Stories from November 5, 2020

First COVID-19 vaccine doses to go to health workers, say CDC advisers
A team of independent advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a science-based outline for deploying a vaccine when it's ready. The goal is to stop deaths and viral spread fast.
Keewatin Taconite plans to restart plant, bring back workers
U.S. Steel plans to bring back hundreds of workers at the Keewatin Taconite plant in northern Minnesota shut down in May due to a drop in demand for iron and steel during the coronavirus pandemic, officials said Thursday.
From New Mexico becoming the first state ever to elect all women of color to the House, to Delaware's Sarah McBride, the first transgender state senator, the list of diversity firsts in 2020 is long.
George Floyd defendants will be tried together, livestreamed from Minneapolis says judge handling case of four former Minneapolis police officers. This is an evening news update from MPR News hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.
How local leaders can build community, racial equity
The mayors of three Minnesota cities, Worthington, Richfield and Golden Valley, talk about how they’ve worked to create stronger ties between neighbors in their increasingly diverse cities. 
Explainer: What effect could lawsuits have on the election?
Here is what the AP’s Colleen Long, a reporter who is leading coverage of the legal challenges, says: To really affect the outcome of the election, the lawsuits would have to meet certain conditions. And for now, none of them do.
Study: Fix to food climate problem doesn't require veganism
“The whole world doesn’t have to give up meat for us to meet our climate goals,” said study co-author Jason Hill, a biosystems engineering professor at the University of Minnesota.
Judges dismiss Trump claims in Georgia, Michigan
Judges in Georgia and Michigan have quickly dismissed Trump campaign lawsuits, undercutting a campaign legal strategy aimed at attacking the integrity of the voting process in states where the result could mean President Donald Trump’s defeat.
Clots, strokes and rashes. Is COVID-19 a disease of the blood vessels?
COVID-19 can cause symptoms that go well beyond the lungs, from strokes to organ failure. To explain these widespread injuries, researchers are studying how the virus affects the vascular system.
DFL U.S. Rep. Angie Craig defeats Republican Tyler Kistner
Democratic U.S. Rep. Angie Craig has defeated Republican Tyler Kistner in Minnesota’s swing 2nd District. The death of a third-party candidate threatened to delay the election by three months. Still, even in death, Adam Weeks of the Legal Marijuana Now Party drew nearly 6 percent of the vote, which was around three times Craig's margin of victory.
You’ll probably like our weekend temperatures. Most areas won’t see any rain or snow this weekend, but the winds will pick up. We have your updated weekend forecast details.
'Count every vote!': Large postelection protests seen in several U.S. cities
Some of the protests had been planned ahead of Election Day. But they were intensified by President Trump's attempts to pronounce himself the winner of a presidential race that's still playing out.
Collin Peterson defeat brings 30 years as a self-styled congressional maverick to a close
After 30 years in Congress, Minnesota Democrat Collin Peterson has been defeated by voters in western Minnesota's sprawling 7th Congressional District. He lost to former state senator and lieutenant governor, Republican Michelle Fischbach.
Judge: Floyd trial will stay in Minneapolis and can be livestreamed
The judge presiding over the cases of four former Minneapolis police officers charged in Floyd’s killing denied defense attorneys’ request to move the trial. The judge also joined the trials of the four officers, outlined a plan for keeping jurors anonymous and partially sequestered during the trial and announced that he will allow the trial to be livestreamed — a rarity for Minnesota.
Temperature dip slightly Thursday from their recent record-setting levels, but overall, the weather stays very warm through the weekend. A strong storm sends temperatures diving next week.
Biden won big in Minnesota. Why didn’t legislative Democrats?
Democrat Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump handily in Minnesota, largely because of a huge advantage in Hennepin County. Here’s why the DFL win at the top of the ticket didn’t filter down to legislative races.
U.S. sets coronavirus record with daily new cases pushing past 100,000
In recent weeks, the virus has swept through the country's heartland, infecting tens of thousands in the Midwest alone, which has also seen record numbers of hospitalizations for COVID-19.
Trump wants a recount in Wisconsin. How would it work?
Wisconsin does not have automatic recounts, but a losing candidate can file a sworn petition requesting one if the margin of victory is less than 1 percent. Democrat Joe Biden leads by roughly 21,000 votes.
Thursday remains mild, but not quite as warm as the past two days, with less of a chance for setting record highs.
Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm calls the state’s current COVID-19 surge “disheartening and alarming,” and she’s bracing Minnesotans for more bad days ahead. “It feels like we’re losing ground,” she told reporters Wednesday as she compared the rampant spread cutting through Minnesota and its neighbor states to a wildfire. “We’re falling behind the rapid spread of this virus.” This is an MPR News morning update for Thursday, November 5, 2020. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
Explainer: States still in play and what makes them that way
A handful of pivotal states remain in play in the tightly contested U.S. presidential race. Here, The Associated Press reviews them and examines the reasons why they could still go to either Republican Donald Trump or Democrat Joe Biden
Biden-Trump counting presses ahead 2 days after Election Day
Election officials in key battlegrounds are pressing forward with vote counting, two days after Election Day. Democrat Joe Biden is urging patience, while President Donald Trump is pursuing legal options, insisting the processing of ballots should be stopped.
Nov. 5 update on COVID-19 in MN: 3rd straight day of record new cases; 25 deaths
The newest numbers come a day after Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm called the state’s current COVID-19 surge “disheartening and alarming” as she braced Minnesotans for more bad days ahead.
Art Hounds: Two short plays and a colorful display
The Art Hounds suggest a history play on women and the right to vote, a ghostly play and colorful paintings that may connect us.
Wisconsin officials confident vote will stand up to recount
It’s unusual to overcome a deficit as large as the one President Donald Trump faces in a recount. It’s the latest twist in a critical battleground state that went from a messy April primary to a relatively smooth general election. Wisconsin officials say the recount in their state four years ago demonstrated the soundness of their system.
From marijuana to mushrooms, voters want drug laws eased
Voters in 2020 pushed for drug reform. Several states approved marijuana for recreational and medicinal use. Oregon voted to decriminalize possession of small amounts of hard drugs.
Explainer: Why AP called Michigan for Biden
The Associated Press declared Biden the winner of the state at 5:56 p.m. EST Wednesday after conducting an analysis of votes and remaining ballots left to be counted.
Trump sues in 3 states, laying ground for contesting outcome
Suits in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Georgia are demanding better access for campaign observers to locations where ballots are being processed and counted. The Trump campaign is also expressing concerns over absentee ballots.
Claim that Sharpie pens ruin Arizona ballots misses the mark
As states across the U.S. release vote totals for the presidential election, some social media users are falsely claiming that ballots are being invalidated in Arizona. The supposed culprit: Sharpie markers.