Stories from March 17, 2022

Minnesota native killed in attack in Chernihiv, Ukraine
Jimmy Hill, 68, became stranded in Chernihiv, a city north of Kyiv, after taking his partner there for medical treatment.
Eveleth native is among the first Americans known to have been killed in Ukraine war, and a new street name honors Minneapolis’s first black fire captain, a block from his old station. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.
Can we help kids learn to love math?   
Math performance on standardized tests has been dropping for years and worsened during the  pandemic. We revisit a conversation MPR News host Angela Davis had in January 2022 with two math educators about how parents and teachers can kindle success in math.  
Mpls. school food workers, district reach a contract deal
The union says food service workers with the Minneapolis district have been working without a contract since the summer of 2020. The tentative agreement includes wage increases up to 24 percent and retroactive pay.
Target Field gets new grass for first time since opening
Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins in Minneapolis, got brand-new grass laid out on Thursday — the first time since the field opened 12 years ago.
South Minneapolis street now honors a pioneer Black firefighter
It’s been more than a century since John Cheatham last walked out of a Minneapolis firehouse after more than 20 years of service. He was one of the city’s first Black firefighters and the city’s first Black fire captain. And, as of today, the street a block from his old station bears his name.
Walz pitches bigger one-time checks
Gov. Tim Walz proposed using a large chunk of Minnesota’s projected $9.25 billion budget surplus on one-time checks he said would help Minnesotans cope with higher gas prices and other expenses. But Senate Republicans renewed their call for permanent tax cuts.
Weekend weather: Temps ramp up; spring arrives
Astronomical spring begins this Sunday. It’ll feel like winter is in the rear-view mirror this weekend as temperatures ramp up.
Minneapolis board director Josh Pauly resigned Wednesday, over a week into a teacher strike. Both union and district representatives say negotiations have progressed but educators are continuing to picket.
'Secret Identity' is a masterful 1970s literary mystery
Alex Segura's mystery-thriller features a queer Cuban American artist fighting against the patriarchy and dodging bullets in the desperate, male-dominated world of comics.
Sen. Tom Bakk to leave Capitol after 28 years
Sen. Tom Bakk will retire at the end of the year after nearly three decades in the Minnesota Legislature.
Cooler Thursday; 10 years ago it was 80 degrees!
Temperatures will be cooler Thursday and Friday and we’ll have more clouds around on and off. Highs will range from the low 50s in the southwest to the 30s north. The weekend is looking very nice.
Dr. Ashish Jha is the new White House COVID response coordinator
President Joe Biden recently announced a new COVID plan to try to get things back to normal. Dr. Ashish Jha — a familiar face in the public health community — helped develop that plan.
The truth in political advertising: 'You're allowed to lie'
A campaign ad for Kari Lake, a Republican candidate for Arizona governor, includes baseless claims of a rigged 2020 election. Can candidates lie in their paid ads? The short answer: Yes.
Soren Stevenson was one of three people who lost eyes to police projectiles in the protests following George Floyd’s killing and sued the city. This is an MPR News morning update for Thursday, March 17, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
Cooler, yet still above normal Thursday; beautiful weekend ahead
It’s a colder start to the morning in northern Minnesota early Thursday and all will be cooler overall Thursday, but still above the normal. Normal highs are in the low to mid-40s south and low to mid-30s north.
Art Hounds: Iron Range musicians jam and a new theater company opens in St. Paul
Art Hounds this week recommend you check out: The Mariah Theatre Company opening in St. Paul with the debut of Patrick Coyle’s play, “The Big Blue River;” a showcase of Iron Range musicians at the Ore House in Gilbert; and a surreal exhibit of thrift store furniture at Gustavus Adolphus in St. Peter.
Towns, Timberwolves pull away to beat reeling Lakers 124-104
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 16 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter to help the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Lakers 124-104 on Wednesday night. Anthony Edwards had 20 of his 27 points in the second quarter to lead the early surge by the Timberwolves. 
Kaprizov scores twice as Wild beat Bruins 4-2
Kirill Kaprizov scored twice and Jordan Greenway broke a third-period tie as the Minnesota Wild held on for a 4-2 win over the visiting Boston Bruins.
Russia-Ukraine war: Key things to know about the conflict
Russian forces largely bogged down outside major cities in Ukraine have turned to shelling them from a distance, including dozens of confirmed attacks on health facilities during the war that on Thursday entered its fourth week.
Mpls. teachers strike of 1970 changed education across the state
In 1970, the issues underlying the strike had been brewing for years: ballooning class sizes, a dearth of school supplies and a school board that didn’t seem to take the unionized teachers seriously as professionals.