Stories from April 13, 2020

Trump officials ask to delay census data for voting districts, House seats
The Census Bureau is asking Congress to change the legal deadlines for numbers used to redistribute congressional seats and Electoral College votes, as well as data used to redraw voting districts.
Walz names Segal chief judge of MN appeals court
Segal will serve the rest of retiring Chief Judge Edward Cleary's term, which expires on Oct. 31, 2022. Segal becomes the second woman to serve as chief judge in the appeals court's 36-year history.
Voters reject Trump's pick in chaotic Wisconsin court race; Biden wins Democratic primary
The absentee-ballot-fueled victory by liberal Supreme Court candidate Jill Karofsky was a huge win for Democrats. It reduced conservative control of the court to 4-3, giving liberals a chance to take control in 2023.
Indie booksellers turn virtual in response to pandemic
Many small bookstores are being nimble during the pandemic as they try to serve customers, even as they try to keep their heads above water.
MPR News update for the evening of April 13, 2020. Hosted by Britta Greene and Tim Nelson.
How long does it take to recover from COVID-19?
If you have COVID-19 or suspect you do, here's what doctors say about what to expect and when you can stop isolating.
A pound of flour to go? Restaurants are selling groceries now
Some restaurants are adding toilet paper, fresh vegetables and other staples to their menus. They rely on different supply chains than grocery stores, so there's still plenty of yeast to be had.
Trump and Fauci seek to present united front at coronavirus briefing
President Trump and the leading immunologist on the White House coronavirus task force attempted to present a united front Monday, following speculation of a shakeup within the federal pandemic response effort.
March flashback continues; 60s return this weekend
Our latest April snow blast left another swath of snow across the Upper Midwest. A pattern change brings milder air again in a few days.
Ex-NFL quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, 36, dies in car crash
Former NFL quarterback Tarvaris Jackson has died in a one-car crash outside Montgomery, authorities said Monday. He was 36. Jackson was hired as quarterbacks coach for Tennessee State last season after a 10-year NFL career with the Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills.
How to get your $1,200 emergency payment faster  — But watch out for debt collectors
The federal government has begun sending $1,200 checks to millions of Americans. But some who need the money the most may have trouble actually getting it, and debt collectors may want it too.
Is it ethical to shop during a pandemic?
We are buying almost everything online right now. And stores are encouraging this — to slow the spread of COVID-19. But they’re also offering sales and discounts in hopes that we buy more. Is it ethical to take advantage, knowing that workers packaging up your recent purchases in warehouses and people delivering those items to your home could be at risk of getting sick?
Bernie Sanders endorses Joe Biden for president
Sanders suspended his own campaign last week after determining his path to victory was "virtually impossible."
The latest on the science of the novel coronavirus
As COVID-19 cases increase, researchers continue to chase down leads about how to improve treatment and find a vaccine. We spoke with two researchers to understand the latest on the novel coronavirus.
 Immigrant families face complex challenges with Minnesota’s distance learning
Many immigrant and refugee families are navigating distance learning while trying to find the right support needed to succeed online. Some have limited English proficiency, no formal education or internet access, and even lack the understanding of how to work on a computer.
Community health centers fear extinction just as need rises
With 6 million jobless claims across America last week alone, federally-backed community health centers are bracing for a perfect storm of increased demand at a time when it’s uncertain if they’ll be able to keep the lights on.
How to be a science communicator during a pandemic
Information — both real and fake — is readily available, especially regarding the novel coronavirus. But how do you determine what’s real and how do you share information responsibly? We get advice from a science communicator.
Amazon puts new grocery-delivery customers on hold as demand explodes
The company also plans to hire 75,000 additional workers. And it says it will devote some hours at Whole Foods to online orders only and make other changes to keep up with a crush of demand.
MPR News host Cathy Wurzer talked with Eden Worden and Frances Atmore for more on what the past few weeks have been like. Worden is a senior at Brainerd High School, and Atmore attends Highland Park High School in St. Paul.
The Legislature is set to work again this week; counting Latinos in the census in the age of the coronavirus
Coronavirus pandemic brings hundreds of U.S. clinical trials to a halt
COVID-19 has led to the suspension of many clinical studies of experimental treatments. About a quarter of the stopped trials involved new cancer treatments, an NPR analysis finds.
After another round of light snow Monday, the weather becomes much quieter for the rest of the week, but temperatures remain cold.
Their main order of business? Voting on a new COVID-19 relief bill. MPR News morning update for April 13, 2020. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.
Temperatures Monday will be well below average, and it will stay windy with light snow moving across the state.
Easter storms sweep South, killing at least 19 people
Severe weather has swept across the South, killing at least 19 people and damaging hundreds of homes from Louisiana into the Appalachian Mountains. Many people spent part of the night early Monday sheltering in basements, closets and bathroom tubs as sirens wailed to warn of possible tornadoes.
Fauci comments on U.S. virus response seem to draw Trump's ire
The United States' top infectious disease expert said that earlier mitigation could have saved lives but that knowing when to take such steps "is complicated." President Trump later reposted a tweet that referenced Fauci's comments and that said "Time to #FireFauci." 
A month after emergency declaration, Trump's promises largely unfulfilled
On March 13, President Trump promised to mobilize private and public resources to respond to the coronavirus. NPR followed up on each promise and found little action had been taken.
Local government goes virtual during pandemic
As the COVID-19 pandemic changes the definition of “business as usual” in Minnesota, local governments across the state are scrambling to keep essential services going, and find new ways to hold public meetings.
April 13 update on COVID-19 in MN: Walz ties reopening economy to massive jump in testing
Gov. Tim Walz on Monday signaled the state planned to move into a more aggressive posture to test for COVID-19 and trace and isolate those infected as part of the next phase of restarting parts of the economy.
COVID-19 adds another challenge to MN's Latino census response
Latinos in Minnesota are historically undercounted in the U.S. census due to several barriers, including a mistrust of government. The COVID-19 crisis has added a new complication, but community groups continue outreach efforts in virtual spaces.
Humankind documentary: 'Libraries Reimagined'
This is the first of a new two-part documentary from the Humankind series, "Libraries Reimagined." It's about the ways libraries are evolving, and the role they play in educating, informing and entertaining people as well as protecting our democracy.
Snow reports from southern Minnesota
Here's a roundup of snow reports from southern Minnesota and surrounding states, as relayed by the National Weather Service through 8 p.m. Sunday. Elgin, Minn., was in the top spot with 10.8 inches.
Women say they are 'falling off the cliff of fertility' as pandemic puts treatments on hold
Most fertility treatments have been put on hold following recommendations by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, but some specialists and their patients argue they can't afford to wait.