Stories from February 8, 2021

Around the U.S., schools plan for potential of remote learning into the fall
After seeing two academic years thrown off course by the pandemic, school leaders around the country are planning for the possibility of more distance learning next fall at the start of yet another school year.
Another court blocks attempt to stop Line 3 construction
A federal judge has denied a request from Minnesota tribes and environmental groups to temporarily stop construction of the Line 3 oil pipeline project. A state appellate court panel also recently declined to halt work on the pipeline.
A month out, the Derek Chauvin trial is starting to take shape, as state officials what to do on the streets outside. This is an evening news update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.
Three co-defendants on state witness list in trial of ex-cop charged with killing George Floyd
In a court filing Monday, Assistant Minnesota Attorney General Matthew Frank named more than 360 people he is considering calling to the stand. On his list are former officers J. Alexander Kueng, Tou Thao, and Thomas Lane, who stand accused of aiding and abetting murder and manslaughter.
Washington hospitals find counterfeits in 3M mask supplies
Dozens of Washington state hospitals learned N95 respirator masks believed to be purchased from 3M Company are counterfeits that were not manufactured by the company.
Timeline: What Trump told supporters for months before they attacked
The record shows at least eight months of incendiary statements from then-President Trump and others close to him leading up to the insurrection at the Capitol.
Minnesota launches speed enforcement crackdown amid pandemic
Minnesota transportation and public safety officials on Monday launched a traffic enforcement crackdown and awareness campaign amid a spike in deaths related to speeding during the pandemic.
While other industries flounder, real estate takes off during pandemic
Host Angela Davis was joined by two industry experts who explained what it’s like to buy a home right now, especially as prices soar and middle- and low-income people are further shut out of Minnesota’s housing market.
'We Run The Tides' pulls you into the rough seas of female adolescence
Vendela Vida's novel centers on four 13-year-old girls who are perched on the edge of adulthood — and the recognition that some things they do or say now will change who they become as adults.
AP-NORC poll: Few in U.S. say democracy is working very well
Only a fragment of Americans believe democracy is thriving in the U.S., even as broad majorities agree that representative government is one of the country's bedrock principles, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
‘A societal domino issue’: Advocates say help for child care providers key to economic recovery
Almost a year into the pandemic, many Minnesota child care providers are losing money — and some are in danger of closing. Advocates say ongoing state and federal help is needed to prop up the “industry that supports all other industries.”
Ep. 9: Our Super Bowl halftime show
Tom Brady and a whole bunch of other people were playing a game of sportsball at exactly the same time as we gathered, socially-distanced, in The Warming House to launch a friendly debate about the best halftime show ever.
Schumer faces pressure from the left to deliver as majority leader
Progressives are watching the new Senate majority leader to see if he can deliver on some of the party's most ambitious legislative goals. If not, they say he could face a primary challenge next year.
Trump lawyers blast impeachment trial as 'political theater'
Lawyers for Donald Trump on Monday blasted the impeachment case against him as an act of "political theater" by Democrats, whom they accused of exploiting for their own party's gain the chaos and trauma of last month's riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Temperatures will continue to run much colder than normal this week. A few days will be “less cold” than others. We have details on that, plus the wind chill warnings up north today.
'Under A White Sky' examines what it might take for humans to continue to exist
Elizabeth Kolbert makes clear how far we already are from a world of undisturbed, balanced nature — and how far we must go to find a new balance for the planet's future, one that still includes us.
Walz gets pushback on COVID, Chauvin trial plans
The governor’s vaccine-distribution and coronavirus-response strategies are getting pushback, and his request for money to bolster law enforcement ahead of the trial is sputtering in the Legislature.
Kerri Miller offers praise for the work of author Naima Coster
Kerri Miller is preparing for a special all-digital winter season of Talking Volumes, and she’s sharing her excitement about her first interview on The Thread Must-Read.
Police said it happened at a Walgreens store in St. Paul on Sunday evening. Authorities say the woman who owns the car left the vehicle idling with a 6-year-old girl inside while she shopped.
Hope heads for a rendezvous with Mars
The UAE probe arrives at Mars on Tuesday, Feb 9. Its purpose is to both study the weather on Mars as well as inspire the next generation of that country's scientists and engineers.
It’ll be another very cold day, and some areas will have dangerous wind chills. We have the details.
My mother got vaccinated. Is it now safe to go visit?
I haven't seen my mother in over a year. I was going to visit in April to celebrate her 90th birthday, but the pandemic put that on hold. Now that she's been vaccinated is it time for the birthday hug?
The state’s second community vaccination site opens in Duluth, with 1,500 people ages 65 and over expected to receive their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. This is an MPR News morning update for Monday, Feb. 8, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
Minnesota hemp industry still trying to catch fire
It's been a bumpy ride for the nascent hemp industry in Minnesota, with changing regulations and falling prices. But industry leaders still expect a bright future as an alternative crop for Minnesota farmers.
Against the odds, Minnesota women reunited with long-lost wedding dresses
A mix-up at a Minnesota dry cleaner nearly a decade ago sent two women home with each other's wedding dresses — a mistake discovered just last month. Another business owner did some detective work, and arranged a meeting over the weekend to set things right.
APM documentary: Thurgood Marshall Before the Court
“Thurgood Marshall Before the Court,” and APM documentary by Stephen Smith and Kate Ellis.
Tom Brady wins Super Bowl No. 7, Buccaneers beat Kansas City
Tom Brady made the Buccaneers, their fans and their city believe from the moment he arrived in Tampa Bay. With help from old friend Rob Gronkowski and a ferocious defense, Brady and the Buccaneers are Super Bowl champions.
Workers at Amazon warehouse in Alabama are poised for union vote
Some 5,800 workers at the facility will vote starting this week on joining the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, potentially making it Amazon's first union shop in the U.S.
Western Minnesota highway that's sliding down hillside may be removed, rerouted
A stretch of state highway in western Minnesota that's been closed for nearly two years because it's sliding down a hillside may be abandoned and removed. MnDOT is recommending rerouting Highway 67, rather than spending millions to fix it.
Amanda Gorman, in a first, brings poetry to Super Bowl
Amanda Gorman, the 22-year-old poet who stirred America at the inauguration of President Joe Biden last month, again commanded the spotlight on one of the country's biggest stages, the Super Bowl.