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Stories from March 8, 2019

Unvaccinated boy, 6, spent 57 days in the hospital with tetanus

Unvaccinated boy, 6, spent 57 days in the hospital with tetanus

It was Oregon's first pediatric case in more than 30 years. "It was difficult to take care of him, to watch him suffer," says Judith Guzman-Cottrill, an infectious-disease specialist.
by Sasha Ingber

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Smollett indicted on 16 counts stemming from reported attack

Smollett indicted on 16 counts stemming from reported attack

A grand jury in Chicago indicted "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett on 16 felony counts related to making a false report that he was attacked by two men who shouted racial and homophobic slurs.
by Associated Press

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Trump says Michael Cohen lied about not requesting a pardon

Trump says Michael Cohen lied about not requesting a pardon

President Trump declared Friday that he rejected a personal appeal from his former lawyer Michael Cohen for a pardon, the strongest assertion yet that Cohen may have lied under oath.
by Associated Press

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New Mexico moves toward legalizing recreational marijuana

New Mexico moves toward legalizing recreational marijuana

New Mexico is another state to take a step toward legalizing recreational marijuana. Its House approved a bill that would allow state-run stores and require customers to carry a receipt with their cannabis or face penalties.
by Associated Press

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House Democrats try to recover from week dominated by public splits

House Democrats try to recover from week dominated by public splits

Speaker Nancy Pelosi planned to tout the Democrats' bill overhauling campaign finance laws, but instead had to manage tensions about how to respond to charges that Rep. Omar made anti-Semitic remarks.
by Kelsey Snell

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Leaning in to the snow with Ann Bancroft

Leaning in to the snow with Ann Bancroft

As part of Women's History Month, MPR News host Angela Davis sat down with Ann Bancroft — one of the world's most respected polar explorers.
by Angela Davis and Karen Zamora

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#MeToo awareness sharpens focus on pay equity

#MeToo awareness sharpens focus on pay equity

After #MeToo, many employment attorneys say they've seen the number of pay-disparity cases spike, and employers are having to adapt by conducting investigations and pay audits.
by Yuki Noguchi

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Carbon-free electricity by 2050: Is it possible?

This week, Gov. Tim Walz announced a plan for making Minnesota's electricity entirely free from fossil fuels by 2050. What would it take to make that happen?
by Angela Davis

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U.S. women's soccer team sues U.S. Soccer for gender discrimination

U.S. women's soccer team sues U.S. Soccer for gender discrimination

The lawsuit argues that U.S. Soccer has a policy of paying the women's team less than the men. "We deserved to be paid equally for our work, regardless of our gender," says Alex Morgan.

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Chelsea Manning is jailed after refusing to testify about WikiLeaks

Chelsea Manning is jailed after refusing to testify about WikiLeaks

Former Army Pvt. Chelsea Manning is back in official custody, jailed over her refusal to testify before a grand jury in a case involving Julian Assange and WikiLeaks.
by Bill Chappell

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Protecting the 'unbanked' by banning cashless businesses in Philadelphia

Protecting the 'unbanked' by banning cashless businesses in Philadelphia

Nearly 13 percent of Philadelphia's population doesn't have a bank account — more than double the regional average. The city has just become the first big city in the U.S. to ban cashless businesses.
by Aaron Moselle

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A man looks back on those he lost

A man looks back on those he lost

Bookseller Vicki Burger recommends a novel that's "just lovely, about how we look back on our lives ... and the people who have been important to us either for good or bad."
by Tracy Mumford

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Blackout in Venezuela leaves its leaders casting blame in the dark

Blackout in Venezuela leaves its leaders casting blame in the dark

President Nicolas Maduro blamed the "electricity war" on the United States, while opposition leader Juan Guaido said the onus was on Venezuela's ruling party, "the usurpers."
by Sasha Ingber

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SpaceX Crew Dragon splashes down in Atlantic Ocean

