Stories from August 3, 2021

Vikings release CB Jeff Gladney after assault indictment
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Jeff Gladney has been released by the team, just a couple of hours after he was indicted by a Texas grand jury for felony assault of a woman he was previously in a relationship with.
Rain chances emerging Thursday and this weekend
We’re searching the weather maps for rain this summer in Minnesota. It looks like we may have found some.
President Biden calls on Cuomo to resign after harassment report
President Biden called on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign Tuesday after an explosive new report was released by the New York State attorney general's office on allegations of sexual harassment against the governor.
Minnesota conviction review unit ready to start work
The conviction review unit in Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office will review applications from Minnesotans who believe they were wrongly convicted of felonies. Ellison said the process will help restore confidence in the criminal justice system.
An update on newsroom inclusion efforts from MPR News' managing editor.
COVID-19 cases are continuing to rise in Minnesota because of the delta variant of the coronavirus.  The state health department reported nearly 1,700 new cases over the last three days, pushing the seven-day rolling average to near 600, a level not seen since late May.  This is an MPR News evening update for Aug. 3, 2021 hosted by Kirsti Marohn. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
Lawmakers face tough math in pandemic pay plan
State lawmakers are grappling with how to best reward those who took the biggest risks to help others during the pandemic. One sector gave a $96 million estimate of need.
In 'Goldenrod,' a poet finds lessons in the good, the bad and the unexpected
Maggie Smith's new poetry collection considers the human tendency to search for universal truths — but she looks for those truths in things we can see every day, as ordinary as rosebushes and rocks.
Last week, 1 in 3 U.S. COVID cases were in Florida and Texas
In the last week, 3 million Americans got their first vaccine shot. On Tuesday, the U.S. hit President Joe Biden's July Fourth goal of 70 percent of adults receiving at least one shot.
Examining violent crime in American cities
A rise in homicides and other violent crimes in 2020 and 2021 have made headlines in major American cities across the country, but what or who is to blame is up for debate. 
Ex-cops charged in Floyd death want separation from Chauvin
Three former Minneapolis police officers charged with violating George Floyd's civil rights are asking that their federal trials be separated from the trial of Derek Chauvin, who has already been convicted on state murder charges for kneeling on Floyd's neck as the Black man pleaded for air.
Air quality improves Wednesday across Minnesota
Winds will blow from the south Wednesday. That should help improve MInnesota’s air quality overall.
Officer dead after burst of violence outside Pentagon
An officer died after being stabbed Tuesday during a burst of violence at a transit station outside the Pentagon, law enforcement officials said.
COVID-19 in MN: Caseloads accelerating among Black Minnesotans
New data shows cases are growing far faster for Black Minnesotans than for other racial or ethnic groups. Separately on Tuesday, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Duluth ordered city staff and visitors to wear masks in city-owned buildings.
'This attack happened': Medals to honor Jan. 6 responders
The Senate has voted to award Medals of Honor to the Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department for protecting Congress during the Jan. 6 insurrection, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden for his signature.
Marshall Public Schools approves settlement in flag lawsuit
In a statement released Monday afternoon, Marshall Public Schools said the district doesn’t admit any wrongdoing in the case, and no money will be paid to the concerned citizens group suing the school district. However, as part of the conditions of the agreement, the district will take down the rainbow flag and other flags in the cafeteria.
Opinion: Suni Lee's win shines a bright light on the Hmong legacy
The Hmong community in Minnesota needed Lee’s gold medal win to inspire us and the larger community needed Lee’s Olympic victory to see Asian Americans as Americans, writes MPR executive Ka Vang.
Hoops, kills, boulders and baseball: Olympians with MN ties set to compete
With the final week of the Olympic Games underway, the focus shifts from gymnastics and swimming events to track and field and team sports. Here’s the latest roundup of who to watch and what happened in Tokyo.
Florida again breaks record for COVID-19 hospitalizations
The number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 in Florida rose to an all-time high of 11,515 patients in one day, according to data the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released Tuesday.
NYC will require vaccination proof for indoor dining, gyms
New York City will soon require proof of COVID-19 vaccinations for indoor activities, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday, making it the first big city in the U.S. to impose such restrictions. The new requirement, which will go into effect Aug. 16, applies to indoor dining, gyms and indoor entertainment venues.
Minnesota is expected to see slow improvement in air quality through Tuesday, then as heat and humidity return, so do more rain chances. The current forecast brings some scattered showers and storms into the state on Thursday. 
U.S. hits 70% vaccination rate — a month late, amid a surge
The U.S. on Monday finally reached President Joe Biden's goal of getting at least one COVID-19 shot into 70 percent of American adults — a month late and amid a fierce surge by the delta variant that is swamping hospitals and leading to new mask rules and mandatory vaccinations around the country.
As the wind pattern shifts, the air quality across Minnesota is expected to see slow improvement through the day Tuesday.
The list includes First Avenue, which is requiring anyone attending concerts at its venues to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a recent negative test. This is an MPR News morning update for Tuesday, August 3, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
Simone Biles makes a triumphant return and takes bronze on balance beam
"I wasn't expecting to walk away with a medal, I was just going out there to do this for me and whatever happens, happens," Simone Biles said after the competition, adding that it "just meant the world to be back out there."
'You pray for rain': Low rivers stressing irrigators, recreationists — and potentially, critters
Rivers across the state are very low because of the severe drought encompassing much of the state. That's affecting a lot of people who rely on rivers and streams for their livelihood.
Brooklyn Center mayor hopes early steps bring bigger change in policing
After a Brooklyn Center police officer shot and killed Daunte Wright in April during a traffic stop, the city committed to reshaping its entire public safety structure, including lowering the profile of the Police Department.
Antisemitic posts are rarely removed by social media companies, study finds
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube and TikTok took no action on 84 percent of antisemitic posts, despite pledging to crack down on hate speech, according to the Center to Counter Digital Hate.
Your Facebook account was hacked. Getting help may take weeks — or $299
When Facebook accounts get hacked, victims call and email the company for help to little avail. Some have found a costly workaround: buying a virtual reality headset to get customer service.