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Stories from March 18, 2021

'Shooting Midnight Cowboy' turns an eye to a dark, problematic masterpiece

'Shooting Midnight Cowboy' turns an eye to a dark, problematic masterpiece

John Schlesinger's flawed drama, the only X-rated film to win an Oscar for best picture, made Jon Voight a star and solidified Dustin Hoffman's status as one of his generation's greatest actors.
by Michael Schaub

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Hurricanes keep showing up early — forecasts are catching up

Hurricanes keep showing up early — forecasts are catching up

The National Hurricane Center is getting a head start this year by releasing its tropical weather outlook two weeks earlier.
by Paul Huttner

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Chauvin trial jury now numbers 12, rulings expected Friday

Twelve jurors are now seated in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer is charged in the killing of George Floyd. Also, Gov. Walz released a revised budget that increases school funding and making more people eligible for the Working Family Tax Credit. This is an MPR News afternoon update for March 18, 2021. Hosted by Dan Kraker. Theme music by Gary Meister.

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Before March Madness, college athletes declare they are #NotNCAAProperty

Before March Madness, college athletes declare they are #NotNCAAProperty

"Players ISOLATED entire year to help make this tournament happen," tweeted Rutgers senior Geo Baker. "NCAA: rewarded w/ $900 million. Players: rewarded w/ free deodorant and small boxed meals."
by Laurel Wamsley

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What we know about the victims of the Atlanta-area shootings

What we know about the victims of the Atlanta-area shootings

A mother of two, an Army infantry veteran and a massage therapist are among the named victims of the shooting attacks that killed eight people, mostly women of Asian descent.
by Rachel Treisman

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Walz drops some tax increases in revised budget plan

Walz drops some tax increases in revised budget plan

Gov. Tim Walz has backed off some — but not all — tax increases as part of a revised budget proposal. And his revised plan doesn’t account for a stream of federal aid coming Minnesota’s way.
by Brian Bakst

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Rain gardens help Minneapolis’ first ‘eco-mosque’ control flooding

Rain gardens help Minneapolis’ first ‘eco-mosque’ control flooding

Climate change means wetter springs for Minnesota. One north Minneapolis mosque is using rain gardens to manage water and keep rivers clean.

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Education Dept. begins rolling back Trump-era policies on defrauded students

Education Dept. begins rolling back Trump-era policies on defrauded students

The U.S. Department of Education says it is scrapping a controversial, Trump-era policy that granted only partial student loan relief to borrowers who were defrauded by private, for-profit colleges.
by Cory Turner

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Weekend forecast: warmer temps and gusty winds

Weekend forecast: warmer temps and gusty winds

Get ready for some bad hair days this weekend; winds will be gusty. Saturday looks like the driest day of the weekend. We have details on all that, plus an update on drought conditions in Minnesota.
by Ron Trenda

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Addressing racial divides in health care seen as key to boosting Black vaccination

Addressing racial divides in health care seen as key to boosting Black vaccination

In many states, there are racial disparities in who has received a COVID-19 vaccine. A public health advocate says lack of health care access is a bigger impediment than a hesitancy to get vaccinated.
by A Martinez and Avie Schneider

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Racial disparities during COVID point to underlying problems

Racial disparities during COVID point to underlying problems

During the pandemic, Indigenous people and people of color  died more than their white counterparts — and now, as vaccines roll out, they are having a harder time getting immunized. Experts say this reveals how systemic inequality in health care hurts communities of color.
by Kerri Miller, Kelly Gordon and Marcheta Fornoff

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Two students reflect on a year of remote learning

Today marks one year since Gov. Tim Walz ordered K-12 schools in the state to close as officials scrambled to contain the spread of COVID-19. MPR News host Cathy Wurzer checked back in with two Minnesota students she first spoke with last April, when they were wrapping up their senior years of high school.
by Cathy Wurzer

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‘Forever chemicals’ found in groundwater at dozens of Minn. landfills

‘Forever chemicals’ found in groundwater at dozens of Minn. landfills

Fifteen of the closed landfills were found to have PFAS contamination at least 10 times higher than the state’s health-based advisory values. MPCA officials say the agency will expand water monitoring and testing efforts to get a better idea of the scope of the contamination and if further action is needed.
by Kirsti Marohn

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Dry and sunny weather contribute to a weekend fire risk

The rest of this week stays dry and turns milder, but next week brings the return of much more active weather, including heavy rain chances.
by Nicole Mitchell

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I got the COVID-19 vaccine. What can I safely do?

I got the COVID-19 vaccine. What can I safely do?

People who've been vaccinated for COVID-19 can enjoy small gatherings again, but should keep wearing a mask and social distancing in public. That's according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
by The Associated Press

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Widespread sunshine Thursday

Thursday will be a quiet weather day across Minnesota with above average temperatures and sunny skies.
by Nicole Mitchell

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Asian Americans grieve, organize in wake of Atlanta attacks

Asian Americans grieve, organize in wake of Atlanta attacks

Asian Americans were already worn down by a year of pandemic-fueled racist attacks when a white gunman was charged with attacking three Atlanta-area spas and killing eight people, most of them Asian women. Hundreds of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders turned to social media to air their anger, sadness, fear and hopelessness.
by The Associated Press

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One of Biden's biggest climate change challenges? The oceans

One of Biden's biggest climate change challenges? The oceans

Climate change is hitting the oceans hard, both warming and acidifying the water. Ocean scientists are hoping the Biden administration dives in quickly to address it.
by Lauren Sommer

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Chauvin trial: Big decisions loom while jury selection continues

The $27 million settlement between Minneapolis and the George Floyd family continues to hover over Derek Chauvin’s criminal trial. On Wednesday, the judge dismissed two previously chosen jurors who said they knew of the payout; two more jurors were also added. This is an MPR News morning update for Thursday, March 18, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

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Chauvin trial: 12th juror chosen; big decisions loom

Chauvin trial: 12th juror chosen; big decisions loom

Friday will be a pivotal day, with the judge expected to make several decisions that will shape the trial’s future. Three more jurors were added Thursday; two more are needed for a jury of 12 plus two alternates.
by Riham Feshir, Jon Collins, Brandt Williams and Matt Sepic

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March 18 update on COVID-19 in MN: Vaccination pace slips; active cases tick up

March 18 update on COVID-19 in MN: Vaccination pace slips; active cases tick up

The state’s in a race now to vaccinate Minnesotans quickly enough to avoid another statewide COVID-19 surge. Vaccine supplies are expected to increase significantly soon, but case counts and hospitalizations are starting to slowly rise now.
by MPR News Staff

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Art Hounds: An artist sketches on quarantines and social justice

Art Hounds: An artist sketches on quarantines and social justice

This week’s Hounds also recommend a traveling performance for audiences of one or two, and the “No-Holds Barred” exhibit featuring dozens of Minnesota artists.
by Emily Bright

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Minneapolis church holds 'safe space' to deal with trauma after death of George Floyd

Minneapolis church holds 'safe space' to deal with trauma after death of George Floyd

Jalilia A-Brown, a pastor who leads community engagement at Shiloh Temple, said it is a place where anyone, especially Black Minneapolis residents, can come to be supported — and never judged.
by Nina Moini

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White Earth Nation gives big raise to lowest paid workers

White Earth Nation gives big raise to lowest paid workers

The tribe’s chairperson says a minimum wage increase to $16 an hour for tribal employees “sets a standard for wages in our region” and improves quality of life for hundreds of casino workers.
by Dan Gunderson

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