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Stories from March 7, 2022

Minneapolis teachers begin strike, St. Paul educators and district reach tentative agreement

March 7, 2022 5:59 PM

Minneapolis teachers begin strike, St. Paul educators and district reach tentative agreement

Negotiations between the Minneapolis public school district and its teachers union on a new contract have failed, and a strike is set to begin Tuesday, a leader of the union confirmed. Meanwhile St. Paul educators say they’ve reached a tentative agreement and will not strike.

by Matt Sepic and Tim Nelson

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You can order free COVID tests from the government again

March 7, 2022 5:31 PM

You can order free COVID tests from the government again

More than half of U.S. households have ordered at-home tests for COVID-19 tests to be shipped to their homes. Now they can get more.

by Tamara Keith

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March 7, 2022 5:30 PM

Mpls., St. Paul educators appear poised to walk out

Minneapolis teachers and staff are preparing to announce strike plans Monday evening. The union said in a statement that it will also talk about negotiations with the district over wages and mental health programs for students, among other issues. Meanwhile, the St. Paul district is making plans in case teachers strike Tuesday, or a settlement is reached late. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Nathan Stevens. Music by Gary Meister.

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Why Brittney Griner was in Russia and what it has to do with U.S. women's basketball

March 7, 2022 5:27 PM

Why Brittney Griner was in Russia and what it has to do with U.S. women's basketball

Many WNBA players head overseas to play during the off-season, where they can be paid much more than they earn in the U.S. Griner, who was arrested for allegedly transporting drugs, is one of them.

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

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More winter than spring this week, 50s in sight?

March 7, 2022 5:23 PM

More winter than spring this week, 50s in sight?

Winter wins one more week across Minnesota. But changes in the jet stream are likely to bring milder air starting next week.

by Paul Huttner

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Sticker shock: Gasoline tops $4.17 a gallon, a new record

March 7, 2022 4:29 PM

Sticker shock: Gasoline tops $4.17 a gallon, a new record

U.S. gasoline prices set a new national record on Tuesday as global crude prices have surged following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

by Scott Horsley and Camila Domonoske

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March 7, 2022 4:18 PM

1 dead, 2 wounded in shooting outside Iowa high school

Authorities say one person has been killed and two others were critically wounded in a shooting outside an Iowa school.

by The Associated Press

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Bill would put tribes in charge of legal sports betting

March 7, 2022 3:55 PM

Bill would put tribes in charge of legal sports betting

A bipartisan bill in the Minnesota House would legalize sports betting and have the state’s Native American tribes manage it.

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Minneapolis and St. Paul school districts prepare for a possible strike

March 7, 2022 3:41 PM

Minneapolis and St. Paul school districts prepare for a possible strike

The Minneapolis and St. Paul Teachers Unions may strike Tuesday. Reporter Becky Dernbach of Sahan Journal has been monitoring the evolving story. She joined host Cathy Wurzer to talk more about what educators in the Twin Cities are asking each district for.

by Cathy Wurzer and Melissa Townsend

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March 7, 2022 3:41 PM

The new normal: Dr. Michael Osterholm on how the world needs to adapt to COVID

A bipartisan group of scientists and health and policy experts calling themselves the COVID roadmap group are releasing a blueprint Monday on how we could move into, what they call, “the next normal.” A member of that group is Michael Osterholm, head of the University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.

by Cathy Wurzer

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On the ground in Ukraine: A conversation with former Pioneer Press reporter Brian Bonner

March 7, 2022 3:37 PM

On the ground in Ukraine: A conversation with former Pioneer Press reporter Brian Bonner

Former Pioneer Press reporter Brian Bonner has lived in Ukraine for 14 years where he led the Kyiv Post, Ukraine’s English-language newspaper, until 2021. One of his main responsibilities? Reporting on Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin.

by Cathy Wurzer, Tim Nelson and Lindsay Guentzel

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March 7, 2022 3:10 PM

Becky Dernbach on tomorrow's potential teachers strike

Educators in the Minneapolis and St. Paul teachers unions could strike as early as tomorrow. Reporter Becky Dernbach of Sahan Journal has been monitoring the evolving story and joined host Cathy Wurzer for a conversation about what's at stake.

by Cathy Wurzer

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After son's death, scholarship aims to be lifeline for rural nursing students

March 7, 2022 2:47 PM

After son's death, scholarship aims to be lifeline for rural nursing students

Before Andrew Hatlestad died in August, he was studying to be a nurse at Ridgewater College in Willmar.

by Cathy Wurzer and Gretchen Brown

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March 7, 2022 2:06 PM

Massive EF-4 Iowa tornado ran 70 miles on the ground, up to 800 yards wide

A massive tornado tore through central Iowa near Des Moines Saturday.

by Paul Huttner

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Minnesota athletes earn two silver medals at Paralympics in Beijing

