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Stories from March 16, 2021

Minnesota Senate Republicans counter Walz budget proposal

Minnesota Senate Republicans counter Walz budget proposal

Minnesota Senate Republicans have released a two-year budget proposal with no proposed tax increases to help balance the state’s budget. DFL Gov. Tim Walz announced a proposal in late January that includes tax hikes on the wealthiest Minnesotans and large companies. 
by The Associated Press

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Intelligence report: Russia tried to help Trump in 2020 election

Intelligence report: Russia tried to help Trump in 2020 election

The report says Russian leader Vladimir Putin authorized a campaign to help former President Donald Trump and undermine Joe Biden, though it was not on the same scale as Moscow's efforts in 2016.
by Greg Myre

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As gaps emerge, state hires head of vaccine equity

As gaps emerge, state hires head of vaccine equity

The Health Department’s new head of vaccine equity is looking to other states for ideas to help vulnerable communities get to the front of the vaccine line. That could include special vaccine allotments and sign-up periods for people who have struggled to get vaccinated.
by Tom Crann

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The Chauvin trial is still in limbo, and Gopher men's basketball looks to the future

The Derek Chauvin trial is still in limbo, as the judge weighs a move or delay, and Gopher men's basketball looks to the future as Rick Pitino gets a better look at Albuquerque. This is an evening update from MPR news. Hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

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The most popular dog breeds of 2020: Labs and French Bulldogs

The most popular dog breeds of 2020: Labs and French Bulldogs

Frenchies, with their wrinkly faces and perky bat ears, have been rising in popularity for the last 10 years. Now they've bumped German Shepherds from the No. 2 spot.
by Laurel Wamsley

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Biden showcases COVID aid to small businesses

Biden showcases COVID aid to small businesses

During his visit to a small, minority-owned business in suburban Philadelphia, the president underscored that the huge relief package was passed without any help from Republican lawmakers as he sought to highlight how the bill will help small businesses imperiled by the public health crisis.
by The Associated Press

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Across the internet, a game of Whac-A-Mole is underway to root out extremism

Across the internet, a game of Whac-A-Mole is underway to root out extremism

How are alternative platforms, where extremist ideology and disinformation thrive, monitored? Can we ever really root out extremism in the virtual space or will the targets just keep jumping around?
by Tim Mak

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Minnesota students look back at a year of school during the pandemic

Minnesota students look back at a year of school during the pandemic

MPR News host Angela Davis talks to elementary, middle and high school students about the pros and cons of online classes, missing friends and what they learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.
by Angela Davis and Maja Beckstrom

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Eligible for COVID-19 vaccines, food plant workers have mixed feelings about them

Eligible for COVID-19 vaccines, food plant workers have mixed feelings about them

Almost a year after COVID-19 surged through Minnesota’s food processing workforce, plant employees are now on the priority list for vaccination. One group is trying to find out why people may hesitate.
by Hannah Yang

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Lawmakers fear turning 144 cities into 'micropolitan' areas

Lawmakers fear turning 144 cities into 'micropolitan' areas

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators and congressmen is urging the federal government not to approve recommendations to remove 144 cities from the designation of metropolitan statistical areas. Reclassifying them as “micropolitan” would put key federal funding at risk, they said.
by The Associated Press

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How a building block of life got created in a flash

How a building block of life got created in a flash

Lightning strikes may have supplied a key ingredient that allowed life to emerge on the early Earth, according to a new study of "fossilized" lightning.
by Nell Greenfieldboyce

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'Justice, Justice Thou Shalt Pursue' offers look at Ruth Bader Ginsburg's early work

'Justice, Justice Thou Shalt Pursue' offers look at Ruth Bader Ginsburg's early work

One of the justice's former clerks, Amanda Tyler, worked with her on the collection that includes historic opinions and arguments from earlier years when she appeared as a lawyer before the top court.
by Steve Inskeep

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Minnesota Orchestra will begin welcoming back audiences in late June

Minnesota Orchestra will begin welcoming back audiences in late June

Only a limited number will be allowed in Orchestra Hall. The orchestra will continue presenting live concerts on radio, TV and livestream through at least August.
by Euan Kerr

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The Five: Cinderella’s divorce, rethinking possessions and considering life sideways

The Five: Cinderella’s divorce, rethinking possessions and considering life sideways

MPR News director of programming Steph Curtis stopped by with an early spring edition of “The Five,” where she recommends things to read, listen to and experience right now.
by Kerri Miller, Stephanie Curtis and Kelly Gordon

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Moderna gives first vaccine shots to young kids as part of COVID-19 study

Moderna gives first vaccine shots to young kids as part of COVID-19 study

Researchers hope to learn about the effectiveness of the vaccine for kids ages 6 months to less than 12 years old. Moderna plans to enroll roughly 6,750 children in eight U.S. states and Canada.
by Bill Chappell

