Stories from October 9, 2020

Judge: Winner of CD2 race must be decided in November
A federal court decision Friday prevents the delay of Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District election, meaning the winner will be decided in November. Because a third party candidate died, a state law said the seat should be decided in a February special election.
A Hennepin County judge issued an order amending former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin’s conditions of release due to safety concerns. Chauvin was released from Department of Corrections' custody on Wednesday after posting a $1 million bond. This is your MPR News evening update for Oct. 9, 2020. Hosted by Laura Yuen. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
MPR News congressional debates in the 6th and 2nd Districts
What’s being done to confront the coronavirus and stem the economic fallout from the pandemic are central to this year’s election campaigns. That was clear when the candidates in Minnesota’s 2nd and 6th Congressional Districts met in separate MPR News debates Friday.
For poet Maggie Smith, an ending was the beginning of her new book
Smith says she started writing “Keep Moving” as her marriage was ending. It began as a series of affirmations she wrote for herself on Twitter; she found that the posts were helping other people too.
 Minnesota absentee voting on record-setting pace
Nearly 18 percent of registered Minnesota voters have already cast ballots in the November election and the number is expected to grow.
Fairview outlines job cuts at two St. Paul hospitals set to close
In filings with state regulators, Fairview Health Services said it will eliminate 268 jobs at St. Joseph’s and another 179 at Bethesda starting Dec. 9.
Talking Volumes: A conversation with Claudia Rankine
Kerri Miller hosts a conversation with poet, playwright, bestselling author, MacArthur Fellow, and Yale professor Claudia Rankine about her new collection “Just Us: An American Conversation.”
Weekend forecast: Temps dip, then rebound; Sunday p.m. shower/thunder chance
We have a nice mix of temps in our weekend forecast, and some areas may see some much needed rain Sunday afternoon and evening. We have details on that, plus an updated fall color report.
McConnell says no COVID-19 bill likely before Election Day
President Trump’s most powerful GOP ally in the Senate says Congress is unlikely to deliver another big COVID-19 relief bill before the election. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he doesn’t see a deal coming together soon because the participants in the negotiations are elbowing for political advantage.
Critics accuse Trump of using race to divide Americans
President Trump's alarming rhetoric on race is a feature of his 2020 campaign. His actions have normalized racist fringe ideologies and encouraged extremists, according to critics.
Head of anti-violence group in a fight with COVID-19
In a video message from his hospital bed, MAD DADS president VJ Smith said he’s being treated for the virus and pneumonia
U.S. Sen. John Hoeven says a new federal law enforcement training center for Native American officers in northeastern North Dakota should be starting classes in the next month. The U.S. Indian Police Academy Advanced Training Center is located at Camp Grafton, the North Dakota National Guard facility near Devils Lake.
After what will likely be record warmth Friday, temperatures cool slightly over the weekend. By Sunday, a strong storm brings not only needed rain, but a risk for severe weather.
AG: Michigan governor, family were moved as plotters tracked
Michigan's attorney general says Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and her family were at times moved around by authorities as law enforcement tracked the men who allegedly plotted for months to kidnap her.
Friday is starting off very mild, and by afternoon, some parts of Minnesota could see record high temperatures in the 80s.
The plan would eliminate the men’s track and field, men’s tennis, and men’s gymnastics teams. School officials say the move is due to pandemic-related financial shortfalls, and Title IX compliance issues. This is an MPR News update for October 9, 2020. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
The world's largest humanitarian organization won the award because multilateral cooperation is "absolutely necessary," the chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo said.
Prompted by pandemic, digital markets connect small farms to consumers
The coronavirus pandemic is changing the way many small farms market their produce. One experiment in online marketing started slowly a couple of years ago, but this year it's boosted income for small farmers.
Smokey skies are the new normal. Are they making us sick?
Scientists know that tiny particles from smoke can be inhaled deep into a person's lungs and even enter the bloodstream. But the long-term health effects of this are not fully understood.
Race against the fall color clock: Over half of Minn. already at or past peak
Fall colors are moving quickly and there’s no time to lose. While north-central and central Minnesota are hotspots for fall color, the southern stretch of the state should be seeing peak color within the next week.