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Stories from July 31, 2020

A teen, British and Florida men charged in massive Twitter hack, Bitcoin scam

A teen, British and Florida men charged in massive Twitter hack, Bitcoin scam

A British man, a Florida man and a Florida teen have been identified by authorities as the hackers who earlier this month took over Twitter accounts of prominent politicians, celebrities and technology moguls to scam people around globe out of more than $100,000 in Bitcoin.
by The Associated Press

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End of federal $600 unemployment benefit leaves Minnesotans anxious

End of federal $600 unemployment benefit leaves Minnesotans anxious

Tens of thousands of Minnesotans who have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic have relied on an extra $600 weekly unemployment payment from the federal government to make ends meet. But that extra cash benefit expires Friday.
by Dan Kraker

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Overwhelmed, stressed, scared: School nurses brace for the fall semester

Overwhelmed, stressed, scared: School nurses brace for the fall semester

As districts plan for a new school year in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, nurses are tasked with keeping students and staff healthy. Many want a stronger voice in decisions.
by Clare Lombardo

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Parents of K-12 students await fall details from most districts

Many parents across the state will have to wait longer to find out if their children will physically attend K-12 public schools this fall, continue to learn online, or a hybrid of the two. Also, a rodeo in northern Minnesota where thousands attended had at least one participant who was positive for COVID-19 at the time, health officials said. MPR News evening update for Friday, July 31, 2020. Hosted by Nina Moini.

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Minnesota's primary election, pandemic edition: How to vote safely in person

Minnesota's primary election, pandemic edition: How to vote safely in person

Will voting booths be sanitized? Should you keep your mask on while waiting outside? Here are answers to some key questions on how to stay safe when you go to the polls on primary day.
by Jiwon Choi

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Minnesota AG sues rodeo owner for violating COVID-19 order

Minnesota AG sues rodeo owner for violating COVID-19 order

Attorney General Keith Ellison’s action came after the state Department of Health announced Friday that one spectator at the North Star Stampede Rodeo July 25-27 in Effie has tested positive for COVID-19.
by The Associated Press and MPR News Staff

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For Minnesotans, Walz’s school plan brings more questions than answers

For Minnesotans, Walz’s school plan brings more questions than answers

With little more than guidance from the state government for how to handle the upcoming school year, many Minnesotans remain in limbo for how their lives will look in a month. 
by Cody Nelson, Kerri Miller and Angela Davis

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Minnesotans react after state releases fall guidance for schools

Minnesotans react after state releases fall guidance for schools

The Walz administration released its plan for how students, teachers and staff should return this fall. We spoke with Minnesota superintendents, principals — and listeners — about what to expect and how they’re feeling about the decision.
by Kerri Miller and MPR News Staff

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Trump visiting Florida during a pandemic, hurricane threat

Trump visiting Florida during a pandemic, hurricane threat

President Donald Trump is taking a Friday swing through Florida, a state critical to his reelection prospects and bracketed by two storms — one now bringing daily records on COVID-19 deaths and the other forming just to the south in the form of Hurricane Isaias.
by The Associated Press

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Fauci optimistic COVID-19 vaccine will be widely available

Fauci optimistic COVID-19 vaccine will be widely available

Once a coronavirus vaccine is approved as safe and effective, Americans should have widespread access within a reasonable time, Dr. Anthony Fauci assured lawmakers Friday.
by The Associated Press

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What's next for Minnesota schools?

What's next for Minnesota schools?

Many Minnesota school districts have yet to make a decision about how students will go back to school in a COVID-19 world. MPR News host Angela Davis continues a three-hour special unpacking the state’s guidelines.
by Angela Davis and Katie Moritz

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A slew of daily temperature, rainfall records broken in July

July brought heat and rain to much of Minnesota, breaking dozens of daily temperature and rainfall records – and on July 25-26, a rare “mega-rain” storm dropped six inches or more of rain across swaths of southern Minnesota.     
by Cathy Wurzer

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Rep. Omar on 5th District reelection bid: ‘I’ve been a coalition builder’

Rep. Omar on 5th District reelection bid: ‘I’ve been a coalition builder’

DFL candidates for Minnesota's 5th Congressional District are scheduled to debate Friday afternoon on WCCO Radio. The DFL-endorsed candidate in the race is Rep. Omar, who has garnered an international profile after becoming the first Somali American, Muslim woman elected to Congress.
by Cathy Wurzer

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AP source: Cards-Brewers game off after St Louis positives

AP source: Cards-Brewers game off after St Louis positives

Friday's game between St. Louis and Milwaukee has been postponed after multiple Cardinals employees tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
by The Associated Press

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Wet weather disrupts part of the weekend

The uneventful weather trend of the past few days will be interrupted as a cold front brings showers and storms across the state. Behind the front, cooler weather settles in and quiet weather returns.
by Nicole Mitchell

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Uncertainty lingers for parents, students about school this fall

While some districts like Minneapolis and St. Paul have announced their plans, it may be several more weeks before families get final word from their districts. MPR News morning update for July 31, 2020. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

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A cold front brings changing weather Friday

Most of Minnesota remains dry and comfortable Friday, but a cold front will bring the northwestern corner of the state showers and storms by afternoon.
by Nicole Mitchell

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Delayed election results? Maybe, but not because of fraud

Delayed election results? Maybe, but not because of fraud

The public might not know the winner of the presidential race on Election Day because of a massive shift to voting by mail during the coronavirus pandemic. That’s because mail ballots take longer to count because of security procedures and laws in some states that limit when they can be processed.
by The Associated Press

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COVID-19 hospital data system that bypasses CDC plagued by delays, inaccuracies

COVID-19 hospital data system that bypasses CDC plagued by delays, inaccuracies

After the Trump administration moved hospital COVID-19 data reporting to the Department of Health and Human Services, bypassing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the new data system has been rife with erratic updates and anomalies.
by Pien Huang and Selena Simmons-Duffin

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As schools look ahead to fall, one Rochester elementary offers a glimpse of the future

As schools look ahead to fall, one Rochester elementary offers a glimpse of the future

Now that schools have guidance on reopening from the state, one Rochester, Minn., elementary is already in session, providing a glimpse of what the classroom could look like for many in September.
by Catharine Richert

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Yiyun Li continues her conversations with the dead in 'Must I Go'

Yiyun Li continues her conversations with the dead in 'Must I Go'

Yiyun Li's new book — about a woman looking back on her life by annotating the diary of her late ex-lover — plays with both Vladimir Nabokov's “Pale Fire” and Li's own previous work.
by Thúy Đinh

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