITHOUT ALL THE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT SHE NEEDS.

THE NEXT DAY THE HOCKEY DADS CLEANED OUT THEIR GARAGES, CLEANED OUT THEIR SUPPLY OF MASKS.

AND A BIG BOX WAS LEFT ON THE NURSE'S DOORSTEP.

WITH A LITTLE NOTE THAT SAID SIMPLY THIS.

"YOUR HOCKEY FAMILY LOVES YOU."

IT LEFT HER IN TEARS.

HER HOCKEY FAMILY IS HELPING HER THROUGH THIS CRISIS.

THAT SAME SPIRIT FLOWS BETWEEN THE HIGH RISES OF DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS WHERE EVERY NIGHT PEOPLE GO OUT ON THEIR BALCONIES TO CLAP, CHEER, BANG ON POTS AND PANS TO CELEBRATE THE HEALTH CARE WORKERS WHEN THEY GET OFF A LONG SHIFT.

AND YOU SAW IT LAST WEEK IN NORTH BRANCH WHEN A STATE TROOPER PULLED OVER A WOMAN WHO WAS SPEEDING.

TURNS OUT SHE WAS A DOCTOR IN TOWN TO DO SOME WORK.

THE TROOPER NOTICED SOME OF THE MASKS IN HER BAG THAT SHE'D BEEN FORCED TO REUSE DUE TO THE CURRENT SHORTAGE.

INSTEAD OF HANDING HER A TICKET, THAT TROOPER HANDED THE STACK OF MASKS THAT HAD BEEN GIVEN TO HIM TO PROTECT HIM.

HE PUT HIS NEIGHBOR FIRST.

AT A STATE VETERAN'S HOME, THE GRANDCHILDREN OF ONE OF OUR HEROES WERE SAD THAT THEY COULD NO LONGER GO VISIT GRANDPA.

SO THEY CREATED CHALK DRAWINGS OUTSIDE HIS WINDOW, NOT ONLY TO LIFT HIS SPIRITS, BUT ALSO TO THANK THE WONDERFUL STAFF FOR CARING FOR HIM DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME.

WHILE WE MIGHT BE SEPARATED PHYSICALLY, WE STAND UNITED.

FROM RONDO TO THE RANGE AND FROM NORTH MINNEAPOLIS TO NORTH MANKATO, WE ARE TRULY ONE MINNESOTA.

AND A NEW DAY WILL COME.

THE SUN WILL SHINE BRIGHTLY, THE TREES WILL BUD, AND THE BIRDS WILL SING.

SPRING WILL ARRIVE.

AND WHEN IT DOES, WE WILL DIG OUT, MINNESOTA.

WE WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO SUPPORT MINNESOTANS AND BUSINESSES TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.

OUR COMMUNITIES WILL BE FOREVER CHANGED.

OUR STATE WILL BE FOREVER CHANGED.

AND OUR WORLD WILL BE FOREVER CHANGED.

WE WILL GRIEVE ALL THAT WAS TAKEN FROM US.

BUT WE WILL ALSO CELEBRATE ALL THAT WAS GIVEN TO US.

UNITY, HUMANITY AND GRATITUDE.

WE WILL BE MORE UNITED AS A STATE.

WE WILL CHERISH EACH OTHER'S HUMANITY AND WE WILL HAVE ENDLESS GRATITUDE FOR THE LIVES WE LEAD.

THESE TRYING TIMES HAVE LED US BACK TO EACH OTHER.

WE WILL VALUE THOSE WE OVERLOOKED BEFORE.

WHEN TIMES GOT TOUGH, WHO DID WE LEAN ON?

IT WAS THE NURSE.

THE GROCER.

THE TRUCK DRIVER.

THE FARMER.

THE JANITOR.

WE WILL RECOGNIZE ALL THAT EDUCATORS AND CHILD CARE PROVIDERS DO FOR OUR STUDENTS, OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR ECONOMY.

