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Stories from March 18, 2020

Minnesota Today

Coronavirus advice from Mayo Clinic doctor

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Minnesota Today

Coronavirus advice from Mayo Clinic

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Frustration and questions among some who are still in the workplace

Frustration and questions among some who are still in the workplace

While many Minnesotans are now working from home in the effort to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, a lot of people are still required to go to a place of employment. And many of them express their concerns.
by Euan Kerr

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Empty grocery shelves are alarming, but they're not permanent

Empty grocery shelves are alarming, but they're not permanent

The sudden spike in demand driven by the coronavirus pandemic has meant shortages at many stores. But retailers say products will return to shelves and urge customers to not panic or hoard items.
by Camila Domonoske

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MN House leaders confirm COVID-19 case

MN House leaders confirm COVID-19 case

An individual who works for the Minnesota House of Representatives has a presumed case of COVID-19.
by Tim Pugmire

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Coronavirus forces Census Bureau to suspend field operations until April 1

Coronavirus forces Census Bureau to suspend field operations until April 1

U.S. households can respond at my2020census.gov, over the phone or by paper. But to "protect the health and safety" of the public, the Census Bureau says it's pausing field operations for two weeks.
by Hansi Lo Wang

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COVID-19: Hard questions, real answers with Mayo Clinic

COVID-19: Hard questions, real answers with Mayo Clinic

Americans face a new reality as the new coronavirus continues to spread. As people adjust how they live, work and support their families, we put their questions in front of two doctors from Mayo Clinic.
by Kerri Miller and MPR News Staff

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Thursday rain to snow; some accumulation Thursday night

Thursday rain to snow; some accumulation Thursday night

A potent spring storm arrives Thursday. The system brings wind and soaking rains, followed by a shot of snow Thursday evening.
by Paul Huttner

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Coronavirus: U.S. Navy hospital ships to deploy to New York, West Coast

Coronavirus: U.S. Navy hospital ships to deploy to New York, West Coast

The pair of ships, the USNS Comfort and the USNS Mercy, will help local medical workers grapple with an influx of patients. But it remains unclear precisely when they will be ready to go.
by Colin Dwyer

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Many state employees urged to work from home

Many state employees urged to work from home

To reduce human contact during the COVID-19 fight, Gov. Tim Walz’s agencies have directed many state employees in jobs that can be done remotely to stay away from offices. It will have an impact on service delivery.
by Brian Bakst

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The power in aging well

The power in aging well

In a culture fascinated by youth, how do we prepare to age well? We spoke with a neuroscientist about how to make the most of our final decades.
by Kerri Miller, Marcheta Fornoff and Breann Schossow

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Electoral college 'not carved in stone:' Author advocates rethinking how we vote

Electoral college 'not carved in stone:' Author advocates rethinking how we vote

Jesse Wegman, author of “Let the People Pick the President,” says the Electoral College's winner-take-all rule is not mandated by the Constitution: "There's nothing keeping us from changing it."
by Terry Gross

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GOP moves to online party conventions

GOP moves to online party conventions

The Minnesota Republican Party and the DFL Party are both replacing local conventions with digital meetings, and are considering changes to their statewide conventions set for May.
by David H. Montgomery

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Americans' views on coronavirus, government response

Americans' views on coronavirus, government response

A recent poll from NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist College showed that Americans' trust is declining in the federal government and its response to the new coronavirus pandemic. We spoke with a pollster about public opinion on how the country is dealing with the continued spread of the respiratory virus.
by Kerri Miller and Breann Schossow

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Minn. health care workers raise concerns about coronavirus response

Minn. health care workers raise concerns about coronavirus response

Front-line medical workers say they’re concerned about how hospitals and other facilities are responding to the coronavirus outbreak. Many fear their own safety may be at risk and say if they are compromised, so is the community’s ability to address the pandemic.
by Jon Collins

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Minn. school districts brace for first day of online learning

Wednesday marks the first day schools are closed across the state. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer interviewed David Law, the superintendent responsible the state’s largest district, on how Anoka-Hennepin is responding to the pandemic.
by Cathy Wurzer

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Sanders reassessing his campaign after 3 more big Biden wins

Sanders reassessing his campaign after 3 more big Biden wins

Bernie Sanders was trying to determine his next moves on Wednesday, after Joe Biden swept to victory in Florida, Illinois and Arizona and seized a commanding lead in a Democratic presidential race upended by the coronavirus.
by The Associated Press

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A gray Wednesday, followed by a stronger storm Thursday

Lighter precipitation targets Minnesota Wednesday, then a potent storm brings the state rain, snow and wind Thursday and Friday.
by Nicole Mitchell

