MPR News Update

The battle over vaccine mandates is heating up in Minnesota, as Senate Republicans ask for Walz to back off and St. Paul police sue over their city's policy. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

There's been a steady stream of COVID-19 cases in many schools across Minnesota. Some districts are seeing so many cases that they've decided to extend the Thanksgiving break to tamp down the spread of the virus. Substitutes are in short supply, and school positions aren't being filled. This is a stressful time for teachers, staff, students and parents. Some districts in the state, including Rochester Public Schools, are adding extra days off in the school calendar in an effort to combat stress. In Rochester, they are being called “planning and wellbeing days.” Kent Pekel, Rochester's interim school superintendent, told host Cathy Wurzer how his district is working to overcome the challenges of the pandemic. Theme music by Gary Meister.

Nearly four dozen doctors, nurses, and respiratory therapists from the U.S. military are on the ground in Minnesota to ease the strain on the state's health care system. On Thursday, they'll start providing patient care at two hospitals. This is an MPR News morning update for Wednesday, November 24, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

State leaders say they're getting more monoclonal antibody treatments for Minnesotans who have contracted COVID. MPR News evening update for Nov 23, 2021. Hosted by Natasha Senjanovic. Our theme music is by Gary Meister. 

Minnesota legislative leaders have been going around and around on whether or not there will be a special session this year to address hero pay for frontline pandemic workers, drought relief and nursing home stability measures. But on Tuesday, Republican Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller told host Cathy Wurzer he's willing to set aside Republican threats to oust health commissioner Jan Malcolm in exchange for other agreements, which DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman called a big move forward. Theme music by Gary Meister.

Military medical staff are arriving in the Twin Cities to help with COVID and the state calls in the National Guard again to help with long term care, as the fall pandemic surge prompts yet more alarm. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

Sunday morning, the Dar Al Qalam Cultural Center in northeast Minneapolis was vandalized when a man ripped security cameras from its walls and smashed them. Jaylani Hussein, the executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), joined Minnesota Now host Cathy Wurzer to discuss how this incident relates to a wave of hate crimes against Muslims. Theme music by Gary Meister.

The number of people expected to pass through the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is nearly double last Thanksgiving's peak travel day, and about 70 percent of pre-pandemic holiday travel. Airport officials predict Wednesday will be the busiest day, with nearly 32,000 travelers passing through airport security checkpoints. This is an MPR News morning update for Monday, November 22, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

The Blue Earth County Attorney's office says an Olivia police officer acted within the law when he shot and killed Ricardo Torres, Jr. in July.  This is an MPR News evening update for Nov 19, 2021. Hosted by Nathan Stevens. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Minnesota has one of the highest rates of COVID-19 infections in the country right now. There are very, very few ICU beds available in the state. Hospitals are delaying surgeries — shoulder surgeries, knee surgeries and even some heart procedures — because of the number of COVID-19 patients taking up beds. Health care workers are becoming more vocal about their plight. Last Friday, Dr. Brian Hartz took to Facebook to make an impassioned plea on their behalf. Hartz is a pulmonologist and critical care physician at Respiratory Consultants and North Memorial Health in Robbinsdale. He told Minnesota Now host Cathy Wurzer more about what he and his colleagues are facing. Theme music by Gary Meister. More Minnesota COVID surge creates dangerous ER bottlenecks

Hospital beds around Minnesota are at capacity due to an onslaught of COVID-19 patients, and the trend is creating an unprecedented crunch in emergency rooms. Doctors say patients are waiting dangerously long times for beds and higher levels of care. This is an MPR News morning update for Friday, November 19, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Minnesota COVID cases get even worse compared to the rest of the US, as the state is poised to open boosters to all adults as soon as tomorrow. Also, employment continues to improve, but other economic sings are less certain. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

Every Minnesota adult will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots by the end of the week — even if the federal government hasn't officially given the OK. State health officials made that decision based on what they're calling an “alarming surge” in COVID-19 cases. Is that the right call? Will giving boosters to adults who are already vaccinated really help? Or would it be better to focus on the almost 40 percent of Minnesota adults who haven't yet gotten a single shot? Dr. Abinash Virk, an infectious disease specialist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, answered questions about the booster shots from host Cathy Wurzer and Minnesota Now listeners. Theme music by Gary Meister.

With many Minnesota hospitals now at or near full capacity, the U.S. Department of Defense is sending two emergency staffing teams to help care for patients with COVID-19 and other ailments The teams, which each have 22 medical personnel, will be sent to HCMC in Minneapolis and St. Cloud Hospital. This is an MPR News morning update for Thursday, November 18, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Walz says he's reluctant to invoke emergency powers and provoke Senate Republicans, even as federal defense department personnel are on their way to provide emergency relief for Minnesota hospitals. Also, about 44,000 elementary school aged kids have now been vaccinated. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

Minnesota has the nation's worst seven-day rate of new COVID-19 infections. The surge in cases is concerning to many families who are preparing for the long holiday weekend. So what can we expect in the coming weeks, and who is making that prediction? On Minnesota Now, host Cathy Wurzer talked about it with Curtis Storlie, a health science researcher at Mayo Clinic. He has been one of the statisticians working on Mayo's COVID task force and helped set an algorithm to gauge the rate of spread. Theme music by Gary Meister.

