Stories from October 8, 2020

Bonding bill drawn up, but Monday vote still not assured
Minnesota lawmakers could vote Monday during a special session on a $1.365 billion construction projects bill that requires a supermajority to pass.
Rapper Tory Lanez charged with shooting Megan Thee Stallion
Los Angeles prosecutors on Thursday charged rapper Tory Lanez with shooting artist Megan Thee Stallion during an argument earlier this year.
Minnesota boss and Somali mediator explain how to make peace at work
In September, almost a dozen Somali workers complained about discrimination on the job. Business owner Tom Jacobson and mediator Cani Adan figured out how to get back to work. But first they had to talk—and listen.
Unseasonably warm air invades Minnesota again Friday.
Minneapolis chief will try to make do with fewer officers in 2021
Medaria Arradondo told members of the city’s budget committee that shrinking ranks will force the department to more narrowly focus its crime fighting strategy next year.
Minnesota is easing some COVID rules, even as case growth persists. Dinner parties out can be bigger and high school sports will get some new fans indoors. This is an evening update from Minnesota Public Radio News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.
Cube Critics Euan Kerr and Marcheta Fornoff dive into three very different worlds with "The War With Grandpa," "Citizen," and "Three Day Weekend." One is a family friendly comedy, one a documentary on the struggle for suffrage in the US, and the third is both a thriller and a puzzle.
Tell me something good: Stories from a St. Paul neighborhood
Times are tough. Host Angela Davis recently walked around her St. Paul neighborhood and asked people to tell her something good. Take a listen to hear what is bringing people joy.
Trump 270 path narrows, Wisconsin mirrors swing state plight
President Donald Trump's once-comfortable advantage in the pivotal region of Wisconsin around the blue-collar hub of Green Bay has dwindled. In suburban Milwaukee, long a Republican-dominated area, it has thinned as well.
MN State High School League to allow spectators at indoor events
The Minnesota State High School League announced Thursday morning it would allow for spectators to attend indoor athletic events in a limited capacity. 
Rebroadcast of the 2020 vice presidential debate
Rebroadcast of the 2020 vice presidential debate with Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris.
Weekend forecast: Comfortable temps; p.m. rain chance on Sunday
Saturday look like the driest day of the weekend, but Sunday will be the warmest weekend day. We have details on that, plus an update on Minnesota fall colors.
Tensions rise as virus cases surge in Wisconsin, Dakotas
The three states now lead all others in new cases per capita, after months in which many residents and politicians shunned mask requirements while downplaying the risks of the disease. It is increasingly apparent that those choices have come with costs.
Militia members plotted to kidnap Michigan Gov. Whitmer, FBI says
The FBI says it has thwarted a plot by at least six people to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Over the summer, the conspirators allegedly began training for a potential attack.
'So frustrating': Doctors and nurses battle virus skeptics
Doctors and nurses treating those sick and dying from the coronavirus say the politics of the crisis are complicating treatment efforts. In Springfield, Mo., the families of some of those hospitalized with the virus don't believe it is real. At a Wisconsin hospital, some refuse to be tested. 
Long-standing mistrust threatens to hamper testing in MN communities most vulnerable to COVID
COVID-19 disproportionately affects people of color in Minnesota. Public health experts hope more targeted testing will improve those statistics. But cultural barriers and distrust can stand in the way.
51 arrested in Minneapolis after protesting Chauvin release
Demonstrators marched through south Minneapolis, including through the neighborhood where George Floyd was killed.
Mankato program helps students develop skills, transition into community
Making muffins on their own is one of the many things participants are learning to do in a new program through the Mankato school district that prepares its special education students for life beyond graduation.
The forecast remains mild and dry through most of the weekend, then a storm early next week brings widespread rain and cooler weather.
Phil Klay's new 'Missionaries' is an ambitious novel of ideas
Klay won acclaim for his debut story collection “Redeployment,” about the experiences of soldiers. His long awaited novel looks at how America has developed and exported the idea of a war on terror.
Thursday brings pleasant fall weather with clear skies and seasonable temperatures.
Next Trump-Biden debate now uncertain as rival camps argue
President Donald Trump says he will skip next week’s debate with Democratic nominee Joe Biden if it's virtual. Biden is rejecting Trump’s proposal to push back their remaining two debates in the wake of Trump's coronavirus diagnosis.
Protesters gathered near the site where George Floyd was killed in May, and spread into other areas of the city. The protests were sparked by the release of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin on bail. Chauvin is one of four former officers charged in Floyd’s killing. This is an MPR News morning update for October 8, 2020. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
He's part of the 1%. And he thinks his taxes aren't high enough
The tax code allows wealthy people who live off investment income to pay taxes at a much lower rate than average people who earn salaries.
Nobel literature prize awarded to U.S. poet Louise Glück
The 2020 Nobel Prize in literature was awarded to the U.S. poet Louise Glück "for her unmistakable poetic voice that with austere beauty makes individual existence universal."
'Addie LaRue' is invisible — but memorable
Addie LaRue was born in France 400 years ago — but nobody remembers that. She made a supernatural deal for immortality at the cost of permanent anonymity, so she tries to leave a mark however she can.
Fact check: Pence echoes Trump misfires in VP debate
The vice presidential debate wasn't the madhouse matchup of President Donald Trump vs. former Vice President Joe Biden last week. But there were plenty of distortions.
Oct. 8 update on COVID-19 in MN: Hospitalizations jump; 8 more deaths
The newest numbers follow a stretch of more than a week when average new daily case counts topped 1,000. Separately Thursday, the state loosened some virus-related restrictions on restaurants and other public gathering places.
Could the live flu vaccine help you fight off COVID-19?
There's evidence that certain vaccines boost the body's defense against many kinds of illness. Scientists are investigating whether this benefit extends to protection from COVID-19.
4 takeaways from the Pence-Harris vice presidential debate
Wednesday's debate between Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris, by 2020 standards, was normal. The candidates ignored questions, defended Joe Biden's and President Donald Trump's records, but it was a fly that created buzz.
Minnesota firefighters find new challenges in confronting Oregon wildfire
Twenty-nine firefighters from all over Minnesota are back home after battling wildfires for two weeks in southern Oregon. The crews worked 12-hour days and spent their nights in camps with hundreds of colleagues. Wilderness firefighting was quite a change of pace for most of the Minnesotans.
Minnesota Senate control hinges on battleground seats
The battle for control of the Minnesota Senate is being fought in just a handful of districts. The results could determine whether state government remains divided. But in a few of the battleground districts, there are third-party candidates who could affect the outcome of close contests.
In Focus: Equity in Education
Minnesota has some of the worst education disparities in the country affecting children of color. How can we do better? MPR News host Angela Davis talked with community leaders about how to address the gaps, what's getting in the way of progress and which solutions are showing promise.
Pence, Harris spar over COVID-19 in vice presidential debate
Vice President Mike Pence defended the Trump administration’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed more than 210,000 Americans Wednesday night, while his Democratic challenger, Kamala Harris, condemned “the greatest failure of any presidential administration” during a largely civil debate dominated by the coronavirus.
The Supreme Court and the future of the Affordable Care Act
The Supreme Court will soon consider a lawsuit seeking to overturn the Affordable Care Act. What happens next?