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Stories from February 17, 2022

Mourners repeat calls for a ban on no-knock raids at Amir Locke’s funeral

Amir Locke's parents and other family members joined elected officials and civil rights leaders today to mourn the 22-year-old Black man killed in a no-knock police raid earlier this month. This is an MPR News Evening update for February 17, 2022. Hosted by Natasha Senjanovic. Our theme music is by Gary Meister. 

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MPR News' Catharine Richert on strain in rural hospitals under COVID-19

On the tail end of yet another COVID surge, hospitals everywhere are juggling labor shortages built upon a health care system that didn’t staff beyond its immediate needs to begin with. Hear the next story in a series by MPR News correspondents Catharine Richert and Brian Bakst. Theme music by Gary Meister.
by Cathy Wurzer and Catharine Richert

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Move or move on? New districts put some incumbents in tough spot

Move or move on? New districts put some incumbents in tough spot

Dozens of pairings of Minnesota legislative incumbents are creating awkward situations at the Capitol, forcing some to face off with colleagues, to relocate or to retire. And those in that predicament have to decide soon. Sen. Julie Rosen, one of the Republican caucus’ most-senior members, said Thursday she would retire after being paired with a fellow Republican.
by Brian Bakst

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A look inside a rural hospital's labor shortage

A look inside a rural hospital's labor shortage

Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin, Minn., is feeling the strain of the pandemic.
by Cathy Wurzer

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House panel advances bill to limit no-knock warrants

House panel advances bill to limit no-knock warrants

On the same day as Amir Locke’s funeral, a Minnesota House committee narrowly approved legislation to sharply limit police use of no-knock warrants.
by Tim Pugmire

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CDC: NYC anime convention did not spread omicron widely

CDC: NYC anime convention did not spread omicron widely

When a Minnesotan tested positive for omicron after attending an anime convention in New York City late last year, health officials raced to determine if the indoor gathering was a superspreader event. It wasn't, the CDC concluded Thursday.
by The Associated Press

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Minneapolis and St. Paul teachers unions hold strike vote

Close to 8,000 teachers and school staff in the Minneapolis and St. Paul teacher unions have been casting their votes this week on whether or not to authorize a strike. Voting ends Thursday night. MPR News reporter Elizabeth Shockman talks with Cathy Wurzer about what’s at stake.
by Cathy Wurzer

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Behind the scenes with producer Samantha Matsumoto

Behind the scenes with producer Samantha Matsumoto

Host Angela Davis talks with associate producer Samantha Matsumoto about the making of MPR News with Angela Davis. And, new Cube Critics co-host Aron Woldeslassie makes a special appearance.
by Angela Davis and Samantha Matsumoto

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Delayed care during pandemic takes huge emotional toll

Delayed care during pandemic takes huge emotional toll

Throughout the pandemic, hospitals pulled back on elective procedures periodically because of a rush of COVID-19 patients and staff shortages. Those postponed treatments will take months to reschedule after the latest COVID wave subsides, leaving patients to cope with the emotional and physical toll of delaying their care.
by Brian Bakst and Catharine Richert

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Weekend weather: 20s, 30s Saturday; 40s Sunday in southern Minnesota

Weekend weather: 20s, 30s Saturday; 40s Sunday in southern Minnesota

We’ll have fairly quiet weekend weather, with our warmest temps on Sunday. Northern Minnesota could see a few hours of snow. We have your weekend forecast details.
by Ron Trenda

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Voting closes Thursday for teacher strikes in Minneapolis, St. Paul

Voting closes Thursday for teacher strikes in Minneapolis, St. Paul

Nearly 8,000 teachers and staff in the Minneapolis and St. Paul school districts may soon call a strike. Educational unions have been voting this week on whether or not to authorize walking off the job. Voting ends Thursday night. 
by Elizabeth Shockman

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Cold Thursday, big warmup Sunday; snow potential early next week

Cold Thursday, big warmup Sunday; snow potential early next week

After a subzero start for most of the state Thursday, high temperatures will sit in the single digits. Expect snow showers Friday. Temps soar on Sunday, but significant snow may be on the horizon Monday and Tuesday.
by Sven Sundgaard