SpaceX Crew Dragon splashes down in Atlantic Ocean

The craft's splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean hit its expected landing time of 8:45 a.m. ET Friday after re-entering Earth's atmosphere.
by Bill Chappell

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A gulp of genetically modified bacteria might someday treat a range of illnesses

A gulp of genetically modified bacteria might someday treat a range of illnesses

Researchers think genetically engineered versions of microbes that can live in humans could help treat some rare genetic disorders and perhaps help with Type 1 diabetes, cirrhosis and cancer.
by Rob Stein

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Major Saturday storm on track, but less snow for Twin Cities area?

Major Saturday storm on track, but less snow for Twin Cities area?

Our MPR forecast is for 4 to 8 inches in the Twin Cities, lower than weather service. Another model sees 4 to 7 inches across the Twin Cities with double-digit snowfall potential north and west.
by Paul Huttner

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Looking for musical ways to celebrate International Women's Day?

The Hook and Ladder Lounge in Minneapolis is hosting an International Women's Day celebration Friday night. Meanwhile, MPR's sister station The Current will mark the occasion by featuring women-identifying artists and hosts on the air all day long.
by Cathy Wurzer

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U.S. economy loses steam, adding only 20,000 jobs last month

U.S. economy loses steam, adding only 20,000 jobs last month

The economy added far fewer jobs than expected last month, a slowdown from much stronger gains in December and January. But the jobless rate fell to 3.8 percent and earnings growth picked up steam.
by Avie Schneider

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Case closed: No new trial in killing made famous by ‘Serial’ podcast

Adnan Syed, convicted in 2000 of killing his former girlfriend, high school senior Hae Min Lee, in a Best Buy parking lot in 1999, is not going to get a new trial, Maryland's highest court ruled on Friday. Perhaps you recognize the name; this is the case that practically made podcasting a 'thing.' His story, and allegations of ineffective counsel by a lawyer who's dead, failure to interview an alibi witness, questionable witness testimony, and withheld evidence, was told by the podcast 'Serial.'
by Bob Collins

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How much snow? When will it start? What you need to know about this weekend's storm

How much snow? When will it start? What you need to know about this weekend's storm

A wide swath of Minnesota is in line for anywhere from 8 to 11 inches of heavy, wet snow. Northern Minnesota could see anywhere from just 4 inches (yes, we've reached the point where 4 inches is considered a small snowfall) to 9 inches.
by Nancy Yang and Sara Porter

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Facebook vows to quash anti-vaccine misinformation

Facebook vows to quash anti-vaccine misinformation

The company said ads and other content containing false information about vaccines will be pulled from the platform and accounts that persist in disseminating discredited opinions will be disabled.
by Patti Neighmond and Vanessa Romo

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Police: 1 man dead after crash, fight in Minneapolis

Authorities say that after a rear-end crash, the driver of one vehicle fled from the scene on foot and was pursued by a passenger from the other car. Officials say a physical altercation took place and officers found one man in grave condition. He was taken to HCMC where he was pronounced dead.
by The Associated Press

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Measure on bigotry, anti-Semitism sparks debate

Measure on bigotry, anti-Semitism sparks debate

Generational as well as ideological, the argument was fueled in part by young, liberal lawmakers -- and voters -- who have become a face of the newly empowered Democratic majority in the House. These lawmakers are critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
by The Associated Press

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Baseball welcomes its new robot overlords

The Atlantic League will test out several ideas this season and it's clear that if they work, Major League Baseball will try to convince its unions to adopt them for the big-league game. The most striking addition? Robot umpires. Sort of.
by Bob Collins

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Students stunned as Argosy University's Eagan campus faces closure

Students stunned as Argosy University's Eagan campus faces closure

Argosy officials planned to meet with students through Friday to help them sort out what happens next. Around 1,000 students were enrolled at the Eagan campus.
by Peter Cox

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Snow tubes, stream gauges and satellites: How do experts forecast floods?

