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Stories from February 22, 2021

My Pillow founder welcomes defamation suit from election technology firm

My Pillow founder welcomes defamation suit from election technology firm, says he still expects to see election overturned and Trump get another chance to be president. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

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'A loss to the whole society': U.S. COVID-19 death toll reaches 500,000

'A loss to the whole society': U.S. COVID-19 death toll reaches 500,000

As the country faces another wrenching milestone, there are signs of hope that we may be beating back the virus. But a brighter future won't bring back precious lives lost.
by Pien Huang

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Wisconsin opens early wolf hunt after hunter group sued

Wisconsin opens early wolf hunt after hunter group sued

Wisconsin wildlife officials have opened a wolf season after hunting advocates sued to move the start date up from November amid fears that the Biden administration might restore protections for the animals. 
by The Associated Press

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8.7 million people under boil water notices in Texas

8.7 million people under boil water notices in Texas

The figure is a sharp drop from the weekend — but it's still roughly comparable to the entire populations of states such as Virginia or New Jersey.
by Bill Chappell

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Walz unveils $518 million infrastructure proposal

Walz unveils $518 million infrastructure proposal

Gov. Tim Walz is pushing for another public works bonding proposal this year that would include security upgrades for the state Capitol and riot repairs in Minneapolis.
by Tim Pugmire

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Ep. 11: Books, burgers and croissants. (Like ya do)

Ep. 11: Books, burgers and croissants. (Like ya do)

The polar vortex a few days back made us want to get extra comfy in The Warming House this week. We got reading suggestions to curl up with from two booksellers. And as is the way in The Warming House, however, we quickly got distracted with food — officially launching The Great Minnesota Burger Bracket.
by Tiffany Hanssen, Sean McPherson and Nina Moini

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Political mapmaking heads to familiar spot: Minnesota’s courts

Political mapmaking heads to familiar spot: Minnesota’s courts

For the past five decades, judges have played a key role in deciding what the state’s political maps look like. And a lawsuit has already been filed in the next round of redistricting.
by Brian Bakst

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How are our pets during the pandemic?

How are our pets during the pandemic?

Host Angela Davis talks to veterinarian Justine Lee about the spike in adoptions during the COVID-19 pandemic and takes listener questions about how to keep your pets happy and healthy. 
by Angela Davis, Maja Beckstrom and Myah Christenson

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As storms slow the race to vaccinate, will the spread of new variants speed up?

As storms slow the race to vaccinate, will the spread of new variants speed up?

Winter storms delayed the delivery of 6 million COVID-19 vaccine doses across the country. As states work to ramp up vaccination rates, will it be enough to prevent new variants from spreading?
by Kerri Miller and Marcheta Fornoff

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Clergy on the pandemic front lines: 'How do we really grieve?'

Clergy on the pandemic front lines: 'How do we really grieve?'

The work of ministering to the sick and consoling the grieving has been a heavy burden for many faith leaders in the time of COVID-19.
by Tom Gjelten

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MyPillow and founder Mike Lindell face $1.3B suit from voting tech company

MyPillow and founder Mike Lindell face $1.3B suit from voting tech company

Seeking to clear its reputation of unsubstantiated allegations of election fraud Dominion Voting Systems has filed a $1.3 billion federal lawsuit against Minnesota entrepreneur Mike Lindell — as well as his bedding products company, MyPillow.
by Tim Nelson and Brakkton Booker

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In 'Nubia: Real One,' trying to be a hero when society thinks you're a threat

In 'Nubia: Real One,' trying to be a hero when society thinks you're a threat

Nubia has been many things over decades of comics: Wonder Woman's sister, her rival, a guardian of the underworld. Now, L.L. McKinney and Robyn Smith have re-imagined her as a Black American teenager.
by Juanita Giles

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Warmer weather and gusty winds this afternoon; Tuesday flakes in the north

Our temps will ramp up this afternoon, bringing us our warmest weather since December. We have details on that, plus a look at the next few days, including accumulating snow in northern Minnesota on Tuesday.
by Ron Trenda

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Supreme Court won't halt turnover of Trump's tax records

