Stories from November 30, 2021

Minnesota will hear from former cop Kimberly Potter about shooting Daunte Wright as her trial plays out in Minneapolis. Also, president Joe Biden says his infrastructure bill will make for big changes in Minnesota. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.
FDA panel narrowly backs COVID-19 pill from Merck
A panel of U.S. health advisers on Tuesday narrowly backed the benefits of a closely watched COVID-19 pill from Merck, setting the stage for a likely authorization of the first drug that Americans could take at home to treat the virus.
President Joe Biden is in Minnesota Tuesday to promote his $1 trillion infrastructure law. Mitch Landrieu, who Biden tapped to oversee implementation of the law, told host Cathy Wurzer about the investments Minnesota can expect, and MPR’s Brian Bakst stopped by with political analysis of the infrastructure package and Biden’s visit.
The 2021 Atlantic hurricane season ends as the third most active year ever
Hurricane Ida alone caused more than $60 billion in damages, making it one of the five most costly U.S. hurricanes on record since 1980. Forecasters ran out of names for a record second year in a row.
Authorities: Student kills 3, wounds 8 at Michigan school
Authorities say eight people were wounded in an attack at a Michigan high school in which three students were killed. Oakland County Undersheriff Mike McCabe said at a news conference that two of the wounded were undergoing surgery as of 5 p.m.
Voting rights case vexes state Supreme Court
A voting case that impacts more than 50,000 Minnesotans with felony records came before the state Supreme Court and could be decided before the 2022 election.
A Southern Minnesota-based composer, musician and vocalist with Nordic sensibilities is highlighted in Tuesday’s Song of the Day.
Famed author Jodi Picoult novelizes the pandemic in new book 'Wish You Were Here'
Picoult's pandemic-inspired story focusing on a character stranded in the Galápagos Islands highlights how events can change us — and offer perspective.
As many businesses cut hours, why is this North Shore eatery open in winter for the first time?
As businesses around the country struggle to attract and keep employees, one popular restaurant on the North Shore is changing its business model to keep its staff satisfied and working. Barb LaVigne, co-owner of the Angry Trout Cafe in Grand Marais, told host Cathy Wurzer why.
As the Potter trial begins, how to process our reactions to disturbing subject matter
The trial of former Brooklyn Center police officer Kimberly Potter, who fatally shot Daunte Wright in April, has begun. Susan Beaulieu, an expert in mind-body healing, joined host Cathy Wurzer to share tips on how to stay in touch with our responses to disturbing subject matter.
The threat of space debris delays a spacewalk by NASA astronauts
Two NASA astronauts were scheduled for a Tuesday morning spacewalk to fix a faulty antenna on the International Space Station. But the threat of space debris has delayed those plans.
Infrastructure czar talks funding for MN as Biden visits Rosemount
President Joe Biden is in Minnesota today to promote his $1 trillion infrastructure law. Mitch Landrieu, who Biden tapped to oversee implementation of the law, told host Cathy Wurzer about the investments Minnesota can expect, and MPR News reporter Brian Bakst stopped by with political analysis of the infrastructure package and Biden’s visit.
As Potter trial begins, Brooklyn Center mulls funding for public safety overhaul
At a meeting Monday night, the city council discussed one proposal that would pull more than a million dollars from the police budget and use it to fund reform measures. MPR News host Cathy Wurzer talked with Mayor Elliott for an update.
Biden sells infrastructure bill at Minnesota tech college
President Joe Biden used a visit to a Minnesota community college Tuesday to highlight how his $1 trillion infrastructure law will create jobs and help train workers — and to make the case for nearly $2 trillion more in spending.
Brazil and Japan report first cases of the omicron variant
Brazil and Japan joined the rapidly widening circle of countries to report cases of the omicron variant Tuesday, while new findings indicate the mutant coronavirus was already in Europe close to a week before South Africa sounded the alarm.
The incident happened just before midnight Friday, as passengers were getting off a Frontier flight from Orlando, Fla. Airport officials say two groups of travelers got off the plane and a fight broke out.
Fact focus: New omicron variant fuels old misinformation
A new coronavirus variant revived old conspiracy theories this week as widely shared social media posts falsely claimed the omicron variant was nothing but a cover-up for darker agendas.
'From Staircase to Stage': Raekwon on growing up in N.Y. and the Wu-Tang Clan
In his new memoir, From Staircase to Stage, rapper Raekwon recalls watching as that relatively serene New York City neighborhood rapidly declined, succumbing to the wildfires of the crack epidemic.
Former officer Kimberly Potter is charged with manslaughter in the shooting death of Daunte Wright during an April traffic stop. This is an MPR News morning update for Tuesday, November 30, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
A warm front moving through the state overnight Tuesday brings a light wintry mix along with it, then sets the stage for possible record warmth on Wednesday.
A warm front headed toward Minnesota brings a mix of rain, snow and possibly ice, plus another warm day, before temperatures turn seasonably cool by the weekend.
Behind Monday’s cold front, Minnesota will not be as warm Tuesday, but highs still run 5 to 10 degrees above average for the last day of November.
Preliminary data about omicron suggests the variant became widespread across southern Africa in a very short period of time. Scientists say its many mutations may play a role in its transmissibility.
There's a GOP push in Wisconsin to take over the state's election system
Some GOP lawmakers in Wisconsin want to strip the state's bipartisan elections agency of its power and give it to the Republican-controlled Legislature. The idea is backed by GOP Sen. Ron Johnson.
New antiviral drugs are coming for COVID. Here's what you need to know
The Food and Drug Administration is considering new pills that could treat people in early stages of COVID-19 infection. Here's what to know about how they work, how effective they are and the impact they could make on the pandemic.
Kimberly Potter trial: 4 jurors chosen; defense says Potter to testify
Prosecutors, defense attorneys and a Hennepin County judge on Tuesday began the painstaking work to pick a jury in the trial of the former Brooklyn Center police officer charged in the Daunte Wright killing. Potter’s attorney told the court Potter will testify in her defense.
Prosecutors add 6th homicide count in Wisconsin parade crash
Prosecutors added a sixth intentional homicide count Monday against a Wisconsin man accused of driving his SUV through a Christmas parade in suburban Milwaukee.