THIS CRISIS SHOWS HOW MUCH MINNESOTA DEPENDS ON OUR SCHOOLS, NOT ONLY TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN BUT TO FEED THEM AND PROVIDE FOR THEIR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING.

AND WE WILL CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE ALL THE PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS.

EVERYTHING THEY DO AT THE LOCAL AND STATE LEVEL TO DETECT AND RESPOND TO HEALTH THREATS, NOT JUST THIS INFECTIOUS DISEASE OUTBREAK, BUT THE MANY OTHER THREATS THAT IMPACT OUR PERSONAL AND COMMUNITY HEALTH.

AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK OUT FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONGST US, THE POOR, THE SICK, AND THE HUNGRY.

MANY OF YOU OUT THERE TONIGHT HAVE STEPPED UP TO PROTECT THESE PEOPLE DURING THIS CRISIS, AND THAT DEDICATION TO THOSE PEOPLE'S DIGNITY AND LIVELIHOOD MUST ENDURE LONG BEYOND THIS CRISIS.

WE WON'T TAKE OUR NORMAL LIVES FOR GRANTED EVER AGAIN.

OUR MODERN LIVES MOVE FAST, AND THIS PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SLOW DOWN AND APPRECIATE WHAT TRULY MATTERS.

WE'RE GOING TO WELCOME THAT MORNING RUSH GETTING OUR KIDS OUT THE DOOR TO SCHOOL.

WE'RE GOING TO SMILE PRETTY BIG AS WE SEE RESTAURANTS BUSTLING WITH FRIENDS SHARING A MEAL.

AND HE WILL SOON -- AND WE WILL SOON GATHER AGAIN IN OUR HOUSES OF WORSHIP.

WE'LL HAVE RENEWED APPRECIATION OF THE CALMING POWER OF A WARM EMBRACE.

BUT WE WON'T JUST MAKE IT TO SPRING, WE'LL COME OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE BETTER FROM THIS WINTER.

BECAUSE WE ARE MINNESOTANS, WE SEE CHALLENGES AND WE TACKLE THEM.

NO MATTER HOW DAUNTING THE CHALLENGE, NO MATTER HOW DARK THE TIMES, MINNESOTA'S ALWAYS RISEN UP BY COMING TOGETHER.

IT WAS OUR BLOOD THAT SAVED THE UNION AT GETTYSBURG.

IT WAS OUR IRON THAT FORGED THE TANKS THAT LIBERATED EUROPE.

OUR FARMERS SPARKED A GREEN REVOLUTION THAT FED THE WORLD.

AND IT WAS OUR IMAGINATION THAT TRANSFORMED MEDICINE, AND IT APPEARS POISED TO DO SO ONCE AGAIN.

MINNESOTA, THE STATE OF OUR STATE IS STRONG.

THE STATE OF OUR STATE IS RESILIENT, AND THE STATE OF OUR STATE IS UNITED.

AND OUR HEARTS ARE FILLED WITH GRATITUDE FOR EACH AND EVERY MINNESOTAN AND THE ROLE THEY PLAY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19.

THANK YOU.

STAY HOME.

AND STAY HEALTHY, MINNESOTA.

GOOD NIGHT.

>> Mary: AND THAT WAS GOVERNOR TIM WALZ DELIVERING HIS SECOND STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

HE IS A DEMOCRAT IN HIS FIRST TERM, JUST OVER A YEAR INTO THAT FIRST TERM.

AND IT WAS A VERY SERIOUS, OPTIMISTIC TONE.

THE GOVERNOR JUST SAID THE STATE OF OUR STATE IS STRONG.

THE STATE OF OUR STATE IS RESILIENT.

THE STATE OF OUR STATE IS UNITED.

AND HE ALSO HARKENED BACK TO SOME OF THE COMMENTS FROM HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS WHEN HE WAS SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT MINNESOTA HAS DONE FOR THIS NATION AND FOR THIS WORLD.

HE SAID IT WAS OUR BLOOD THAT SAVED THE UNION.

OUR IRON FORGED THE TANKS.

OUR FARMERS SPARKED A REVOLUTION.