Supreme Court won't halt turnover of Trump's tax records

In a significant defeat for former President Donald Trump, the Supreme Court on Monday declined to step in to halt the turnover of his tax records to a New York state prosecutor.
by The Associated Press

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Boeing: 777s with engine that blew apart should be grounded

Boeing: 777s with engine that blew apart should be grounded

Boeing has recommended that airlines ground all of its 777s with the type of engine that suffered a catastrophic failure over Denver this weekend, as U.S. regulators ordered United Airlines to step up inspections of those aircraft.
by The Associated Press

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Lawmakers wait for updated financial forecast for future budget debate

The Minnesota Legislature’s debate on a new state budget takes a big turn this week with the release of an updated financial forecast. A projected $1.3 billion budget deficit that lawmakers have been calibrating expectations around could shrink or vanish entirely before the Legislature takes a single action. This is an MPR News morning update for Monday, Feb. 22, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

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AG nominee Garland vows sharp focus on Capitol riot

AG nominee Garland vows sharp focus on Capitol riot

Merrick Garland is vowing to prioritize combating extremist violence with an initial focus on the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol if he is confirmed as attorney general in President Joe Biden's administration.
by The Associated Press

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Feb. 22 update on COVID-19 in MN: Vaccination pace flat; pandemic picture solid

Feb. 22 update on COVID-19 in MN: Vaccination pace flat; pandemic picture solid

Minnesota’s COVID-19 vaccination effort is struggling again for traction following a mild upswing. Officials, though, are anticipating a busy week as weather-delayed shots make their way into the state atop the expected 100,000 doses from the feds.
by MPR News Staff

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Mixed opinions on how to allocate Biden aid money

Mixed opinions on how to allocate Biden aid money

President Joe Biden and other Democrats want the federal government to send most Americans another $1,400 to help them weather the pandemic. But some economists, and even some people set to get the cash, say a better approach would be to target those most in need.
by Mark Zdechlik

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Will economic uptick make Minnesota’s deficit vanish?

Will economic uptick make Minnesota’s deficit vanish?

Lawmakers will get a fresh economic forecast this week that determines the scope of their work ahead to craft a new state budget. Signs point to improvement over the last forecast, which predicted a deficit. 
by Brian Bakst

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Myanmar protest call for general strike draws military junta threat

Myanmar protest call for general strike draws military junta threat

A call for a Monday general strike by demonstrators in Myanmar protesting the military’s seizure of power has been met by the ruling junta with a thinly veiled threat to use lethal force, raising the possibility of major clashes.
by The Associated Press

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Biden to mark nation reaching 500,000 COVID-19 deaths

Biden to mark nation reaching 500,000 COVID-19 deaths

President Joe Biden will mark the U.S. reaching the grim milestone of 500,000 lives lost from COVID-19 with a moment of silence and candle lighting ceremony at the White House.
by The Associated Press

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Mediterranean oil spill harms wildlife, closes Israel's beaches

Mediterranean oil spill harms wildlife, closes Israel's beaches

A suspected oil tanker leak off the coast of Israel last week has led to Israel's biggest maritime ecological disaster in many years, with authorities closing the country's beaches and beginning a massive cleanup effort.
by Rebecca Hersher

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FAA orders United to step up inspections of Boeing 777s after engine failure

FAA orders United to step up inspections of Boeing 777s after engine failure

Federal aviation regulators are ordering United Airlines to step up inspections of all Boeing 777s equipped with the type of engine that suffered a catastrophic failure over Denver on Saturday. United says it is temporarily removing those aircraft from service.
by The Associated Press

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Police fatally shoot carjacking suspect in Isanti County

Police fatally shoot carjacking suspect in Isanti County

A carjacking suspect died and a police dog was injured by gunfire following a pursuit on Sunday afternoon on Minnesota Highway 65 north of the Twin Cities.
by MPR News Staff

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Mild temps and gusty winds to start to the week

We’ll start the week with some very mild (for February) temps. It’ll be a bit cooler, but still reasonable, later this week. We have details on that, plus why you shouldn’t venture out on the Lake Superior ice near Duluth.
by Ron Trenda

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