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Stories from November 17, 2021

Walz says he's reluctant to invoke emergency powers and provoke Senate Republicans

Walz says he's reluctant to invoke emergency powers and provoke Senate Republicans, even as federal defense department personnel are on their way to provide emergency relief for Minnesota hospitals. Also, about 44,000 elementary school aged kids have now been vaccinated. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

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How a right-wing provocateur is using race to reach Gen Z

How a right-wing provocateur is using race to reach Gen Z

Right-wing provocateur Charlie Kirk has built a well-funded and growing organization aimed at reaching the next generation of conservatives. Now he's on a tour of college towns, attacking critical race theory in terms that are confrontational and, some say, dangerous. Yet he is drawing large crowds and legions of online fans, as he also develops a curriculum for parents who homeschool their children.
by The Associated Press

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Jan. 6 rioter who carried spear, wore horns, draws 41 months

Jan. 6 rioter who carried spear, wore horns, draws 41 months

Jacob Chansley, the spear-carrying Jan. 6 rioter whose horned fur hat, bare chest and face paint made him one of the more recognizable figures in the assault on the Capitol, was sentenced Wednesday to 41 months in prison.
by The Associated Press

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House censures Rep. Gosar for violent video in rare rebuke

House censures Rep. Gosar for violent video in rare rebuke

The House voted Wednesday to censure Republican Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona for posting of an animated video that depicted him killing Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez with a sword, an extraordinary rebuke that highlighted the political strains testing Washington and the country.
by The Associated Press

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Judge scrutinizes force law passed after Floyd's killing

Judge scrutinizes force law passed after Floyd's killing

Standards governing the use of deadly force by Minnesota police rest in the hands of a Ramsey County judge.
by Brian Bakst

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How researchers are using modeling to track the COVID surge

On Minnesota Now, host Cathy Wurzer talks about Minnesota’s COVID surge with Curtis Storlie, a health science researcher at Mayo Clinic. He has been one of the statisticians working on Mayo’s COVID task force and helped set an algorithm to gauge the rate of spread.

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Ron Schara on 1,000 episodes of outdoor adventures on 'Minnesota Bound'

Ron Schara on 1,000 episodes of outdoor adventures on 'Minnesota Bound'

The beloved outdoor adventure TV show “Minnesota Bound” has joined the 1,000-episode club. Founder and longtime host Ron Schara talked to host Cathy Wurzer about the show’s incredible run.
by Cathy Wurzer and Kelly Gordon

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Eight Minnesotans in court for taking part in Jan. 6 insurrection

Eight Minnesotans in court for taking part in Jan. 6 insurrection

Eight Minnesotans are among the more than 600 people charged with taking part in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. MPR News reporter Matt Sepic gave host Cathy Wurzer a rundown on who is involved and what’s happening.
by Cathy Wurzer

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Defense Department will help relieve 2 Minnesota hospitals

Defense Department will help relieve 2 Minnesota hospitals

Gov. Tim Walz says the Department of Defense will send medical teams to two major Minnesota hospitals to relieve doctors and nurses who’ve been swamped by a growing wave of COVID-19 patients.
by Peter Cox, Tim Pugmire, Steve Karnowski, Associated Press and Kirsti Marohn

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What's next for Minnesota's COVID surge?

What's next for Minnesota's COVID surge?

Host Cathy Wurzer talked about COVID-19 modeling with Curtis Storlie, a health science researcher at Mayo Clinic.
by Cathy Wurzer and Lindsay Guentzel

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Minnesota Humanities Center water exhibit to hit the road in 2022

The Minnesota Humanities Center “We Are Water Minnesota” traveling exhibit will show up cities like St. Paul, Winona, Fergus Falls and Lake City in 2022 as an interactive display that gives folks the chance to explore what water means in Minnesota — and how we can all do a better job protecting it.
by Cathy Wurzer and Kelly Gordon

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Mental health care for men

Mental health care for men

It’s hard to be a person. That’s the title of a new book by musician Brett Newski. It’s about his struggle with anxiety and the pitfalls of being a man today. Host Angela Davis speaks to Newski and two therapists specializing in men’s mental health.
by Angela Davis and Susan Davis

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N. West Moss' new memoir centers on infertility and legacy

N. West Moss' new memoir centers on infertility and legacy

A memoir about heartache and healing, N. West Moss’ new book, “Flesh & Blood,” opens up a conversation with the millions of women who live with infertility and loss. Moss talked to host Kerri Miller on Friday about the book and her infertility journey.
by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

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Winds of November continue with temperature flip-flops

