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Stories from October 30, 2020

Windy Saturday; northern Minn. could see some p.m. flakes

We’ll remember Halloween 2020 as a windy day. Northern Minnesota could also see a mix of rain and snow. We have details on that, plus a look at a chilly Sunday followed by warmer temps next week.
by Ron Trenda

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By the numbers: Minnesota’s early voting surge continues

By the numbers: Minnesota’s early voting surge continues

The continued surge in early voting comes as a court ruling has thrown into question Minnesota’s plan to count mail-in ballots after Election Day — as long as they were postmarked by Election Day. Secretary of State Steve Simon now says voters should bring their ballots to a dropbox or vote in person, rather than gambling that their mailed-in ballot will arrive by Tuesday.
by David H. Montgomery

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After months of questions, key Operation Warp Speed adviser's contract emerges

After months of questions, key Operation Warp Speed adviser's contract emerges

Drug industry veteran Moncef Slaoui is a key figure in Operation Warp Speed push to develop COVID-19 coronavirus vaccines. His employment terms raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
by Sydney Lupkin

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Biden, Trump rallies turn out hundreds in very different settings

Former vice president Biden was set to speak to a “drive-in” event at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, while President Trump’s supporters lined up early to be among the 250 to attend his rally in person outside at the Rochester airport. Hundreds more crowded outside. This is your afternoon update for Oct. 30, 2020. Hosted by Hannah Yang. Theme music by Gary Meister.
by Hannah Yang

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Amazon announces packing, shipping facility in Fargo

Amazon announces packing, shipping facility in Fargo

Online retailing and tech giant Amazon says  it will build a packing and shipping facility in Fargo, N.D. that will add more than 500 jobs in the city.
by The Associated Press

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How will the election's outcome affect the economy?

How will the election's outcome affect the economy?

MPR News senior economics contributor Chris Farrell joined host Angela Davis to talk about how the outcome of Tuesday’s election could affect the United States’ precarious economy.
by Angela Davis and Katie Moritz

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This year's Minn. school board races are competitive and more racially diverse

This year's Minn. school board races are competitive and more racially diverse

The majority of Minnesota school districts are holding board elections in November. And there are large numbers of people running to fill those seats, including record numbers of candidates of color.
by Elizabeth Shockman

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Ask a bookseller, Halloween edition: An apocalyptic read keeps you asking 'what else could happen?'

Ask a bookseller, Halloween edition: An apocalyptic read keeps you asking 'what else could happen?'

This Halloween, Gretchen West of Valley Bookseller in Stillwater, Minn., recommends the novel “Leave the World Behind” by Rumaan Alam, which came out earlier this month. 
by Emily Bright

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Internal documents reveal COVID-19 hospitalization data the government keeps hidden

Internal documents reveal COVID-19 hospitalization data the government keeps hidden

Where are hospitals reaching capacity? Which metro areas are running out of beds? The most recent report obtained by NPR, dated Oct 27, lists cities where hospitals are filling up, including the metro areas of Atlanta, Minneapolis and Baltimore, where in-patient hospital beds are over 80 percent full.
by Pien Huang and Selena Simmons-Duffin

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Audio diary: Adjusting to campus life in a pandemic

Audio diary: Adjusting to campus life in a pandemic

It’s a tough time to be starting college, with so much of the typical experience on hold because of the pandemic. Dorms, cafeterias and lecture halls are quiet, and many classes are online, even if students are on campus. It’s hard to meet new friends and connect with professors under the circumstances.
by Cathy Wurzer

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Black and Latino voters flooded with disinformation in election's final days

Black and Latino voters flooded with disinformation in election's final days

Hoaxes and misleading posts aimed at depressing turnout have spread on social media. Experts say it outpaces 2016, when Black voters were the top target of Russian-backed disinformation.
by Shannon Bond

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Congressional candidates in Minnesota's 4th District and 5th District

Congressional candidates in Minnesota's 4th District and 5th District

To wrap up the series of debates and interviews with the candidates in Minnesota’s eight congressional districts, MPR News political editor Mike Mulcahy hosts the last edition of “Politics Friday” before the Nov. 3 election.
by Mike Mulcahy

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7th District voters choosing between ag clout and President Trump

