Stories from October 14, 2020

Barron Trump tested positive for coronavirus, but now negative
First lady Melania Trump says she dreaded the diagnosis after she and the president got sick. "Luckily [Barron] is a strong teenager and exhibited no symptoms."
Wind, cold, and snow. Big changes blowing into Minnesota
Wind advisories blanketed most of Minnesota Wednesday. Peak wind gusts in the 40s and 50s covered a big chunk of Minnesota. Winds will gradually ease late Thursday.
There's been a big jump in COVID deaths as case numbers stay high. Health officials says its the inevitable result of widespread community transmission. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.
Vision 2020: Will mailed-in ballots be delivered on time?
Can you trust the U.S. Postal Service to deliver your ballot on time? Postal officials have repeatedly said the agency has more than enough capacity to handle the surge of ballots. But on-time delivery rates vary widely depending on location. All that is to say, the earlier you mail your ballot, the better.
Trump vs. Biden: How Russia sees the U.S. election
A poll published in September found only 23 percent of Russians have a positive view of Trump and 43 percent have a negative one. Also, 55 percent of respondents said they were hearing about Biden for the very first time.
Trump tries to shore up support from big business, Iowans
President Trump is trying to shore up support from constituencies that not so long ago he thought he had in the bag: big business and voters in the red state of Iowa.
Bob McDonald, iconic Chisholm basketball coach, dies at 87
Bob McDonald, a local icon and hall of fame basketball coach from Chisholm, died Wednesday morning, according to John Millea, a spokesperson for the Minnesota State High School League.
Gun-waving St. Louis couple plead not guilty to 2 felony charges
A grand jury indicted Mark and Patricia McCloskey last week on weapon and evidence charges. The case stems from a confrontation between the McCloskeys and protesters for racial justice on June 28.
Minnesota House to reconvene for vote on $1.4B bonding bill
The Minnesota House reconvenes Wednesday for what could be its last chance to pass a $1.37 billion public works construction borrowing package, but it requires at least six Republican votes.
Judge blocks Wisconsin governor's indoor capacity limits amid spike in COVID-19 cases
The rules issued last week limited indoor public gatherings to no more than 25 percent of total occupancy limits. The state's Tavern League argued the caps would effectively put its members out of business. 
'So hard to prove you exist': Flawed fraud protections deny unemployment to millions
Efforts to prevent fraud in state unemployment systems are outdated, hurting millions of people with legitimate claims by causing lengthy and unnecessary delays while not managing to catch much fraud.
Pam Kellogg, division manager at Mower County Community Health Services, said staffing problems at Austin’s Sacred Heart Care Center started near the end of August, with the problem getting worse and worse over the course of several weeks until the facility simply needed help having enough care workers.
A strong storm Wednesday brings a mix of rain and wind, then turns the entire state much colder by Thursday.  Below average temperatures then persist through much of the next week.
Democrats and their allies have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow for absentee ballots in battleground Wisconsin received up to six days after the election to be counted. The move is being fought by Republicans who have opposed other attempts across the country to expand voting.
Close-knit St. John’s monks seek space to stay safe in pandemic
The monks share close quarters. They eat together three times a day and pray together four times a day. And many are still actively involved in teaching and ministry outside the abbey — at the university or in local parishes. When COVID-19 arrived, their close-knit community and collective way of life meant their most vulnerable members would be at risk.
In swing states, officials struggle to process ballots early
Most of the country lets election officials do the arduous process of opening and sorting absentee ballots long before Election Day. In Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, they have to wait.
Thirteen counties in the southwestern corner of the state are expected to have critical weather conditions Wednesday, including relative humidity as low as 20 percent and strong winds. The warning lasts from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday.
A strong storm moves across Minnesota Wednesday bringing high winds, rain and even an isolated risk for severe weather.
News Tuesday that state officials are ramping up plans to massively expand COVID-19 testing opportunities across Minnesota served to reaffirm a point public health leaders have been making for weeks: The pandemic here is far from over. This is an MPR News morning update for Wednesday, October 14, 2020. Hosted by Phil Picardi. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
Barrett tells doubtful Dems she'd keep open mind on court
Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett is presenting herself as a judge with deeply held personal and religious beliefs, but one who vows to keep an “open mind” on cases coming to the court. Republicans champion her conservative approach to the law and doubtful Democrats are running out of time to stop her quick confirmation.
Oct. 14 update on COVID-19 in MN: Highest death count in months; 1,200 new cases
The newest numbers come a day after state officials unveiled plans to massively expand COVID-19 testing opportunities across Minnesota as active caseloads remain at record highs and hospitalizations continue to climb.
Meet the Minneapolis ‘violence interrupters’
The city has employed community members to head off conflicts before they turn deadly. The anti-violence program is being rolled out at a time when shootings in Minneapolis are at a five-year high.
Women in politics: The 2020 election
Political science professors Jennifer Lawless and Kathryn Pearson discuss women in the political arena in 2020.