With case counts at or near their highest levels since December, Minnesota intends to move ahead this week to offer vaccine booster shots to any eligible Minnesotan who wants one, the state's health commissioner said Tuesday. This is an MPR News morning update for Wednesday, November 17, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Body cameras are a hot-button police reform issue, but many Minnesota state law enforcement officers have not been mandated to wear them — until now. As MPR News reporter Brian Bakst told host Cathy Wurzer, starting in a few weeks, more than a thousand state law enforcement officers will begin suiting up with body cameras. Music by Gary Meister.

Minnesota may pre-temp federal COVID booster standards amid a major surge. Also, hundreds of state law enforcement officers are about to don body cameras for the first time. This is an evening update from MPR news, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

The city of Minneapolis will start a recount Friday of ballots in the Ward 2 City Council race. Candidate Yusra Arab lost the race to Democratic Socialists of America candidate Robin Wonsley Worlobah by just 19 votes in the final round of ballots. Arab has said she wants to make sure that all votes are counted. Wonsley Worlobah has said she is confident of her win.  This is an MPR News morning update for Tuesday, November 16, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Health care providers say they're getting pushback from COVID, and some of their patients, who are resisting vaccines and science for their treatment. Also, the state's top Republican says he's hoping to meet with the state's health commissioner, offering a potential way out of a political impasse. This is an evening update from MPR news, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

Minnesota is among the states leading the nation in COVID case numbers. Minnesota had the worst seven-day case rate in the country as of Sunday afternoon. Hospitalizations are up, and there's a shortage of bed space. Michael Osterholm, director at the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, talked with host Cathy Wurzer about the latest COVID surge in Minnesota. Theme music by Gary Meister.

With COVID-19 cases numbers still high, hospitals are crowded and health care workers are stressed. This is an MPR News morning update for Monday, November 15, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

The latest COVID-19 surge and staffing shortages are overwhelming hospitals in central Minnesota. MPR News Evening update for Nov 12, 2021. Hosted by Natasha Senjanovic Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

A century ago, Pilgrim Lutheran Church was founded in Mac-Groveland, a white neighborhood of St. Paul, half a mile from the home of a Black couple facing harassment for moving to the neighborhood. Today, Pilgrim Lutheran is undertaking a reparations project. A parishioner told Cathy Wurzer why.

The Minnesota Department of Corrections reported this week that there are 87 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases among people incarcerated in the St. Cloud prison. The St. Cloud prison typically serves as the intake facility where everyone entering the state corrections system is first admitted. Staff and people incarcerated in all state prisons will be offered booster shots starting next week. This is an MPR News morning update for Friday, November 12, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer  Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Prior Lake grapples with fallout of racist video aimed at Black high school student, posted to social media earlier this week. Support is pouring in for the 14 year old from around the country. Also, Minnesota is getting its first real taste of winter. This is an evening news update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

Today is Veterans Day. To honor the sacrifices made by those who have served, you might see people wearing red paper poppies from the American Legion Auxiliary. The woman who established this tradition in the U.S. actually had deep Minnesota connections. Dr. Helen Hughes Hielscher was a crusader for veterans' rights and a trailblazing woman in medicine who practiced in Blue Earth and Mankato in the beginning of the 20th century. Randy Anderson, director of the Faribault County Historical Society, joined host Cathy Wurzer on Minnesota Now to tell listeners about the life of Dr. Helen, as she was known.

Bemidji is offering people $2,500 to relocate to the area and bring their remote job with them. So far, more than 20 telecommuters have taken the city up on it, from the Twin Cities to as far away as Oregon and Arizona. This is an MPR News morning update for Thursday, November 11, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Health officials say waning vaccine protection and precautions against infection drive COVID spike they're calling alarming. They also opened another care center in Brainerd to relieve the pressure on hospitals. Also, the Vikings said COVID sent one of their players to the hospital, seriously ill. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

Minnesota is in line to receive billions of dollars in infrastructure money from the federal bill soon to be signed by President Biden, and some of that money could go toward expanding electric vehicle infrastructure in the state. Minnesota Now listeners heard about the latest on Minnesota's share of the money. Then, host Cathy Wurzer turned to Jon Hunter, senior director of clean air for the American Lung Association in Minnesota, to find out more about money for electric vehicle infrastructure. Overall, the bill includes about $7.5 billion for electric vehicle infrastructure. That's less than the $15 billion the president originally sought. Theme music is by Gary Meister.