AND OUR IMAGINATION TRANSFORMED MEDICINE AND IS POISED TO DO SO AGAIN.

A VERY IMPORTANT ADDRESS, AND REPUBLICAN SENATE MAJORITY LEADER PAUL GAZELKA EARLIER TODAY SAID THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SPEECH THE GOVERNOR WILL EVER GIVE.

HE SAID THAT EVERYBODY'S UNITED, THAT WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, AND POINTED OUT THAT THE SENATE IS GOING TO BE MEETING MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, IN THEIR COVID WORKING GROUP, AND THAT SO FAR, THE SENATE HAD PASSED THREE BILLS WITH 100% UNANIMOUS SUPPORT DEALING WITH THE COVID CRISIS THAT THEY SENT TO THE GOVERNOR.

THE HOUSE HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT, NOT UNANIMOUS ON ALL THOSE BILLS.

BUT, AGAIN, OUR LEGISLATURE, THE DIVIDED GOVERNMENT, MINNESOTA HAS ONE OF THE ONLY DIVIDED GOVERNMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THEY WORKED ON A BUDGET LAST YEAR AND WENT TO SPECIAL SESSION, BUT NOT A SHUTDOWN.

AND ALL THOSE PARTIES ARE WORKING AGAIN TOGETHER, THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR, THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED SENATE, THE DEMOCRATIC-CONTROLLED HOUSE, ALL WORKING TOGETHER.

AND THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER SAID HE WANTS THE GOVERNOR TO SUCCEED.

HE WANTS THE GOVERNOR AND THE PRESIDENT TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND HE'S GOING TO TRY TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO HELP THEM SUCCEED IN THE UNPRECEDENTED DAYS AND WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD.

THE GOVERNOR ALSO IN HIS OPTIMISM TOLD A LOT OF STORIES OF RESILIENCE.

HE TOLD THE STORY OF A HOCKEY FAMILY PULLING TOGETHER, OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER PULLING OVER A DOCTOR WHO NEEDED MASKS.

INSTEAD OF A TICKET, HANDED MORE PROTECTIVE GEAR.

OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS BEING APPLAUDED ON BALCONIES, FOLKS GOING OUTSIDE THEIR HOMES IN MINNEAPOLIS AND APPLAUDING.

AND REALLY UPLIFTING PHRASES LIKE FROM RONDO TO THE RANGE, FROM NORTH MINNEAPOLIS TO NORTH MANKATO.

OF COURSE, THE GOVERNOR HAILS FROM MANKATO AND RAN ON THE MONIKER OF ONE MINNESOTA, AND HE USED THAT AGAIN TONIGHT MANY TIMES, TALKING ABOUT BRINGING THE STATE TOGETHER THROUGH ONE MINNESOTA.

AND GOVERNING, VERY UNUSUAL TIME FOR GOVERNING.

THE LEGISLATURE IS SUPPOSED TO STILL ACTIVELY BE IN SESSION.

THEY HAVE BEEN IN SESSION MEETING AT THE CAPITOL OCCASIONALLY THROUGH SOCIAL DISTANCING, LIMITED NUMBER OF MEMBERS, SPREAD OUT, TAKING VOTES REMOTELY.

NEVER BEFORE IN THE HISTORY OF MINNESOTA HAS THE SENATE, IN PARTICULAR, VOTED REMOTELY.

THE SENATE'S TYPICALLY BEEN INCREDIBLY STRICT ABOUT MEMBERS BEING AT THEIR DESK PUSHING THEIR OWN BUTTON.

THEY WERE CALLING IN.

HOUSE MEMBERS WERE WALKING ONTO THE FLOOR VOTING.

IT SPEAKS TO REALLY TRULY THE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES THAT WE ARE IN IN THIS CORONAVIRUS CRISIS AND HOW THE GOVERNOR HAS THE POWER NOW TO ACT UNILATERALLY THROUGH EXECUTIVE ORDER.