7th District voters choosing between ag clout and President Trump

Political pundits on the national level say 7th District U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson is facing the toughest election challenge of his 30 years in Congress. His challenger, former state Sen. Michelle Fischbach, is touting her support from President Donald Trump as she tries to defeat Peterson in the increasingly red district.
by Dan Gunderson

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Wrapping up one of the coldest, snowiest Octobers in Minnesota history

Wrapping up one of the coldest, snowiest Octobers in Minnesota history

Temperatures around the state averaged 6 to 7 degrees cooler than normal in October, according to retired University of Minnesota climatologist and meteorologist Mark Seeley.
by Cathy Wurzer

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The Halloween forecast brings treats and a few tricks

After a quieter day Friday, Saturday turns active again with wind and rain chances.  Next week brings mostly warm and sunny weather.
by Nicole Mitchell

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Scaled-back Thanksgiving plans leave turkey farmers in limbo

Scaled-back Thanksgiving plans leave turkey farmers in limbo

Millions of Americans are expected to have scaled-down celebrations amid the pandemic, heeding official warnings against travel and large indoor gatherings. That leaves anxious turkey farmers and grocers scrambling to predict what people will want on their holiday tables.
by The Associated Press

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Judge won't stop Minneapolis homeless encampment sweeps

Judge won't stop Minneapolis homeless encampment sweeps

In a ruling Thursday, federal Judge Wilhelmina Wright declined to issue a temporary order to stop the evictions because the plaintiffs had not met the "burden of demonstrating irreparable harm," the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported.
by The Associated Press

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Temperatures start to climb Friday

Overnight snow is winding down Friday morning, while southerly winds bring slightly milder temperatures.
by Nicole Mitchell

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Court rules that late MN ballots must be set aside

In an opinion, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said a grace period for Minnesota ballots postmarked on or before Nov. 3 is likely unconstitutional. The court ruled that state election officials must set aside any mail-in ballots arriving after Election Day. This is an MPR News update for October 30, 2020. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

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Final NPR electoral map: Biden has the edge, but Trump retains narrow path

Final NPR electoral map: Biden has the edge, but Trump retains narrow path

You would rather be Democrat Joe Biden heading into Election Day than President Donald Trump, but there's lots of uncertainty. It's possible to see Biden win a blowout or Trump again eke out a win.
by Domenico Montanaro

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Agencies, contractors suspend diversity training to avoid violating Trump order

Agencies, contractors suspend diversity training to avoid violating Trump order

President Donald Trump's recent executive order banning some diversity training has had a widespread effect as government agencies, contractors and universities scramble to figure out how to comply.
by Melissa Block

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Biden, Trump hold dueling rallies in Minnesota

Biden, Trump hold dueling rallies in Minnesota

Former Vice President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump breezed through Minnesota, speaking to rallies capped by coronavirus restrictions before heading to their next stops. Neither is due back before Tuesday’s election.
by Mark Zdechlik and Brian Bakst

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Oct. 30 update on COVID-19 in MN: Daily cases top record 3K; 18 more deaths

Oct. 30 update on COVID-19 in MN: Daily cases top record 3K; 18 more deaths

The newest numbers come at the end of one of the worst weeks in one of the worst months for Minnesota in the pandemic. Hospitalizations, caseloads and deaths rose steeply in October and seem poised to spill into November.
by MPR News Staff

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Talking Volumes: A conversation with Isabel Wilkerson

Talking Volumes: A conversation with Isabel Wilkerson

Kerri Miller hosts a conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Isabel Wilkerson about her new book “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.”
by Kerri Miller

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Gray wolves lose federal protection; state will manage instead

Gray wolves lose federal protection; state will manage instead

The rulemaking from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service returns management of wolves to the states — which opens up the possibility of a controversial wolf hunting season in Minnesota. But Gov. Walz says he opposes the recreational hunting of wolves. 
by Dan Kraker

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Walmart yanks guns off shelves citing rising tensions

Walmart yanks guns off shelves citing rising tensions

The retail giant removed firearms and ammunition from its shelves saying it's a precautionary step amid the recent outbreak of civil unrest. But the weapons are still available, if you ask for them.
by Vanessa Romo

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Walter Wallace Jr.'s family does not want police officers to face murder charges

Walter Wallace Jr.'s family does not want police officers to face murder charges

"Here's why: they were improperly trained and did not have the proper equipment by which to effectuate their job," the family's attorney said on Thursday. The officers' names have not been released.
by NPR Staff

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