Stories from October 7, 2021

Drought gradually eases around Minnesota
Heavy rainfall in much of central and northeast Minnesota in the past 30-days has eased drought somewhat.
Health officials warn that hospitals are nearing a breaking point in Minnesota, even as parents sue an Iron Range school district to strike down a mask mandate. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.
'Okciyapi' celebrates Dakota language and brings some healing
Dakota artist Angela Two Stars’ new installation in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden brings layers of meaning embedded in its form.
In Focus: Sustainability in Indian Country
In partnership with We Are Still Here Minnesota, MPR News presents In Focus: Sustainability in Indian Country, a conversation led by community leaders and moderated by Twila Dang, producer and cohost of MPR’s “small change: Money Stories from the Neighborhood” podcast.
18 ex-NBA players charged in $4M health care fraud scheme
Federal authorities say 18 former NBA players have been charged with allegedly pocketing $2.5 million illegally by defrauding the league's health and welfare benefit plan.
COVID-19 in MN: ICU needs hit 2021 high; hospital staffs 'exhausted'
Hospital leaders speaking to reporters on Thursday painted a worrisome picture of the strain on care systems across Minnesota — short-staffed and struggling to meet the needs of a rising tide of COVID and other patients.
Minnesota Afghan community comes together to help refugees
Behind the scenes, Afghan community members and volunteers have been connecting via social media channels and organizing donation drives to help support Afghan resettlement efforts.
 Good things come in trees: Northern Minnesota hitting peak fall color
While swaths of northwestern Minnesota are past peak, most areas north of St. Cloud are in their prime for leaf-peeping. Parts of the eastern Twin Cities have also reached peak season for fall foliage. What are you waiting for?
Southern Minnesota sees a few showers Thursday, then a much more potent storm targets northern Minnesota with heavy rain over the weekend.
Minnesota native Eddie Taylor training to climb Everest with first all-Black team
There’s not a lot of mountain climbing happening in Minnesota. But it was his upbringing in Detroit Lakes — visiting national parks and skiing with his family — that set Eddie Taylor up to join the first all-Black team of climbers training to take on Mount Everest next year.
Police say a woman riding a scooter on a sidewalk was struck and killed by one of two vehicles involved in an exchange of gunfire in downtown Minneapolis.
A change in the weather pattern that has already brought more clouds to eastern Minnesota will now bring a few rain showers into the state.
Workers’ compensation spending in the city jumped to over $14 million in 2020, with Minneapolis police officers accounting for most of the claims, according to a staff presentation to a Minneapolis City Council committee on Wednesday. This is an MPR News morning update for Thursday, October 7, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
COVID deaths leave thousands of U.S. kids grieving parents or primary caregivers
Roughly 175,000 children in the U.S. have lost one or both parents, or a grandparent caregiver to COVID-19, according to a new study. The majority of these children are racial and ethnic minorities.
Faced with losing their jobs, even the most hesitant are getting vaccinated
Workplaces with vaccine mandates are seeing vaccination rates of 90 percent or higher. A complex mix of factors, including job security, are driving most workers to get the shots.
Minnesota to expand COVID-19 testing options in schools
The state is making rapid at-home tests available to districts that request them. It’s also handing out grant money to districts that want to hire additional staff or need other help with the logistics of regular testing in schools. 
In St. Cloud, students seize chance to hone native Somali language skills
School officials say research shows multilingual students are more likely to be academically successful in all areas when they have opportunities to continue developing their first language.
Art Hounds: Relax and enjoy the show
Art Hounds recommend shows to sit back and relax with on a fall weekend: “Beer & Ballet” in Bloomington and Sweet Jazz in Northfield. Or, get in the Halloween spirit with the book launch celebration of “The Haunting of Potter’s Field” in Winona.