March 7, 2022 1:20 PM

Minnesota athletes earn two silver medals at Paralympics in Beijing

A pair of athletes from Minnesota earned silver medals Monday at the Winter Paralympics in Beijing.

by MPR News Staff

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Cool Monday, milder Tuesday, then the cold bites again

March 7, 2022 9:02 AM

Cool Monday, milder Tuesday, then the cold bites again

Minnesota sees sunshine Monday with temperatures primarily in the 20s to near 30. Tuesday will be the warmest day of the week, with temperatures in the 30s for most of the state. Temps fall after that. The Twin Cities might not crack 20 Friday or Saturday.

by Sven Sundgaard

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Osterholm: A blueprint on moving to the 'next normal' in pandemic

March 7, 2022 8:14 AM

Osterholm: A blueprint on moving to the 'next normal' in pandemic

A bipartisan group of scientists and health and policy experts calling themselves the COVID roadmap group are releasing a blueprint Monday on how we could move into what they call “the next normal.” A member of that group is Michael Osterholm, the head of the University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.

by Cathy Wurzer

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Republican 'unforced errors' threaten path to Senate control

March 7, 2022 6:48 AM

Republican 'unforced errors' threaten path to Senate control

Republican missteps that include intense infighting are threatening the GOP’s path to the Senate majority.

by The Associated Press

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March 7, 2022 6:38 AM

Strike deadline looms for educators in Minneapolis, St. Paul

Schools will operate as normal on Monday in both cities, but will close beginning Tuesday if no agreement is reached. This is an MPR News morning update for Monday, March 7, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

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Milder start; cold mid to late week

March 7, 2022 6:28 AM

Milder start; cold mid to late week

After an active weekend, it’s a quiet and bright Monday. We’ll see a fair amount of sunshine with temperatures a little cooler than normal; near 30 in the south and 20s for most of the state. It’ll be warmer Tuesday; near 40 in the south and 20s north.

by Sven Sundgaard

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Robertson's 2nd straight hat trick lifts Stars over Wild 6-3

March 7, 2022 5:38 AM

Robertson's 2nd straight hat trick lifts Stars over Wild 6-3

Jason Robertson had his second hat trick of the weekend and the Dallas Stars beat the Minnesota Wild 6-3 on Sunday.

by The Associated Press

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Death toll surpasses 6 million for the pandemic now in its 3rd year

March 7, 2022 4:49 AM

Death toll surpasses 6 million for the pandemic now in its 3rd year

Health care experts say that confirmed deaths represent a fraction of the true number of deaths due to COVID because of limited testing.

by The Associated Press

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Bill Barr won't back a 2024 Trump run, but doesn't quite condemn his former boss

March 7, 2022 4:41 AM

Bill Barr won't back a 2024 Trump run, but doesn't quite condemn his former boss

Former Attorney General William Barr spoke with NPR about his new memoir, former President Trump's election lies, and why he thinks Trump shouldn't try to return to the White House.

by Steve Inskeep, Jan Johnson and Emma Bowman

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Crisis deepens, Ukraine accuses Moscow of 'medieval' tactics

March 7, 2022 4:14 AM

Crisis deepens, Ukraine accuses Moscow of 'medieval' tactics

The humanitarian crisis in Ukraine is deepening as Russian forces intensify their shelling and food, water, heat and medicine grow increasingly scarce. Ukraine says it is facing a medieval-style siege by Moscow to batter it into submission.

by The Associated Press

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Delaware is shrinking racial gaps in cancer death. Its secret? Patient navigators

March 7, 2022 4:01 AM

Delaware is shrinking racial gaps in cancer death. Its secret? Patient navigators

The state's program of free cancer screening and treatment is reducing inequities. Key to its success is robust outreach by patient navigators who connect with those least likely to seek care.

by Yuki Noguchi

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As COVID spread in federal prisons, many at-risk inmates tried and failed to get out

March 7, 2022 4:00 AM

As COVID spread in federal prisons, many at-risk inmates tried and failed to get out

Federal prisons saw a significant rise in deaths during the pandemic years, NPR found. Of those who died from COVID-19, nearly all were elderly or had health conditions, and many had tried to get out.

by Meg Anderson and Huo Jingnan

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Grant program supporting community murals in southern MN nears milestone

March 7, 2022 4:00 AM

Grant program supporting community murals in southern MN nears milestone

The Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation's Paint the Town effort is poised to fund its 300th painting project.

by Andrew Krueger

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Awash in money, Minnesota lawmakers strain for session deals

March 7, 2022 4:00 AM

Awash in money, Minnesota lawmakers strain for session deals

A month into the legislative session, some items deemed urgent are languishing. But it’s not for lack of money given the state’s eye-popping surplus.

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Capitol rally crowd urges stronger action in solidarity with Ukraine

March 6, 2022 6:17 PM

Capitol rally crowd urges stronger action in solidarity with Ukraine

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz spoke to the crowd, after issuing a proclamation calling the Russian invasion of Ukraine “unprovoked and unlawful.”

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