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Stories from October 27, 2021

COVID-19 vaccine shots will soon be available for children

Minnesota healthcare providers will begin administering COVID-19 vaccine shots for 5-to-11 year-olds next week, pending final federal recommendations. This is an MPR News evening update for Oct 27, 2021. Hosted by Nathan Stevens. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

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What’s on the ballot: Rent control

What’s on the ballot: Rent control

Rent stabilization is on the ballot in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Guest host Chris Farrell talks with supporters and opponents of St. Paul’s proposed new ordinance — should residential rent increases be capped at 3 percent annually? If St. Paul becomes the first city in the country to stabilize rents this way, will other places follow suit?
by Chris Farrell, Maja Beckstrom and Mitchell Levesque

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State panel deadlocks over how to give away $250 million in hero pay

State panel deadlocks over how to give away $250 million in hero pay

A task force that tried to reach a deal on hero pay for pandemic front-line workers adjourned without reaching a compromise. Instead, two plans for dividing up $250 million will be forwarded to the Legislature.
by Brian Bakst

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Minneapolis eyes guaranteed basic income to aid needy families

Minneapolis eyes guaranteed basic income to aid needy families

City officials are looking for 200 Minneapolis families to receive $500 per month for two years as part of the city's new guaranteed basic income pilot program.
by Nina Moini

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You can now ask Google to scrub images of minors from its search results

You can now ask Google to scrub images of minors from its search results

The new policy follows up on the tech giant's August announcement that it would take a number of steps aiming to protect minors' privacy. It is intended for cases in which the subject is under 18.
by Bill Chappell

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DNR considers request to explore manganese deposit in Crow Wing County

DNR considers request to explore manganese deposit in Crow Wing County

A company called North Star Manganese, Inc. is asking the Department of Natural Resources for permission to explore a manganese mineral deposit near Emily, Minn. North Star has submitted a request to lease 800 acres in Crow Wing County.
by Cathy Wurzer

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In a new book, Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen envision a more unified America

In a new book, Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen envision a more unified America

In an NPR interview, the former president and the iconic musician speak about spreading hope amid widespread division and about the "critical patriotism" of Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A."
by Sharon Pruitt-Young, Audie Cornish, Matt Ozug and Courtney Dorning

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Why Puerto Rico leads the U.S. in COVID vaccine rate — and what states can learn

Why Puerto Rico leads the U.S. in COVID vaccine rate — and what states can learn

The highest rate of COVID-19 vaccination in the United States is not in a liberal-leaning Northeastern or West Coast state. It's in a place with a notably different political culture.
by Patrick Jarenwattananon, Ayen Bior and Sarah Handel

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Twin Cities Ballet tells Dracula story on stage at the Ames Center

Twin Cities Ballet tells Dracula story on stage at the Ames Center

Twin Cities Ballet artistic director Denise Vogt tells Cathy Wurzer about her original ballet, “Dracula,” performed to music by Minnesota composer Simon Sperl.
by Cathy Wurzer

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'Flatlining': MPD chief warns yes-vote on police overhaul will hurt Minneapolis

'Flatlining': MPD chief warns yes-vote on police overhaul will hurt Minneapolis

Medaria Arradondo on Wednesday spoke out strongly against a November ballot measure intended to remake his department, warning it wouldn’t fix relations between residents and the police and could do serious damage to a department already severely understaffed.
by MPR News Staff

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The stress of the pandemic may trigger childhood trauma for many

The stress of the pandemic may trigger childhood trauma for many

The stress of the last 18 months may have triggered buried childhood trauma. Susan Beaulieu, an expert in how to heal from Adverse Childhood Experiences especially when it comes to Indigenous communities, joined host Cathy Wurzer to explain.
by Cathy Wurzer and Kelly Gordon

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Song of the Day: 'It's Been Too Long' by The Whispers

Wednesday’s “Song of the Day” on Minnesota Now comes from KMOJ general manager and DJ Freddie Bell — and if you like R&B, it’s a good one.
by Cathy Wurzer and Kelly Gordon

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The NCAA's focus on profits means far more gets spent on men's championships

The NCAA's focus on profits means far more gets spent on men's championships

NCAA spending per Division I and national championship participants was $4,285 for men and $2,588 for women in the 2018-19 season. The gap is even larger for single-gender sports, the report shows.
by Jaclyn Diaz