Winds of November continue with temperature flip-flops

Blustery west winds on Wednesday will turn colder Thursday. Temperatures will then moderate into the weekend before dropping off again by Sunday and especially Monday.
by Bill Endersen

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Racial covenants, a relic of the past, are still on the books across the country

Racial covenants, a relic of the past, are still on the books across the country

Racial covenants made it illegal for Black people to live in white neighborhoods. Now they're illegal, but you might still have one on your home's deed. And they're hard to remove.
by Cheryl W. Thompson, Cristina Kim, Natalie Moore, Roxana Popescu and Corinne Ruff

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COVID-19 in MN: State readies booster push; hospital needs, deaths climb

With case counts at or near their highest levels since December, Minnesota intends to move ahead this week to offer vaccine booster shots to any eligible Minnesotan who wants one, the state’s health commissioner said Tuesday. This is an MPR News morning update for Wednesday, November 17, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

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Windy and cooler Wednesday; warming later in the week

Windy and cooler Wednesday; warming later in the week

Blustery west winds on Wednesday will continue into Thursday before we moderate toward the weekend. Light snow showers are likely in northern Minnesota on Wednesday.
by Bill Endersen

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SD Gov. Noem's daughter says she's quitting real estate business

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem's daughter on Tuesday said she would quit the real estate appraiser business following scrutiny over whether her mother used her influence to aid her application for an appraiser license.
by The Associated Press

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COVID disconnect? As cases climbed, Minnesotans dropped their guard, officials say

COVID disconnect? As cases climbed, Minnesotans dropped their guard, officials say

Minnesota has hit COVID-19 case numbers not seen since last winter and dozens are still dying of the virus every week. And yet health officials say many people are behaving as if the pandemic isn’t a threat.
by Peter Cox

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Museum exhibit documents human toll of freeway construction in Minneapolis

Museum exhibit documents human toll of freeway construction in Minneapolis

A museum exhibit that opened this fall in Minneapolis explores how the cost of building Interstate 35W a half-century ago was much more than just financial. It also cut through the heart of vibrant neighborhoods — displacing residents, and communities of color in particular.
by Sonja Kleven

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More MN state law enforcement will wear body cameras in 2022

More MN state law enforcement will wear body cameras in 2022

Body cameras are a hot-button police reform issue, but many Minnesota state law enforcement officers have not been mandated to wear them — until now. As MPR News reporter Brian Bakst told host Cathy Wurzer, starting in a few weeks, more than a thousand state law enforcement officers will begin suiting up with body cameras.
by Cathy Wurzer

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Fiona McCrae of Graywolf Press looks back on 27 years of a job well done

Fiona McCrae of Graywolf Press looks back on 27 years of a job well done

After 27 years at the helm of the influential Graywolf Press, Fiona McCrae recently announced her retirement. She spoke to host Cathy Wurzer about how she grew the small, independent Twin Cities literary press and what she's looking forward to doing next.
by Cathy Wurzer and Alex Cheng

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Why is drawing with chalk on the sidewalk now illegal in Anoka?

Why is drawing with chalk on the sidewalk now illegal in Anoka?

In Anoka, drawing with chalk on the sidewalk is now against the law, thanks to a sweeping ordinance passed by the Anoka City Council. As councilmember Erik Skogquist explained to host Cathy Wurzer, the policy isn't aimed at kids in the street — it's actually part of a debate about private opinions being expressed on public property.
by Cathy Wurzer and Kelly Gordon

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How a COP26 delegate faces her ecological anxiety

How a COP26 delegate faces her ecological anxiety

Many Minnesotans feel anxiety and grief about the ravages of climate change. Dr. Laalitha Surapaneni, who just returned to Minnesota from the United Nations COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, told host Cathy Wurzer about the reasons she sees for concern — and hope.
by Cathy Wurzer and Kelly Gordon

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College-educated moms slow to return to workforce

College-educated moms slow to return to workforce

According to new research by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, college-educated moms whose jobs were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic have been slow to return to work and — in some cases — are dropping out of the workforce altogether. Misty Heggeness, a co-author of the report, joined host Cathy Wurzer to talk about why.
by Cathy Wurzer and Ariana Rosas

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Over a thousand Minnesota officers to start wearing body cameras in 2022

Over a thousand Minnesota officers to start wearing body cameras in 2022

Body cameras are a hot-button police reform issue, but many Minnesota state law enforcement officers have not been mandated to wear them — until now. As MPR News reporter Brian Bakst told host Cathy Wurzer, starting in a few weeks, more than a thousand state law enforcement officers will begin suiting up with body cameras.
by Cathy Wurzer and Melissa Townsend

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