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Stories from December 6, 2021

Walz names long-term care sites to get Guard staffing help

Walz names long-term care sites to get Guard staffing help

The governor also announced plans to recruit and train at least 1,000 certified nursing assistants to deploy to long-term care facilities by the end of January. 
by The Associated Press

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St. Paul and Minneapolis police chiefs not seeking reappointment

Both St. Paul and Minneapolis will be getting new police chiefs next year. Minneapolis chief Medaria Arradondo joined St. Paul chief Todd Axtell in not seeking reappointment. This is an MPR News evening update for Dec 6, 2021. Hosted by Nathan Stevens. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

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Examining Minneapolis police chief Arradondo's retirement, legacy

Examining Minneapolis police chief Arradondo's retirement, legacy

After 32 years in the Minneapolis Police Department and four years as chief of police, Medaria Arradondo will retire in January. MPR News reporter Matt Sepic and editor Brandt Williams joined host Cathy Wurzer to discuss the context of the announcement and Arradondo’s legacy.
by Cathy Wurzer

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NASA names 2021 astronaut candidates as it plans for moon missions

NASA names 2021 astronaut candidates as it plans for moon missions

The group of would-be astronauts includes four women and reflects a broad stretch of America, from Alaska to Puerto Rico. Anil Menon, born and raised in Minneapolis, is among the class of candidates.
by Bill Chappell

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Trump's social media deal is being investigated by regulators

Trump's social media deal is being investigated by regulators

Regulators including the SEC are investigating a planned merger between a shell company and former President Donald Trump's social media startup.
by David Gura

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Dr. Jay-Sheree Allen on finding balance in the pandemic

Dr. Jay-Sheree Allen on finding balance in the pandemic

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, many of us are struggling under heavy stress from concerns about health and life changes. Dr. Jay-Sheree Allen from the “Millennial Health” podcast joined host Cathy Wurzer for a conversation about finding balance and making big life decisions, especially as a young adult.
by Cathy Wurzer and Kelly Gordon

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Osterholm: Omicron and another COVID-19 pandemic winter

Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, joined Minnesota Now host Cathy Wurzer to discuss the omicron variant and another COVID winter.
by Cathy Wurzer

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Ferocious storm delivers up north; a more wintry week ahead

Ferocious storm delivers up north; a more wintry week ahead

Forecast models diverge on snowfall chances this week. Most models agree on a likely light snowy dusting. The snowfall zone favors the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota.
by Paul Huttner

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The first Minnesotan with a reported case of the omicron variant

It’s been a surprising couple of weeks for Peter McGinn of Minneapolis. McGinn became the first Minnesotan to contract the new omicron strain of COVID-19 after he was at a convention in New York City.
by Cathy Wurzer

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Song of the Day: 'First Time Around' by New Salty Dog

Monday’s Song of the Day comes from Will Moore, the music director at WTIP in Grand Marais, Minn., — so you know it features some great Northland sounds.
by Cathy Wurzer and Kelly Gordon

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Osterholm on what we know about omicron — and another pandemic winter

Osterholm on what we know about omicron — and another pandemic winter

There’s still a lot we don’t know about the omicron variant of the coronavirus. Will it make people less sick than delta? Could it evade vaccines? Infectious disease expert Michael Osterholm briefed host Cathy Wurzer.
by Cathy Wurzer and Melissa Townsend

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Kennedy Center honors creative excellence in the arts at annual gala

Kennedy Center honors creative excellence in the arts at annual gala

Motown founder Berry Gordy, opera star Justino Díaz, singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, entertainer Bette Midler and television impresario Lorne Michaels were among those celebrated this weekend.
by Elizabeth Blair

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101-year-old returns to Pearl Harbor to remember those lost

101-year-old returns to Pearl Harbor to remember those lost

Pearl Harbor survivors and World War II veterans are gathering in Hawaii this week to remember those killed in the Dec. 7, 1941, attack. Those attending will observe a moment of silence at 7:55 a.m., the minute the bombing began. The ceremony marks the 80th anniversary of the attack that launched the U.S. into World War II.
by The Associated Press

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New women's soccer team raises $1 million in investment from Minnesotans

