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Stories from January 4, 2022

CDC posts rationale for shorter isolation, quarantine

CDC posts rationale for shorter isolation, quarantine

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday explained the scientific rationale for shortening its COVID-19 isolation and quarantine recommendations, and clarified that the guidance applies to kids as well as adults.
by The Associated Press

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Whiteout: Winter storm whips up snow and high winds through Wednesday

Whiteout: Winter storm whips up snow and high winds through Wednesday

A significant winter storm delivers difficult travel through Wednesday. Whiteout conditions are possible across western and southern Minnesota. Another shot of subzero temperatures is also on the way.
by Paul Huttner

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A live comedy show about basketball dreams developed during the pandemic

A live comedy show about basketball dreams developed during the pandemic

Minnesota-based comedian Jon Savitt aspired to be a star basketball player when he was a kid, but instead — he ended up writing a comedy show about his story. He joined host Cathy Wurzer to talk about “King of the Court” and what it was like to develop a comedy show during the COVID-19 pandemic.
by Cathy Wurzer and Alex Cheng

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Minnesota reports big jump in COVID, leaving little doubt that Omicron has arrived

Minnesota reports big jump in COVID, leaving little doubt that Omicron has arrived. The state responds with more testing and a plea for vaccinations, social distancing and masks. Also, another winter blast is on the way. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

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An 86-year-old organist who fled the Nazis writes his story for the first time

An 86-year-old organist who fled the Nazis writes his story for the first time

Gerrit Lamain is an 86-year-old Dutch immigrant in Rosemount, Minn., who is sharing his stories — some of them for the first time — in a collection of essays about his life called “Gerrit’s Notes.” Lamain and his daughter, Carla Laetham, joined host Cathy Wurzer to talk about the project.
by Cathy Wurzer and Melissa Townsend

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An artist shares the stories of trans and queer immigrants in Minnesota

An artist shares the stories of trans and queer immigrants in Minnesota

“The Letter Formally Known As Q” is a collection of multimedia stories from trans and queer immigrants in Minnesota. Nancy Musinguzi, the Minneapolis artist behind the project, told host Cathy Wurzer about the work and played her a few stories.
by Cathy Wurzer and Kelly Gordon

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A closer look at a disastrous holiday season for air travel

Over the holidays, thousands of flights were canceled or delayed at airports across the U.S. due to staffing shortages, as COVID-19 infections race through flight crews. Host Cathy Wurzer took a closer look at the state of the travel industry with Kyle Potter, executive editor of Thrifty Traveler.
by Cathy Wurzer

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Panel of judges hears arguments on Minnesota's new political maps

Panel of judges hears arguments on Minnesota's new political maps

A panel of five judges heard arguments Tuesday about how to draw new political district boundaries in Minnesota. The once-a-decade process is likely once again to be completed by the judicial branch, as it has for decades.
by Tim Pugmire

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How staffing shortages grounded thousands of flights over the holidays

How staffing shortages grounded thousands of flights over the holidays

Over the holidays, thousands of flights were canceled or delayed at airports across the U.S. due to staffing shortages, as COVID-19 infections race through flight crews. Host Cathy Wurzer took a closer look at the state of the travel industry with Kyle Potter, executive editor of Thrifty Traveler.
by Cathy Wurzer, Lindsay Guentzel, Kelly Gordon and Alex Cheng

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How do we cope with a pandemic two years in?

How do we cope with a pandemic two years in?

Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic and a new variant — omicron this time — is upending our lives once again. Angela Davis talks with an infectious disease expert, a child psychologist and a psychologist who studies the way uncertainty affects our minds.
by Angela Davis and Samantha Matsumoto

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Why are so many vaccinated people getting COVID-19 lately?

Why are so many vaccinated people getting COVID-19 lately?

A couple of factors are at play, starting with the emergence of the highly contagious omicron variant. Omicron is more likely to infect people, even if it doesn’t make them very sick.
by The Associated Press

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Rep. Hagedorn tests positive for COVID-19

Rep. Hagedorn tests positive for COVID-19

First District U.S. Rep Jim Hagedorn said he is vaccinated and is experiencing mild symptoms but is in the care of Mayo Clinic because he has kidney cancer. 
by MPR News Staff

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The CDC now recommends Pfizer boosters after 5 months, down from 6

The CDC now recommends Pfizer boosters after 5 months, down from 6

The move to shorten the Pfizer booster interval comes as the U.S. shatters daily case records. The recommended interval for those who received Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines has not changed.
by Becky Sullivan

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Latest on COVID-19 in MN: New cases spike as omicron surges

Latest on COVID-19 in MN: New cases spike as omicron surges

Minnesota’s post-holidays COVID-19 surge showed up in a big way in Tuesday’s data. It’s here, it’s real and it’s clubbing the Twin Cities metro area. At least two school districts in the metro area have announced that they’re shifting to distance learning due to the case surge.
by MPR News Staff

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Boat-cleaning stations aim to contain aquatic invader

Boat-cleaning stations aim to contain aquatic invader

The self-serve stations are being installed at a handful of public accesses on northern Minnesota lakes infested with starry stonewort, a fast-spreading invasive algae.
by Kirsti Marohn

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'Fiona and Jane' is a life-sized story of true friendship

'Fiona and Jane' is a life-sized story of true friendship

Jean Chen Ho's debut work of fiction focuses on a long-standing friendship that rings, sometimes terribly, true, as the girls-turned-women face the trials and tribulations of life.
by Ilana Masad

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Wolves rout Clippers 122-104 to snap 3-game skid

Wolves rout Clippers 122-104 to snap 3-game skid

Anthony Edwards scored 28 points to lead six players in double figures and the Minnesota Timberwolves routed the Los Angeles Clippers 122-104 on Monday night to end a three-game skid.
by The Associated Press

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Tuesday snowstorm brings another arctic blast

Tuesday snowstorm brings another arctic blast

A winter storm poised to track directly over Minnesota Tuesday will bring areas of heavy snow, high winds and much colder temperatures behind it.
by Nicole Mitchell

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Latest on COVID-19 in MN: New, active case counts climbing again

As cases have ramped up in Minnesota and across the country, and omicron seems to be spreading much faster than previous variants, it has put a strain on the state's testing sites. This is an MPR News morning update for Tuesday, January 4, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

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Jan. 6 attack posed loyalty test for Indiana Rep. Greg Pence

Jan. 6 attack posed loyalty test for Indiana Rep. Greg Pence

Indiana Representative Greg Pence watched the Jan. 6 insurrection unfold from an extraordinary perch. He was with his brother, Vice President Mike Pence, who was set to preside over a joint session of Congress where the outcome of the 2020 presidential election would be certified. 
by The Associated Press

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Lakota woman taps Indigenous healing remedies to launch Mankato business

Lakota woman taps Indigenous healing remedies to launch Mankato business

Megan Schnitker opened her retail store, Lakota Made, in July and is already outgrowing the space. The Indigenous herbalist says her homemade salves, tonics and teas are a way of preserving her Lakota culture and building a legacy to pass on to her children.
by Hannah Yang

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First Cambodian American mayor in U.S. takes office

First Cambodian American mayor in U.S. takes office

Sokhary Chau said his mother managed to keep her seven children alive for four years, surviving Cambodia's civil war to deliver them safely to the U.S.
by The Associated Press

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