Stories from November 24, 2020

COVID-19 causes Gophers to cancel game with No. 18 Wisconsin
Minnesota is calling off its scheduled game Saturday at Wisconsin due to positive COVID-19 cases within its program, a move that likely knocks the 18th-ranked Badgers out of consideration for the Big Ten championship game.
Are more lockdowns inevitable, or can other measures stop the surge?
The U.S. added more than 1 million cases in the past week. More than 85,000 people are hospitalized. Some states may have no choice but to lock down again. Others are trying a "surgical approach."
Minnesota officials are rushing to get COVID aid out to businesses and workers, with possibly hundreds of millions in state funding. This is an evening news update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.
Court: North Dakota governor can't fill dead candidate seat
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum does not have the authority to appoint someone to a state House seat won by a Republican candidate who died before the election, the North Dakota Supreme Court concluded Tuesday.
What's next for LGBTQ rights?
MPR News host Angela Davis spoke with a Minnesotan who got married to his partner a few days after U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation, and two long-time advocates who can explain the state of LGBTQ rights in the state and across the country.
‘Work Like a Boss’ with advice from a boss who works
Nancy Lyons pulls no punches in her book about leadership — which was written before the pandemic. Can the workplace still function — without the place?
Nikki Giovanni on ‘Make Me Rain’
Award-winning poet Nikki Giovanni shares the inspiration behind her latest collection of poetry titled “Make Me Rain.”
What's next for LGBTQ rights?
MPR News host Angela Davis spoke with a Minnesotan who got married to his partner a few days after U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation, and two long-time advocates who can explain the state of LGBTQ rights in the state and across the country.
Walz says relief plan could pass as soon as next week
Gov. Tim Walz and Minnesota House Republicans proposed relief measures Tuesday for businesses and workers struggling due to COVID-19 restrictions. There was bipartisan hope that a plan could be quickly agreed upon.
State board certifies Joe Biden as winner in Minnesota
Minnesota’s state canvassing board has unanimously certified the state’s election results. It's an ordinarily routine task that drew closer attention due to President Donald Trump’s efforts to delay it in key states.
Biden certified as winner of Pennsylvania presidential vote
Democrat Joe Biden was certified Tuesday as winner of the presidential election in Pennsylvania, culminating three weeks of vote counting and a string of failed legal challenges by President Donald Trump.
OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma pleads guilty in criminal case
OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma has pleaded guilty to criminal charges and formally admitted its role in the opioid crisis. Tuesday's plea before a judge in Newark, N. J., is part of a larger settlement with the U.S Department of Justice that also includes resolving civil claims.
Carol Connolly, a beloved figure in the Twin Cities literary world and the city of St. Paul’s first poet laureate, has died. For years, Connolly hosted the popular monthly series Readings by Writers. Beyond writing poetry, she was a columnist, a playwright and a humorist — and she was politically active, as well.
More named storms than ever. Is it climate change?
It’s been the most active hurricane season on record, with 30 named storms – 13 of them hurricanes. Is climate change to blame? 
In the Poppy War series, R.F. Kuang asks: 'What if Mao was a teenage girl?'
The third volume in Kuang's Poppy War series is out now. She grounded the story in history, both her own and China's; it follows a passionate, ruthless young woman who becomes a military leader.
ChangeMakers: Adrienne Benjamin, a master jingle dress maker, artist and activist
Adrienne Benjamin is a master jingle dress maker living on the Mille Lacs Reservation. She is also a jingle dress dancer, inspired by her great-grandmother Hannah. Guided by her mentors, teachers, counselors and grandad, Benjamin is working to help transform the lives of the next generation of Minnesotans.
Following a messy mix of wintry weather Tuesday that includes rain, snow and ice, the forecast turns much quieter with mild temperatures and sunshine returning.
Kwame Alexander offers new poems on race and hope as 'psalms and balms' for the soul
In “Light For The World To See: A Thousand Words On Race And Hope,” Kwame Alexander writes of the killing of George Floyd, Colin Kaepernick's kneeling protests, and the election of Barack Obama.
Minnesota sees a wintry mix of weather for Tuesday
Minnesota is getting a wintry mix of rain, snow and freezing rain through the day, which will make some roads slick, particularly in the morning hours.
Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday intends to roll out a plan to provide financial help for restaurant and bar owners and workers hurt by the current COVID-19 restrictions. Walz, who signaled the move on Monday, didn’t put a dollar figure to the cost, but he called the need to aid those businesses and workers “absolutely critical.” This is an MPR News morning update for Tuesday, November 24, 2020. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
David Dinkins, New York City's first Black mayor, dies at 93
Dinkins, who defeated incumbent Ed Koch in the Democratic mayoral primary, went on to lead the city in the 1990s during a time of economic and racial strife.
Biden signals stark shift with new national security team
President-elect Joe Biden has introduced his selections for his national security team. It's his first substantive offering of how he’ll shift from President Donald Trump’s “America First” policies.
COVID-19 awareness campaign targets northern Minnesota county
It took months for COVID-19 to gain a foothold in Roseau County, on Minnesota's northern border. But now the virus is spreading rapidly and this week county officials are starting a comprehensive public campaign to convince residents to take the threat seriously.
3 recipes for cooking up a scaled-down, low-key Thanksgiving meal
The usual Thanksgiving spreads may be too big for this year's holiday. Instead, Chefs Anita Lo, Aarón Sánchez and Sohla El-Waylly share recipes for a relatively unfussy but still delicious meal.
More kids are getting COVID-19, Kentucky pediatrician says
Elizabeth Hawse, a pediatrician in Lexington, Ky., says she's seen a big increase in the number of children testing positive for the coronavirus. The governor has shut schools' in-person classes.