Stories from June 30, 2020

Trump seems to have 'surrendered' on the pandemic, Biden says
Former Vice President Joe Biden says that President Trump, who once called himself a "wartime president" taking on the coronavirus, should adopt his plan to combat the pandemic.
The Thread: More must-read Midwestern novels
Are you staying close to home this summer? Kerri Miller offers up more novels set right in our own backyard.
The role and responsibility of unions in police reform
Efforts to change how law enforcement works in the U.S. have resurged following the recent killing of George Floyd. We turned to former officers and a reporter who covers policing to discuss the role of unions in making change.
Another round of showers and storms is poised to move across Minnesota, but with less extreme rainfall totals than recent storms. Hot and humid weather carries us well into the start of July.
The State of Minnesota has a new coronavirus ad campaign in the works — to the tune of $9 million. The goal is to promote different options for getting tested and get more information out on how to prevent the spread of the virus. The ads will start running this summer on multiple platforms and in multiple languages. This is an MPR News evening update for Tuesday, June 30. Hosted by Britta Greene. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
Kate Lundquist: Black Lives Matter in Roseau, a small white city
In the month since George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis, protests large and small have cropped up across Minnesota, even in small, rural communities where demonstrations are rare — including Roseau.
Minnesota to spend $9M on COVID-19 ad push
From bus stop ads to television spots, Minnesota plans to launch an awareness campaign about ways the public can help prevent the spread of coronavirus. The effort will move ahead despite Republican opposition.
Dr. Jon Hallberg: Are virtual doctor visits here to stay?
Dr. Jon Hallberg talks about the virtues and limitations of virtual visits. He weighs in on whether virtual visits have a place in the future of healthcare and if patients stand to benefit.
'Pooled testing' for COVID-19 holds promise, pitfalls
Pooled testing involves combining patient samples in batches instead of running them individually. The potential benefits include stretching laboratory supplies, reducing costs and expanding testing to millions more Americans. The potential downsides include lower accuracy and longer waits to deliver results to some people.
Map: Where are face masks required in Minnesota?
Gov. Tim Walz has issued a statewide mandate requiring all people to wear masks while in indoor public spaces. A number of cities and institutions had already adopted face mask requirements in Minnesota to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Last week, attorneys for the officers made the rare move of asking that video coverage of the court proceedings be made available for the public to watch live. They re-upped that request in filings ahead of a pretrial hearing on Monday.
EU sets new list of approved travel partners. The U.S. isn't on it
The European Union will bar U.S. travelers when the bloc begins opening its external borders this week. It will admit foreigners from only 15 countries — including China and South Korea.
'Going to be very disturbing': Fauci warns coronavirus cases could reach 100K a day
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country's top infectious disease expert, told members of Congress on Tuesday that although he can't predict the ultimate number of infections and deaths related to the coronavirus, "it's going to be very disturbing."
Occasional periods of showers and storms continue across Minnesota, with more widespread rain Wednesday.  Then an extend period of heat and humidity begins.
Mankato’s city council will hold a public hearing next week on a mask ordinance. MPR News morning update for June 30, 2020. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
Other than a couple showers and storms that will impact mostly northeastern Minnesota, Tuesday will be much quieter across the state. Along with more sunshine comes the return of the heat.
Essential worker shoulders $1,840 debt for trying to get tested for COVID-19
Carmen Quintero couldn't get tested for COVID-19, but ended up with a huge bill for trying to. She also was told to self-isolate and had no choice but to use vacation time to stay home from work.
New state program to provide affordable insulin starts Wednesday
Minnesotans with diabetes who need emergency insulin supplies but can’t afford them will be able to get the drug under a new state law. The safety net program within the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act launches Wednesday.
China enacts security law, asserting control over Hong Kong
Despite fierce international criticism and opposition in Hong Kong, Beijing's rubber-stamp legislature passed a law allowing the mainland to impose security measures in the former British colony.
AP sources: White House aware of Russian bounties in 2019
Top officials in the White House were aware in early 2019 of classified intelligence indicating Russia was secretly offering bounties to the Taliban for the deaths of Americans, a full year earlier than has been previously reported, according to U.S. officials with direct knowledge of the intelligence.
Seraphia Gravelle: A voice for change on the Iron Range
“I tell people all the time that I'm not going to sit down and shut up just so that you feel comfortable,” Seraphia Gravelle said. “And I'm not going to stop until my brown kids are [as] safe as your white ones.”
June 30 update on COVID-19 in MN: 444 new cases, mask mandate 'on the table'
Gov. Tim Walz this week said a statewide mandate requiring all people to wear masks while in public is “on the table.” He said such a move would offer public health benefits while helping businesses that’re struggling to enforce their own mask rules.
‘The precinct is on fire’: What happened at Minneapolis’ 3rd Precinct — and what it means
Faced with angry, violent protesters after George Floyd’s death, Minneapolis city leaders made the unprecedented decision to abandon a police station. It marked not only the further erosion of the department’s relationship with the community, but perhaps the beginning of a shift in American policing.
2020 Aspen Ideas Festival: Dr. Anthony Fauci, David Byrne, Stacey Abrams
From the 2020 Aspen Ideas Festival: Dr. Anthony Fauci on the COVID-19 pandemic, musician David Byrne on why art matters, and Stacey Abrams on the importance of voting and participating in the census.
Remdesivir priced at more than $3,100 for a course of treatment
An experimental COVID-19 medicine that has been shown to shorten the time people with severe illness have to stay in the hospital finally has a price tag that's lower than some analysts expected.
Images of brutality against Black people spur racial trauma
As videos of Black people being killed at the hands of police make the rounds online, many Americans have felt called to protest racial injustice in recent weeks. For many Black Americans, those videos are also contributing to a sense of grief and pain. Psychologists call it racial trauma.