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Stories from March 20, 2020

Coronavirus forces pregnant women to change birth plans

Coronavirus forces pregnant women to change birth plans

As the number of COVID-19 cases mounts in Minnesota, pregnant women and their medical teams are scrambling to adjust their plans for prenatal care, labor and delivery and postpartum follow-up.
by Catharine Richert

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Price gouging outlawed for pandemic in Minnesota

Minnesota’s case count climbed to 115 and two people are in intensive care. The latest on COVID-19 for March 20, 2020, hosted by Nina Moini.

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Wisconsin Gov. Evers: More deaths to come in the state from coronavirus

Wisconsin Gov. Evers: More deaths to come in the state from coronavirus

In a continued effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, Evers on Friday ordered all nail and hair salons, barbers, spas, tanning and tattoo parlors to be closed as of 5 p.m. Evers says, “Things will get worse before they get better.” Wisconsin logged its third death on Friday.
by The Associated Press

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Amid COVID-19 pandemic, small businesses try to find new ways to stay afloat

Amid COVID-19 pandemic, small businesses try to find new ways to stay afloat

As restaurants, bars and myriad other businesses are forced to shut their doors to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus in Minnesota, workers and owners come up with some creative, unprecedented ways to cope with the reality.
by Tarkor Zehn

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Illinois and New York join California in ordering lockdowns

Illinois and New York join California in ordering lockdowns

Illinois and New York state joined California on Friday in ordering all residents to stay in their homes unless they have vital reasons to go out, undertaking the most sweeping efforts yet in the U.S. to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
by The Associated Press

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How the novel coronavirus and the flu are alike — and different

How the novel coronavirus and the flu are alike — and different

There are definitely similarities between COVID-19, caused by the coronavirus, and influenza. But there are critical differences as well, including the death rate.
by Pien Huang

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Fun things to do while social distancing

Fun things to do while social distancing

Here are some quarantine-friendly activities to make your downtime better.
by Cody Nelson

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Politics Friday: Sen. Tina Smith talks federal response to coronavirus

Politics Friday: Sen. Tina Smith talks federal response to coronavirus

How are the U.S. House and Senate working together to provide relief to worried and financially vulnerable Americans? Minnesota U.S. Sen. Tina Smith talked about how things are going on Capitol Hill and what we might expect in the way of COVID-19 response in the coming weeks.
by Mike Mulcahy and Katie Moritz

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America's shopping list: Here's what we're buying the most

America's shopping list: Here's what we're buying the most

Thermometers and cleaning supplies are seeing spikes in demand, predictably — but now so are snacks and perishable food items. See the latest rundown of what's been selling.
by Camila Domonoske

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U.S. stocks are diving again. Dow drops 900 points

U.S. stocks are diving again. Dow drops 900 points

The Dow and other U.S. stock indexes fell sharply Friday afternoon after inching up earlier. That left the market poised to resume its downward trend amid the coronavirus crisis.
by Avie Schneider

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Officials: Coronavirus shouldn’t upend Minnesota road construction

Officials: Coronavirus shouldn’t upend Minnesota road construction

Minnesota officials say the road construction season should stay on track, with reduced traffic allowing crews to do some jobs more quickly.
by Brian Bakst

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Weekend forecast: cool Saturday, milder Sunday

Our weekend will start out chilly, but temperatures will recover on Sunday. We have details on which areas may see some weekend rain/snow showers, plus an updated Minnesota snow depth map.
by Ron Trenda

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From Mexico to Northfield, MN: New film reflects on meaning of ‘home’

From Mexico to Northfield, MN: New film reflects on meaning of ‘home’

“Ways of Being Home” deals with Northfield's surprising and often invisible connection to another small, agricultural community nearly two thousand miles away, in Mexico.
by Cathy Wurzer

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New restrictions coming on travel between U.S., Mexico

New restrictions coming on travel between U.S., Mexico

The U.S. and Mexico have been working on plans to limit cross-border traffic, according to officials on both sides of the border. The plan is expected to look much like restrictions already announced on all-but-essential travel and trade between the U.S. and Canada.
by The Associated Press