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Legislature to act on new coronavirus bill with others in works

Legislature to act on new coronavirus bill with others in works

It’s the fourth COVID-19 bill from Minnesota lawmakers and makes a range of policy adjustments. Despite bipartisan action so far, tensions over the strategy are simmering.
by Brian Bakst

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It's been one month since Minnesota's first COVID-19 case

It's been one month since Minnesota's first COVID-19 case

We’re only a few weeks into the COVID-19 outbreak, but already nearly everything about our daily lives has changed, from the way we work, shop and socialize to even the way our governor communicates with us.
by Mark Zdechlik

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Trump's economic rescue package could approach $1 trillion

Trump's economic rescue package could approach $1 trillion

In a massive federal effort, President Trump asked Congress to speed emergency checks to Americans, enlisted the military for MASH-like hospitals and implored ordinary people — particularly socially active millennials — to do their part by staying home to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
by The Associated Press

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Wednesday brings cloudy skies and light precipitation

Wednesday will be a gray day across Minnesota, with areas of drizzle, freezing drizzle and light snow. Temperatures will remain mild.
by Nicole Mitchell

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MN hospitals pause elective surgeries

Several health systems are postponing elective procedures amid the coronavirus crisis. The latest on COVID-19 in Minnesota for the morning of March 18, 2020, hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

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COVID-19 in Minnesota: 77 cases statewide; 1,700 samples await testing amid shortage

COVID-19 in Minnesota: 77 cases statewide; 1,700 samples await testing amid shortage

There are 77 cases confirmed via testing, but the state Health Department is seeing test supply shortages at “several levels,” so the virus is likely more widespread. Gov. Walz said he’s pleading with federal authorities for more help, adding that there are 1,700 samples frozen, awaiting testing, due to inadequate supplies.
by MPR News Staff

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Pence warns coronavirus outbreak could last 'well into July'

Pence warns coronavirus outbreak could last 'well into July'

In an interview with NPR, the vice president defended the administration's response to the coronavirus but acknowledged the government expects to be dealing with the crisis "for months."
by Jason Breslow

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5 takeaways, as Biden sweeps 3 more states

5 takeaways, as Biden sweeps 3 more states

Former Vice President Joe Biden won the Florida, Illinois and Arizona Democratic primaries all by double digits Tuesday. And he's building a delegate lead that may very well be insurmountable.
by Domenico Montanaro

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Many MN child care centers remain open, putting parents and workers in tough spot

Many MN child care centers remain open, putting parents and workers in tough spot

Whether to keep day cares open or order them to close is a lose-lose situation: Close child care centers and you leave families who can’t telecommute unable to find care for their young ones. Stay open and risk spreading the disease further.
by Riham Feshir

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Humankind documentary: 'Compassionate Nurses'

Humankind documentary: 'Compassionate Nurses'

Even in the best of times, nurses have repeated exposure to the pain, crisis and suffering of their patients. They work long hours in very challenging situations. This Humankind documentary explores the art of listening to patients and suggests ways nurses can avoid "compassion fatigue."
by MPR News Staff

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With 3 more victories, Biden pulls further away from Sanders

With 3 more victories, Biden pulls further away from Sanders

The former vice president's third big night in as many weeks came amid tremendous uncertainty confronting the Democratic contest as it collides with efforts to slow the spread of the virus that have shut down large swaths of American life.
by The Associated Press

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Son visits dad in assisted living, sits outside window after COVID-19 outbreak

Son visits dad in assisted living, sits outside window after COVID-19 outbreak

As many nursing homes and assisted living facilities across Minnesota close their doors to visitors amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Charlie Johnson, whose father is an assisted living resident, figured out how to continue seeing his 88-year-old father. He now sits outside the window of his father’s room, saying hello to him over the phone every day.
by Nina Moini

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Walz highlights need for business closures, more testing capacity to fight COVID-19

Walz highlights need for business closures, more testing capacity to fight COVID-19

Following an order by Gov. Tim Walz on Monday, every bar and restaurant in Minnesota was supposed to close their doors for 10 days in an effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus in the state. Walz told MPR News that it wasn't an easy decision, but he believes it is the right one.
by Peter Cox

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Walz signs farm and disaster aid; expansion of Highway 14

Walz signs farm and disaster aid; expansion of Highway 14

The money will allow the state to convert the 12 miles from Nicollet and New Ulm to four lanes from the current two, providing four lanes all the way from New Ulm to Winona. The state will provide the other half of the funding for the $74 million project.
by The Associated Press

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