Stories from October 17, 2020

Bright and colder on Sunday; searching for warmth
Snow continues this Saturday evening on northeastern Minnesota with some rain showers in far southern Minnesota. Colder air rushes in later Saturday night and it will linger for several days. We have details on all that, plus a look at Saturday snow anounts.
Rural Midwest hospitals struggling to handle virus surge
“One or two people with infections can really cause a large impact when you have one grocery store or gas station,” one health official said as the brunt of the coronavirus has blown into the Upper Midwest and northern Plains. “There is such a ripple effect.”
'I'm still unemployed': Millions in dire situation as savings start to run out
Many unemployed Americans have been tapping into their savings to pay bills. But those savings are going fast, and hopes for a new round of pandemic relief before the election are fading.
New virus restrictions in Europe; Merkel warns of hard days
“Difficult months are ahead of us,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said. “How winter will be, how our Christmas will be, that will all be decided in these coming days and weeks, and it will be decided by our behavior.”
Saturday snow in northern Minnesota; sprinkle chance in the south
Much of northern Minnesota will see accumulting snow this Saturday afternoon. We have details on forcast snow amounts and the winter weather advisories that have been issued across parts of the north. We also look at the rest of our weekend forecast and take a peek at Minnesota fall colors.
'The Once And Future Witches' will have you spellbound
Alix Harrow's new book is set in an alternate 19th-century America where the suffragette movement exists alongside a quest to restore magic and end the banishment of witches and witchcraft.
'Piranesi,' a perfect fall read leading up to Halloween
Chloe Deblois of Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shop in Damariscotta, Maine, recommended the novel “Piranesi” by Susanna Clarke, the bestselling author of “Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell.”
COVID-19 cases tied to MN campaign events — but full impact is unclear
Health officials say some people who attended recent political events in Minnesota — including two major Trump rallies in the northern part of the state — later tested positive for COVID-19. But how many? That number is hard to find.
Oct. 17 update on COVID-19 in MN: 'Deeply worried' by the pandemic's path
Minnesota reported 1,704 more confirmed COVID-19 cases on Saturday — down from Friday’s record high, but still the second-largest single-day case increase so far during the pandemic. Testing also fell, more so than cases — meaning the positivity rate for tests increased.