Stories from August 6, 2021

Tracking weekend rainfall timing, coverage and totals
Our summer rains typically show high local variability. But 1 to 2 inches of rain may fall in many locations this weekend.
Gov. Tim Walz says he wants to include an aid package for farmers in the special legislative session next month. In a meeting Friday, Walz heard about severe shortages of feed for cattle, and crops that are drying up. This is the MPR News afternoon update for Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. Hosted by Nina Moini. Theme music by Gary Meister.
Frey vetoes one of two rent control ballot proposals
The proposal Frey opposed would have allowed a citizen led rent control policy to be added to a future ballot for a popular vote.
Mpls. restaurant workers awarded $230K in settlement
An agreement between the Bartmann Co. restaurant group and Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office deals with wages, unpaid overtime and damages for workers who were out money for hours they put in.
Farmers say drought aid urgently needed
Minnesota farmers are urging Gov. Tim Walz to move quickly on drought aid, as conditions worsen for farmers across the state.
At Pine County Fair, $100 for COVID-19 shot is working
In Minnesota’s rural Pine County where vaccination rates for COVID-19 are relatively low, some are saying the $100 gift card incentive authorized by Gov. Tim Walz convinced them to finally get the shot.
MPD officers who killed Dolal Idd cleared of criminal charges
Dakota County attorney Kathy Keena announced Friday that after reviewing the investigation, the officers were justified in using deadly force when they shot and killed 23-year-old Dolal Idd at a south Minneapolis gas station in December 2020. 
Medal count: Minnesota athletes with Olympic hardware
Athletes with Minnesota connections came home from the Tokyo Games with seven gold medals, five silvers and two bronzes.
Weekend forecast: Periods of showers and thunderstorms
Most of Minnesota is in drought right now, so rain is welcome — even if it happens on a weekend. We have your weekend forecast details.
A gold for Steveson kicks off the medal contention weekend. When to watch
A gold medal for Apple Valley’s Gable Steveson kicked off the final weekend of Olympic competitions. Minnesota-connected athletes are competing in matches for gold medals in basketball, baseball and volleyball. Here’s when to watch.
Anatoly Liberman on the origin of familiar words and phrases
Anatoly Liberman, etymologist and professor of languages at the University of Minnesota, joined MPR News host Kerri Miller to talk about the origin of words or phrases that have been passed down over generations.
Felix sets a record, wins bronze for 10th Olympic medal
Allyson Felix finished third in the 400 meters Friday to win her 10th career medal and become the most-decorated woman in the history of Olympic track.
Widespread rainfall targets Minnesota over the weekend
The rainier pattern that began Thursday continues through the middle of next week, including wet and stormy weather over the weekend.
Restaurants are dangling vacation and matching 401(k) but many workers aren't biting
As the U.S. economy continues to rebound from the pandemic recession, lots of people are going back to work — but not as quickly as many employers would like. Employers added 943,00 jobs in June.
Following the cooler and occasionally rainy weather on Thursday, Friday is back to warm and humid weather south, while northern Minnesota deals with smoke concerns.
Minnesota's Gable Steveson wins wrestling gold
The Gophers wrestling standout from Apple Valley defeated Georgia’s Geno Petriashvili 10-8 to claim wrestling gold in the men’s freestyle 125-kilogram class. Steveson, as is customary after his biggest wins, celebrated with a backflip.
When Sunisa Lee and Grace McCallum left for Tokyo, they weren't quite the household and social media names they've since become. They returned Thursday to a crowd of more than 200 people at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. This is an MPR News morning update for Friday, August 6, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
Art exhibit is a COVID retreat with layers of meaning
When artist Candice Lin looked for ways to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, she began building. The resulting structure — part tent, part retreat and part history lesson — is now on display at the Walker Art Center. 
Film documents efforts to protect people hardest hit by COVID
An aptly timed documentary film called “Trusted Messenger” highlights efforts to build confidence among Black, Latino and Indigenous communities about vaccines.