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Stories from April 27, 2021

Biden to propose free preschool, a $200B investment

Biden to propose free preschool, a $200B investment

President Joe Biden will call for free preschool for all 3- and 4-year-old children as part of his American Families Plan. 
by The Associated Press

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Hallberg: Benefits outweigh the risks of Johnson and Johnson vaccine

Hallberg: Benefits outweigh the risks of Johnson and Johnson vaccine

Officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have allowed providers to resume administering the one-dose vaccine, after reviewing the rare risk of blood clots associated with it.
by Tom Crann and Dr. Jon Hallberg

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The evolution of suburbia

The evolution of suburbia

As suburbs become more diverse, some have also inherited a number of problems historically attributed to urban areas: segregation, discrimination and economic inequality. How does this happen and how can it be addressed?
by Kerri Miller and Ariana Rosas

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With COVID on the wane, governor says he's ready to roll back more restrictions

With COVID on the wane, governor says he's ready to roll back more restrictions. Meanwhile, New York’s governor weighs a lawsuit over census numbers that let Minnesota keep a seat in Congress. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

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Pandemic-fueled surge in visitation to BWCA expected to continue this year

Pandemic-fueled surge in visitation to BWCA expected to continue this year

More than 165,000 people visited the Boundary Waters last year — a 16 percent jump over the previous year — as people sought refuge in the isolated wilderness from the COVID-19 pandemic. Outfitters say early reservations suggest this summer could be even busier.
by Dan Kraker

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MN lawmakers OK security aid amid police conduct standoff

MN lawmakers OK security aid amid police conduct standoff

The Minnesota House and Senate have approved an $8 million bill that covers the expense of the security buildup in the Twin Cities around the trial of Derek Chauvin and the presidential inauguration. Democrats, including Gov. Tim Walz, say they still want more accountability measures for police.
by Brian Bakst

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Epicurious ditches beef in a move it calls 'pro-planet'

Epicurious ditches beef in a move it calls 'pro-planet'

The digital food magazine announced the change on Monday, citing the carbon footprint of cattle and a desire to help home cooks become more environmentally friendly.
by Rachel Treisman

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Labor-backed report finds lax safety at St. Paul Park refinery

Labor-backed report finds lax safety at St. Paul Park refinery

A new report from a labor-backed group claims lax safety practices at the St. Paul Park refinery are putting plant workers and the surrounding community at risk.
by Elizabeth Shockman

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Chauvin sentencing pushed back to June 25

Chauvin sentencing pushed back to June 25

Sentencing for former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin in George Floyd’s death has been pushed back to June 25, according to online court records.
by The Associated Press and Jon Collins

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Police reform: What kind of change is possible and how do we get there?

Police reform: What kind of change is possible and how do we get there?

Host Angela Davis talked to policing experts and community leaders about the future of police reform on both the federal and state levels, the types of changes being discussed, and how to make the proposals a reality.
by Angela Davis, Lindsay Guentzel, Maja Beckstrom and Alex Cheng

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Another suit asks Minnesota courts to oversee redistricting

A group of Minnesota Democratic voters filed a lawsuit Tuesday that seeks to have the courts take over the state's redistricting process, predicting that the divided Legislature will be unable to agree on new political maps.
by The Associated Press

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Scattered rain, hail and thunder into this evening

Scattered rain, hail and thunder into this evening

Scattered rain, hail and thunder visit southern Minnesota into this evening. Strongest cells south of Twin Cities.
by Paul Huttner

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Minnesota Attorney General focused on mechanics of Derek Chauvin case not its impact

Minnesota Attorney General focused on mechanics of Derek Chauvin case not its impact

Keith Ellison, who led the prosecution of former officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd, wasn't sure they were going to win. "Accountability just doesn't happen very much," he says.
by Leila Fadel

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Ask a Bookseller: 'Witches Steeped in Gold' is a Jamaican-inspired YA fantasy   

Ask a Bookseller: 'Witches Steeped in Gold' is a Jamaican-inspired YA fantasy   

Kalima Desuze of Café con Libros in Brooklyn, N.Y., recommends a Jamaican-inspired YA fantasy novel that just hit the shelves on April 20: “Witches Steeped in Gold” by debut author Ciannon Smart.
by Emily Bright

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CDC says vaccinated Americans can now go outside without a mask

CDC says vaccinated Americans can now go outside without a mask

U.S. health officials say fully vaccinated Americans don't need to wear masks outdoors anymore unless they are in a big crowd of strangers. And unvaccinated people can drop face coverings in some cases, too.
by The Associated Press

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Chauvin verdict won't remove blocks to police accountability

Chauvin verdict won't remove blocks to police accountability

Most police officers who abuse their power get away with it because the law is heavily stacked in their favor, legal experts say. None of those legal roadblocks was removed by the guilty verdicts against Derek Chauvin.

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Did emergency PPP loans work? Nearly $800 billion later, we still don't know

Did emergency PPP loans work? Nearly $800 billion later, we still don't know

The Paycheck Protection Program, which provided emergency loans to small businesses amid the pandemic, will wind down soon. Economists are divided on whether it saved enough jobs to justify its cost.
by Scott Horsley

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A few stronger storms likely Tuesday

Wet weather lingers through Wednesday, with a few hail-producing storms expected Tuesday.  Warmer temperatures return by the weekend, with 70s in the forecast.
by Nicole Mitchell

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Rainy and gray again Tuesday

Minnesota faces another wet day Tuesday with widespread cloud cover and a few afternoon thunderstorms that may produce damaging hail.
by Nicole Mitchell

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Plymouth Middle School locked down following gunshots inside, no students hurt

Police say everyone is safe after a student shot a gun multiple times inside Plymouth Middle School. The student was taken into custody without using any force, according to law enforcement. This is an MPR News morning update for Tuesday, April 27, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

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Biden to establish $15-an-hour minimum wage for federal contractors

Biden to establish $15-an-hour minimum wage for federal contractors

The administration also plans to eliminate the tipped minimum wage for federal contractors by 2024, raising it to $15 from the current level of $7.65.
by Alana Wise

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Comic: Bringing the library home during the pandemic

Comic: Bringing the library home during the pandemic

It's been a year since teachers were handed an unprecedented request: educate students in entirely new ways, amid the backdrop of a global pandemic. This week takes us to a librarian and a bus driver.
by Eda Uzunlar

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Biden's 1st 100 days: A look by the numbers

Biden's 1st 100 days: A look by the numbers

Under Joe Biden, the number of presidential tweets is down, while the volume of executive orders is up. His job approval is higher than former President Donald Trump's ever was, but he has signed less than half as many bills.
by Jason Breslow

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Minnesota artist uses ancient techniques to create portraits of 'Women of Faith'

Minnesota artist uses ancient techniques to create portraits of 'Women of Faith'

Minnesota artist Mark Balma is drawing on ancient techniques to create three huge frescoes for a church in Italy. He planned to do the work on site, but the pandemic intervened. As he faced a modern challenge, he turned to an approach developed more than 2,000 years ago.
by Euan Kerr

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USDA moves to feed millions of children over the summer

USDA moves to feed millions of children over the summer

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it's expanding a pandemic program into the summer to help families pay for meals their children won't get in school.
by Cory Turner

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Fargo-Moorhead residents rally to clean up vandalized mosque

Members of the Fargo-Moorhead area turned out with brushes, chemicals and power washers to help clean a mosque that was spray-painted with derogatory terms and hate speech. The vandalism was discovered Sunday morning on the outside of the Moorhead Fargo Islamic Community Center.
by The Associated Press

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