Stories from November 9, 2020

Coronavirus FAQ: Could COVID-19 ever be considered a preexisting condition?
That's a question people are asking as the Supreme Court hears oral arguments for a case on the future of the Affordable Care Act — which guarantees coverage for preexisting conditions.
Trans and nonbinary candidates set record wins
In 2020, transgender candidates continued to win elections. In Kansas, one winner, Stephanie Byers, says voters seemed more concerned with her policy than with her gender identity.
Tuesday brings another shot of snow to Minnesota.
Governor indicates COVID restrictions are going to ratchet back up as cases make an alarming jump over the weekend. This is an evening update from MPR news, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.
Osterholm joins Biden's COVID task force, hopes to work with Trump team
A prominent Minnesota infectious disease expert has been chosen as a member of President-elect Joe Biden’s new coronavirus advisory board. On MPR News, Dr. Michael Osterholm talked about the task force’s plan to fight the virus, the latest on vaccine development and where we are now with the pandemic.
After Biden win, McConnell says Trump OK to fight election
Despite President-elect Joe Biden's victory, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Monday President Donald Trump is “100 percent within his rights” to question election results and consider legal options.
Prosecutors: Man's hatred was behind Bloomington mosque attack
Prosecutors say the leader of an anti-government group in Illinois and alleged mastermind behind a 2017 attack on a Minnesota mosque was acting on his hatred of Muslims when he came up with a plan to pipe bomb the building during morning prayers. 
Trump fires Esper as Pentagon chief after election defeat
President Donald Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Monday, an unprecedented move by a president struggling to accept election defeat and angry at a Pentagon leader he believes wasn't loyal enough.
Soccer star Megan Rapinoe on equal pay, and what the U.S. flag means to her
Rapinoe has also been an outspoken advocate for pay equity and the Black Lives Matter movement. "I see patriotism as constantly demanding better of ourselves," she says. Her new book is “One Life.”
Walz hints at targeted restrictions to curb COVID-19 spread
Gov. Tim Walz plans to announce new restrictions that target active spreaders of COVID-19 in an effort to bring the coronavirus under control. He says, however, that the restrictions would be more targeted than last spring's 51-day stay-at-home order. 
How are new restaurants opening up amid the pandemic? 
MPR News senior economics contributor Chris Farrell joined host Angela Davis to discuss the latest economic news. Then, we took a look at the Twin Cities dining scene. 
Thread: Wanbli Weiden's 'Winter Counts' deserves more fanfare
For this week’s Thread: Kerri Miller begins a series this morning running through the end of December that will give more attention to authors you might not have heard about, and would be great ideas for the holiday season.
Trump election party draws scrutiny as Carson tests positive
The Trump campaign’s election night watch party was supposed to be a scene of celebration. Instead, the event — with few masks and no social distancing — is being eyed as a potential coronavirus super-spreading event. Ben Carson, the Secretary for Housing and Urban Development, is the latest attendee to test positive.
Will the U.S. election results change the country’s COVID-19 response?
As the election officials in a handful of swing states tabulated votes, 17 states logged record numbers of patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Will the end of the national campaign cycle — and the recent uptick in cases — mark a turning point in the way elected officials respond to COVID-19?
Russia and China among countries holding off on congratulating Biden
Leaders in the Kremlin and Beijing, as well as in Mexico and Brazil, have conspicuously not congratulated the president-elect, instead waiting for legal challenges to be resolved.
ChangeMakers: Vanessa GoodThunder, revitalizing the Dakota language
Vanessa GoodThunder, 26, is the director of the C̣aƞṡayapi Waḳaƞyeża Owayawa Oṭi, the Lower Sioux Early Head Start and Head Start Dakota language immersion program in Morton, Minn. She is from the Lower Sioux Indian Community, a Dakota community in Southwest Minnesota described as "where they paint the trees red."
After our recent trend of record November warmth, a potent storm is impacting Minnesota with rain, snow, and colder temperatures that are here to stay.
Biden's first 100 days: Here's what to expect
Joe Biden has made dozens of campaign promises. A significant amount of his agenda centers on reversing or updating positions taken by the Trump administration.
Biden cheers vaccine progress but says masks remain a must
President-elect Joe Biden on Monday cheered news about the promising development of a coronavirus vaccine but cautioned Americans need to be aggressive about mask wearing and social distancing as infections continue to surge around the country.
Referendum on Trump shatters turnout records
The 2020 presidential election has officially hit the highest turnout in more than 50 years. The turnout rate in last week's presidential election eclipsed the 61.6 percent of voting-age Americans who voted in the 2008 election.
A strong cold front is carving its way across Minnesota bringing gusty winds, rain and falling temperatures Monday.
Epidemiologist Michael Osterholm directs the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, and has been a familiar face during the pandemic. This is an MPR News morning update for Monday, November 9, 2020. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.  
Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine is looking 90% effective
Pfizer says an early peek at its vaccine data suggests the shots may be 90 percent effective at preventing COVID-19, indicating the company is on track later this month to file an emergency use application with U.S. regulators.
CentraCare hospitals feeling strain of COVID-19 surge in central Minn.
Almost a quarter of the patients at St. Cloud Hospital have COVID-19, and the intensive care units at CentraCare hospitals are nearly full, with more than half of those cases related to the virus.
Minnesota's elder care facilities try to balance safety with mental health as COVID rises
As winter nears, long-term care facilities across the state are figuring out how to safely bring more visitors inside, while keeping the growing pandemic threat outside. In doing so, the home operators are hoping to boost the mental health of residents.
Trump faces calls to work with Biden team on transition
President Donald Trump is facing pressure to cooperate with President-elect Joe Biden's team to ensure a smooth transfer of power when the new administration takes office in January.
Nov. 9 update on COVID-19 in MN: 4K more cases, 19 more deaths
The newest numbers follow a week of record case increases, with hospitalizations and deaths climbing. Officials are bracing Minnesotans to expect the situation to worsen.
Final act of Trump era could be as tumultuous as the preceding years
President Donald Trump remains in office until early 2021 — and there will be political struggles aplenty for Washington and the outgoing chief executive before Inauguration Day.
2020 Nobel Peace Prize-winning UN World Food Programme leader speaks at Minnesota event
David Beasley, executive director the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize-winning UN World Food Programme and Jeffrey Sachs of UN Sustainable Development Solutions give keynote address at a World Food Day event hosted by Global Minnesota.