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Stories from May 20, 2020

What is — and isn’t — allowed when camping in MN this Memorial Day weekend

What is — and isn’t — allowed when camping in MN this Memorial Day weekend

Aside from the Boundary Waters and Voyageurs National Park, the only option for a night under the stars is dispersed camping in state forests. Here’s what that is and why it’s best for experienced campers.
by Cody Nelson

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Mental health apps that can help during the pandemic

Mental health apps that can help during the pandemic

Would you ever text with a therapist? What about following along with a meditation on an app? Lots of people are struggling with mental health right now, but getting access to in-person therapy is more difficult during the pandemic. Mental health technology, like phone apps, might be able to help bridge the gap.
by Angela Davis and Katie Moritz

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Poll: Two-thirds expect return to normal will take 6 months or more

Poll: Two-thirds expect return to normal will take 6 months or more

Three-quarters are concerned that a second wave of the coronavirus will emerge as states reopen, a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll finds. But Americans' outlooks vary by political party.
by Domenico Montanaro

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Amid high stakes, China is fast-tracking COVID-19 vaccine efforts

Amid high stakes, China is fast-tracking COVID-19 vaccine efforts

Experts say the Communist Party sees more at stake than public health. One of the biggest concerns is the economy. China is also looking to defuse criticism over its early handling of the outbreak.
by John Ruwitch

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Walz to give state employees promised raise

Walz to give state employees promised raise

Lawmakers can only approve or reject the contracts, not modify them, Walz’s administration said Wednesday in a move certain to rile GOP leaders who wanted a hold on raises they view as unaffordable in the COVID-19 era.
by Brian Bakst

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Wisconsin weighs mailing all voters absentee application

Wisconsin weighs mailing all voters absentee application

Wisconsin election officials were poised Wednesday to vote on a plan to mail absentee ballot applications to voters who haven't requested one, a move that could incur President Trump's wrath after he threatened to pull funding from other states that have adopted similar measures.
by The Associated Press

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Author Curtis Sittenfeld explores ‘what-if’ in ‘Rodham’

Author Curtis Sittenfeld explores ‘what-if’ in ‘Rodham’

What if Hillary Clinton hadn’t married Bill Clinton? In her newest novel, “Rodham,” author Curtis Sittenfeld explores an alternate life for the former presidential candidate and secretary of state.
by Breann Schossow and Kerri Miller

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Falcon Heights grounds homeowner's plan for a big front yard garden

Falcon Heights grounds homeowner's plan for a big front yard garden

Quentin Nguyen thought building a big, front yard garden would be a great community building experience. Some of his neighbors had other thoughts on the matter.

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U.S. roadway death rate up in March despite virus restrictions

U.S. roadway death rate up in March despite virus restrictions

The National Safety Council says that based on preliminary figures from states, the number of fatal crashes per 100 million miles driven rose an “alarming” 14 percent compared with March of 2019. 
by The Associated Press

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About half of U.S. homes lost wages during pandemic, Census Bureau finds

About half of U.S. homes lost wages during pandemic, Census Bureau finds

Because of COVID-19, 47 percent of adults say their households have lost employment income and close to 40 percent have delayed getting medical care, according to the first results of a new Census Bureau survey.
by Hansi Lo Wang

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'Catastrophic' dam failures in Michigan force thousands to evacuate

'Catastrophic' dam failures in Michigan force thousands to evacuate

The National Weather Service called the event "extremely dangerous" and said it was caused by "catastrophic failures at the Edenville and Sanford dams," located roughly 140 miles north of Detroit.
by Brakkton Booker

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Policast: Nurses say they need more protective equipment

Nurses say they need more protective equipment; Asian owned businesses have been especially hard hit
by Mike Mulcahy

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Wet weather returns over the holiday weekend

Minnesota stays dry and keeps a mix of sun and clouds through Thursday evening, then showers and storms move in and bring rain chances through the holiday weekend.
by Nicole Mitchell

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'Things will never be the same': How the pandemic has changed worship

'Things will never be the same': How the pandemic has changed worship

The closure of churches due to the coronavirus could have long-lasting effects on congregations. Some people say they have become more connected with their faith, while others may be drifting away.
by Tom Gjelten

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U.S. births fall, and virus could drive them down more

U.S. births fall, and virus could drive them down more

Aside from a one-year uptick in 2014, U.S. births have been falling every year since 2007, when a recession hit the country. The drop continued even after the economy rebounded.
by The Associated Press

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Big box rules: Target's online campaign readied it for virus

Big box rules: Target's online campaign readied it for virus

Target had already transformed its 1,800 stores into distribution hubs, putting it in a better position than even Amazon.com to keep supplies flowing. Target's stores were directly involved in supplying goods for 80 percent of online sales. Same-day services, such as curbside pickup at stores for things ordered online, nearly tripled.
by The Associated Press

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Wednesday brings warm and dry weather

Wednesday brings a few more clouds across the state, but temperatures still make it above average for most of Minnesota.
by Nicole Mitchell

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Minnesota officials to issue guidance for reopening bars, restaurants, other venues

Gov. Walz has previously said June 1 is his goal for reopening such establishments. MPR News morning update for May 20, 2020. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music in this episode from Blue Dot Sessions – Open Flames & Li Fonte.

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Johnson & Johnson stops selling talc-based baby powder in U.S. and Canada

Johnson & Johnson stops selling talc-based baby powder in U.S. and Canada

The company said demand has declined "fueled by misinformation around the safety of the product and a constant barrage of litigation advertising." Lawsuits allege the powder causes cancer.
by Vanessa Romo

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More Lysol, no more pens in rooms. Hotels adapt to win back guests

More Lysol, no more pens in rooms. Hotels adapt to win back guests

Hotels have been devastated by the pandemic. To survive, they are adapting with extra-deep cleaning and contactless interactions. And it may mean rooms with no notepads and pens — and no minibars.
by Uri Berliner

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Unemployment claims up — way up — among Asian Minnesotans

Unemployment claims up — way up — among Asian Minnesotans

At a time when Asian Americans are reporting experiences with bigoted abuse because of COVID-19, they’re also reporting a surge in unemployment. The trend has created uncertainty about how Asian-owned businesses will survive. 
by Riham Feshir

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Audio postcard: Hunting for wild orchids in the Twin Cities metro

Audio postcard: Hunting for wild orchids in the Twin Cities metro

This week, authors Kelly Povo and Phyllis Root went hunting for wild orchids — specifically, a beautiful white flower called the showy orchid. They found them in abundance at French Regional Park in Plymouth.

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May 20 update on COVID-19 in MN: Walz plan slow-walks bar, restaurant restarts

May 20 update on COVID-19 in MN: Walz plan slow-walks bar, restaurant restarts

In moves certain to see pushback, Gov. Tim Walz Wednesday unveiled plans to let bars and restaurants serve sit-down customers beginning June 1 — but only at outdoor tables. He loosened other curbs but wouldn’t put dates to when vital parts of daily life could resume.
by Brian Bakst

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To figure out who's a citizen, Trump administration is using these records

To figure out who's a citizen, Trump administration is using these records

After failing to get the now-blocked citizenship question onto 2020 census forms, the Trump administration is turning to IRS tax forms, Medicaid data and Interior Department law enforcement records.
by Hansi Lo Wang

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Interest in foster care parenting on the rise, even as fewer kids enter the system

Interest in foster care parenting on the rise, even as fewer kids enter the system

State officials say the number of children entering foster care is down significantly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, they say more Minnesotans are inquiring about becoming foster parents.
by Nina Moini

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