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Income tax filing deadline moved to July 15 from April 15

Income tax filing deadline moved to July 15 from April 15

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced the decision in a tweet Friday saying that at President Trump's direction "we are moving Tax Day from April 15 to July 15. All taxpayers and businesses will have this additional time to file and make payments without interest or penalties."
by The Associated Press

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Spring storm brings significant precipitation to much of the state

Retired University of Minnesota climatologist Mark Seeley joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about moderating temperatures this month, and a revised outlook for a warmer and wetter spring.
by Cathy Wurzer

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'Huge effort' at the U to accelerate research around COVID-19

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer talks with Tim Schacker, vice dean for research at the University of Minnesota Medical School.
by Cathy Wurzer

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Senator asks for ethics probe into his own stock sales

Senator asks for ethics probe into his own stock sales

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr is asking for an ethics probe in response to criticism that he sold off as much as $1.7 million in stocks just before the market dropped in February amid coronavirus fears.
by The Associated Press

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Sunshine returns, but Friday remains cold

The storm that brought rain and snow to Minnesota on Thursday has moved out leaving higher winds and colder weather in its wake.
by Nicole Mitchell

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Trump's team, senators to negotiate $1T economic rescue deal

Trump's team, senators to negotiate $1T economic rescue deal

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell unveiled the Republican opening offer to pump $1,200 direct checks to taxpayers, $300 billion for small businesses to keep idled workers on payroll and $208 billion in loans to airlines and other industries.
by The Associated Press

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Wis. sees COVID-19 deaths as virus continues spread

So far, 89 Minnesota And in Minnesota, testing supplies remain limited as the case count climbed to 89 — though the actual number is likely much higher. The latest on COVID-19 for the morning of March 20, 2020, hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

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U.S. orders up to a yearlong break on mortgage payments

U.S. orders up to a yearlong break on mortgage payments

The federal government is telling lenders to lower or suspend mortgage payments for up to 12 months for homeowners who have lost income due to the coronavirus outbreak.
by Chris Arnold

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March 20 update on COVID-19 in MN: 115 cases confirmed, no shelter-in-place yet

March 20 update on COVID-19 in MN: 115 cases confirmed, no shelter-in-place yet

As the case number grows, Gov. Tim Walz has signed an executive order banning price gouging. The governor also says he's not ready yet for a shelter-in-place order, but "it is a possibility."
by MPR News Staff

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Senior meal plans adjust, add deliveries as centers close amid COVID-19

Senior meal plans adjust, add deliveries as centers close amid COVID-19

Organizations across the state that provide meals for senior citizens are scrambling as places where people gather for meals are shutting down and there’s more demand for home delivery.
by Dan Gunderson

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Injuries. Trolls. Her own nerves. Gymnast Sunisa Lee battles them all in Olympic quest

Injuries. Trolls. Her own nerves. Gymnast Sunisa Lee battles them all in Olympic quest

Concerns about the coronavirus are threatening to cancel the Tokyo Olympics, but Sunisa Lee of St. Paul can’t let that thought deter her. She’s been preparing for the games for most of her life. If she earns a spot, she’ll become the first Minnesota gymnast in more than 30 years to make the lineup — and the first Hmong American athlete ever to represent the United States at the Olympics.
by Nancy Yang

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California issues 'stay at home' order as coronavirus infections rise

California issues 'stay at home' order as coronavirus infections rise

The directive is the widest-ranging so far of any state grappling with the growing COVID-19 epidemic. Gov. Gavin Newsom said he was confident that Californians would comply.
by Scott Neuman

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First 2 deaths in Wisconsin from COVID-19; cases soar

First 2 deaths in Wisconsin from COVID-19; cases soar

The news came as the number of confirmed cases continued to grow and the outbreak reached inside a state prison for the first time. Gov. Tony Evers said the dead were two men, one in his 50s.
by The Associated Press

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