Stories from March 8, 2022

Walz urges Congress to pause 18-cents-a-gallon gas tax
Gov. Tim Walz joined five other Democratic governors Tuesday in urging Congress to pause the 18.4-cents-a-gallon federal gasoline tax for the rest of the year to alleviate pump prices that exceed $4 per gallon.
Minneapolis public school teachers and support staff are walking picket lines today as their union has launched its first strike in more than 50 years. This is an MPR News evening update for Wednesday, March 8, 2022. Hosted by Nathan Stevens.
Phenologist John Latimer updates on Minnesota spring, birds and snow
Every week, KAXE radio in the Grand Rapids-Bemidji area airs nature reports by John Latimer. Latimer is a phenologist who studies changes in nature over the seasons. He joined host Cathy Wurzer to talk about some of the latest phenology updates in Minnesota.
Reporter Tim Nelson on Minneapolis teachers strike Tuesday
Minneapolis public school teachers are on strike. The last time that happened was in 1970. The strike effects about 5,500 teachers and staff, plus about 35,000 students and their families. Host Cathy Wurzer chats with MPR News reporter Tim Nelson to get the details.
Teachers strike is on for Minneapolis public schools
Minneapolis public school teachers are on strike today. The last time that happened was in 1970. The strike effects about 5,500 teachers and staff, plus about 35,000 students and their families. Host Cathy Wurzer chats with MPR News reporter Tim Nelson to get the details.
Police responded earlier Tuesday to a report of a weapon at the school but said later in the afternoon that no weapon was found. At 3 p.m., the school said the lockdown was over and students were being released. Police say an investigation continues.
Addressing racist harassment in Minnesota schools
Multiple cases of racist harassment and hateful messages have recently been reported at Minnesota schools. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a school counselor, a psychologist and Minnesota students about racism in schools, how students are impacted and how to address racist incidents when they happen.
Latest on COVID-19 in MN: Winter surge receding rapidly
Minnesota’s pandemic path continues to brighten, with fewer than 400 COVID patients in the hospital now and known, active cases trending near a seven-month low.
Photos: Teachers take up the picket line for strike
Educators had walking picket lines outside schools Tuesday morning — including at Justice Page Middle School in south Minneapolis, and at Washburn High School.
Minneapolis teachers strike: More talks planned, but no deal imminent
Minneapolis public school leaders and district teachers remained at an impasse over a new contract Wednesday morning as schools stayed closed and picket lines stayed up in the district’s first strike in more than 50 years.
Mild Tuesday, then cold clamps down through Saturday
Tuesday will bring our warmest temperatures of this week with most of Minnesota in the 30s to even near 40 in the south. Expect much colder conditions the next several days. The state rapidly warms Sunday to near 40 for many, and all of next week looks much warmer.
U.S. strikes harder at Putin, banning all Russian oil imports
President Joe Biden has announced that the U.S. will ban all Russian oil imports, toughening the toll on Russia’s economy in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine. 
Trump's attorney general sends a letter from No Man's Land
In “One Damn Thing After Another,” Bill Barr alternates between castigating and exonerating. He catalogs Trump's offenses yet casts him as the latest victim of dishonest media and "the radical Left."
Class is canceled on Tuesday for Minneapolis public school students, after the teachers union and the district failed to reach agreement on a new contract. This is an MPR News morning update for Tuesday, March 8, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
A milder start and day Tuesday, colder Wednesday
Temperatures are already up to 20 to 30 degrees warmer in western Minnesota early Tuesday morning; a sure sign of warmer air for the day. Highs will be 30s to near 40 in the southern part of the state to near 30 in the north. A cold front will bring flurries and light snow showers ahead of it with a dusting to a coating of accumulation for mainly northern Minnesota.
Towns, Wolves rout Blazers 124-81, extend win streak to 5
Karl-Anthony Towns had 27 points and 13 rebounds as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Portland Trail Blazers by double digits for the second time in three days, 124-81.
Suffering goes on in encircled Mariupol as evacuation fails
Corpses lie in the streets of Mariupol. Hungry people break into stores in search of food and melt snow for water. Thousands huddle in basements, trembling at the sound of Russian shells pounding this strategic port city.
Threat of deadly virus keeps poultry farmers on edge
Turkey and chicken producers say they’ve adopted stricter biosecurity measures since 2015, when highly pathogenic avian influenza was responsible for 9 million bird deaths in Minnesota.