Stories from February 28, 2022

Facebook, YouTube and Twitter remove disinformation targeting Ukraine
Facebook parent company Meta says it has uncovered Russian efforts to undermine trust in the Ukrainian government and to hack Ukrainian military officials and journalists using social media.
Minnesota's booming economy looks even better yet in new projection, with a surplus now approaching $10 billion. Gov. Tim Walz wants to up rebate checks to $500 per adult. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.
Target seeks to entice workers with pay of up to $24 an hour
The Minneapolis-based discount retailer said Monday that it will adopt minimum wages that range from $15 to $24 an hour, with the highest pay going to hires in the most competitive markets.
What we can learn from basic income pilot programs
Both Minneapolis and St. Paul are among the many cities around the nation that have launched guaranteed income pilot programs. The programs guarantee monthly payments to low-income families. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two experts about what they’re learning through these pilot programs.
Ukraine wants to join the EU. Here's how that would work
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has applied for Ukraine to join the European Union, after appealing to its leaders for immediate entry. Gaining membership is a complex process.
Spam gets some podcast love
Three recent episodes of the WNYC podcast "The Experiment" are dedicated to Spam. Cathy Wurzer talks with the podcast producer Gaby Berbey about the global reach of this Minnesota-made favorite and what sparked her interest enough to produce three episodes about it.
Live from Kyiv: Cathy Wurzer speaks with Minnesota native living in Ukrainian capitol
Joe Whitcomb, a native of Princeton, Minn., lives in Kyiv, Ukraine and connected with MPR News host Cathy Wurzer via cellphone Monday to share his experience in the Ukrainian capitol over the last week.
Dr. LaPrincess Brewer on improving heart health in Minnesota's African American community
Cathy Wurzer talks with Dr. LaPrincess Brewer. She is a preventive cardiologist at Mayo Clinic. Her research focuses on solutions for African American Minnesotans who are struggling with cardiovascular disease.
Feeding Our Future closes its doors as FBI investigates alleged fraud
Cathy Wurzer talks with Sahan Journal reporter Joey Peters about the investigation into Minneapolis-based Feeding our Future. They focus on the people involved in the investigation who were — until recently — part of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s administration.
What you need to know ahead of Biden's first State of the Union address
Top issues to expect in President Biden's address are his response to concerns about rising inflation and fatigue about the pandemic as well as steps taken to threaten Russia's financial stability.
Why Minneapolis and St. Paul educational assistants are ready to strike
Both Minneapolis and St. Paul teachers unions have identified raising educational support professional pay as a major demand as they prepare to strike. Classroom aides in both cities say they’re working harder than ever, but still struggle to pay their bills. “My job description is, ‘We can ask you to do anything we want,’” says one of her grueling work day.
Minneapolis educators begin their strike. What you need to know
Educators in Minneapolis began their strike on Tuesday. Citing the last two stressful years, teachers and education support professionals in both Minneapolis and St. Paul were seeking better pay and expanded staffing, more mental health support and smaller class sizes.
Mostly mild week; clippers set to sweep central, northern Minnesota
A mild Monday is on the way with highs in the low 40s in the Twin Cities and even 50s for portions of southwestern Minnesota. Northeastern Minnesota will be in the 20s as light snow showers move through. A Friday night snowstorm is possible but it’s still too soon to forecast.
Photos: Ukrainian Minnesotans march through Minneapolis in support of Ukraine
The crowd sang, chanted, and carried Ukrainian flags — and signs reading "Stop Putin, Stop War" and "No War in Ukraine" — as they marched across both the Stone Arch Bridge and Hennepin Avenue Bridge.
500,000+ refugees flee Ukraine since Russia waged war
The mass exodus of refugees from Ukraine to the eastern edge of the European Union has showed no signs of stopping as they flee Russia’s burgeoning war.
Mysteries other mystery writers love
If you’re a fan of mystery novels, you don’t want to miss these titles.
A mild week overall with a few precipitation chances
You’ll already notice the milder start to our mornings this week compared to last. Monday morning temperatures are mainly in the teens north and even low 20s south. Highs Monday will be in the low 40s in southern Minnesota to mid-20s in the far north. Northeastern Minnesota will also see light snow Monday.
Minnesota lawmakers have grand ideas for what has been a huge budget surplus. They’ll learn Monday if that pot of available money is growing or shrinking. This is an MPR News morning update for Monday, February 28, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
After scathing report, NCAA makes changes for March Madness
A year after the NCAA got called out for gender inequities between its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, the organization has made changes over the past six months to make the events more equitable. Many of the changes so far have been relatively easy to do. 
Authorities say a 20-year-old woman who was house-sitting in southern Minnesota Saturday night died when the home exploded a few miles northeast of Le Center, in Lexington Township.
Europe welcomes Ukrainian refugees but others, less so
The hospitality greeting Ukrainians fleeing the violence in their native country has highlighted the stark differences in treatment given to migrants and refugees from the Middle East and Africa.
1st trial of a U.S. Capitol riot defendant opens Monday in D.C.
The trial, at a courthouse just down the street from the site of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, is a milestone in the Capitol riot investigation.
Minnesota budget surplus tops $9.25 billion
A new forecast shows Minnesota’s budget surplus has grown to $9.25 billion, up from the earlier forecast of more than $7.7 billion.
1st round of cease-fire talks end without a breakthrough
Cease-fire negotiations between Ukraine and Russia have been completed with no breakthroughs to end the fighting in Ukraine but with both sides agreeing to continue further talks.