Stories from October 5, 2021

Feds say hundreds of Minnesotans lives have been saved by vaccinations and Walz says he wants a special session soon to address pandemic relief payments. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.
Ex-cop Noor to be resentenced Oct. 21 after murder conviction thrown out
The former Minneapolis police officer who fatally shot a woman who called 911 to report a possible rape behind her home will be resentenced later this month on a lesser charge, after the Minnesota Supreme Court threw out his murder conviction.
Walz calls for vaccine and testing requirements for teachers
Gov. Tim Walz is calling on lawmakers to approve a series of new measures to respond to the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, including vaccine and testing requirements for teachers and school staff, and for long-term care workers. 
What’s on the ballot: The Minneapolis public safety charter amendment
In November, Minneapolis voters will say “yes” or “no” to replacing the Minneapolis Police Department with a new Department of Public Safety. Host Angela Davis speaks with a supporter and an opponent of the ballot measure and with MPR News reporter Jon Collins.
St. Paul to host 2022 Major League Soccer All-Star Game
The game will be played Aug. 10 at Allianz Field, home of Minnesota United, the league announced Tuesday. The league’s stars will play an opponent that will be announced later.
A new report shows just how much climate change is killing the world's coral reefs
Rising ocean temperatures killed 14 percent of the world's coral reefs, a new analysis finds. But it's not without hope: Experts say many can recover if immediate action is taken to curb future warming.
The pattern of morning fog and afternoon sunshine continue through midweek, then a late-week storm returns highs closer to October averages.
As he steps down as the head of NIH, he has a warning about future pandemics
Francis Collins has been director of the National Institutes of Health since 2009 and served under three U.S. presidents. NIH is the largest funder of basic and clinical biomedical research in the world.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is beginning a court-ordered process to determine whether its mining rules are adequate to protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The agency will take public comments from Nov. 9 through Dec. 8. It will issue an initial order by September of next year. This is an MPR News morning update for Tuesday, October 5, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
St. Kate is pushing to double number of BIPOC women in STEM fields in next 5 years
St. Catherine University in St. Paul is working to double the number of BIPOC leaders in science in the next five years. The private women’s college will host a town hall at 7 p.m. Wednesday, moderated by Minnesota Public Radio host Kerri Miller.
Thanks to high pressure over the area, Minnesota can expect another sunny and mild day on Tuesday after areas of dense fog lift.
Police responded to reports of a man firing a gun in a neighborhood off of Minnesota Highway 65, west of the National Sports Center. The sheriff's office said the suspect was wounded and taken to a nearby hospital, but didn't offer details about the man's injuries or condition.
Nobel physics prize goes to 3 for climate discoveries
Syukuro Manabe and Klaus Hasselmann were cited for their work in "the physical modeling of Earth's climate, quantifying variability and reliably predicting global warming." The second half of the prize was awarded to Giorgio Parisi, 73, for "the discovery of the interplay of disorder and fluctuations in physical systems from atomic to planetary scales."
Ex-Facebook manager criticizes company, urges more oversight
While accusing the giant social network of pursuing profits over safety, a former Facebook data scientist told Congress she believes stricter government oversight could alleviate the dangers the company poses, from harming children to inciting political violence to fueling misinformation.
Understaffed and at capacity, Minnesota vet clinics are struggling to keep up
Like many industries during the pandemic, veterinary medicine has been hit hard by staff shortages and increased demand for services. Some vets are advising pet owners to book appointments far in advance and to be patient if they encounter stressed-out staff members.
Wisconsin DNR defies board, reduces fall wolf quota
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources officials have scaled back the number of wolves hunters can kill during the state's fall season in defiance of the board that controls the agency.