Snow tubes, stream gauges and satellites: How do experts forecast floods?

The National Weather Service is predicting a higher-than-usual risk of flooding this spring, thanks to the winter's heavy snowfall. But how does a flood outlook come together? It takes lots of agencies, lots of researchers, lots of data -- and time.
by Kirsti Marohn

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Mysterious scandal roils Hudson, Wis., pageant

Mysterious scandal roils Hudson, Wis., pageant

Two Hudson Ambassadors have been removed from their role representing the Wisconsin city and nobody seems to know why except the organization that sponsors the royalty program. And it's not talking.
by Bob Collins

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Warnings for heavy snow Saturday and Saturday night

Warnings for heavy snow Saturday and Saturday night

It starts as a wintry mix of rain, light freezing rain, sleet and wet snow in parts of southern Minnesota and portions of the Twin Cities metro area before changing over to all snow. The timing of that changeover to all snow will have a huge effect on snow totals.
by Ron Trenda

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‘Lynching’ reference prompts Channel 45 ‘apology’

A quick glance at the calendar confirms that it's 2019, so it's important to ask what on earth goes through a person's mind when referring to lynching during a hockey game broadcast?
by Bob Collins

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MN pair now longest-married same-sex couple

Last year, a Minnesota judge ruled the 1971 marriage valid, and a few weeks ago, the Social Security Administration sent them the letter agreeing.
by Bob Collins

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When judges aren’t honorable

Throw a black robe on a person and we've been conditioned to elevate our opinion of him/her. But recently we've seen proof that the unfit and potentially corrupt get jobs as judges, too.
by Bob Collins

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Winter storm warning for heavy snow Saturday afternoon and night

Winter storm warning for heavy snow Saturday afternoon and night

As you head out the door this Friday morning, be ready for a fairly quiet weather day. Eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin could see a passing flurry this morning. Minnesota highs will be in the upper 20s to lower 30s. The weekend snowstorm  I know, we don’t need any more snow right now. Get ready…
by Ron Trenda

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'Politics with Amy Walter' on the Friday Takeaway

'Politics with Amy Walter' on the Friday Takeaway

"Politics with Amy Walter" on the Friday Takeaway.

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What’s on MPR News – 3/8/19

Here are the stories, topics, and guests you'll hear today on MPR News.
by Bob Collins

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Venezuela plunges into darkness amidst widespread outage

Venezuela plunges into darkness amidst widespread outage

Much of Venezuela plunged into darkness Thursday evening, creating chaos as people struggled to navigate their way home amid what appeared to be one of the biggest blackouts yet in a country where power failures have become common.
by Associated Press

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Amazon's latest retail shift means closing 87 pop-up kiosks

Amazon's latest retail shift means closing 87 pop-up kiosks

The giant online retailer is closing all of its U.S. pop-up kiosks, which let customers try and buy gadgets such as smart speakers and tablets. It's the latest change in Amazon's retail strategy.
by Avie Schneider

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Station: Suspect in Closs abduction says he'll plead guilty

Station: Suspect in Closs abduction says he'll plead guilty

KARE-TV reported Thursday that suspect Jake Patterson was replying to a letter from a station reporter. The station reported that Patterson wrote that he didn't want Jayme's family "to worry about a trial."
by Associated Press

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Judge dismisses porn star's hush money suit against Trump

Judge dismisses porn star's hush money suit against Trump

A federal judge on Thursday tossed out porn actress Stormy Daniels' lawsuit against President Trump that sought to tear up a hush-money settlement about their alleged affair.
by Associated Press

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Manafort sentenced to 47 months in prison

Manafort sentenced to 47 months in prison

The sentence in federal court followed Manafort's conviction in a bank and tax fraud trial last summer. The case involved Manafort's political work for powerful clients in Eastern Europe.
by Ryan Lucas and Miles Parks

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