Stories from November 15, 2020

The leader of Ethiopia’s rebellious Tigray region has confirmed firing missiles at neighboring Eritrea’s capital and is threatening more, marking a huge escalation as the deadly fighting in northern Ethiopia between Tigray forces and the federal government spills across an international border.
Milder on Monday, snow favors northern Minnesota
Northern Minnesota will have the best chance of snow on Monday. We have details on your Monday forecast, plus a look at the midweek warmup.
Biden COVID adviser says restrictions should be more of a 'dial,' less of a 'switch'
Dr. Vivek Murthy, co-chair of President-elect Joe Biden's coronavirus advisory board, says past lockdowns functioned like a "blunt axe" that led to spotty compliance and "little public health gain."
At least 231 people have died in Texas jails and prisons from COVID-19, study finds
Nearly three-quarters of those who died from COVID-19 in prison did not have a life sentence and 58 percent of them were eligible for parole, the study found. In county jails, 80 percent of the people who died hadn't even been convicted of a crime.
Elation, frustration: For women, Kamala Harris' win is a big step, but long overdue
For some women, the election of the nation's first female and first woman of color to be vice president is a move in the right direction. Others say it's a reminder of how much more lies ahead.
Hurricane Iota continues to intensify as it approaches Central America
The storm is expected to make landfall Monday as a Category 4 hurricane. Its arrival comes as the region is still recovering from Hurricane Eta, which killed at least 150 people earlier this month.
Biden advisers to meet vaccine firms as Trump stalls handoff
Joe Biden's scientific advisers will meet with vaccine makers in coming days as the presidential transition remains stalled because of President Donald Trump's refusal to acknowledge that he lost the election.
Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Gazelka tests positive for COVID-19
The Republican majority leader of the Minnesota Senate has tested positive for COVID-19, and is facing calls from the DFL minority to resign his leadership post over his handling of a COVID outbreak affecting the GOP caucus.
12-year-old discovers invasive clams in Minnesota lake
William Guthrie was volunteering with his family to comb lakes for aquatic invaders when he discovered a golden clam — an invasive species not previously found in Minnesota lakes.
Nov. 15 update on COVID-19 in MN: Surge continues with 31 deaths, 7,559 new cases
Minnesota’s COVID-19 outbreak continues to rage unabated, with 7,559 new COVID-19 cases reported Sunday along with 31 additional deaths. The deaths cap Minnesota’s deadliest week on record during this pandemic, with 249 deaths from the disease over the past seven days.
The strong winds will linger through Sunday afternoon and it’ll be chilly. We have details on that, plus who may see some additional snow. Lighter winds and milder temps are on tap for Monday, and you’ll like the midweek forecast.
Cable failures endanger renowned Puerto Rico radio telescope
Giant, aging cables that support one of the world's largest single-dish radio telescopes are slowly unraveling, pushing an observatory renowned for its key role in astronomical discoveries to the brink of collapse.
North Dakota nurses worry about working with sick colleagues
Some nurses in North Dakota fear their difficult work amid the pandemic is about to get even harder now that Gov. Doug Burgum has allowed the state's beleaguered hospitals to use infected but asymptomatic workers to treat COVID-19 patients.
Trump appears to acknowledge Biden win, but he won't concede
President Donald Trump on Sunday appeared to acknowledge for the first time that Joe Biden won the White House, but made clear he would not concede and would keep trying to overturn the election result.
Judge rules acting DHS secretary lacked authority to suspend DACA program
It's the latest court ruling against the Trump administration's attempts to terminate the Obama-era program that protects young immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children.
House Democrats dissect what went wrong and how to rebound from losses
House Democrats are on track to begin next year still in the majority — but by the slimmest margin in decades. Now members on the progressive left and party moderates must decide which policies should take priority.
You don't have to like astrology to love 'Written In The Stars'
A free-spirited astrology blogger and a straitlaced insurance actuary agree to fake a relationship — and then really fall for each other in Alexandria Bellefleur's charming queer romance.
In Michigan, undocumented immigrants form learning pod so they won't lose their jobs
For the past six weeks, 24 students have been doing their virtual classwork in a learning pod at a Michigan church. Their parents feared losing their jobs if they stayed home to help their children navigate virtual schooling.