Stories from July 8, 2020

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.
'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.
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.
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. 
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
'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. 
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.