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Twin Metals to appeal federal decision on proposed mine, says project still viable

Twin Metals to appeal federal decision on proposed mine, says project still viable

Twin Metals says it will appeal a decision by the federal Bureau of Land Management to reject its applications for additional mineral leases and exploration permits. Last week, the Biden administration ordered a mineral withdrawal study on 225,000 acres of federal land that could lead to a 20-year ban on mining upstream from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
by Dan Kraker

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Exploring the link between childhood trauma and the pandemic on Minnesota Now

In a special edition of Minnesota Today, host Cathy Wurzer talks with Susan Beaulieu, a University of Minnesota Extension educator, about how the pandemic has triggered early childhood trauma for some people. Theme music is by Gary Meister.
by Cathy Wurzer

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COVID-19 in MN: Outlook still hopeful; state readies vaccines for kids 5-11

COVID-19 in MN: Outlook still hopeful; state readies vaccines for kids 5-11

Despite some trend lines edging higher, Minnesota’s overall COVID-19 data is still signaling the worst of the current wave may be over. State officials are turning their vaccination focus now to some of the state’s youngest soon-to-be eligible residents.
by Catharine Richert and MPR News Staff

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St. Paul police chief says he'll step down in June

St. Paul police chief says he'll step down in June

Calling it a difficult decision, Todd Axtell said Wednesday in a Facebook post that he will not seek a second term as chief when his current contract ends in June.
by MPR News Staff and Nina Moini

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Journalist, St. Paul native Chenue Her makes news, breaks ground in rise to anchorman

Journalist, St. Paul native Chenue Her makes news, breaks ground in rise to anchorman

Chenue Her, 30, recently became the first Hmong male news anchor in the U.S. when he joined “Good Morning Iowa'' in Des Moines. He’s hoping now to inspire a new generation into journalism, a business that struggles to keep people of color.
by Mary Ellen Ritter

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Exacerbated by pandemic, child care crisis hampers economy

Exacerbated by pandemic, child care crisis hampers economy

The pandemic has made clear what many experts had long warned: The absence of reliable and affordable child care limits the jobs people can accept, makes it harder to climb the corporate ladder and ultimately restricts the ability of the broader economy to grow.
by The Associated Press

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Significant rain through Thursday; Halloween looks cool, dry

Periods of heavy rain funnel across much of Minnesota Wednesday into Thursday. Another storm over the weekend will be far drier, but it does bring in much colder air.
by Nicole Mitchell

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United States issues its 1st passport with 'X' gender marker

United States issues its 1st passport with 'X' gender marker

The United States has issued its first passport with an "X" gender designation — a milestone in the recognition of the rights of people who don't identify as male or female — and expects to be able to offer the option more broadly next year, the State Department said Wednesday.
by The Associated Press

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Minnesota gets a soaking rain Wednesday

A fall storm keeps winds across Minnesota breezy on Wednesday and brings in precipitation that is likely to top an inch of rain for most of the state.
by Nicole Mitchell

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Carli Lloyd plays final match for U.S. in rout of South Korea

Carli Lloyd plays final match for U.S. in rout of South Korea

Carli Lloyd's final match was her 316th with the national team, the second-most international appearances of any player. She scored 134 goals for the United States, third most in team history, along with 61 assists. The crowd at Allianz Field in St. Paul gave her a standing ovation.
by The Associated Press

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Tenants to share in $750K settlement with landlord over harassment claims

A federal judge this week ordered a Minneapolis landlord to pay $750,000 to settle allegations of sexual harassment against his tenants, who are mostly single Black mothers. This is an MPR News morning update for Wednesday, October 27, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

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A hospital hiked the price of their healthy baby's birth by calling it an 'emergency'

A hospital hiked the price of their healthy baby's birth by calling it an 'emergency'

"Obstetrical emergency departments" are a new aspect of some hospitals that can inflate medical bills for even the easiest, healthiest births. Just ask baby Gus' parents about their $2,755 ER charge.
by Rae Ellen Bichell

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Great Halloween Blizzard of '91? Don't tell us again. OK, tell us

Great Halloween Blizzard of '91? Don't tell us again. OK, tell us

Did you know that it once snowed on Halloween in Minnesota? Whether you’ve heard the story once — or a million — times, you know Minnesotans love to rehash the record-breaking blizzard in great detail. It was a “perfect storm” for making memories.  
by Nancy Yang

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