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Stories from February 4, 2020

MPR News Update

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Plentiful sunshine Wednesday, then clouds and snow return

We will see another cold start Wednesday followed by a pleasant afternoon. A couple rounds of snow target the state later this week and weekend.
by Nicole Mitchell

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Rochester Civic Theatre financial situation prompts tough questions from City Council

Rochester Civic Theatre financial situation prompts tough questions from City Council

When the Rochester Civic Theatre announced that its executive director had resigned, board members said it was because he wanted to spend more time with this family in Wisconsin. But new details about the theater’s finances raised additional questions about who is ultimately responsible for the theater’s financial health.
by Catharine Richert

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Catholic Church orders more inquiry into Minnesota bishop

Roman Catholic Church leaders in Rome have authorized more investigation into claims that a northern Minnesota bishop interfered with earlier investigations into clerical sexual misconduct with children.
by The Associated Press

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What we know about the app that delayed Iowa's caucus results

What we know about the app that delayed Iowa's caucus results

Iowa Democratic Party officials said a new smartphone app designed to speed the results actually ended up delaying them. Last month, NPR reported on security and other concerns with the app.
by Avie Schneider

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Early Iowa numbers suggest a tough road ahead for Klobuchar

Early Iowa numbers suggest a tough road ahead for Klobuchar

If the numbers hold true once everything's counted, Amy Klobuchar does not move on to New Hampshire in the top tier of candidates.
by Mark Zdechlik

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MPR News Update

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Senate so far split neatly along party lines on impeachment

Senate so far split neatly along party lines on impeachment

The Senate is so far cleaving neatly along party lines in advance of Wednesday's virtually certain votes to acquit President Trump on two impeachment charges, with just two or three undecided members even considering breaking with their party.
by The Associated Press

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Iowa disaster has Nevada Dems evaluating their caucus plan

Iowa disaster has Nevada Dems evaluating their caucus plan

Iowa Democrats’ botched deployment of a mobile app to tabulate results from their caucuses led other early states to try to reassure the public about their plans for the presidential primary.
by The Associated Press

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A widow, not a wife: 'Smacked' explores an ex-husband's secret addiction

A widow, not a wife: 'Smacked' explores an ex-husband's secret addiction

Eilene Zimmerman didn't learn of her ex-husband's addiction to cocaine and opioids until after his death. "This had happened in front of us, and we hadn't recognized it," she says.
by Terry Gross

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'No longer a friend': Ukrainians are losing faith in the U.S.

'No longer a friend': Ukrainians are losing faith in the U.S.

"America used to be a beacon of freedom, liberty and anti-corruption efforts. Now a lot of Ukrainians feel like ... we are by ourselves," says a Ukrainian political commentator.
by Lucian Kim

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Buttigieg, Sanders lead as Iowa releases partial results; Klobuchar in fifth

Buttigieg, Sanders lead as Iowa releases partial results; Klobuchar in fifth

The early results show former Midwestern Mayor Pete Buttigieg and fiery progressive Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders leading the opening contest in the party's 2020 primary season. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, former Vice President Joe Biden and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar were trailing in the tally of State Delegate Equivalents.
by The Associated Press

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Who is Veronica Escobar? She will deliver Spanish State of the Union response

Who is Veronica Escobar? She will deliver Spanish State of the Union response

The first-term Democrat from El Paso, Texas, was thrust into the spotlight last year because of the Trump administration's immigration policies and a mass shooting that targeted Latinos.
by Mallory Falk

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Reaction to technology challenges in the Iowa caucuses

Reaction to technology challenges in the Iowa caucuses

Technology issues and reporting “inconsistencies” delayed the release of the Iowa caucus results; meanwhile, the candidates are on the road to New Hampshire. We check in with an Iowa political scientist about what’s ahead as state officials deal with the issues.
by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

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Democratic convention host committee leaders put on leave

Democratic convention host committee leaders put on leave

The two leaders of Milwaukee's host committee for the 2020 Democratic National Convention have been placed on leave pending an investigation into allegations that they oversaw a toxic work environment, a letter sent to staff working on planning the event revealed.
by Scott Bauer, The Associated Press

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In Ben Passmore's latest, 'Sports Is Hell' and the world is on fire

In Ben Passmore's latest, 'Sports Is Hell' and the world is on fire

Passmore's timely new graphic novel is set in an unnamed city whose football team has just won the Super Bowl, setting off fiery riots. It's a biting satire of political action, race and capitalism.
by Etelka Lehoczky

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Cold and sunny for Tuesday; snow returns by Thursday

