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Stories from May 17, 2021

Unemployment benefits saw unprecedented expansion during the pandemic. Is the system working?

Unemployment benefits saw unprecedented expansion during the pandemic. Is the system working?

Critics argue the generous COVID-19 unemployment benefits hinder job growth. Guest host Chris Farrell spoke with two policy experts about whether the unemployment system is working for individuals and the economy.
by Chris Farrell, Lindsay Guentzel and Alex Cheng

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Minneapolis officials vow change after second child critically injured by gunfire

Minneapolis officials vow change after second child critically injured by gunfire, and lawmakers reach a deal on a new state budget, but leave policy questions unresolved. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

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Border communities offer surplus COVID vaccines to Canadian neighbors

Border communities offer surplus COVID vaccines to Canadian neighbors

With just over 3 percent of Canadians fully inoculated against COVID-19, a growing number of America's northern border states and communities have stepped up to offer them excess doses.
by Emma Jacobs

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Recent dry weather has much of Minnesota under burning restrictions

Minnesota has been very dry so far this May, leading to fire concerns and burning restrictions.  A shift in the weather pattern finally brings needed soaking rain back into the forecast by Wednesday.
by Nicole Mitchell

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Is working from home here to stay?

Is working from home here to stay?

After working remotely for more than a year, most Americans want to keep it going. Will companies adapt?
by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

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Where does the Republican Party go from here?

Where does the Republican Party go from here?

Did the ouster of U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney as Republican conference chair clear the way for something new? Or was it another step toward ruin for the Grand Old Party? It depends on which Republicans you ask.
by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

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Packers sign former Virginia quarterback Kurt Benkert

The Green Bay Packers signed Kurt Benkert on Monday in their latest attempt to add quarterback depth while MVP Aaron Rodgers’ future with the team remains unclear.
by The Associated Press

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Underfunded and overworked, Secret Service fears they're 'relying on luck'

Carol Leonnig spoke to a number of Secret Service agents for her new book, “Zero Fail.” "They strongly believed that it was a matter of time before a president was shot on their watch," she says.
by Dave Davies

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Biden expresses 'support' for cease-fire in Netanyahu call

Biden expresses 'support' for cease-fire in Netanyahu call

President Joe Biden expressed “support” for a cease-fire in a call to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday, the eighth day of Israeli-Palestinian fighting. 
by The Associated Press

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EU vows to boost efforts to end Israeli-Palestinian fighting

EU vows to boost efforts to end Israeli-Palestinian fighting

The European Union says that it will redouble its efforts to end the upsurge in violence between the Israeli military and Palestinian militants and will seek progress during a special meeting of its foreign ministers on Tuesday.
by The Associated Press

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Biden to boost world vaccine sharing commitment to 80M doses

Biden to boost world vaccine sharing commitment to 80M doses

President Joe Biden will announce Monday that the U.S. will share an additional 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines with the world in the coming six weeks, the White House said.
by The Associated Press

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Gaetz associate pleads guilty to sex trafficking charges

Gaetz associate pleads guilty to sex trafficking charges

A Florida politician who emerged as a central figure in the Justice Department’s sex trafficking investigation into Rep. Matt Gaetz pleaded guilty Monday to six federal charges and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors as part of a plea deal.
by The Associated Press

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Fighting weight: How military recruiters take on obesity, case by case

Fighting weight: How military recruiters take on obesity, case by case

A decade ago, Army recruiters started coaching individuals to help them lose weight so they could enlist. It's not an official Army program, but it has become necessary to recruitment, many say.
by Yuki Noguchi

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Engaging with Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: A reading list

Engaging with Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: A reading list

Over the past year, stories surrounding Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have been full of violence and grief — here are some reading recommendations that'll take you beyond just suffering.
by Janet W. Lee and Summer Thomad

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New film documents little-known Minnesota WWII military intelligence school

New film documents little-known Minnesota WWII military intelligence school

“Armed with Language,” a new film premiering tonight on Twin Cities PBS, documents the history and legacy of a military intelligence school that trained thousands of Japanese Americans during WWII. The documentary's writer David Mura joined MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer for an interview.
by Cathy Wurzer

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Supreme Court to weigh rollback of abortion rights

