Sequestration Reaches Deep Across Northland

St. Luke's already has prepared for reduced funds by tightening its hiring and being slow to start new programs, Strange said. The cuts will mean a reduced surplus, which will mean less money to spend on capital equipment, he said.

Essentia Health expects a $9.5 million loss in Medicare funding across its system, spokeswoman Kim Kaiser said.

2014 Duluth Air Show

Ryan Kern, promoter of the every-other-year air show in Duluth, said the military budget cuts are expected to hit non-essential flying like the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds first, as well as any other military flying at air shows. If those cuts occur this year and aren't restored for 2014, that could threaten the planned 2014 Duluth show, Kern said.

"It would be tough to do an air show without that military presence," he said. "That's a $9 million economic hit on our community if that goes away."

Duluth EPA lab

Some Environmental Protection Agency employees and contract workers could see temporary furloughs, but it's still unclear how many, if any, or for how long, director Carl Richards said. No major cuts are expected, and operations of the lab wouldn't be directly affected.

U.S. Coast Guard, Duluth station

Local effects of sequestration on the U.S. Coast Guard are unclear, although the Coast Guard does not plan to furlough any civilian employees, said Lt. Paul Rhynard, Coast Guard spokesman in Washington, D.C. The Coast Guard office in Duluth has five civilian employees. Rhynard said reductions due to sequestration will have effects across all Coast Guard activities. The Coast Guard plans to allocate money and resources to prevent disruptions and preserve the most essential operations, Rhynard said.

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