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Stories from March 13, 2020

How 'Med City' prepares for pandemic

How 'Med City' prepares for pandemic

In Rochester, a city dominated by health care, health and local officials are facing some unique challenges when it comes to preparing for COVID-19.
by Catharine Richert

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Why predicting COVID-19 is like forecasting with a broken weather model

Why predicting COVID-19 is like forecasting with a broken weather model

Accurately forecasting how the novel coronavirus will evolve in the U.S. is highly uncertain. One analogy is like forecasting an incoming storm with a broken weather forecast model.
by Paul Huttner

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Minneapolis City Council OKs deal to close Minnesota's last Kmart

Minneapolis City Council OKs deal to close Minnesota's last Kmart

The Minneapolis City Council on Friday approved the termination of its lease agreement with Kmart. The city will pay more than $9 million to end the contract the city signed more than 40 years ago.
by Brandt Williams

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Placid weekend coming; seasonable temperatures into next week

Placid weekend coming; seasonable temperatures into next week

A split flow pattern will persist into next week and keep the main storm tracks mostly to our south and north. Snow could fall across northernmost Minnesota from later on Sunday into Monday. Our temperatures between the tracks will be rather seasonable.
by Bill Endersen

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Coronavirus symptoms: Defining mild, moderate and severe

Coronavirus symptoms: Defining mild, moderate and severe

These designations are often used to describe a patient's COVID-19 symptoms. At this stage of the outbreak, there aren't standard definitions, but there are preliminary guidelines.
by Fran Kritz and Pien Huang

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Wisconsin governor orders all public schools to close

Wisconsin governor orders all public schools to close

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers is ordering all public schools in the state to close in hopes of slowing the spread of the new coronavirus. The governor's drastic move Friday will affect nearly a million students and their families.
by The Associated Press

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Minnesota DNR: Wild deer in Dakota County tests positive for CWD

Minnesota DNR: Wild deer in Dakota County tests positive for CWD

A wild deer in Dakota County has tested positive for chronic wasting disease, the first case of the fatal brain disease discovered in that area of Minnesota, state wildlife officials said Friday.
by The Associated Press

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Coronavirus and parenting: What you need to know now

Coronavirus and parenting: What you need to know now

The coronavirus is raising a lot of questions for parents, from how to talk to children about it to weathering school closures to screen time strategies when you're home with little ones.
by Cory Turner and Anya Kamenetz

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To blunt COVID-19, in-person visits suspended at Minnesota prisons

To blunt COVID-19, in-person visits suspended at Minnesota prisons

The Department of Corrections announced the cancellation of in-person visitation and a list of other changes meant to help keep COVID-19 from inside prisons.
by Nina Moini

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What’s happening to how we work?

What’s happening to how we work?

Employees are doing more with less in an increasingly technological world. We talk with two occupation and management experts about how the idea of the “good job” has changed and what it means for workers with the continued spread of the novel strain of coronavirus and in the future.
by Chris Farrell and Breann Schossow

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Politics Friday: What is the Minnesota government doing to stop coronavirus?

Politics Friday: What is the Minnesota government doing to stop coronavirus?

This week, the Legislature signed a nearly $21 million spending bill to pay for coronavirus-related expenses. The cosponsors of the bill talked about what the money will be used for and how the state is planning to help its citizens during the pandemic.
by Mike Mulcahy and Katie Moritz

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Walz advises no gatherings over 250 people as MN COVID-19 cases hit 14

Walz advises no gatherings over 250 people as MN COVID-19 cases hit 14

Gov. Tim Walz Friday declared a “peacetime emergency” and laid out plans to curb the spread of coronavirus but did not order schools or the Capitol closed. The moves come as 14 Minnesotans have now tested positive for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus.
by Brian Bakst

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51 invasive carp caught in Mississippi River near La Crosse

51 invasive carp caught in Mississippi River near La Crosse

It’s the largest number found so far upstream in the Mississippi. No breeding populations have been detected in Minnesota waters to date, although a DNR official says it’s too early to say whether that’s changed given this most recent discovery.
by Kirsti Marohn

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No hoops tourneys, but MN high school spring sports not yet canceled

The Minnesota State High School League had hoped to continue the girls tournament, which was set to run through Saturday. But officials Friday morning shut it down in response to coronavirus concerns. Later, the league unveiled plans to salvage the rest of the spring season.
by MPR News Staff

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Weekend weather: Quiet, with flakes possible Sunday in far northwest

