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Stories from July 17, 2020

What accounts for high coronavirus positivity rates among Florida kids?

What accounts for high coronavirus positivity rates among Florida kids?

Florida reports a positivity rate of 31 percent among those under 18 tested for the virus, while the state's positivity overall rate is 18 percent. Experts say there are good explanations for the kids' high rate.
by Laurel Wamsley

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Minnesota’s 'Redskin Lake' could see name change

Minnesota’s 'Redskin Lake' could see name change

The U.S. Board of Geographic Names has received a proposal to change the name of the lake in far northeastern Minnesota. The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has proposed renaming the lake “Memegwesi.”
by Dan Kraker

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Walz seeks GOP support for mask mandate as COVID-19 cases soar

State health officials on Friday made clear that Minnesota may need to dial back reopening efforts on bars, restaurants and other public gathering spaces if current COVID-19 case trends accelerate and the state continues backsliding in its fight against the disease’s spread. They also braced Minnesotans to expect the recent relatively stable counts of hospitalizations, intensive care cases and deaths to resume a steeper upward climb. MPR News evening update for July 17, 2020. Hosted by Nina Moini. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
by Nina Moini

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What we didn't learn in history class

What we didn't learn in history class

While this isn’t a new conversation, more Minnesota educators are starting to rethink how to teach a more complete history of the United States that includes experiences from Black and Indigenous people and other communities of color.
by Angela Davis and Karen Zamora

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Federal officers use unmarked vehicles to grab people in Portland, protesters say

Federal officers use unmarked vehicles to grab people in Portland, protesters say

Federal law enforcement personnel have been deployed in the Oregon city since early July due to anti-police protests. Residents say they're using unmarked vehicles to snatch protesters off the street.
by Conrad Wilson and Jonathan Levinson

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MSU Mankato working with local schools to confront lack of teacher diversity

MSU Mankato working with local schools to confront lack of teacher diversity

To address teacher shortages and diversify the workforce, Minnesota State University, Mankato, is partnering with eight school districts that received $376,000 in grants from the Minnesota Department of Education.
by Hannah Yang

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Author Brit Bennett explores colorism in ‘The Vanishing Half’

Author Brit Bennett explores colorism in ‘The Vanishing Half’

Brit Bennett’s latest novel, “The Vanishing Half,” is a rich exploration of family relationships, colorism and how the past influences the present and who we decide to be. We spoke with her about her latest work.
by Kerri Miller and Breann Schossow

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Weather chat: Hot, humid July so far

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer talked with retired University of Minnesota climatologist and meteorologist Mark Seeley about the week in weather.
by Cathy Wurzer

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Safe pregnancy as COVID-19 surges: What's best for mom and baby?

Preliminary evidence suggests the coronavirus can pass through the placenta, and pregnancy slightly raises a woman's risk of a severe case of COVID-19. Medical experts urge calm and common sense.

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Walz says a mask mandate is the right call, but he's waiting for more GOP support

Walz says a mask mandate is the right call, but he's waiting for more GOP support

The governor talked with Morning Editon host Cathy Wurzer to talk about the possibility of a mask mandate, and shared some discussion on whether the Legislature can reach an agreement on police reform during the special Legislative session, and what variables he’s weighing on how the school year will be handled during the pandemic.
by Cathy Wurzer

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The Five: Dog days of summer edition

The Five: Dog days of summer edition

MPR News program director Steph Curtis stopped by for a mid-summer edition of “The Five,” where she recommends things to read, listen to and experience this week. 
by MPR News Staff

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Strong storms parts of Minn. Friday evening and overnight; steamy Saturday

Make sure that you have a way to receive severe weather warnings Friday evening and overnight Friday night. Another round of thunderstorms is also possible late Saturday. We have the weekend forecast details, which include an excessive heat watch on Saturday.
by Ron Trenda

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3M files lawsuits for price gouging of N95 masks

3M files lawsuits for price gouging of N95 masks

The leading manufacturer of N95 masks in the U.S. says it has investigated 4,000 reports of fraud, counterfeiting and price gouging in connection with the product and has filed 18 lawsuits.
by The Associated Press and MPR News Staff

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Doctors and dentists still flooding U.S. with opioid prescriptions

Doctors and dentists still flooding U.S. with opioid prescriptions

Forty Americans die every day from overdoses linked to prescription opioids, but researchers say many doctors and dentists still have a "prescribe and forget" attitude toward the medications.
by Brian Mann

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More businesses enacting own mask rules

Target is among the latest retailers to require that customers wear face masks to curb the spread of COVID-19. MPR News update for July 17, 2020. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

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Warm and humid; thunderstorms spread across Minnesota Friday night

Our temperatures and dew points ramp up as we go through Friday. Thunderstorms are expected to spread across Minnesota Friday night, and severe weather is possible.
by Ron Trenda

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July 17 update on COVID-19 in MN: Nothing 'off the table' as case counts climb

July 17 update on COVID-19 in MN: Nothing 'off the table' as case counts climb

State health officials on Friday made clear that Minnesota may need to dial back its economic reopening efforts if the current COVID-19 case trends accelerate and the state continues to backslide in its fight against the disease’s spread.
by MPR News Staff

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Lawmakers leverage defense bill to address police reform, racial injustice

Lawmakers leverage defense bill to address police reform, racial injustice

Congress will vote next week on the annual defense bill. After failing to pass police reform, some lawmakers see a chance to revive the debate about discrimination, but a presidential veto looms.
by Claudia Grisales

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Raccoon nailed near Black Lives Matter sign in Roseville; police investigating

Raccoon nailed near Black Lives Matter sign in Roseville; police investigating

Authorities are investigating a number of instances in which Black Lives Matter signs were stolen or damaged in Roseville. But police became even more concerned when someone nailed a raccoon up to a post near one of those signs.
by Riham Feshir

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To improve policing, Moorhead adds a counselor to the force

To improve policing, Moorhead adds a counselor to the force

Many police departments employ mental health professionals or social workers who work alongside officers and interact directly with the public. The Moorhead Police Department is tweaking that approach — it’s embedding a mental health professional to focus on the well-being of its officers. 
by Dan Gunderson

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'Sex and Lies' author Leila Slimani: 'Women's lives matter'

'Sex and Lies' author Leila Slimani: 'Women's lives matter'

Franco-Moroccan writer Leila Slimani's new book examines the restricted sex lives of women in a country where, she says, the unofficial motto is "Do what you wish, but never talk about it."
by Sarah McCammon

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