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Stories from July 8, 2020

Vivid footage from Otter Tail County tornado

A tornado in Otter Tail County reportedly killed one person damaged 3 farmsteads. It also produced some of the most photogenic tornado video on record.
by Paul Huttner

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'You’re going to kill me, man': Transcripts of police videos reveal Floyd's final moments

'You’re going to kill me, man': Transcripts of police videos reveal Floyd's final moments

The Minneapolis officer who pressed his knee against George Floyd's neck before he died told him, “it takes a heck of a lot of oxygen to talk” after Floyd pleaded for air around 20 times. That's according to transcripts of body camera video recordings made public Wednesday.
by The Associated Press

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Baby's dad charged in fatal shooting of pregnant woman in Minneapolis

Zachary Robinson, 27, is charged with murder and assault in the Sunday shooting that left a pregnant woman dead in south Minneapolis. Prosecutors say Robinson is the baby’s father, and the child is in critical condition.
by MPR News Staff and Brandt Williams

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Severe thunderstorm watch until midnight for much of Minnesota

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center has issued a severe thunderstorm watch until midnight for a large part of Minnesota. The watch zone includes the northern parts of the Twin Cities metro area. 
by Paul Huttner

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Former officer seeks dismissal of charges in Floyd case

One of the former Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd has filed a motion to dismiss charges, saying there isn’t enough evidence to establish probable cause that he committed a crime.  Thomas Lane is charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting manslaughter. He was one of four officers fired after Floyd was killed on May 25 when officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nearly eight minutes.  This is an MPR News evening update for Wednesday July 8, 2020. Hosted by Britta Greene. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

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Three could face charges in Columbus statue toppling

Three could face charges in Columbus statue toppling

GOP state senators grilled top law enforcement officials about their decisions on the day protesters tore down a state Capitol monument to Christopher Columbus. Some Democrats on the panel wondered why they weren’t spending more time talking about the killing of George Floyd.
by Brian Bakst

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Beth Dooley shares her recipes for yogurt, granola and ricotta cheese

Beth Dooley shares her recipes for yogurt, granola and ricotta cheese

If you’re looking to branch out beyond sourdough, try your hand at yogurt, ricotta cheese and granola. Author, Beth Dooley shares her favorite easy recipes and shares some tips on how to successfully make your own.
by Tom Crann and Kathryn Styer Martinez

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White House stumbles over how best to reopen schools, as Trump blasts CDC guidance

White House stumbles over how best to reopen schools, as Trump blasts CDC guidance

President Trump calls the recommendations "impractical" and says he'll pressure states to open schools this fall — even threatening to cut funding. But the decision largely lies with states.
by Barbara Sprunt and Cory Turner

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Former officer seeks dismissal of charges in Floyd case

Former officer seeks dismissal of charges in Floyd case

An attorney for one of the Minneapolis police officers, Thomas Lane, charged in the death of George Floyd has filed a motion to dismiss charges.
by Dan Gunderson

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So the statues are down. Now what?

So the statues are down. Now what?

Confederate monuments and statues commemorating slave traders and Christopher Columbus are being toppled around the world. What takes their place?
by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

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Wellness Wednesday: Reducing stress for better health

Wellness Wednesday: Reducing stress for better health

What are you doing during the pandemic that gives you some peace of mind? As part of our series of conversations about wellness, we talk with two doctors about how stress affects our minds and bodies.
by Angela Davis and Karen Zamora

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'Desperation science' slows the hunt for coronavirus drugs

'Desperation science' slows the hunt for coronavirus drugs

Six months after COVID-19 started spreading around the globe, desperation rather than information is still driving many decisions about how to treat the disease. Now researchers are trying innovative ways to get answers faster while still doing good science. 
by The Associated Press

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3 million cases: Coronavirus continues to surge across U.S.

3 million cases: Coronavirus continues to surge across U.S.

One million of those cases have been confirmed over the past month — part of a wave of infection that began after many states started to reopen their economies in May.
by Bill Chappell

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Some COVID-19 tests come with a bill. Here’s how to avoid one

Some COVID-19 tests come with a bill. Here’s how to avoid one

State officials have said repeatedly that COVID-19 testing is free, and that anyone who needs to get tested can get it. But on the ground, that isn’t how it’s worked out for some people.
by Catharine Richert

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Supreme Court undercuts access to birth control under Obamacare

Supreme Court undercuts access to birth control under Obamacare

The opinion upheld a Trump administration rule that significantly cut back on the Affordable Care Act requirement that insurers provide free birth control coverage under almost all health care plans.
by Nina Totenberg

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Harvard, MIT sue to block ICE rule on international students

Harvard, MIT sue to block ICE rule on international students

The universities contend that the directive, which which bars international students from staying in the U.S. if they take classes entirely online this fall, violates the Administrative Procedures Act because officials failed to offer a reasonable basis justifying the policy and because the public was not given notice to comment on it.
by The Associated Press

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Periods of severe weather possible through Thursday

Periods of severe weather possible through Thursday

A potent storm is bringing everything from severe weather to extreme heat across Minnesota.  Behind the system, temperatures return closer to average for the weekend.
by Nicole Mitchell

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Dangerous heat and severe weather Wednesday

Dangerous heat and severe weather Wednesday

A summer storm is bringing both high heat and humidity into Minnesota and creating widespread showers and storms, some of which are severe.
by Nicole Mitchell

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More Minn. cities require masks

Another southern Minnesota city, Winona, announced that it’s imposing a citywide mask mandate following similar ordinances in Rochester and Mankato. The city mandates will require people to wear a mask in public indoor spaces. Rochester’s order takes effect on Wednesday; Winona and Mankato will implement the mandates on Friday. Minneapolis, St. Paul and Edina have also mandated mask-wearing in the cities’ public spaces. This is an MPR News morning update for Wednesday July 8, 2020. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

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If surprise makes a great novel, 'Antkind' is a great novel

If surprise makes a great novel, 'Antkind' is a great novel

Charlie Kaufman's doorstopper new novel could only have been written by Charlie Kaufman — which may seem vague, but we promise it fits the unapologetic, overstuffed “Antkind” perfectly.
by Gabino Iglesias

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July 8 update on COVID-19 in MN: 'COVID parties' not OK; positive test rates up

July 8 update on COVID-19 in MN: 'COVID parties' not OK; positive test rates up

“This is a really, really bad idea,” the state’s infectious disease director said Wednesday of reports that people may be trying to purposely catch the disease as a way to “get it over with.” She compared it to Russian roulette.
by MPR News Staff

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More states require masks in public as COVID-19 spreads, but enforcement lags

More states require masks in public as COVID-19 spreads, but enforcement lags

Governors and mayors in some regions with rising COVID-19 counts have made masks mandatory in public places. But sometimes their own police refuse to enforce the mask rules.
by Brian Mann

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2020 Aspen Ideas Festival: Erik Larson on 'The Splendid and the Vile' and Walter Isaacson on 'The Code Breaker'

2020 Aspen Ideas Festival: Erik Larson on 'The Splendid and the Vile' and Walter Isaacson on 'The Code Breaker'

Erik Larson and Walter Isaacson speak at the 2020 Aspen Ideas Festival about their books, “The Splendid and the Vile” and “The Code Breaker: The Tale of Jennifer Doudna, CRISPR and the Future of the Human Race.” Mitt Romney speaks about the U.S.-China relations.
by MPR News Staff

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