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Stories from April 3, 2020

Ice out moving rapidly north this spring

Ice is out three to four weeks earlier than the past two years on many Minnesota lakes. Ice out moving rapidly north this spring.
by Paul Huttner

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New state website tracks disease spread, medical supplies

Governor Tim Walz announced a new state website today, allowing the public to track COVID-19 cases as well as available medical supplies and ICU beds. MPR News evening update for April 3, 2020. Hosted by Nina Moini and Britta Greene.

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Journalist Gloria Steinem on activism, patriarchy and political power

Journalist Gloria Steinem on activism, patriarchy and political power

Feminist activist and journalist Gloria Steinem recently joined MPR News host Kerri Miller for a frank and wide-ranging conversation about patriarchy in the past and present; the status of the Equal Rights Amendment today; and what it would take for a woman to hold the office of president.
by Kerri Miller and Breann Schossow

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Trump says hospitals will be reimbursed for treating the uninsured

Trump says hospitals will be reimbursed for treating the uninsured

Hospitals will be reimbursed by the federal government through the historic economic relief package to treat uninsured patients infected with the coronavirus, the president said.
by Barbara Sprunt

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Scientists probe how coronavirus might travel through the air

Scientists probe how coronavirus might travel through the air

Simply talking could produce tiny particles of mucus and saliva that might carry the coronavirus, experts say. How much these airborne particles matter for the spread of this disease is controversial.
by Nell Greenfieldboyce

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Brighter weekend ahead; a shot at 70 by Tuesday?

Brighter weekend ahead; a shot at 70 by Tuesday?

Our wintry Friday interlude gives way to the warmest air mass of 2020 so far next week.
by Paul Huttner

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3M CEO defends Maplewood-based company against Trump Twitter attack

3M CEO defends Maplewood-based company against Trump Twitter attack

Maplewood-based 3M CEO Mike Roman told MPR News that the manufacturing company is doing everything it can to get as many respirator masks to Americans as possible. The comments came after President Trump took to Twitter Thursday and questioned its performance.
by Tom Crann and Martin Moylan

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Zencasts: Mindfulness during a pandemic with Dr. Mary Freitag

Zencasts: Mindfulness during a pandemic with Dr. Mary Freitag

Follow along as Dr. Mary Freitag leads mindfulness meditation exercises to help reduce stress, accompanied by scenes and sounds of birds from Wolsfeld Woods Science and Natural Area.
by Evan Frost

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Wintry mix update; weekend weather looks pleasant

We have an update on who will see a wintry mix Friday afternoon, and a look at Minnesota snow totals. You’ll probably like the updated weekend forecast.
by Ron Trenda

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Change to death certificates could boost COVID-19 counts

Change to death certificates could boost COVID-19 counts

In a change, more respiratory-related deaths will be presumed to be linked to coronavirus even without a positive test.
by Brian Bakst

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Audio postcard: Searching for early spring wildflowers

Audio postcard: Searching for early spring wildflowers

This year’s first bloom report comes to us from a stretch of prairie in Cannon Falls, Minn, where wildflower hunters Kelly Povo and Phyllis Root went looking for tiny purple pasqueflowers, an early sign of spring.
by Cathy Wurzer

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Slammed by Trump, 3M says N95 mask exports from U.S. should continue

Slammed by Trump, 3M says N95 mask exports from U.S. should continue

The president and others have criticized 3M, with some officials alleging profiteering during the COVID-19 pandemic. But the company says cutting exports would be a mistake.
by Bill Chappell

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'Lean On Me,' 'Lovely Day' singer Bill Withers dies at 81

'Lean On Me,' 'Lovely Day' singer Bill Withers dies at 81

Bill Withers, who wrote and sang a string of soulful songs in the 1970s that have stood the test of time, including " Lean On Me, " "Lovely Day" and "Ain't No Sunshine," has died from heart complications, his family said in a statement to The Associated Press. He was 81.
by The Associated Press

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Rain, ice, snow slowly clear out Friday; sun Saturday

A potent spring storm has left lingering areas of rain, freezing rain, and snow across Minnesota Friday. By Saturday, temperatures start to rebound and sunshine prevails.
by Nicole Mitchell

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Mark Seeley: A warm and wild start to April

Retired University of Minnesota climatologist Mark Seeley joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about this week’s winter storm, which delivered snow, sleet and ice to western areas of the state.
by Cathy Wurzer

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Why modeling COVID-19 is such a challenge

One of the most difficult aspects of daily life right now is the degree to which the future is unknown. Researchers are scrambling to model various outcomes for this pandemic, but the truth is it's an incredibly difficult task.
by Cathy Wurzer

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Amazon worker describes what it's like to fulfill orders at Shakopee warehouse right now

Online shopping seems like a great solution these days. While you're stuck at home — and trying to avoid human contact — why not have things like paper towels, markers and pens delivered straight to your door?
by Cathy Wurzer

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U.S. sheds 701,000 jobs, ending a record-long hiring streak

U.S. sheds 701,000 jobs, ending a record-long hiring streak

Last month's actual job loss was likely even larger because the government surveyed employers before the heaviest layoffs hit in the past two week. Nearly 10 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits in the last two weeks of March, far exceeding the figure for any corresponding period on record.
by The Associated Press

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Ships with coronavirus patients dock in Florida

Ships with coronavirus patients dock in Florida

The Zaandam and a sister ship sent to help it, the Rotterdam, were allowed to unload passengers at Port Everglades after working out a detailed agreement with officials who feared it would divert needed resources from a region that has seen a spike in virus cases.
by The Associated Press

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Areas of snow and ice are causing a slow start Friday

Behind a strong cold front, more of the precipitation across Minnesota is switching from rain to areas of freezing rain and snow.
by Nicole Mitchell

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Unemployment claims in Minnesota leveling off

DEED Commissioner Steve Grove says that Minnesota is one of only four states to see fewer claims this week than last week. MPR News morning update for April 3, 2020. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

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A must for millions, Zoom has a dark side — and an FBI warning

A must for millions, Zoom has a dark side — and an FBI warning

Federal and state law enforcement are asking questions about Zoom's security and privacy policies, as millions flock to the videoconferencing service for meetings, classes and social gatherings.
by Shannon Bond

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Ventilator shortages loom as states ponder rules for rationing

Ventilator shortages loom as states ponder rules for rationing

Many states are projected to have excessive demand for ventilator machines in the coming weeks, but no state government has formally asked hospitals to prepare for difficult and complex crisis triage.
by Martin Kaste and Rebecca Hersher

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Minnesota women applying for unemployment at higher rates than men

Minnesota women applying for unemployment at higher rates than men

State employment officials say more women have applied for unemployment insurance related to the COVID-19 pandemic than men over the past few weeks.
by Nina Moini

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U of M designers build prototypes to fill the urgent need for masks, ventilators

U of M designers build prototypes to fill the urgent need for masks, ventilators

Minnesota is expecting a surge of COVID-19 cases in the weeks ahead and hospitals are using this time to prepare. But they’re competing with hospitals all over the world for a limited supply of medical and protective equipment. The University of Minnesota is trying to fill some of the urgent need for masks and ventilators with handmade solutions.
by Tim Nelson

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