Supreme Court to weigh rollback of abortion rights

The Supreme Court has agreed to consider a major rollback of abortion rights, saying it will take up Mississippi's bid to enforce a 15-week ban on abortion. The court's order Monday sets up a showdown over abortion, probably in the fall, with a more conservative court apparently ready to dramatically alter nearly 50 years of rulings on abortion rights.
by The Associated Press

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Deal reached on Minnesota budget; special session needed

Deal reached on Minnesota budget; special session needed

Minnesota legislative leaders said Monday they’ve reached bipartisan agreement on a two-year, roughly $52 billion state budget. With a midnight deadline looming to end the regular session, any final bills will not pass until a special session next month. 
by Brian Bakst and Tim Nelson

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Much wetter weather eyes Minnesota by midweek

A broad shift in the weather pattern brings warmer air across Minnesota and much higher precipitation chances as the week progresses.
by Nicole Mitchell

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Clinical trials underway for 5-and-younger COVID-19 vaccinations

Clinical trials underway for 5-and-younger COVID-19 vaccinations

Early trials for using the COVID-19 vaccine on those 5 years old and younger are underway. Parents who've enrolled their kids in these studies say the risk is worth it for the greater good.
by Lesley McClurg

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Minnesota sees warm and sunny weather Monday

After morning fog lifts, Minnesota can expect mostly sunny weather with above average temperatures for Monday.
by Nicole Mitchell

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As lumber prices climb, DIYers cut out the middle man and mill their own

As lumber prices climb, DIYers cut out the middle man and mill their own

The price of lumber has more than doubled during the pandemic. Now, people are turning to extreme DIY for building projects. Instead of buying boards, they're buying their own sawmills.
by Emily Schwing

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Former Brooklyn Center police officer charged in death of Daunte Wright to appear in court

Former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter, the officer charged with second-degree manslaughter for fatally shooting 20-year-old Black motorist Daunte Wright, is scheduled to appear in court via videoconference Monday. Potter, who is white, has an omnibus hearing, also known as a pretrial hearing, on Monday afternoon in Hennepin County District Court. The purpose of such a hearing is to go over evidence and determine if there's probable cause for the case to proceed. This is an MPR News morning update for Monday, May 17, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

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Judge eyes Dec. 6 trial date for ex-cop charged in Daunte Wright killing

Judge eyes Dec. 6 trial date for ex-cop charged in Daunte Wright killing

Hennepin County Judge Regina Chu said during a Monday hearing that probable cause exists to support the charge of second-degree manslaughter against former Brooklyn Center officer Kim Potter. Prosecutors want the trial livestreamed. The defense does not.
by Matt Sepic

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Israel says Gaza tunnels destroyed in heavy airstrikes

Israel says Gaza tunnels destroyed in heavy airstrikes

The Israeli military unleashed a wave of heavy airstrikes on the Gaza Strip early Monday, saying it destroyed 9 miles of militant tunnels and the homes of nine Hamas commanders, as international diplomats worked to end the week of fighting that has killed hundreds of people.
by The Associated Press

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May 17 update on COVID-19 in MN: Cases ebb, no new deaths; vaccinations struggle

May 17 update on COVID-19 in MN: Cases ebb, no new deaths; vaccinations struggle

Minnesota’s COVID-19 data has settled into another good news-bad news groove. The numbers continue to show the disease in retreat following a spring surge. But the push to get more Minnesota adults vaccinated is languishing.
by MPR News Staff

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Green, violet, oh my: NASA rocket launch lights up Eastern skies

Green, violet, oh my: NASA rocket launch lights up Eastern skies

The mission, to study energy transfer in space, had a brilliant upshot for nighttime viewers. East Coasters saw the green and violet vapor clouds glowing above — and have the pictures to prove it.
by Emma Bowman

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80% of Asian Americans say they are discriminated against

80% of Asian Americans say they are discriminated against

A recent survey has indicated most Asian Americans feel a sense of disrespect from other Americans. It also revealed a portion of people are unaware of increased violence against Asian Americans.
by Dustin Jones

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Eriksson Ek’s OT goal lifts Wild past Vegas 1-0 in playoff opener

Eriksson Ek’s OT goal lifts Wild past Vegas 1-0 in playoff opener

Between hard hitting, fast skating, a torrid pace, spectacular goaltending — Game 1 of the first-round series between the Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday had everything but a goal in regulation.
by The Associated Press

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