Stories from December 7, 2020

More signs of improvement in Minnesota's COVID-19 outbreak as hospitalizations slow, and Gov. Tim Walz prepared to roll out the state’s vaccine plan in coming days. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.
Comedian puts people skills to work at George Floyd's Square
For six months, residents — many out of work because of the pandemic — have put their skills to use maintaining an autonomous zone at the Minneapolis intersection where police killed George Floyd. They include a comedian, whose profession prepared them for much more than cracking jokes.
50s Wednesday; Friday storm track trending south?
Another unseasonably mild air mass arrives this week. Forecast models show wide variability of Friday’s storm track.
Trump lawyer Giuliani in hospital after positive virus test
President Donald Trump says his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani is “doing very well” after testing positive for the coronavirus. Trump says he spoke with Giuliani on Monday and that he had “no temperature.”
Biden names Massachusetts doctor to lead CDC
Dr. Rochelle Walensky is an infectious disease expert and teaches at Harvard Medical School. She will replace Robert Redfield, the current director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What can we glean from the latest COVID-19 data?
On Mondays we discuss the latest science on COVID-19. This week the University of Minnesota’s Michael Osterholm addressed recent vaccine news and the coronavirus task force.
Millions of hungry Americans turn to food banks for 1st time
As a year marked by coronavirus nears an end, millions of Americans are depending on food banks to stave off hunger. Feeding America, the nation's largest anti-hunger organization, has distributed 4.2 billion meals in an eight-month period. That's an unprecedented pace in the group's history.
Activist who toppled Columbus statue at Capitol gets community service
Mike Forcia, who had faced felony criminal damage to property charges for the June incident, will do 100 hours of community service. “The consensus was that jail and prison time and conviction would not be what was the best response,” a county prosecutor said Monday.
Catching up on some of the most notable books of 2020
Kerri Miller is spending these last weeks of 2020 finding books that were published this year and that you might’ve overlooked.
Coronavirus takes toll on Black, Latino child care providers
Black and Latino child care providers have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic in an industry that has long relied on providers of color. Facing skyrocketing operating costs, reduced capacities and limited federal support, Black and Latino-owned child care centers across the country are at a higher risk for closing permanently.
Clouds are the big forecast influence the first part of the week, then our mild pattern shifts and a storm brings back cooler weather plus a mix of rain and snow by the end of the week.
EP 1: Twin Cities' mayors team up
Welcome to The Warming House, an hour of music, games and conversation. Hosts Sean McPherson and Nina Moini kicked off our inaugural episode with some Donny Hathaway classics, and stumped the mayors of St. Paul and Minneapolis in a tough round of trivia.
Former Gov. Mark Dayton announces marriage
The governor released the news on social media, saying he has married Ana Orke, who worked on his 2010 election campaign.
A pattern that is dividing the state with clouds is causing both a big difference in temperatures across the state and is impacting who is seeing fog Monday morning.
'Fauci effect' drives record number of medical school applications
The pandemic put a spotlight on health care workers and inspired many to pursue a career in medicine. The record number of applicants comes as the U.S. faces a projected shortage of physicians.
The Dylan catalog, rock 'n' roll's holy grail, is sold
Bob Dylan’s entire catalog of songs, which reaches back 60 years and is among the most prized next to that of the Beatles, is being acquired by Universal Music Publishing Group.
Fauci's plea 'Wear a mask' tops list of 2020 notable quotes
Also on the list is "I can't breathe," the plea George Floyd made repeatedly to police officers holding him down on a Minneapolis street corner. Several quotes from the presidential campaign appear including Joe Biden telling a student: "You're a lying dog-faced pony soldier."
'Trying to prove something:' A WWII vet remembers his all-Black battalion
On National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, Robert Madison, a 97-year-old World War II veteran, recalls his time in battle. He fought in the then-segregated Army as an intelligence officer.
Minnesota health officials reported 139 more COVID-19 deaths over the weekend as the overall pandemic death toll in the state is poised to surpass 4,000. That grim milestone could come as soon as Monday, with the death toll at 3,984 and the state averaging 58 deaths a day over the past week. This is an MPR News morning update for Monday, December 7, 2020. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
Private money helped pay to conduct Minnesota’s election
With Congress failing to provide enough aid to election offices, private funders — including Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg — donated hundreds of millions to help conduct elections around the country.  
 ‘I don’t wish this to anybody’: How COVID is disproportionately hitting Minnesota’s Latino community
The rising COVID-19 cases are startling everywhere, but the rates in the Latino community in Minnesota and across the country are particularly alarming. Many Latinos work essential jobs that can't be done remotely and are more likely to be exposed to the virus. And those who are not authorized to be in the country are in a particular bind: They don’t qualify for government benefits that can be a financial lifeline for families struggling during the pandemic.
On Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, hear the APM documentary 'Days of Infamy'
Monday is Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Within the living memory of Americans are two deadly surprise attacks against the United States: Japan's assault on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, and the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Both times, the Library of Congress sent people out to record the voices of ordinary Americans as they reacted to a changed world.
Biden picks California attorney general to lead HHS, pandemic response
President-elect Joe Biden has picked California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to be his health secretary, putting a defender of the Affordable Care Act in a leading role to oversee his administration's coronavirus response.