Stories from October 27, 2020

The true cost of North Dakota's strained hospitals: 'He could’ve easily died in my home'
An increasing number of seriously ill patients in Bismarck are sitting through long wait times to be admitted to the hospital, but Sanford Bismarck president Dr. Michael LeBeau said he’s confident the number of beds and staff on hand can deal with the rising hospitalizations.
Money pours into Minnesota legislative races
The battle for control of the Minnesota Legislature is attracting huge sums of money to the campaigns, much of it focused on a small number of key districts. 
Supreme Court rejects delay of 2nd District vote
A Minnesota Republican candidate's bid to delay voting in his congressional race to February due to the death of a third-party candidate was rejected Tuesday at the Supreme Court.
Meet a few of Minnesota’s first time candidates
Tuesday marks a week until Election Day. MPR News host Angela Davis spoke with three first-time candidates who are jumping into local elections in Minnesota. She also looked at what’s happening at the polls across the country.
Echoes of today's unrest run through 'The Cold Millions'
Jess Walter's new novel an adventure tale based on actual events in the early days of the last century's labor movement — which was much wilder and bloodier than most people remember.
In an open letter, the principals of North Community High, Patrick Henry High and the Harrison Education Center criticized their school board’s decision to terminate its relationship with the Minneapolis Police Department.
The state's largest school district takes on COVID restrictions for school sports, as COVID fatigue takes a more aggressive turn. This is an evening news update hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.
Appeals court considers Minnesota ballot cushion
Minnesota’s plan to give absentee voters a seven-day counting period after Election Day is being weighed by a federal appeals court. A hearing came a day after the U.S. Supreme Court held back an extended count of Wisconsin ballots.
Electionland: Help MPR News, ProPublica track election problems
MPR News is partnering with ProPublica, a nonprofit investigative news organization, to track voting problems and election integrity. You can help — tell us if you experienced or witnessed any problems when casting your ballot.
Mild temperatures into early November will eat away at Minnesota’s October snow cover.
Biography traces political mistakes and personal scars that shaped Joe Biden
The New Yorker's Evan Osnos writes about the candidate's enduring quest to become president. He says Joe Biden has a different mindset today than he once had: "He's a man who is at peace."
'A million miles away': Mankato family copes with COVID-19 isolation
COVID-19 forced Rick, Kirsten and Clara Jeddeloh to isolate from one another for weeks in their home. It was excruciating, they say, but the experience brought them closer together.
One good thing: Wickedly creative pandemic trick-or-treating
The favorite American festivity of Halloween trick-or-treating is being tested by the pandemic, and people are rising to the challenge in creative ways that are both safe and fun.
Supreme Court ruling spurs Wisconsin to get early votes in
With just a week to go until Election Day and 320,000 outstanding absentee ballots in hotly contested battleground Wisconsin, the push is on to get all ballots returned.
A procrastinator’s guide to the 2020 election
Election Day is a week away. On Tuesday’s MPR News with Kerri Miller, Secretary of State Steve Simon spent the 9 a.m. hour taking your calls and last-minute questions.
Barrett sworn in at court as issues important to Trump await
Barrett's first votes on the court could include two big topics affecting the man who appointed her. The court is weighing a plea from President Donald Trump to prevent the Manhattan district attorney from acquiring his tax returns as well as appeals to shorten the deadline for counting absentee ballots in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. 
U.S. coronavirus cases surpass summer peak and are climbing higher fast
The country has blown past records set in July and entered uncharted territory. Experts can't predict how high the new peak will go. Here's what's driving the surge.
 ‘La vanguardia’: Latinx youth lead a movement to get Minnesota Latinos voting
Young Latinos are becoming more politically active as the state’s Latino population grows rapidly. The presidential election has sharpened their focus and their desire to get their voices heard. 
Diane di Prima, beat poet and activist, dead at 86
Di Prima wrote over 40 books of poetry and memoir, including her collection the radical and political “Revolutionary Letters.”
