Stories from February 9, 2022

Frey, experts promise warrant changes in 'weeks, not months'
Minneapolis’ civil rights officials say they will lead an examination of the Police Department’s no-knock warrant policy.
Winter storm watch up north
Plowable snow and slick roads for parts of Minnesota Thursday.
Minneapolis mayor offers details on changes in wake of Locke shooting, defends police chief, even as shooting wounds school bus driver. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister
Pandemic bonuses, unemployment fix collide at MN Capitol
The DFL-led House is moving quickly on a $1 billion plan to financially reward front-line workers during the pandemic. The GOP-led Senate wants to first deal with a massive hole in the unemployment fund and deal with the pandemic checks later.
Rochester students left public schools during pandemic, budget hole remains
The district is facing a projected $23 million budget deficit. In part, the financial losses are driven by the loss of students during the pandemic — a phenomenon that's playing out around the state.
Frey talks no-knock warrants, public trust, Amir Locke with MPR News
“Clearly we need full-on culture shift and reform in our (police) department. We don't need an investigation to tell us that,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey told All Things Considered host Tom Crann. Here’s the interview.
Winter camping revisited with outdoorswoman Miah Ulyssee
Ulyssee talked with interpretive naturalist Kurt Meade about his experience with winter camping.
COVID’s long shadow
Host Angela Davis checks in with an ICU nurse from St. Cloud, Minn., who has been caring for COVID patients since the beginning of the pandemic. And, she talks with a Latina activist who hopes her father’s long battle with COVID-19 raises awareness about the sacrifices made by essential workers. 
Wolf-human close encounter near Voyageurs park raises concerns
A wolf just south of Voyageurs National Park recently walked within 5 feet of a group of snowmobiles showing no signs of fear — behavior that’s “extremely abnormal,” researchers said Wednesday.
School bus driver wounded in Minneapolis; 3 kids aboard, none hurt
Minneapolis authorities say a school bus driver was shot in the head Wednesday afternoon while on the bus but that the driver’s wound appeared to be non-life-threatening. Three children apparently younger than 10 were on board but unhurt, according to a city statement.
Potent clipper brings plowable snow Thursday up north
Thursday brings snow to northern Minnesota with a mix of light rain and snow showers for southern Minnesota.
How the Method transformed film — and made acting more human
Method acting is more than mining personal experiences to play a character — or physically transforming for a role. Author Isaac Butler traces the history of the technique in “The Method.”
Explainer: How to get up to $3,600 per child in tax credit
Millions of Americans who've never filed a tax return will need to do so this year to claim what's coming to them under the enhanced child tax credit. Previously, only people who earned enough money to owe income taxes could qualify for the full credit
Latest on COVID in MN: Pandemic path brightens as cases, hospital needs fall
Key metrics tracking the spread of COVID-19 in Minnesota continue to show the current surge in retreat, with cases, positive test rates and hospital bed use all falling steadily. Duluth’s mayor says she’ll let her city’s masking order expire on Saturday.
'Don't Say Gay' bill would limit discussion of sexuality and gender in Florida schools
Supporters say the measure empowers parents to have a say in what their children learn. Critics argue it will harm LGBTQ kids. President Joe Biden slammed the bill, which has Gov. Ron DeSantis' support.
Throwback Thursday with Mike Mulcahy
Senior editor Mike Mulcahy has been at MPR News on and off — mostly on — since 1985. Mike joins MPR News host Angela Davis for a look back at his storied career.
Mild, windy Wednesday; some snow Thursday
Temperatures will cool slowly Wednesday and winds will make it feel cooler. Expect temperatures in the 30s with wind chills in the 20s in Southern Minnesota. Northern Minnesota will see temps drop into the teens and 20s with single-digit wind chills.
Workers clean Apollo 16 spaceship ahead of 50th anniversary
The Apollo 16 spacecraft is dusty and home to a few cobwebs decades after it carried three astronauts to the moon. But workers at a space museum are getting the capsule ready for events marking the 50th anniversary of its flight in 1972.
A movement called “Buffalo Strong,” formed after the tragic attack at a health care clinic, is focused on strengthening mental health resources in the community. This is an MPR News morning update for Wednesday, February 9, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
Cooler but still mild Wednesday, snow/rain Thursday
Temperatures in the 30s are a bit above normal for high temperatures even on Feb. 9. We won’t see a lot of movement Wednesday as a strong northwest wind keeps temperatures in check. We’ll still be in the low 30s from the Twin Cities south and 20s north.
What a bottle of ivermectin reveals about the shadowy world of COVID telemedicine
An anti-vaccine group known for spreading medical disinformation is writing prescriptions for unproven COVID-19 treatments, with the help of a doctor whose medical license was revoked in Alabama.
Toxicologist testifies that drugs did not kill George Floyd
A toxicologist has testified that it wasn't drug use, heart disease, nor an agitated state known as “excited delirium” that caused George Floyd’s death after he was pinned to the pavement by Minneapolis police. 
Jets beat Wild 2-0; Connor Hellebuyck posts third shutout
Connor Hellebuyck made 27 saves and Mark Scheifele scored a power-play goal as the Winnipeg Jets defeated Minnesota 2-0 on Tuesday night, halting the Wild's six-game winning streak.
A year after deadly shooting, Buffalo strives for resilience
A movement called “Buffalo Strong,” formed after the tragic attack at a health care clinic, is focused on strengthening mental health resources in the community.
Abraham Galloway is the Black figure from the Civil War you should know about
Galloway escaped enslavement, became a Union spy and helped recruit thousands of Black soldiers to fight with the North, but his name has been largely left out of the Civil War narrative.
Rep. Esther Agbaje, DFL-Minneapolis, joined host Cathy Wurzer to talk about the legislation and how the events of the past week have affected her.
If you tested positive and the contact tracer never called, here's why
Swamped by thousands of calls a day, contact tracing programs have been forced to adapt. Even though they can't call everyone, experts say it's too early to give up on this pillar of disease control.
Journalists settle suit over mistreatment covering protests
The state has agreed to pay $825,000 and change several policies to settle a lawsuit brought by journalists who say they were hurt or harassed while covering protests over the police killings of George Floyd and Daunte Wright.