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Biden: Infrastructure plan gives $1B for Great Lakes cleanup

Biden: Infrastructure plan gives $1B for Great Lakes cleanup

President Joe Biden's administration says the bipartisan infrastructure law will pump $1 billion into a Great Lakes restoration program. Biden travels to Lorain, Ohio, on Thursday to highlight the measure's benefits for the lakes.
by The Associated Press

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Floyd killing: Ex-cop 'trusted' Chauvin's advice, decision on scene

Two of the three men accused of violating the civil rights of George Floyd have testified about their roles in the fatal confrontation on May 25, 2020. Former officers Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng both took the stand Wednesday in federal court in St. Paul. This is an MPR News morning update for Thursday, February 17, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

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Chilly Thursday; snow showers Friday

Chilly Thursday; snow showers Friday

Much of Minnesota is below zero with wind chills in the 20s and 30s below zero in the north and teens below zero in the south. Temperatures are right around zero in the Twin Cities. We’ll see highs just in the single digits this afternoon.
by Sven Sundgaard

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The surgeon general's young daughter got COVID. This is what he wants you to know

The surgeon general's young daughter got COVID. This is what he wants you to know

This past weekend, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy wasn't a leading scientific voice on the pandemic — he was another worried parent whose young daughter had just tested positive for COVID.
by Mary Louise Kelly

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Art Hounds celebrate Black history in image, story and song

Art Hounds celebrate Black history in image, story and song

St. Joan of Arc church marks 75 years of south Minneapolis life with a Black History Month concert called “Oh Let Us Build This Place.” A. Drew Hammond’s careful collages respond to historical and current events. The Cedar Commissions debuts new works of wide-ranging variety.
by Emily Bright

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Poulin leads Canada women to Olympic gold in 3-2 win over U.S.

Poulin leads Canada women to Olympic gold in 3-2 win over U.S.

Marie-Philip Poulin scored twice and Canada reclaimed its place atop the women’s hockey world with a 3-2 win over the defending champion United States at the Beijing Olympics.
by The Associated Press

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Sharpton: Amir Locke 'not guilty of anything but being young and Black in America'

Sharpton: Amir Locke 'not guilty of anything but being young and Black in America'

Civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton and other speakers at Amir Locke’s service Thursday demanded an end to no-knock warrants as they eulogized the 22-year-old Black man fatally shot by Minneapolis police while they served a search warrant.
by MPR News Staff

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Floyd killing: Ex-cop says he feared angering Chauvin might lead to firing

Floyd killing: Ex-cop says he feared angering Chauvin might lead to firing

Former Minneapolis officer J. Alexander Kueng told jurors at his federal trial Thursday he was still on rookie probation at the scene of George Floyd’s arrest in May 2020 and worried he could be fired if he displeased Derek Chauvin, his senior officer.
by Jon Collins

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Minnesota rural hospital workers feel the strain as colleagues leave, COVID stays

Minnesota rural hospital workers feel the strain as colleagues leave, COVID stays

For nurses and other medical staff across rural Minnesota, it's work upon work as they struggle to manage through the pandemic. One north-central Minnesota hospital captures the challenges of trying to find new people to replace those leaving — an expensive and stressful effort as the pandemic hits year three.
by Catharine Richert

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COVID forces hard school choices for students with Down syndrome and their families

COVID forces hard school choices for students with Down syndrome and their families

The pandemic has forced some of Minnesota’s youngest and oldest learners with Down syndrome to miss out on in-person education and programs vital to their progress. School leaders say it’s an immense challenge to catch up on lost learning.
by Sarah Gelbard

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Analysis: New legislative districts retain slight GOP edge

Analysis: New legislative districts retain slight GOP edge

The 201 new legislative districts created by a panel of five judges this week change a lot, but not a slight advantage for Republicans in what is shaping up to be a fiercely-contested midterm campaign for control of the Minnesota House and Senate.
by David H. Montgomery

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