Citing the ongoing pandemic, the judge in the Kimberly Potter case will let media record, broadcast and livestream the high-profile trial later this month. Potter is charged in Wright's killing during a Brooklyn Center traffic stop. This is an MPR News morning update for Wednesday, November 10, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

A 41-year-old cold case in Texas turns out to be a missing Minnesota teenager, killed and left beside an interstate north of Houston. Also, St. Paul mayor Melvin Carter puts out a feeler on making some changes to St. Paul's rent control measure, approved by voters and one of the strictest in the country. This is an evening update from MPR news, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer on Tuesday interviewed the Minnesota Department of Health's Kris Ehresmann on Minnesota Now. On Monday, the Minnesota Department of Health reported more than 4,200 new infections. Overall case numbers were as high as they were back in December of last year.

It's the first time that lakes outside of the Twin Cities metro area have been labeled as impaired because of the human-made chemicals known as PFAS. This is an MPR News morning update for Tuesday, November 9, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

COVID cases hit a 2021 high, as a pause in a long surge ends and deaths climb to the highest point since before Christmas. Also, the state is adding to its list of polluted waters, including some nothern lakes where fish have been found with PFAS, the so-called forever chemicals. This is an evening update from MPR news, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

Health experts say making COVID-19 vaccines available for 5 to 11 year olds at school will make it easier for parents to get their kids immunized against the virus. This is an MPR News morning update for Monday, November 8, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

The new federal deadline requiring all health care employees to be fully vaccinated by January 4 comes as Minnesota's long-term care industry is already seeing a staffing crisis. This is an MPR News evening update for Nov 5, 2021. Hosted by Natasha Senjanovic. Our theme music is by Gary Meister. 

Sixteen Minnesota schools hosted COVID-19 vaccine clinics for children 5 to 11 years old to receive their shots Thursday. At one clinic in the gymnasium of Brooklyn Center Elementary, Gov. Tim Walz said there were more than 11,000 sites in the state where children ages 5 to 11 would be able to get the Pfizer vaccine, recently given emergency use approval in the age group. This is an MPR News morning update for Friday, November 5, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Minnesota rolls out school COVID clinics as kid vaccinations head higher and as COVID numbers take a turn for the worse and test positivity hits the highest weekly point since before Christmas. Also, the Minnesota Supreme Court will take up felon voting later this month. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

It's now illegal in St. Paul for residential landlords to raise their rent by more than 3 percent a year, after voters on Tuesday approved a rent control measure that's among the strictest in the country. The law applies to both new and existing homes and bars landlords from making dramatic rent hikes between tenants. This is an MPR News morning update for Thursday, November 4, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Kids start getting COVID shots at the Mall of America, and Jacob Frey wins a second term in a historic election that also marks the first time ever the city of Minneapolis has had people of color as a majority of members. Also, St. Peter elects its first woman mayor in a century — following Minnesota's first female mayor, back in 1921. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

Minneapolis voters on Tuesday soundly defeated a controversial plan intended to remake policing in the city. A proposed amendment — question No. 2 on the ballot — would have altered the Minneapolis police structure and dropped language from the city charter tying the size of the force to the city's population. This is an MPR News morning update for Wednesday, November 3, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Voting wraps on one one of the biggest local elections in a generation, with the future of public safety on the line in Minneapolis in the wake of the death of George Floyd. Both Minneapolis and St. Paul will also be deciding on unprecedented rent control measures. This is an evening update from MPR news, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

News organizations made a fresh plea Monday to the judge overseeing the case of a former suburban Minneapolis police officer charged in the death of Daunte Wright, asking her to allow live video coverage of the trial because of the continuing threat of COVID-19 and the strong public interest. This is an MPR News morning update for Tuesday, November 2, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

New data from the state health department shows more than 8,000 Minnesotans have been infected with COVID-19 more than once. This is an MPR News Evening update for Nov 1, 2021. Hosted by Natasha Senjanovic.  Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

The judge who oversaw the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin will make the names of 15 jurors and alternates public on Monday. Judge Peter Cahill's order says he will also make public the written questionnaires of all 109 potential jurors who were formally evaluated. This is an MPR News morning update for Monday, November 1, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

The FDA today authorized Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 5-11. The news comes as Minnesota's COVID case numbers and positivity rate are on the rise. This has been an MPR evening update for Oct 29, 2021. Hosted by Natasha Senjanovic. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

In a special edition of Minnesota Today, host Cathy Wurzer speaks with Cory Hepola, a Twin Cities media personality who released a new docuseries called “Rural by Choice.” The interview first aired Friday on Minnesota Now, a new daily noon show on MPR News. Theme music is by Gary Meister.

Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender announced Thursday that she filed an ethics complaint against the city's police chief, Medaria Arradondo, after he held a news conference Wednesday to speak out against the public safety charter amendment. This is an MPR News morning update for Friday, October 29, 2021. Hosted by Phil Picardi. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.