We won’t have any big weather drama in Minnesota or western Wisconsin this weekend. Details on our weekend weather, and the snowstorm that will pass to our south. We also have an updated Minnesota snow cover map.
by Ron Trenda

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Mark Seeley: Minnesota's March in like a lamb

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer talked with retired University of Minnesota climatologist and meteorologist about a warm and dry trend this March.
by Cathy Wurzer

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Dow soars nearly 2,000 points in rebound from biggest drop since 1987

Dow soars nearly 2,000 points in rebound from biggest drop since 1987

The Dow Jones Industrial Average and other major stock indexes jumped as Congress prepared a measure to help cushion the economic blow of the coronavirus. But stocks later retreated from their highs.
by Avie Schneider

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M Health Fairview: Containment key to preserve hospital beds, equipment

M Health Fairview: Containment key to preserve hospital beds, equipment

A critical concern as COVID-19 spreads here in Minnesota is whether our healthcare system is prepared. M Health Fairview, which operates dozens of hospitals and clinics across the state, will be among those tested by the virus. Associate Chief Nurse Executive Linda Wick is leading that system’s response. She spoke with MPR News host Cathy Wurzer Friday morning.
by Cathy Wurzer

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Robbinsdale closes schools over COVID-19 concerns

The suburban district, with about 12,000 students, is the first in the state to close its schools in response to coronavirus fears. It joins thousands of other schools nationwide.
by Tim Nelson

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Facebook takedowns reveal sophistication of Russian trolls

Facebook takedowns reveal sophistication of Russian trolls

Facebook and Twitter revealed evidence Thursday suggesting that Russian efforts to interfere in the U.S. presidential election are getting more sophisticated and harder to detect.
by The Associated Press

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Some Friday sunshine, breezy and cool

Our Friday will be cooler than average, and it’ll be breezy. We have the details.
by Ron Trenda

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MPR News Update

March 13. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

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Census 2020: Minn. cities move to make sure renters get counted

Census 2020: Minn. cities move to make sure renters get counted

State officials say renters are the most under-counted group in Minnesota. And those residents could make the difference in determining whether the state holds on to an eighth Congressional seat.
by Dan Kraker

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St. Paul educators reach tentative contract deal, call off strike

St. Paul educators reach tentative contract deal, call off strike

The union representing and the district announced they had reached a tentative settlement at about 3 a.m. this morning. The union told members to report to work this afternoon, although schools will remain closed Friday.
by Tim Nelson

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Wife of Canada's Trudeau tests positive for coronavirus

Wife of Canada's Trudeau tests positive for coronavirus

The office of the prime minister said Thursday that Sophie Grégoire Trudeau had began experiencing a low-grade fever and other mild flu-like symptoms, prompting the test.
by Scott Neuman

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Head of U.S. Soccer resigns amid pay dispute with women's national team

Head of U.S. Soccer resigns amid pay dispute with women's national team

The resignation of Carlos Cordeiro, who served for two years as the president of the governing body, is effective immediately. He is replaced by the federation's vice president, Cindy Parlow Cone.
by Scott Neuman

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Rural towns insulated from coronavirus now may take a harder hit later

Rural towns insulated from coronavirus now may take a harder hit later

The coronavirus will likely take longer to reach remote rural communities but may be more devastating. Though there may not be public transit or big crowds, rural areas are vulnerable in other ways.
by Frank Morris

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COVID-19 danger: People with compromised immune systems are at risk

COVID-19 danger: People with compromised immune systems are at risk

The threat of the novel coronavirus has become real for many Americans over the last few days and weeks. But for those with underlying health issues, it has been even more intense.
by Peter Cox

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Minnesota DFL, GOP scale back political activity amid coronavirus concern

Minnesota DFL, GOP scale back political activity amid coronavirus concern

State DFLers and Republicans are postponing endorsing conventions, effectively suspending decisions in key political contests for a month or more. The DFL is also cutting back on in-person contact with voters.
by Brian Bakst

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Public health experts question Trump's ban on most travelers from Europe

Public health experts question Trump's ban on most travelers from Europe

A key medical adviser to the president on COVID-19 defends the travel restrictions as "the right public health call." But others dismiss the move as "remarkably pointless" or, potentially, dangerous.
by Jason Beaubien

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This young chess champion is 'not scared of anything on that board'

This young chess champion is 'not scared of anything on that board'

Tani Adewumi's family fled Nigeria after being threatened by Boko Haram. They were living in a homeless shelter when Tani won the primary division at the New York State Scholastic Chess Championship.
by Elizabeth Blair

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