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Stories from January 27, 2021

'Birthday rule' blindsides first-time parents with a mammoth medical bill

'Birthday rule' blindsides first-time parents with a mammoth medical bill

An insurance regulation known as "the birthday rule" is tripping up couples who are putting their newborn children on the wrong policy and risk losing thousands of dollars.
by Cara Anthony

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Oscar and Emmy-winning actor Cloris Leachman dies at 94

Oscar and Emmy-winning actor Cloris Leachman dies at 94

Cloris Leachman, an Oscar-winner for her portrayal of a lonely housewife in “The Last Picture Show” and a comedic delight as the fearsome Frau Blücher in “Young Frankenstein” and neighbor Phyllis on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” has died. She was 94.
by The Associated Press

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You may already be a winner of Minnesota's vaccine lottery, but it's not likely

You may already be a winner of Minnesota's vaccine lottery, but it's not likely, as hundreds of thousands get put off for later shipments of COVID vaccine. This is an evening news update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

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Bernie Sanders' mittens, memes help raise $1.8M for charity

Bernie Sanders' mittens, memes help raise $1.8M for charity

About those wooly mittens that U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders wore to the presidential inauguration, sparking endless quirky memes across social media? They've helped to raise $1.8 million in the last five days for charitable organizations in Sanders' home state of Vermont.
by The Associated Press

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Expired driver's licenses, IDs should be renewed soon, Minnesota officials say

Expired driver's licenses, IDs should be renewed soon, Minnesota officials say

Minnesota law does not allow for additional extensions, so people whose licenses would have expired between March 13 of last year and the end of this February should plan to renew soon, according to the Department of Public Safety.
by Matt Sepic

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Why scientists are very worried about the variant from Brazil

Why scientists are very worried about the variant from Brazil

They don't yet understand why the coronavirus variant called P.1 has spread so explosively there. Its set of mutations seem especially dangerous. And this week P.1 was confirmed in the U.S.
by Michaeleen Doucleff

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Minneapolis settles suit over MPD response to unrest

It’s the first of several suits that allege police fired projectiles without warning and caused serious injuries. Others are still in court.
by Brandt Williams

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COVID relief, security for upcoming trials: Walz budget items require quick action

COVID relief, security for upcoming trials: Walz budget items require quick action

It will be months before Minnesota lawmakers approve a new state budget. But some items proposed by Gov. Tim Walz this week are time sensitive — from COVID-19 relief to security for the upcoming trials in the killing of George Floyd.
by Brian Bakst

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Voter ID bill clears Senate committee amid squabbling

Voter ID bill clears Senate committee amid squabbling

Republicans in the Minnesota Senate advanced a voter ID bill Wednesday following a sometimes contentious committee hearing.
by Tim Pugmire

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Census data for congressional seats still months away

Census data for congressional seats still months away

The numbers used for divvying up U.S. congressional seats among the states won’t be ready until the end of April, a Census Bureau official said Wednesday.
by The Associated Press

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Surveillance and local police: How technology is evolving faster than regulation

Surveillance and local police: How technology is evolving faster than regulation

Journalist Jon Fasman says local police are frequently able to access very powerful surveillance tools with little oversight. He writes about the threat to privacy in “We See It All.”
by Dave Davies

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U.S. terrorism alert warns of politically motivated violence

U.S. terrorism alert warns of politically motivated violence

The Department of Homeland Security issued a national terrorism bulletin Wednesday warning of the potential for lingering violence from people motivated by anti-government sentiment after President Joe Biden's election.
by The Associated Press

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Biden's push against housing discrimination must go beyond HUD, researcher says

Biden's push against housing discrimination must go beyond HUD, researcher says

Andre Perry of Brookings says discrimination against communities of color also involves lenders, zoning laws and other issues that the Department of Housing and Urban Development is less involved in.
by Rachel Martin and Avie Schneider

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View from the front lines: How the pandemic has shifted the role of CRNAs

Throughout the pandemic, MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer has been talking with health care workers whose day-to-day lives have been turned upside down. This week, she spoke with Eric Swanlund, president of the Minnesota Association of Nurse Anesthetists and a CRNA at the Minneapolis VA.
by Cathy Wurzer

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After brutal cold Wednesday, temperatures turn milder

Much of northern Minnesota saw the coldest morning so far this winter Wednesday, but warmer weather returns late week. The entire state sees a chance for snow by Saturday.
by Nicole Mitchell

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Minnesota starts drawing names in COVID vaccine lottery for 65 and older

Minnesota starts drawing names in COVID vaccine lottery for 65 and older

More than 226,000 people signed up online and by phone; about 8,000 doses are available. People 65 and older whose names are drawn will be able to make an appointment for their first dose of the two-dose COVID-19 vaccine at one of nine vaccination sites across the state.
by Tim Nelson

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Biden to 'pause' oil and gas leasing on public lands and waters

Biden to 'pause' oil and gas leasing on public lands and waters

The move is one of his more controversial campaign promises, and industry groups say they will sue. But it won't have much immediate impact on driving down climate-warming emissions.
by Nathan Rott and Scott Detrow

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Biden to reopen 'Obamacare' markets for COVID-19 relief

Biden to reopen 'Obamacare' markets for COVID-19 relief

Fulfilling a campaign promise, President Joe Biden plans to reopen the HealthCare.gov insurance markets for a special sign-up opportunity geared to people needing coverage in the coronavirus pandemic.
by The Associated Press

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Parts of Minnesota see bitter cold Wednesday

Much of northern Minnesota is seeing the coldest morning so far this winter, while other parts of the state, including the Twin Cities, could have our coldest day of January.
by Nicole Mitchell

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Walz's budget faces opposition

Battling the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and a projected state deficit, Gov. Tim Walz proposed a new two-year, $52.4 billion budget Tuesday that he said would help Minnesota dig out from both problems. This is an MPR News morning update for Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

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Jan. 27 update on COVID-19 in MN: Trends stay positive; vaccination pace quickens

Jan. 27 update on COVID-19 in MN: Trends stay positive; vaccination pace quickens

The newest numbers continue to show the state’s COVID-19 picture brightening as the state approaches February. Minnesota’s also seeing its first sustained and significant rise in the pace of vaccinations.
by MPR News Staff

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Why N95 masks are still in short supply in the U.S.

Why N95 masks are still in short supply in the U.S.

Early in the pandemic, shortages of N95 respirators and other medical gear prompted panic across the world. A year later, the masks still aren't widely available to U.S. consumers.
by Yuki Noguchi

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Minnesota's health care CEOs join forces to address state's disparities

Minnesota's health care CEOs join forces to address state's disparities

Seven CEOs from some of Minnesota’s most prominent health care companies invited MPR News host Angela Davis to moderate their discussion earlier this month about how to accelerate efforts to address the state’s persistent racial disparities in health and health care.
by Angela Davis

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Biden orders Justice Dept. to end use of private prisons

Biden orders Justice Dept. to end use of private prisons

President Joe Biden has ordered the Department of Justice to end its reliance on private prisons and acknowledge the central role the government has played implementing discriminatory housing policies. 
by The Associated Press

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A writer lost his singing voice, then discovered the 'gymnastics' of speech

A writer lost his singing voice, then discovered the 'gymnastics' of speech

New Yorker writer John Colapinto developed a vocal polyp when he began "wailing" with a rock group without proper warmup. His new book explores the human voice's physicality, frailty and feats .
by Dave Davies

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