Stories from March 8, 2021

Record warmth: 70s close to Twin Cities Tuesday
Highs in the 60s will be widespread Tuesday. Western Minnesota will push past 70 degrees.
The Derek Chauvin trial came to a halt before it got started and could remain on hold as debate about third degree murder charges delayed jury selection. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.
Undocumented Venezuelans given protected status in United States
The Biden administration's decision represents a major policy shift from the Trump team, which withstood bipartisan calls to grant the protections to Venezuelans fleeing life-threatening crises.
Snow cover fading fast across Minnesota
A mild start to March is rapidly melting snow in Minnesota.
CRISPR scientist's biography explores ethics of rewriting the code of life
“The Code Breaker” profiles Jennifer Doudna, a Nobel Prize-winning biochemist key to the development of CRISPR, and examines the technology's exciting possibilities and need for oversight.
How are women entrepreneurs faring in the pandemic’s economic wake?
Monday is International Women’s Day. At 11 a.m., host Angela Davis talks with the new CEO of WomenVenture, a Minneapolis-based organization that supports women entrepreneurs, about the effect of the pandemic on woman-owned businesses.
New Justice Department team comes into focus ahead of vote on Garland
Two more of President Joe Biden's nominees to lead the Justice Department will be questioned by the Senate this week as Merrick Garland prepares for confirmation as attorney general.
Ep. 13: Be the change!
The warm weather has us thinking about all the ch-ch-ch-changes on our horizon, admittedly some closer than others.
Game on: NWHL to complete virus-disrupted playoffs in Boston
The National Women’s Hockey League will complete its abbreviated season with two nationally televised semifinals and a championship game some two months after the league suspended its playoffs following a COVID-19 breakout among numerous teams.
Review of Jan. 6 riot urges more police, mobile fencing
An insurrection task force directed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says U.S. Capitol Police need more support to address security weaknesses. The review was led by retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré.
A look at Minnesota’s fight against COVID-19, one year in
March 6 marks the one-year anniversary of the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Minnesota. Minnesota’s top public health officials talk about the state’s continuing fight against the virus one year later.
Fully vaccinated people can gather without masks, CDC says
Fully vaccinated Americans can gather with other vaccinated people indoors without wearing a mask or social distancing, according to long-awaited guidance from federal health officials.
Author explores preacher father's silence on racial injustice in 1960s Alabama
After Pulitzer Prize-winner John Archibald read sermons from his father's time as a Methodist preacher, he went on a quest to find out why his dad, a devout man, didn't speak out publicly on racism.
Temperatures remain warm through Tuesday, with more record highs expected.  Then a storm Wednesday provides beneficial rain and turns temperatures cooler.
Remembering George Floyd, the man
The story of how George Floyd’s killing unleashed a sea of protests around the world in the fight for racial justice is well known. But as the murder trial of former officer Derek Chauvin starts Monday, friends and family say it’s important to remember Floyd the person, before he became the catalyst.
The weather stays pleasant Monday with warm and less windy conditions.
As many parents fret over remote learning, some find their kids are thriving
"It's a lot easier to focus," says one sixth grader with ADHD. While some students fell behind while learning virtually during the pandemic, others focus better when they aren't around classmates.
Chauvin trial: Jury pool sent home; focus turns to appeals court ruling
The judge overseeing the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin sent potential jurors home for the day Monday morning while he awaits a decision from the appeals court on whether jury selection can begin.
UK royals absorb shock of revealing Harry, Meghan interview
Britain and its royal family absorbed the tremors Monday from a sensational television interview by Prince Harry and Meghan, in which the couple said they encountered racist attitudes and a lack of support that drove the duchess to thoughts of suicide.
Jury selection is set to start Monday in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who faces charges in the 2020 killing of George Floyd. Opening statements in the trial are scheduled for March 29. This is an MPR News morning update for Monday, March 8, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
How jurors will be picked in the Derek Chauvin trial
The goal of jury selection is to narrow the pool of potential jurors to a group that can fairly assess the charges against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd.
March 8 update on COVID-19 in MN: Vaccine eligibility set to widen as pace quickens
The state is likely to soon reach a key threshold, having at least 70 percent of people age 65 and older getting their first vaccine dose. While pandemic data looks good, officials remain concerned about an outbreak in Carver County tied to youth sports.
COVID vaccinations take center stage in long-standing program to address health care inequities
For 15 years, an M Health Fairview program has worked to address inequities in health care. That effort is now focused on getting the COVID-19 vaccine to communities that have often not had equal access to health care.
House poised to pass Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill on Tuesday
Speaker Nancy Pelosi is calling for bipartisan support for the upcoming House vote on the Senate-amended legislation. Such support is unlikely, as Republicans are fiercely opposed to the package.
Biden will establish a gender policy council within the White House
In addition to establishing the council, President Joe Biden will sign an executive order aimed at reversing Trump administration policies on campus sexual assault and harassment.
At session midpoint, Minnesota lawmakers aim for first deals
Security funding connected to the Derek Chauvin trial and tax measures tied to COVID-19 assistance are the first big tests of how Minnesota’s divided government is able to get along this year.
Key players in the Derek Chauvin trial
Four former officers are charged in George Floyd’s killing. Derek Chauvin is charged with murder and manslaughter, and set to go on trial alone in March. Former officers Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng are charged with aiding and abetting murder and manslaughter, and are scheduled to go on trial together at the end of August.
The Making of Male Dominance: A History of Patriarchy
A documentary from the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke, “The Making of Male Dominance: A History of Patriarchy.”
On eve of Chauvin trial, hundreds march through downtown Minneapolis to call for justice
Hundreds of people marched through downtown Minneapolis on Sunday afternoon, calling for justice a day before the start of the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer for the killing of George Floyd.
Meghan and Harry interview with Oprah lays bare royal rift
In a wide-ranging interview that aired Sunday, Harry and Meghan described painful discussions about the color of their son’s skin, losing royal protection and the intense pressures that led the Duchess of Sussex to contemplate suicide.
More than 20 cars of freight train derail in Plymouth
More than 20 cars of a freight train derailed Sunday along a rail line in Plymouth. There were no reports of injuries.
April-like temps linger a couple of days; a look at the week ahead
We’ll have temps more typical of April than March as we begin the week. We have details on how long the warmth will last, plus a look at our next chance of rain. We also take a peek at the Twin Cities snow and cold index for the winter of 2020-2021.