Stories from October 13, 2021

Minnesota's ACT scores rise, but with a pandemic asterisk on the record, and there’s a new polar bear in town. This is an evening update from MPR news, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.
Art Hounds: Three concerts in old and new spaces
Singer-songwriter Mary Bue performs at the Landmark Center in downtown St. Paul; Guns N’ Rosenkavalier combines opera with rock music at the historic Sheldon Theatre in Red Wing; and a cappella group Tonic Sol Fa stops at the new CTC Center in Pillager.
Minneapolis will vote on rent control this fall. Here’s what to know.
Minneapolis voters will get the chance in November to decide if the Minneapolis City Council should have the authority to enact rent stabilization measures on privately owned residential properties.
Nashville has long been associated with country music. But a museum devoted to African American music, which opened earlier this year, sets the record straight about the city's diversity.
NHL announces that all but 4 players are vaccinated
That means about 99 percent of NHL players have gotten the vaccine. "All of our officials are vaccinated. All of the personnel that come into contact with the players are vaccinated," the commissioner adds.
Big boost for Social Security benefits as inflation rises
Millions of retirees on Social Security will get a 5.9 percent boost in benefits for 2022. The biggest cost-of-living adjustment in 39 years follows a burst in inflation as the economy struggles to shake off the drag of the coronavirus pandemic.
Study of COVID vaccine boosters suggests Moderna or Pfizer works best
Should people who get a COVID booster get a different vaccine from their original shot? The results of a highly anticipated study suggest, that in some cases the answer may be yes.
COVID-19 in MN: Active case counts edge lower; hospitalizations rise
Minnesota’s summer-fall COVID-19 surge stubbornly refuses to retreat, although the newest numbers offer some signs that conditions may be starting to plateau. Still, nearly 1,000 residents are hospitalized now with the disease.
Moorhead officials raise tobacco age, ban flavored products
City officials in Moorhead have raised the legal age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21 and banned all flavored tobacco products from stores, including methanol cigarettes, flavored chewing or smokeless tobacco, e-cigarettes and vape juices.
The art of listening
Member drive is our chance to thank you for listening — and to remind you why you listen. And it’s your chance to support our work. Since our entire enterprise of making radio depends on listening, we thought we’d take this opportunity to consider what it means to listen with intention and compassion. 
A strong storm Wednesday brings wind, rain and chillier weather which could include areas of frost. Sunshine returns the state to seasonable temperatures over the weekend.
Hoo has seen Gladys? Minnesota Zoo says eagle owl escaped during training
Gladys flew off into a tree during a routine training session earlier this month and has not returned. "While she's likely to be within the 485-acre, forested Zoo, we wanted to make our neighbors aware," the zoo said, adding that Gladys is not a threat to public safety.
A strong storm moving in from the Dakotas is impacting Minnesota with showers, storms and winds that will increase into the afternoon.
A federal judge has denied a request filed by nearly 200 health care workers to block their employers' COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The judge said that the plaintiffs, who filed their request anonymously, would have to reveal their names to the defendants — a contingent of health care employers from around Minnesota. This is an MPR News morning update for Wednesday, October 13, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
William Shatner, TV's Capt. Kirk, blasts into space
William Shatner, 90, became the oldest person to fly into space, according to Blue Origin. The company, owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, launched its first human spaceflight in July.
University of Minnesota students redesign walker for younger users
Four University of Minnesota students have come up with a new way for people to move around. They took the wheeled walker that many seniors use and reimagined it for a younger clientele.