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Stories from May 1, 2020

Pandemic aggravates Minnesota care center staffing shortages

Pandemic aggravates Minnesota care center staffing shortages

Staffing has become such a challenge at some Minnesota care facilities due to the coronavirus outbreak that a few aren't sure how they're going to get through the weekend, the head of an industry group said Friday.
by The Associated Press

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Bachelor Farmer closure shakes weary restaurant industry

Bachelor Farmer closure shakes weary restaurant industry

Fine dining restaurants and those with multiple locations seem to be taking the biggest hit, as Minnesota’s stay-at-home order heads into a seventh week.
by Megan Burks

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BCA probing Willmar incident that left 1 dead, cop injured

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said one man was killed and a Willmar police officer was seriously injured after an incident early Friday, though the cause of the man's death wasn't immediately clear.
by The Associated Press

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Ice out reaches Ely

Ice out reaches Ely

Ice out is progressing through northern Minnesota.
by Paul Huttner

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May Day brings protests

Covid-19 tests accelerates in Minnesota. MPR News evening update for May 1, 2020. Hosted by Nina Moini and Britta Greene.

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How are you keeping your kids busy?

How are you keeping your kids busy?

We asked listeners how they’ve been keeping their kids busy through the pandemic. Here’s what some of you told us.
by Tarkor Zehn

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Dispute over taxes complicates state COVID-19 response

Dispute over taxes complicates state COVID-19 response

The DFL House and Republican Senate are taking distinctly different approaches to the COVID-19 crisis in the final two weeks of the legislative session.
by Tim Pugmire

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Spectacular weekend ahead; weather whiplash next week

A potent warm front brings 80s to southwest Minnesota Friday. temperatures will run 30 degrees cooler next week.
by Paul Huttner

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How to decide your post-high school plans during a pandemic

How to decide your post-high school plans during a pandemic

National Decision Day for many high school seniors has been a momentous occasion, but the coronavirus pandemic has upended those plans. Would you commit to a college or university if you can't physically attend?
by Angela Davis and Karen Zamora

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'I will never lie to you': Trump's new press secretary revives briefing

'I will never lie to you': Trump's new press secretary revives briefing

Kayleigh McEnany did something on Friday that her predecessor at the White House never once did: she briefed reporters from behind the lectern in the cramped confines of the James S. Brady briefing room.
by Roberta Rampton

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The road to reopening

The road to reopening

As the country looks to reopen in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, how can we balance public health with economic viability?
by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

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Weekend forecast: Breezy and dry with a lot of 70s

Looking forward to our first weekend of May? The weekend weather won’t interfere with your outdoor plans. We have all the details.
by Ron Trenda

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St. Paul advocates move online to help domestic abuse survivors

St. Paul advocates move online to help domestic abuse survivors

On a normal day, the staff at Women’s Advocates of St. Paul have a tough job. But with in-person contact limited, they’ve had to change the way they help domestic abuse survivors.
by Cody Nelson

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Find a little comfort in food and art this weekend

Find a little comfort in food and art this weekend

The stay-at-home order has been extended until May 18, but there's still plenty you can do. The weather this weekend lends itself to great opportunities to get outside. And once you're done enjoying the sun, check out some of our comfort food recipes.
by Matt Mikus

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Healthy pigs being killed as meatpacking backlog hits farms

Healthy pigs being killed as meatpacking backlog hits farms

Officials estimate that about 700,000 pigs across the nation can't be processed each week and must euthanized. Most of the hogs are being killed at farms, but up to 13,000 a day also may be euthanized at the JBS pork plant in Worthington, Minn.
by The Associated Press

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Weekend weather: Warm and dry after light rain Friday

Light rain moves across Minnesota Friday, followed by a dry and mild weekend. Temperatures turn cooler most of next week, with more rain in the forecast Monday and Tuesday.
by Nicole Mitchell

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Has the sky gotten bluer in the Twin Cities since the pandemic began?

Retired University of Minnesota climatologist and meteorologist Mark Seeley discussed that listener question – and the week in weather – in his regular chat with MPR News host Cathy Wurzer.
by Cathy Wurzer

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NASA names firms in competition to build next-gen lunar lander

NASA names firms in competition to build next-gen lunar lander

Elon Musk's SpaceX, Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and Dynetics, a Huntsville, Ala.- based firm, will share $967 million to develop a vehicle to get astronauts to the moon's surface by 2024.
by Scott Neuman

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Talks underway to restart elective surgeries in MN

Routine dental visits may also resume on the same timeline. MPR News morning update for May 1, 2020. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music in this episode from Blue Dot Sessions – Open Flames & Li Fonte  

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Biden denies former staffer's sexual assault allegation

Biden denies former staffer's sexual assault allegation

More than a month after being publicly accused of sexual assault by a former Senate staffer in the 1990s, former Vice President Joe Biden says the allegations "aren't true. This never happened."
by Scott Detrow and Asma Khalid

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Essential workers plan May Day strikes; others demand end to lockdowns

Essential workers plan May Day strikes; others demand end to lockdowns

Essential employees are planning labor actions to call for sick leave and hazard pay, while nurses will protest for more PPE. Meanwhile, others are calling for an end to the lockdowns.
by Scott Neuman

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Farmers markets aim to offer comforting tradition, produce

Farmers markets aim to offer comforting tradition, produce

With their outdoor space and flexible layouts, farmers markets may be able to adapt more easily to the needs of shoppers during a pandemic.
by Jon Collins

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May 1 update on COVID-19 in MN: 371 dead; 'just getting our arms' around the spread

May 1 update on COVID-19 in MN: 371 dead; 'just getting our arms' around the spread

Minnesota’s health commissioner on Friday defended Gov. Tim Walz’s decision to extend the state’s stay-at-home order as necessary in the face of rapidly rising numbers of COVID-19 cases reported and deaths recorded.
by MPR News Staff

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How reliable are COVID-19 tests? It depends

How reliable are COVID-19 tests? It depends

What types of testing are available for the coronavirus? And how accurate are they? Here's a handy guide to the field.
by Richard Harris

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Rent is due, but millions of Americans won't be paying

Rent is due, but millions of Americans won't be paying

Housing activists are enlisting renters who can and can't pay rent starting May 1 to sign a pledge with the goal of putting pressure on landlords and policymakers.
by Marisa Peñaloza

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Family's illnesses suggest coronavirus may have been in Minnesota longer than thought

Family's illnesses suggest coronavirus may have been in Minnesota longer than thought

Kate Austin came home from Japan in late January with a strange illness she couldn’t seem to beat. Her arrival caused a chain reaction of sickness among friends and family that ultimately ended in a coronavirus diagnosis.
by Catharine Richert

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Passengers must wear masks on major airlines

Passengers must wear masks on major airlines

American, Delta and United Airlines are joining JetBlue and Frontier in requiring face coverings amid growing pressure from Congress and their own employees.
by David Schaper

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