Stories from October 16, 2020

Judge: Groups didn't prove Line 3 construction could damage wetlands, streams
In a non-binding recommendation issued Friday, Judge James LaFave said the coalition of environmental and tribal groups failed to meet the burden of proof in a contested-case hearing on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s water permits over the summer.
Tracking Saturday snowfall totals
The first significant accumulating snow arrives for many locations in central and northern Minnesota Saturday.
Supreme Court speeds up case on Trump's push to alter census for House seats
The justices will hear oral arguments on Nov. 30, increasing the potential for Trump to try to omit unauthorized immigrants from the census numbers used to reallocate House seats while in office.
Campaign cash piles up in final stretch
New fundraising and cash on hand figures provide a glimpse of the state of the campaign as Election Day approaches.
Here’s what's in that big public works bonding bill
The massive public works bill will provide funding for everything from an amphitheater in Minneapolis to a new bridge in St. Paul to repairs to the Lakewalk in Duluth and fixes to campus buildings around the state.
Minnesota is seeing the highest three-day COVID-19 death toll since June. The state Health Department Friday reported 13 more deaths.  Forty-eight Minnesotans have died over the past two days, putting the toll at 61 for the end of the week. Coronavirus cases also skyrocketed to a new single-day record — nearly 2,300, while testing is at an all-time high. This is the MPR News afternoon update for Oct. 16, 2020. Hosted by Nina Moini. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine won't be ready by Election Day
Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla said in a public statement Friday that the company won't have data showing that the vaccine is safe before the third week of November at the earliest.
Record avalanche of early votes transforms the 2020 election
Nearly 21 million people have voted so far, which is about 15 percent of all votes cast in 2016. Experts predict there may be higher turnout in this election than in any presidential contest since 1908.
Voter mail bag: You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers
It’s been an election season unlike any other, and it’s prompting scores of questions about how we vote and what happens next. MPR News is working to track down answers.
The weekend starts with several inches of snow in parts of northern Minnesota on Saturday. We have details on that, plus the cold air that will spread into southern Minnesota on Sunday. We also have your updated Minnesota fall color report.
WHO study finds remdesivir didn't help COVID-19 patients
A large study led by the World Health Organization suggests that the antiviral drug remdesivir did not help hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Remdesivir is among the treatments President Donald Trump received.
Twitter changes hacked content rules after Biden story furor
An executive tweeted that the social media company will no longer remove hacked material unless it's directly shared by hackers or those working with them. And instead of blocking links from being shared, tweets will be labeled to provide context.
After a dry September, this week brought a soaking rain to much of the state. According to retired University of Minnesota climatologist and meteorologist Mark Seeley, more than a hundred climate stations reported a rainfall of between 1 to 2 inches, mainly overnight on Sunday.
The first significant snowfall of the season hits this weekend
Shovel? Check. Boots? Yep. Coat? Got it. Good — you’re gonna need them. A potent storm targets Minnesota over the weekend, bringing the first significant snowfall of the season. It also reinforces a colder pattern that stays in place all of next week.
From health care to the economy: Where Trump and Biden stand
NPR Politics has pulled out the major party presidential candidates' plans on key issues facing the country. Read our guide to their policies.
Friday remains colder than average with a few sprinkles or flurries possible, especially in the morning hours.
The state reported 19 new COVID-19 deaths on Thursday, nearly twice the recent daily average, as new cases topped 1,000 for the eighth straight day. More Minnesotans are also being hospitalized with COVID-19 infections. This is an MPR News morning update for October 16, 2020. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
Her mother voted in the wake of the 1918 pandemic. Now, voting is a 'sacred' ritual
Helen Merrill and her granddaughter, Elizabeth Hartley, remember their family's matriarch, whose determination to vote in 1920 drove her to the polls even though she was recovering from the flu.
Feminists weigh their wins and losses after nearly four years of Trump
The latest round of women's marches is against the filling of Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Supreme Court seat. It's also an opportunity for activists to take stock as the stakes of the election loom.
Talking Volumes: A conversation with Helen Macdonald
Kerri Miller hosts a conversation with bestselling author Helen Macdonald about her new book “Vesper Flights.”
Fact check: Rhetoric from Trump, Biden in the nondebate
President Donald Trump and Democratic rival Joe Biden faced inquisitive voters on separate stages in different cities in a substitute for the debate that was meant to be. Here's how some of the rhetoric Thursday night compared with the facts in the prime-time events and a day of campaigning.
'I brush my teeth myself': Families line up in droves for free Mankato dental clinic
The university’s public dental program hosts free dental clinics each semester, as a way for student hygienists to receive firsthand experience in working with young patients, and a way to give the community free access to dental care. Thursday marked the first of a two-day event. 
Oct. 16 update on COVID-19 in MN: Rampant spread leaves officials 'deeply worried'
With case counts skyrocketing and deaths climbing, state public health leaders struck a decidedly somber tone Friday, pleading with Minnesotans to shoulder more personal responsibility to stem the spread of the disease.
Peace, conservation, compassion: Minnesotans share their hopes for the future
This year, we wanted to reach beyond politics and learn about what issues are impacting Minnesotan’s day to day. We asked voters, “What are your hopes for your life in Minnesota 5-10 years from now?” Here’s what they said.
Breaking hues: Most of state past peak for fall colors — but not southeastern Minn.
For those looking to catch a last glimpse of this year’s fall colors, head to the southeastern portion of the state. In an area where the leaves have already fallen? Here’s one bright spot: “(Y)ou actually have much better bird- and wildlife-watching opportunities,” says the DNR’s Rachel Hopper.