Stories from June 24, 2020

Survey: Women are rethinking having kids as they face pandemic challenges
A survey from the Guttmacher Institute finds that roughly one-third of women say they plan to delay having children, or have fewer, even as they are experiencing difficulty obtaining contraception.
Taking a trip to visit grandparents or older relatives? Tips to reduce the risk
If you miss your mom and dad — or they miss their grandkids — how safe is a summer trip? Older people are more likely to get seriously ill from the coronavirus, so consider these tips to reduce risk.
Democrats outline modified convention amid coronavirus fears
Organizers say "programming would include both live broadcasts and curated content from Milwaukee and other satellite cities, locations and landmarks across the country."
As calls grow for police reform, officer licensing agency to audit practices
The POST board, which oversees licensing and standards for police officers in Minnesota, is embarking on a comprehensive review of its policies that may lead to changes to licensing, complaint and discipline and pre-service training.
The recent cooler and relatively quiet weather is coming to an end as temperatures climb into the 80s and 90s and storms spread across the state.
While officials have been encouraged that positive cases are running less than 2 percent — suggesting that a rapid spread of the disease stemming from the protests is not happening in a way officials had feared — the testing has revealed some stark racial disparities. This is an MPR News evening update for June 24, 2020. Hosted by Megan Burks and Tim Nelson. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
Wisconsin governor activates National Guard after violence
Protesters also threw a Molotov cocktail into a government building and attempted to break into the Capitol, only to be repelled by pepper spray from police stationed inside. The violence broke out Tuesday night as a group of 200 to 300 people protested the arrest of a Black man who shouted at restaurant customers through a megaphone while carrying a baseball bat.
DOJ whistleblowers allege political interference in big cases
Attorneys told House lawmakers on Wednesday they perceived political influence in what is supposed to be the independent Department of Justice.
Faith-based mutual aid flourishes amid pandemic, protests
Many volunteers and organizers say their efforts are driven both by the understanding that existing welfare systems are broken, and that it’s their duty as people of faith to step in. In Minneapolis, a block away from where George Floyd was killed, volunteers have for weeks gathered at the Baha’i Center to support locals in need.
Minnesota sues oil companies, institute over climate change
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison sued ExxonMobil, Koch Industries and the American Petroleum Institute on Wednesday, alleging they deceived and defrauded Minnesotans about climate change.
Robert Williams says his driver's license photo was incorrectly matched with a wanted suspect. He was arrested and detained. Though the case was dropped, Williams says its effect is lasting.
Is America in the middle of a political transformation?
America’s fault lines were visible long before the pandemic and recent protests against police brutality, but are those divides shifting? A political scientist who focuses on polarization describes how people’s beliefs are evolving.
Secretary of State Simon waives witness rule for primary absentee ballots
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon is making changes to absentee voting rules for the state’s primary election in response to a judge’s order in a state lawsuit even though a federal judge rejected the changes in a separate case.
Senate Democrats block GOP police reform bill
Democrats wanted Republicans to agree to bipartisan talks before beginning debate on the GOP police reform bill. GOP leaders argued Democrats should have allowed debate to try to amend the bill.
Growing hunger projected across Minnesota
An analysis of economic data has food relief organizations projecting a 65 percent increase in demand at food shelves across Minnesota.
Hortman: Senate Republicans ‘needed to stay at the table’ in special session
When the Legislature adjourned last weekend, lawmakers left a lot of work not done in a special session that was supposed to take up issues like police accountability, rebuilding riot-torn parts of Minneapolis and St. Paul, and pandemic funding for cities and counties. It's not clear if and when legislators will return for another special session.
A string of shootings in Minneapolis have focused attention on gun violence in the city. MPR News host Cathy Wurzer talked with Sasha Cotton, director of the Minneapolis Office of Violence Prevention, about the recent violence and the city’s plans to address it.
Appeals court orders dismissal of Michael Flynn prosecution
The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia said in a 2-1 ruling that the Justice Department's decision to abandon the case against Flynn settles the matter, even though Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to prosecutors in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.
Southern Minnesota sees a few spotty showers and storms Wednesday. The next statewide storm system moves in Thursday night, bringing a risk for severe weather. Temperatures are on the rise, and hot weather returns by the weekend.
Crowds tear down statues, attack Wisconsin state senator
Crowds outside the Wisconsin State Capitol tore down two statues and attacked a state senator amid protests following the arrest of a Black man who was at a restaurant with a megaphone and a baseball bat.
Northern Minnesota stays pleasant Wednesday with seasonable temperatures and mostly sunny skies, while the southern half of the state sees a few more clouds and occasional showers.
The move follows similar actions by Minneapolis public schools and Winona area schools in the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of police. MPR News morning update for June 24, 2020. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
Police in misconduct cases stay on force through arbitration
Hundreds of law enforcement officers across the country were fired, sometimes repeatedly, for violating policies but got their jobs back after appealing their cases to an arbitrator who overturned their discipline. It's an all-too-common practice that some law and policing experts say stands in the way of real accountability.
June 24 update on COVID-19 in MN: Bar-driven cluster surfaces in southern Minn.
Despite some hopeful trends in COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths, Minnesota officials now worry that many people — especially young adults — aren’t doing enough to help minimize the spread of COVID-19 as they return to social spaces.
 St. Paul school board votes against renewing contract with police
By a vote of 5 to 1, the school board decided against renewing a contract with the St. Paul Police Department. The nearly $775,000 contract, which ends on June 30, employs seven school resource officers in the state’s second-largest district.
NASCAR's Bubba Wallace was not the target of a hate crime, FBI says
"After a thorough review of the facts and evidence surrounding this event, we have concluded that no federal crime was committed," FBI officials said in a statement Tuesday.
Baseball is coming back for a pandemic-shortened 2020 season
Major League Baseball and its Players Association have reached an agreement to play 60 games instead of 162, beginning July 23 or 24. They hope to finish before a second surge of COVID-19.