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Stories from April 29, 2020

Duluth projecting 'absolutely catastrophic' budget shortfall

Duluth projecting 'absolutely catastrophic' budget shortfall

The city’s coronavirus response and an expected drop in tax revenue could put the city $38 million in the red. That represents about 40 percent of its general fund.
by Tom Crann

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MLB teams offer ticket refunds, credit for games not played

MLB teams offer ticket refunds, credit for games not played

Minnesota Twins season ticket holders who have paid in full will receive credit plus an additional 15 percent. Single-game buyers will receive a credit or can use the Twins' website to request a refund.
by The Associated Press

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Minneapolis Mayor Frey: The state of the city is 'unbowed'

Minneapolis Mayor Frey: The state of the city is 'unbowed'

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey strikes a somber tone in his State of the City address as he calls for patience and persistence during pandemic.
by Brandt Williams

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Trump order keeping meat packing plants open worries unions

Trump order keeping meat packing plants open worries unions

Unions in the U.S. meat packing industry say President Trump is jeopardizing lives and prioritizing cold cuts over workers' health. Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order to classify meat processing as critical infrastructure during the coronavirus outbreak. 
by The Associated Press

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Minnesota State system prepares for lessons ahead

Minnesota State system prepares for lessons ahead

May is usually a month of graduation ceremonies for Minnesota State, the system of public colleges and universities that serves over 350,000 students each year. But this is not a typical year.
by Cathy Wurzer

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Duluth brewery CEO on pandemic’s pinch: ‘Business is hard in the good times’

Duluth brewery CEO on pandemic’s pinch: ‘Business is hard in the good times’

As weeks of closures and social isolation wear on, many Minnesota small businesses are looking for creative ways to navigate the coronavirus crisis. Among them is Ursa Minor Brewing in Duluth, which opened around a year and a half ago.
by Cathy Wurzer

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Back to the 70s by this weekend; first 80 in sight?

Back to the 70s by this weekend; first 80 in sight?

Milder weather returns to Minnesota over the next few days. The first 80 degree temperatures of 2020 may be in sight.
by Paul Huttner

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Challenges and delight of plant parenthood

Challenges and delight of plant parenthood

We all seem to be looking for sources of comfort right now. And houseplants bring peace and joy to many people.  They add beauty and color, and can help with our mental health. What does it take to keep them healthy and alive?
by Angela Davis and Karen Zamora

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Life of an essential worker: Photojournalists

Life of an essential worker: Photojournalists

While most of the newsroom is able to work from home, news photographers and videographers cannot. They are working on the front lines of the biggest story in our generation. They are navigating uncharted territory -- having to protect themselves and others while still capturing photos and videos.
by Angela Davis, Evan Frost and Karen Zamora

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Author Lawrence Wright on new novel, 'The End of October'

Author Lawrence Wright on new novel, 'The End of October'

In his latest book, author Lawrence Wright tells a fictional tale about a virus that sweeps around the world and the miscalculations that gave it a head start. We talk with the author about the novel and about literature in the time of the current pandemic.
by Kerri Miller and Breann Schossow

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Photos: Life in a ‘new normal’ of COVID-19

Photos: Life in a ‘new normal’ of COVID-19

Social distancing, face masks, takeout and video chat have started to feel like an ever-evolving "new normal" more than a month into Minnesota's stay-at-home order. Here is a look at how all of our lives have changed since March 27.
by Christine T. Nguyen, Evan Frost, Angela Jimenez and MPR News Staff

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Watch as a near-Earth asteroid heads back out to space

Watch as a near-Earth asteroid heads back out to space

Asteroid 1998 OR2 safely passed by Earth at about 4:55 a.m. Wednesday morning. But you can watch the 1.5-mile-wile space rock as it heads back out to space starting at 1:30 p.m. today through the Virtual Telescope Project live stream.
by Matt Mikus

