Stories from March 18, 2022

Minneapolis city attorney subpoenas reporters in police brutality suit
The Minneapolis City Attorney's office has served subpoenas on three Twin Cities journalists who covered the protests and riots that followed the murder of George Floyd.
Spring arrives this weekend and temps ramp up
Are you ready for warmer temps? That’s what we have in our weekend forecast. Snow-lovers will be interested to know that there’s still plenty of snow on the ground in northern Minnesota.
Minneapolis teachers rallied Friday outside the governor’s residence. The strike has lasted more than a week, with no end in sight. Also, a GOP candidate for governor says he favors a state ban on abortions. This is the MPR News evening update for Friday, March 18, 2022. Hosted by Jon Collins. Theme music by Gary Meister.
Meet the Candidates: Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Jensen
As Gov. Tim Walz seeks another term, more than a half dozen Republicans are competing for the chance to run against him. MPR News host Mike Mulcahy talks with the GOP frontrunner Dr. Scott Jensen, a family physician who served one term in the Minnesota Senate and got national attention for criticizing the state’s handling of COVID-19.
Creative older workers shine on stage, in offices and on the radio
If the Super Bowl halftime show taught us anything it’s that artists over 50 deserve a stage, too. The all-star, hip-hop lineup got the entire crowd on their feet. Entertainers are not the only ones still ready to shine in middle age; America’s Baby Boomers and aging Gen Xers want a chance to contribute. On Monday, guest host Chris Farrell spoke with a business professor and a writer doing their best work after 50.
A cool Friday; brighter and warmer Spring weekend
A storm system to the south will keep a mix of clouds and sun across much of Minnesota Friday. Temperatures will be a little cooler once again, mainly in the 40s south and 30s north. More sun and warmer temperatures move in for the weekend.
Friday marks a ninth day of canceled classes for more than 30,000 Minneapolis public school students and their families. The district and the union representing teachers and support staff met for mediation on Thursday but reported little progress. This is an MPR News morning update for Friday, March 18, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
Another slightly cooler day Friday; mild weekend
Most places are near or below freezing across the state early Friday. We’ll have one more cooler day like yesterday, though still warmer than normal. Warmer temps return for the weekend.
NASA's Artemis 1 moon rocket reaches the launch pad
NASA's Artemis 1 rocket, the Space Launch System, reached the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39B on Friday. The successor to the Apollo program could one day send humans back to the moon.
Russian strikes hit Ukrainian capital and outskirts of Lviv
Russian forces are pressing their assault Ukrainian cities, striking on the outskirts of the capital Kyiv and the western city of Lviv, as world leaders push for an investigation of the Kremlin’s repeat attacks on civilian targets.
Gas prices are near record highs. A fuel tax holiday could give consumers some relief
Gasoline prices hit record highs last week, so politicians in both parties proposed suspending state and federal gas taxes. But some warn such tax "holidays" may cut funding for needed road repairs.
Lifesaving COVID drugs are sitting unused on pharmacy shelves, HHS data shows
States and health providers report they've dispensed less than half their supply from the government, raising fears that the drugs may go to waste while people who could benefit get sicker.
Can Ukraine win the war? These analysts think so. Here's how it might unfold
It's been three weeks since Russia invaded Ukraine, and while many thought that it would be over quickly, Ukraine is continuing to fend Russia off. Now, some analysts think Ukraine could win the war.
Equity issues at stake in the Minneapolis teacher strike
The Minneapolis NAACP is calling on the city’s public school district to raise wages for Education Support Professionals. They’re also asking the union to put more protections from layoffs for teachers of color in its contract. 
For some kids, long COVID-19 is harder than having the virus
Most kids don't get severely ill with COVID-19. But the milder cases seen in children obscure kids who develop long COVID, a cluster of symptoms that can stick with them for months and upend their lives.
Putin's warning to anti-war Russians evokes Stalinist purges
The Russian president's references to "cleansing" of "scum and traitors" evoked terrifying memories of the mass arrests of the Stalin era, when repression was justified for "cleansing" Soviet society.