HE HAS ISSUED NEARLY 30 EXECUTIVE ORDERS, WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS THERE, BUT REALLY TRYING TO KEEP THE STATE RUNNING.

AND WE'VE BEEN SEEING HIS COMMISSIONERS DAILY.

I KNOW MANY MANY OF YOU OUT THERE ARE WATCHING AND LISTENING TO THE GOVERNOR'S DAILY BRIEFINGS AND HEALTH COMMISSIONER JAN MALCOLM, WHO HAS BEEN LEADING MINNESOTA FOR DECADES.

A FEW WEEKS AGO ON "ALMANAC" WE SHOWED YOU HOW AFTER 9/11 WHEN SHE WAS THE HEALTH COMMISSIONER FOR INDEPENDENCE PARTY GOVERNOR JESSE VENTURA, SHE APPEARED IN OUR STUDIOS HERE AT PUBLIC TELEVISION AS GOVERNOR VENTURA ADDRESSED THE STATE FOLLOWING THAT CRISIS.

JAN MALCOLM WAS IN THE STUDIO AS WELL, ADDRESSING THE STATE.

SHE IS WELL-KNOWN FOR HER CALM, CONFIDENT LEADERSHIP.

"STAR TRIBUNE" ALSO JUST DID A STORY REFERENCING BACK TO THAT PROGRAM WE DID AFTER 9/11 ON TWIN CITIES PUBLIC TELEVISION AND HER LEADERSHIP.

WE'VE ALSO SEEN A LOT FROM THE EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC COMMISSIONER, STEVE GROVE.

BIG BACKGROUND, BOTH OF THEM HAVE IVY LEAGUE EDUCATIONS, COULD BE MAKING A LOT MORE THAN THE STATE PAYS AND ARE REALLY COMMITTED TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE THAT THEY'RE UNDER RIGHT NOW.

UNEMPLOYMENT LEVELS UNPRECEDENTED.

BENEFITS, UNPRECEDENTED.

IT SEEMS AS IF WE'RE ALMOST OVERUSING THAT WORD, BUT WE'VE JUST NEVER SEEN THIS LEVEL OF STATE HELP OF UNEMPLOYMENT.

AND, REALLY, TRYING TO PULL TOGETHER.

AND THAT WAS THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE OF UNITY AND ALSO REFLECTING THE NEW REALITY WE'RE UNDER.

AT THE BEGINNING, HE OPENED WITH SELF-QUARANTINE.

SELF-ISOLATION.

SOCIAL DISTANCING.

PHRASES THAT MANY OF US NEVER USED BEFORE.

NOW ROLLING OFF OUR TONGUE.

AND THAT'S THE VOCABULARY OF OUR NEW REALITY.

HE ALSO CREATED ANALOGIES TO THE WEATHER.

OF COURSE, MINNESOTANS LOVE TO TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER AND THE LONG, COLD WINTER THAT WE HAVE BEEN ENDURING THROUGH THIS AND THAT SPRING IS COMING.

WE SEE SIGNS OF HOPE.

WE SEE SIGNS OF SPRING.

AND HE SAID THERE IS NO VACCINE RIGHT NOW, BUT THE BEST VACCINE IS STAYING HOME.

HE HAS ISSUED A STAY AT HOME ORDER.

HE HAS ISSUED A PEACETIME EMERGENCY THAT WAS BACK ON MARCH 13th NOW, WHICH SEEMS ALMOST LIKE A LIFETIME AGO.

BUT WE ARE STILL UNDER THAT ORDER.

AND WE DON'T KNOW WHEN AND IF KIDS WILL BE RETURNING TO SCHOOL.

HE SAID THE OTHER DAY THAT HE THINKS CHANCES ARE SLIM AND SPOKE DIRECTLY TO STUDENTS AND PARENTS TONIGHT AND SPOKE TO HOW SAD HE WAS FOR ALL THE STUDENTS AND ATHLETES AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY HAVE MISSED.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT ON OUR SPECIAL COVERAGE OF GOVERNOR TIM WALZ'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

GOOD NIGHT.