More cold air moved into the state Tuesday. By Wednesday afternoon our temperatures return to average or above for all of Minnesota. Light snow will move in on Thursday.
by Nicole Mitchell

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Fact check: Bracing for Trump's 'relentless optimism'

Fact check: Bracing for Trump's 'relentless optimism'

The most jagged edges of President Trump's day-to-day rhetoric may be sanded at the edges Tuesday night. No speech is more carefully prepared than the State of the Union. Even so, he's prone to exaggeration and sometimes fiction. If his past speeches to Congress are prologue, buyer beware.
by The Associated Press

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In second Line 3 approval, state regulators take up safety, spills — and climate change

In second Line 3 approval, state regulators take up safety, spills — and climate change

Minnesota utility regulators have once again given their blessing to Line 3, the oil pipeline replacement project Enbridge Energy has proposed for northern Minnesota — but not before having a sometimes heated discussion about the project's impact on climate change.
by Dan Kraker

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Tuesday brings the coldest weather in 2 weeks

Tuesday is off to a bitterly cold start for most of the state, but the day will bring plenty of sunshine across Minnesota.
by Nicole Mitchell

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MPR News Update

February 4. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

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What went wrong: Tech problem with mobile app causes Iowa caucus chaos

What went wrong: Tech problem with mobile app causes Iowa caucus chaos

Some caucus organizers were forced to call in results for the state party to record manually, introducing delays and the possibility for human error. Iowa Democratic Party Chair Troy Price says the delays were not the result of a hack or intrusion. The party said it expects to release unofficial results later Tuesday after manually verifying its data against paper backups.
by The Associated Press

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In a dark future, these 'Upright Women' bring hope

In a dark future, these 'Upright Women' bring hope

Sarah Gailey's new novella is set in a dystopian future where the United States resembles the Old West, and bands of women on horseback distribute government-approved media to distant villages.
by Jason Heller

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Democrats have no Iowa caucus results, blame 'coding issue'

Democrats have no Iowa caucus results, blame 'coding issue'

In a statement, the Iowa Democratic Party blamed a “coding issue in the reporting system” that it said has since been fixed. State party officials said “our plan is to release results as soon as possible” later Tuesday.
by The Associated Press

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Advocates eye community land trusts to increase access to homeownership

Advocates eye community land trusts to increase access to homeownership

The 13 nonprofit community land trusts throughout the state collectively have 1,250 homes in their portfolios. One land trust in Minneapolis mostly serves households that make between $25,000 and $50,000 a year.
by Martin Moylan

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With Iowa results unknown, Klobuchar moves on to New Hampshire

With Iowa results unknown, Klobuchar moves on to New Hampshire

Sen. Amy Klobuchar will campaign for president in New Hampshire Tuesday, after delayed results in Iowa left the slate of candidates unchanged.
by Brian Bakst

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Cottage Grove school officer charged with sexual misconduct

A Cottage Grove police officer is facing charges after prosecutors say he inappropriately touched students at Park High School.
by Matt Sepic

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Super Bowl halftime show draws praise, tears from U.S. Latinos

Super Bowl halftime show draws praise, tears from U.S. Latinos

Some said Sunday's show draped itself in Hollywood tropes of female sexuality. But it also contained subtle political messages about children in cages, Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria and the urge to be heard.
by The Associated Press

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Why the world cares more about the new coronavirus than the flu

Why the world cares more about the new coronavirus than the flu

Every year, viruses like influenza kill hundreds of thousands worldwide — yet countries don't respond with lockdowns or airport screenings. Here's why they're doing so over the coronavirus outbreak.
by Nurith Aizenman

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Online misinformation fuels doubt as 2020 vote kicks off

Online misinformation fuels doubt as 2020 vote kicks off

The state's Republican secretary of state has criticized a conservative group for using old statistics and bad math to make a false claim about voter fraud. Some supporters of Democrat Bernie Sanders have taken to social media to spread unfounded speculation that the caucus would be rigged to ensure Sanders loses.
by The Associated Press

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Woman in fatal bus crash pleads guilty to illegal reentry

Woman in fatal bus crash pleads guilty to illegal reentry

Federal prosecutors say a Guatemalan woman who was deported after she was convicted in a 2008 school bus crash that killed four children in southwestern Minnesota has pleaded guilty to illegally reentering the United States.
by The Associated Press

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Klobuchar's claims about black teen's case draw criticism

Klobuchar's claims about black teen's case draw criticism

Civil rights activists and legal experts are challenging Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s claims that she was unaware of questionable evidence and police tactics used to send a young black teen to prison for life when she was a top Minneapolis prosecutor.
by Robin McDowell

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