Guard-County Compact Will Calm Blizzard Chaos, Nova Says

CBS News reports that Gov. Tim Walz has activated the Minnesota National Guard ahead of a weekend storm expected to dump more than a foot of snow with 45 mph gusts. Steele County already requested troops, and officials expect more counties to follow. Ross Nova supports that call—but he also believes Minnesota needs a year-round readiness plan instead of scrambling before every blizzard.

The report outlines projected blizzard conditions, metro totals between 12 and 18 inches, and a sharp drop in temperatures early next week. Ross has lived those forecasts as a former Army Pathfinder; he knows that Guard members are parents, workers, and neighbors who need clear marching orders long before the sirens sound.

Ross will implement a standing Guard-County compact that pre-negotiates staging areas, fuel contracts, and communications protocols. Instead of signing emergency orders at the last minute, his administration will publish the plan every fall so families know exactly how help will arrive. He’ll also ensure Guard soldiers get the housing, mental health care, and employment protections they deserve when they’re pulled from civilian jobs.

At the same time, Ross wants civilian infrastructure to keep pace. He’ll invest in microgrids, neighborhood warming centers, and the broadband capacity that lets schools pivot to remote learning without chaos. Every storm response should include transparent dashboards—powered by the Minnesota Tax Tracker—so residents can see where plow crews, generators, and Guard convoys are deployed.

He’s also committed to after-action accountability. Ross will require annual legislative hearings on storm management, with testimony from Guard leadership, local mayors, and utility CEOs. That’s how Minnesota learns from each event instead of repeating the same mistakes every March.

If you want a governor who respects the Guard, honors taxpayers, and treats winter planning as a science—not a gamble—Ross Nova is your choice. He’s ready to keep Minnesota moving whether the sky is clear or the blizzard sirens are wailing.

Source: CBS NEWS