MPR News

People sit at tables with plexiglass barriers and sort envelopes.

By the numbers: Minnesota’s early voting surge continues

The continued surge in early voting comes as a court ruling has thrown into question Minnesota’s plan to count mail-in ballots after Election Day — as long as they were postmarked by Election Day. Secretary of State Steve Simon now says voters should bring their ballots to a dropbox or vote in person, rather than gambling that their mailed-in ballot will arrive by Tuesday.

A combination photo of two men.

Biden, Trump hold dueling rallies in Minnesota

Former Vice President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump breezed through Minnesota, speaking to rallies capped by coronavirus restrictions before heading to their next stops. Neither is due back before Tuesday’s election.

A person stands in a large ballroom at a centrifuge sitting on a table.

Latest on COVID-19 in MN: Daily cases top record 3K; 18 more deaths

The newest numbers come at the end of one of the worst weeks in one of the worst months for Minnesota in the pandemic. Hospitalizations, caseloads and deaths rose steeply in October and seem poised to spill into November.

People wearing masks sits at tables and sort papers.

It's too late to mail ballots — but not to vote. Here are your options

“Voters should no longer place their absentee ballots in the mail,” Secretary of State Steve Simon said. “It is too late for you, practically speaking, to get it back. Don’t risk it.”

Moncef Slaoui, a former GlaxoSmithKline executive, speaks during the kickoff announcement for Operation Warp Speed in the White House Rose Garden on May 15.

After months of questions, key Operation Warp Speed adviser's contract emerges

Drug industry veteran Moncef Slaoui is a key figure in Operation Warp Speed push to develop COVID-19 coronavirus vaccines. His employment terms raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest.

Amazon Prime packages sit in a delivery truck.

Amazon announces packing, shipping facility in Fargo

Online retailing and tech giant Amazon says it will build a packing and shipping facility in Fargo, N.D. that will add more than 500 jobs in the city.

A teacher instructs his socially distant classroom.

This year's Minn. school board races are competitive and more racially diverse

The majority of Minnesota school districts are holding board elections in November. And there are large numbers of people running to fill those seats, including record numbers of candidates of color.

Rescuers search for survivors Friday in a collapsed building in Izmir, Turkey, after a powerful earthquake struck Turkey's western coast and parts of Greece.

7.0 magnitude earthquake strikes in Aegean Sea; at least 14 dead in Turkey and Greece

The earthquake's worst effects are reported in Turkey, where officials say at least 12 people died and more than 600 were injured. The city of Izmir suffered extensive damage.

The ICU at Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, Fla., was 99 percent full this week, according to an internal report produced by the federal government. It's among numerous hospitals the report highlighted with ICUs filled to over 90 percent capacity.

Internal documents reveal COVID-19 hospitalization data the government keeps hidden

Where are hospitals reaching capacity? Which metro areas are running out of beds? The most recent report obtained by NPR, dated Oct 27, lists cities where hospitals are filling up, including the metro areas of Atlanta, Minneapolis and Baltimore, where in-patient hospital beds are over 80 percent full.

snowy day in saint paul

Five tips — and a bunch of ideas — to help you celebrate Halloween safely this year

Many traditional Halloween traditions, like trick or treating, involve face-to-face interactions with lots of different people. But this year, in order to prevent the spread and protect each other from COVID-19, some parts of Halloween may need a little updating.

Side by side portraits of 5 people.

A future of acceptance: Minnesotans share their hopes

Ahead of the election, we wanted to learn about what issues are impacting Minnesotan’s day to day. We asked voters, “What are your hopes for your life in Minnesota 5-10 years from now?” Here’s what they said.

Black Lives Matter protesters display wristbands reading "I Voted" after leaving a polling place this month in Louisville, Ky. Activists warn Black and Latino voters are being flooded with disinformation intended to suppress turnout in the election's final days.

Black and Latino voters flooded with disinformation in election's final days

Hoaxes and misleading posts aimed at depressing turnout have spread on social media. Experts say it outpaces 2016, when Black voters were the top target of Russian-backed disinformation.

Two side by side portraits one of a woman and one of a man.

7th District voters choosing between ag clout and President Trump

Political pundits on the national level say 7th District U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson is facing the toughest election challenge of his 30 years in Congress. His challenger, former state Sen. Michelle Fischbach, is touting her support from President Donald Trump as she tries to defeat Peterson in the increasingly red district.

ProPublica Electionland

Electionland: Help MPR News, ProPublica track election problems

MPR News is partnering with ProPublica, a nonprofit investigative news organization, to track voting problems and election integrity. You can help — tell us if you experienced or witnessed any problems when casting your ballot.

California turkey farm supplied Thanksgiving birds

Scaled-back Thanksgiving plans leave turkey farmers in limbo

Millions of Americans are expected to have scaled-down celebrations amid the pandemic, heeding official warnings against travel and large indoor gatherings. That leaves anxious turkey farmers and grocers scrambling to predict what people will want on their holiday tables.

A person votes in a room.

Election 2020: Voter guides

Side-by-side comparisons of the Democratic and Republican candidates running for Minnesota’s most hotly contested political races.

A person ties police tape around a tent.

Judge won't stop Minneapolis homeless encampment sweeps

In a ruling Thursday, federal Judge Wilhelmina Wright declined to issue a temporary order to stop the evictions because the plaintiffs had not met the "burden of demonstrating irreparable harm," the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported.

President Trump addresses a rally this week at Capital Region International Airport in Lansing, Mich.

Agencies, contractors suspend diversity training to avoid violating Trump order

President Donald Trump's recent executive order banning some diversity training has had a widespread effect as government agencies, contractors and universities scramble to figure out how to comply.

Electoral ratings

Final NPR electoral map: Biden has the edge, but Trump retains narrow path

You would rather be Democrat Joe Biden heading into Election Day than President Donald Trump, but there's lots of uncertainty. It's possible to see Biden win a blowout or Trump again eke out a win.

Montana wolf

Gray wolves lose federal protection; state will manage instead

The rulemaking from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service returns management of wolves to the states — which opens up the possibility of a controversial wolf hunting season in Minnesota. But Gov. Walz says he opposes the recreational hunting of wolves.