Voter guide: Where the 8th District candidates stand on the issues
Here’s what you need to know about where candidates running for Congress in Minnesota’s 8th District stand on top issues for Minnesotans.
COVID spikes exacerbate health worker shortages in Rocky Mountains, Great Plains
COVID-19 infections and quarantines are pulling health professionals off the front lines, exacerbating staffing woes that existed in large, rural states well before the pandemic.
Agreement signed to end Fargo-Moorhead flood project dispute
A settlement agreement signed Monday will end existing litigation that has slowed the nearly  $3 billion Fargo-Moorhead flood diversion project. 
'Kindred' dismantles simplistic views of Neanderthals
Rebecca Wragg Sykes describes evidence showing that as innovative tool- and fire-makers, Neanderthals adapted to changing climates, adopted symbolic cultural practices and expressed profound emotions.
A judge has denied President Donald Trump's request that the United States replace him as the defendant in a defamation lawsuit alleging he raped a woman in a Manhattan luxury department store in the 1990s.
Tuesday stays cold with highs in the 30s and breezy conditions making it feel even colder.  Then a slow warmup begins, returning the state to near-average temperatures by the weekend.
Washington Post critic says 'Trump has unwittingly enabled' discussions of race
Carlos Lozada tells NPR: "It's ironic that a president with such a negative force for race relations" and women's rights has presided over a period where both groups feel more empowered to speak out.
Teen who recorded Floyd death on phone to receive PEN award
"With nothing more than a cell phone and sheer guts, Darnella (Frazier) changed the course of history in this country, sparking a bold movement demanding an end to systemic anti-Black racism and violence at the hands of police," PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel said in a statement Tuesday.
Biden goes on offense in Georgia while Trump targets Midwest
Joe Biden plans to use the final week before Election Day to go on offense, heading Tuesday to Georgia and planning travel that may put President Donald Trump on defense in other states he won four years ago.
Tuesday stays much colder than average, with breezy conditions making temperatures feel even chillier.
Worst place, worst time: Trump faces virus spike in Midwest
The Upper Midwest is bearing much of the brunt of new infections surging across the U.S. That includes Wisconsin, where President Donald Trump is fighting to catch Joe Biden in a state Trump narrowly won in 2016. Also seeing a surge is Iowa, where Trump is now in a toss-up race with Biden after carrying the state by 9.4 percentage points four years ago.
From COVID to QAnon, church makes disinformation training a question of faith
What does it mean to be a Christian and navigate disinformation in the digital age? A Minneapolis church has been exploring this question in a pivotal election year, when falsehoods and conspiracy theories have dominated the political discourse and divided friends and family.
Sanford Health and the Utah-based Intermountain Healthcare system on Monday announced plans to merge.  Sanford Health has headquarters in Sioux Falls, S.D. and hundreds of clinics and other facilities throughout the Dakotas and Minnesota. This is an MPR News morning update for Tuesday, October 27, 2020. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
Oct. 27 update on COVID-19 in MN: Double-digit deaths, record hospitalizations
COVID-19’s toll in Minnesota continued its grim ascent Tuesday with the Health Department reporting 15 more deaths, nearly 2,200 more cases and a record number of hospitalizations. The latest report shows positive test rates suddenly skyrocketing.
Voters' guide to election security in the 2020 presidential campaign
Voters and national security officials are focused as never before on assuring the security of the election. Here's what you need to know in the final days of voting.
If the ACA falls, protecting preexisting conditions could be harder than it sounds
Though the Trump administration is trying to dismantle the Affordable Care Act in court, it's vowed that people with health problems will still be able to get insured. Here's why that could be tricky.
Westminster Town Hall Forum: Climate activist Bill McKibben
Bill McKibben is the founder of the climate change organization 350.org. He was the featured speaker at the Westminster Town Hall Forum.
How to spot (and fight) election misinformation
Misinformation and disinformation, especially online, continue to play a huge role in the 2020 election. Learn more about the types of false information you’re likely to come across this year — and how you can help fight it.