New women's soccer team raises $1 million in investment from Minnesotans

A bunch of ordinary people in Minnesota and beyond just invested $1 million in a new local women’s soccer team. Andrea Yoch, president of Minnesota Women’s Soccer, spoke with host Cathy Wurzer about the community ownership drive and the future of the club.
by Cathy Wurzer, Kelly Gordon and Alex Cheng

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Arradondo won't seek a new term as Minneapolis police chief

Arradondo won't seek a new term as Minneapolis police chief

Medaria Arradondo said Monday he’ll retire from the department next month. Mayor Jacob Frey said he expected to announce an interim chief in the coming days along with plans for a national search to find a permanent leader.
by Matt Sepic and Nina Moini

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Cold and windy, then another snow chance Tuesday

Cold and windy, then another snow chance Tuesday

Minnesota is still feeling impacts from a strong weekend snow storm, as high winds and much colder air continue to cause problems.
by Nicole Mitchell

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Pope returning home after trip focused on helping migrants

Pope returning home after trip focused on helping migrants

Pope Francis ended his visit to Greece on Monday by encouraging its young people to follow their dreams and not be tempted by the consumerist “sirens” of today that promise easy pleasures.
by The Associated Press

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Myanmar's Suu Kyi gets 4 years in trial seen as political

Myanmar's Suu Kyi gets 4 years in trial seen as political

Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi was convicted of incitement and another charge and sentenced to four years in prison. The civilian leader was ousted in a de facto coup this year. Her trial has been widely criticized as yet a further attempt by the country’s military rulers to roll back the democratic gains of recent years.
by The Associated Press

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Hundreds of crashes, spinouts reported on snowy highways in Minnesota

The State Patrol reported that from 5 p.m. Saturday through 11 a.m. Sunday, there were 261 crashes on Minnesota highways along with 115 vehicle spinouts and four jackknifed semis. This is an MPR News morning update for Monday, December 6, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

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Criminal hackers are now going after phone lines, too

Criminal hackers are now going after phone lines, too

One way or another, most phone calls these days involve the internet. Cybersecurity experts say that makes us vulnerable in ways we might not realize.
by Jenna McLaughlin

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China attacks potential U.S. diplomatic boycott of Olympics

China attacks potential U.S. diplomatic boycott of Olympics

China on Monday threatened to take “firm countermeasures” if the U.S. proceeds with a diplomatic boycott of February’s Beijing Winter Olympic Games.
by The Associated Press

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Carbon trading gets a green light from the U.N., and Brazil hopes to earn billions

Carbon trading gets a green light from the U.N., and Brazil hopes to earn billions

Carbon offsets got a big boost from November's U.N. climate summit. New rules could make it easier for companies to pay for carbon-cutting projects in other countries, rather than doing it themselves.
by Dan Charles

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Pro-Trump counties now have far higher COVID death rates. Misinformation is to blame

Pro-Trump counties now have far higher COVID death rates. Misinformation is to blame

An analysis by NPR shows that since the vaccine rollout, counties that voted heavily for Donald Trump have had more than twice the COVID mortality rates of those that voted for Joe Biden.
by Daniel Wood and Geoff Brumfiel

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In Rochester rental crunch, Afghan refugees struggle to find housing

In Rochester rental crunch, Afghan refugees struggle to find housing

Rochester is expected to welcome 20 refugee families from Afghanistan by early next year — and some have already arrived in the region. But distant landlords and a chronic shortage of affordable housing in the city have made it hard for refugee families to find a place to live. 
by Catharine Richert

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MN House starts work on redistricting that courts will likely finish

MN House starts work on redistricting that courts will likely finish

The job of redrawing the districts of the Minnesota Legislature is already underway. Both Democrats and Republicans in the Minnesota House have come up with plans, but as you might expect, the parties disagree on what the new districts should look like.
by Tim Pugmire

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Winter storm update; strong winds and arctic cold arrive overnight, linger Monday

Winter storm update; strong winds and arctic cold arrive overnight, linger Monday

A winter storm will continue to dump heavy snow in parts of northeastern Minnesota Sunday night. We’ll have strong winds along with plunging temps Sunday night, followed by a very cold Monday. We have the forecast details, including a look at the week ahead.
by Ron Trenda

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