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Judge: Sherburne Co. ICE detainees should stay in jail

Judge: Sherburne Co. ICE detainees should stay in jail

A federal judge has recommended the denial of a petition for release by several dozen ICE detainees held in the Sherburne County Jail. 
by Brandt Williams

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Backyard nature: 'Funny-looking birds' on Linnea's playset

Backyard nature: 'Funny-looking birds' on Linnea's playset

The strange birds on two young girls’ playset turned out to be wood ducks, but it brought their family a laugh, anyway.
by Cody Nelson

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Weekend weather: Warm and drier

The rest of the week brings more sunshine, warming temperatures, and only very slight chances for needed precipitation.
by Nicole Mitchell

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COVID-19 tests that are supposed to be free can ring up surprising charges

A graduate student in West Virginia was concerned she had come down with COVID-19. But she couldn't get tested for it until her doctor ruled out other things, a process that cost a bundle.
by Carmen Heredia Rodriguez

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Rep. Amash exploring 2020 run for Libertarian nomination

Rep. Amash exploring 2020 run for Libertarian nomination

Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan said Tuesday that he is launching an exploratory committee for the 2020 Libertarian Party's presidential nomination.
by The Associated Press

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Trump orders meatpacking plants to stay open

Several processing plants in the region have closed temporarily after workers tested positive for COVID-19. MPR News morning update for April 29, 2020. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music in this episode from Blue Dot Sessions — Open Flames & Li Fonte

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April 29 update on COVID-19 in MN: 319 deaths; Walz unveils next steps Thursday

April 29 update on COVID-19 in MN: 319 deaths; Walz unveils next steps Thursday

Gov. Tim Walz on Thursday will announce his next steps to restart parts of the economy while continuing to manage the spread of COVID-19. With his stay-at-home order set to expire Monday, officials say expect Walz to renew his call for people to stay close to home.
by MPR News Staff

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Loopholes in small business relief program allowed thriving companies to cash in

Loopholes in small business relief program allowed thriving companies to cash in

The Paycheck Protection Program, designed to help small businesses struggling during the pandemic, was vulnerable to loopholes that allowed thriving companies to receive money.
by Cheryl W. Thompson and Graham Smith

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'Tip of the iceberg': Economy shrinks at 4.8 percent pace, but worst to come

'Tip of the iceberg': Economy shrinks at 4.8 percent pace, but worst to come

The economy contracted at a 4.8 percent rate in the first quarter of 2020 as the coronavirus began to take its toll. It was the first quarterly drop in six years and a precursor to a deep recession.
by Scott Horsley

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Poll: Half of Americans financially affected by coronavirus

Poll: Half of Americans financially affected by coronavirus

An NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll finds 50 percent say they or someone in their household has lost hours or a job due to the pandemic. They also say their governors are doing a better job it than Trump.
by Domenico Montanaro

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Will long-term care facilities benefit from expanded testing?

Will long-term care facilities benefit from expanded testing?

As testing for the coronavirus expands, some question whether the extra capacity could help people living in long-term care facilities. 
by Peter Cox

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Portraits of Valor: Warren High, 99, Army

Portraits of Valor: Warren High, 99, Army

High was glad to be serving his country overseas and thought it was the right thing to be doing with his life, but wanted more out of his service. “I was frustrated sometimes because I didn’t feel like I was doing something worthwhile,” he said.
by Evan Frost

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Thomas Edison: How the light bulb changed everything

Thomas Edison: How the light bulb changed everything

Historian Ernest Freeberg of the University of Tennessee talks about his book, "The Age of Edison: Electric Light and the Invention of Modern America."
by MPR News Staff

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Coronavirus has now killed more Americans than Vietnam War

Coronavirus has now killed more Americans than Vietnam War

The number of lives taken by COVID-19 in the U.S. has reached a grim milestone: More people have died of the disease than the 58,220 Americans who perished in the Vietnam War.
by David Welna

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