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Racial diversity in children's books grows, but slowly

Racial diversity in children's books grows, but slowly

Data suggests books about people of color stayed largely the same and there were only slight increases in books written by people of color. Experts say the true effect of 2020 on the children's book industry may be seen in the years to come.
by The Associated Press

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Staying slick Tuesday, then another big warmup

Icy conditions remain a concern Tuesday morning, but rising temperatures through the week will have snow and ice melting again. 
by Nicole Mitchell

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Travel concerns linger Tuesday

Behind Monday’s snowstorm, Tuesday is off to a slick start and mostly cloudy skies persist through the day.
by Nicole Mitchell

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An old debate renewed: Does the U.S. now need a domestic terrorism law?

An old debate renewed: Does the U.S. now need a domestic terrorism law?

With all the talk about domestic terrorism, you might assume there's a law against it. There's not. The storming of the Capitol has again raised the question about whether one is needed.
by Greg Myre

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Officers shoot armed man in Coon Rapids

A man who police say refused commands to drop his gun was shot by officers in Coon Rapids.
by The Associated Press

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Chauvin trial: Judge weighs delay as Floyd family settlement roils case

Judge Peter Cahill says he’s considering a request by Derek Chauvin’s attorney to postpone the trial following Friday's news of a $27 million civil settlement between Minneapolis and George Floyd’s family. The defense says it’s worried news of the payout might taint the jury pool. This is an MPR News morning update for Tuesday, March 16, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

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Explainer: What is the impact of racially diverse juries?

Explainer: What is the impact of racially diverse juries?

Scholars, courts and legal groups have increasingly advocated for greater jury diversity, arguing, that by almost every metric, they make for better juries.  Of the six men and three women selected through Monday for Derek Chauvin's jury, five are white, one is multiracial, two are Black and one is Hispanic. They range in age from their 20s to their 50s.
by The Associated Press

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'The Jigsaw Man' presents a compelling puzzle

'The Jigsaw Man' presents a compelling puzzle

The debut novel from British criminal lawyer Nadine Matheson stars a Black homicide detective dealing with not only PTSD from a serial killer's attack, but also mistrust from her family and community.
by Swapna Krishna

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Minnesota fires coach Richard Pitino after 8 seasons

Minnesota fires coach Richard Pitino after 8 seasons

Minnesota fired Richard Pitino on Monday after the coach compiled a 54-96 regular-season record over eight years in the Big Ten and had only three conference finishes higher than 10th place.
by The Associated Press

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March 16 update on COVID-19 in MN: Vaccination pace stumbles; pandemic data stable

March 16 update on COVID-19 in MN: Vaccination pace stumbles; pandemic data stable

Officials believe they’re in a race now to vaccinate Minnesotans quickly enough to avoid another statewide COVID-19 surge. But on Tuesday they reported only about 7,500 more vaccinations, down significantly from the prior week.
by MPR News Staff

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Scientists find new invasive mosquito species in Florida

Scientists find new invasive mosquito species in Florida

Aedes scapularis mosquitoes are from the tropics and can carry yellow fever. Entomologist Lawrence Reeves recently identified them among mosquitoes he collected near Everglades National Park in 2019.
by Greg Allen

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Chauvin trial: Judge weighs delay as Floyd family settlement roils case

Chauvin trial: Judge weighs delay as Floyd family settlement roils case

Prosecutors pushed back Tuesday afternoon on defense arguments that news of a $27 million settlement between Minneapolis and the George Floyd family may taint the process to pick a jury in Derek Chauvin’s criminal trial.
by Brandt Williams, Jon Collins, Matt Sepic and Riham Feshir

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Sharp, 'off the charts' rise in alcoholic liver disease among young women

Sharp, 'off the charts' rise in alcoholic liver disease among young women

Some doctors are seeing a disturbing spike in lethal alcoholic liver disease, especially among young women. The recent trend has been supercharged, they say, by the pandemic's isolation and pressures.
by Yuki Noguchi

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As precious metals prices soar, Minnesota becomes hot spot for catalytic converter thefts

As precious metals prices soar, Minnesota becomes hot spot for catalytic converter thefts

There's something more valuable than gold attached to the bottom of your car — and it's sparking a crime wave in Minnesota and across the country. Catalytic converters contain trace amounts of precious metals, including rhodium, which in early March peaked at nearly $30,000 per ounce.
by Dan Kraker

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Health economist Len Nichols on the ongoing need for health reform and equity

Health economist Len Nichols on the ongoing need for health reform and equity

In a year-long global pandemic, people are more concerned than ever with their own health care, and how to afford it. And many people are concerned about making it affordable to everyone. Health economist Len Nichols has been working on this for close to three decades, and he shared his ideas at a recent University of Minnesota Humphrey School event.
by MPR News Staff

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