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Stories from November 2, 2021

Judge denies release of GOP donor accused of sex trafficking

Judge denies release of GOP donor accused of sex trafficking

A federal judge has denied Minnesota Republican megadonor Anton Lazzaro's request to be released while he awaits trial, citing his attempts at obstruction in the case.
by Peter Cox

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Voting wraps on one one of the biggest local elections in a generation

Voting wraps on one one of the biggest local elections in a generation, with the future of public safety on the line in Minneapolis in the wake of the death of George Floyd. Both Minneapolis and St. Paul will also be deciding on unprecedented rent control measures. This is an evening update from MPR news, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

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CDC recommends Pfizer's COVID vaccine for children ages 5 through 11

CDC recommends Pfizer's COVID vaccine for children ages 5 through 11

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that all children ages 5 through 11 get a low-dose COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech. The move clears the way for shots to begin as soon as tomorrow, though it may be a few days before the vaccine is widely available.
by Joe Neel and Carmel Wroth

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Hometowns

Hometowns

Were you shaped by your hometown? Big or small, where we start matters to where we end up. Host Angela Davis talks with two novelists about what it means to be from somewhere and about Ken Burns’ new campaign for a national day to honor hometowns.
by Angela Davis and Maja Beckstrom

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Harry Colbert of North News on elections in Minneapolis

Harry Colbert of North News on elections in Minneapolis

Host Cathy Wurzer checked in with Harry Colbert, editor-in-chief of North News, about interest in the election. The local paper covers north Minneapolis, which is one of the most racially diverse and lowest-income parts of the city.
by Cathy Wurzer and Melissa Townsend

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Coldest night so far Tuesday, 60 again this weekend?

Coldest night so far Tuesday, 60 again this weekend?

Lows could dip into the teens in parts of northern Minnesota Wednesday morning. Highs in the 60s return this weekend.
by Paul Huttner

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Song of the Day: 'On the Dark Side' by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band

It’s time to sing in your car! Tuesday’s Song of the Day on Minnesota Now came courtesy of Marie Rock, the morning show host at KOJB The Eagle, which broadcasts from the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.
by Cathy Wurzer and Kelly Gordon

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How Gary Shteyngart's pandemic pod inspired a novel about friendship

How Gary Shteyngart's pandemic pod inspired a novel about friendship

Our Country Friends is about the trysts and betrayals that occur within a group of friends during the pandemic. It's an exaggerated version of Shteyngart's own COVID-19 experience.
by Dave Davies

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Meet Judge Beth Robinson, the first out lesbian to serve on any federal circuit court

Meet Judge Beth Robinson, the first out lesbian to serve on any federal circuit court

Beth Robinson laid the legal groundwork for marriage equality before becoming an associate justice on the Vermont Supreme Court. Her confirmation is being hailed as a milestone for LGBTQ representation.
by Rachel Treisman

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The latest on COVID-19 reinfection rates in Minnesota

The latest on COVID-19 reinfection rates in Minnesota

The Minnesota Department of Health on Monday released new data showing more than 8,000 COVID re-infections. Host Cathy Wurzer asked a Mayo Clinic infectious disease specialist about it.
by Cathy Wurzer and Kelly Gordon

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Judge releases names of jurors in Derek Chauvin's trial

Judge releases names of jurors in Derek Chauvin's trial

The judge who presided over the trial of Derek Chauvin has made public the names of jurors who convicted the former Minneapolis police officer of murder in the death of George Floyd. Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill also Monday released the names of alternates who watched the trial but did not deliberate, as well as questionnaires they filled out during jury selection.
by The Associated Press

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Few Minn. counties require COVID vaccines for jail workers

Few Minn. counties require COVID vaccines for jail workers

Unlike the state Department of Corrections, which requires prison staff to be vaccinated or tested regularly, most counties are taking a more restrained approach for employees of their jails.
by Kirsti Marohn

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More same-sex couples eligible for Social Security survivors benefits

More same-sex couples eligible for Social Security survivors benefits

The Justice Department and Social Security Administration have dropped their appeals of a ruling that overturned a requirement that couples must be wed for nine months before qualifying.
by Brian Naylor

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'All in the Family' is 50 years old. A new book looks at how it changed TV

'All in the Family' is 50 years old. A new book looks at how it changed TV

All in the Family creator Norman Lear, along with writer Jim Colucci, talked with NPR about Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton and their roles on the groundbreaking TV show.
by James Doubek, Rachel Martin, Barry Gordemer and Scott Saloway

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3 reasons labor strikes are surging right now — and why they could continue to grow

3 reasons labor strikes are surging right now — and why they could continue to grow

After more than a year of working and living through a pandemic, thousands of workers across the U.S. are striking for better wages, working conditions and benefits.
by Alejandra Marquez Janse, Ailsa Chang, Courtney Dorning and Matt Ozug

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Media makes fresh plea for access to ex-cop Potter's trial

News organizations made a fresh plea Monday to the judge overseeing the case of a former suburban Minneapolis police officer charged in the death of Daunte Wright, asking her to allow live video coverage of the trial because of the continuing threat of COVID-19 and the strong public interest. This is an MPR News morning update for Tuesday, November 2, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

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How loss of historical lands makes Native Americans more vulnerable to climate change

How loss of historical lands makes Native Americans more vulnerable to climate change

Indigenous nations across the U.S. lost nearly 99 percent of their historical land base over time, new research shows. What little land they have left is especially vulnerable to climate change risks.
by Rachel Treisman

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Frosty Tuesday morning; warmer later this week

Frosty Tuesday morning; warmer later this week

Lower-than-normal temperatures will continue through Wednesday before a pleasant warmup kicks in.
by Bill Endersen

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New U of M research center to focus on how the brain works

New U of M research center to focus on how the brain works

The Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain allows health care providers, neuroscientists and educators to try to answer enduring questions of how brains are shaped by their environments.  
by Tim Nelson

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Inflation climbs and Minnesota consumers notice

Inflation climbs and Minnesota consumers notice

Prices are going up for food and gasoline. And now with dropping temperatures, it looks like it'll be more expensive to heat our homes. The situation isn’t as bad as back in the 1970s, but for many people it’s the first time they’ve seen such rapidly rising prices. 
by Mark Zdechlik

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Biden proposes new rules to cut climate-warming methane emissions

Biden proposes new rules to cut climate-warming methane emissions

In a major expansion, the new rules would apply not just to new operations but to older ones as well. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and considered key to slowing global warming quickly.
by Jeff Brady

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