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Stories from March 23, 2022

A conversation with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz

A conversation with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz

Politics editor Mike Mulcahy talked with Gov. Tim Walz about the budget surplus, replenishing the unemployment fund and why he thinks one-time checks to Minnesotans are a better bet than tax cuts. Plus, a primer on inflation from a Minnesota economist.
by Mike Mulcahy and Maja Beckstrom

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Talks break down in Minneapolis teachers strike as walkout starts a third week

Talks break down in Minneapolis teachers strike as walkout starts a third week and St. Paul hangs onto its mask mandate, despite opposition from administrators and the public. This is an evening update from MPR News hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

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'Last, best, final' offers, but strike continues with no negotiation meetings scheduled

'Last, best, final' offers, but strike continues with no negotiation meetings scheduled

The teacher strike in Minneapolis is nearing its third week and the district says it’s given a “last, best and final” offers to both the teacher and education support professional chapters of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers.
by Elizabeth Shockman

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Minnesota leading the way in signing up new volunteer weather observers

Minnesota leading the way in signing up new volunteer weather observers

As the spring storm season approaches, the annual effort to sign up volunteer weather observers across the country is in full swing. And Minnesota is — by far — leading the way among all U.S. states.
by Andrew Krueger

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Supreme Court tosses Wisconsin legislative voting maps

Supreme Court tosses Wisconsin legislative voting maps

The Supreme Court has thrown out Wisconsin state legislative maps that were preferred by the state’s Democratic governor and selected by Wisconsin’s top court. 
by The Associated Press

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Walz, lawmakers debate extent of paid leave benefit

Walz, lawmakers debate extent of paid leave benefit

Sensing an opening, Gov. Tim Walz revs up his push for paid family and medical leave. But getting to a deal could still prove challenging.
by Brian Bakst

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When 2 coronavirus variants meet inside 1 person, a Frankenstein hybrid can be born

When 2 coronavirus variants meet inside 1 person, a Frankenstein hybrid can be born

That's how the so-called "deltacron" variant — a mashup of delta and omicron — came to be. This process of recombining tells us a lot about the possible past and future of SARS-CoV-2.
by Michaeleen Doucleff

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Minneapolis teacher strike runs into big budget obstacle: Mental health costs

Minneapolis teacher strike runs into big budget obstacle: Mental health costs

Minneapolis Public Schools says that union demands related to mental health and special education would cost the district an additional $70 million. The Minneapolis Federation of Teachers wants the new contract to set caseload limits for counselors, nurses and social workers, and include a requirement to hire service providers in each school.
by Becky Z. Dernbach

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Checking in on the podcast boom

Checking in on the podcast boom

A podcast is an audio production that you can listen to on demand. That’s the general definition, and, as enthusiasts will tell you, each individual podcast has a distinct sound, topic, tone and reach. From true crime to self help, whatever you’re interested in or hoping to find out, there’s a podcast about that. On Thursday, host Angela Davis spoke with two podcast executives about the business of podcasting.
by Angela Davis and Susan Davis

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Klobuchar says Senate is close to approving next U.S. attorney for Minnesota

Klobuchar says Senate is close to approving next U.S. attorney for Minnesota

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar says Minnesota will soon have a permanent U.S. attorney in place. Klobuchar told MPR’s Morning Edition that former U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger is on the verge of Senate approval to fill that role again.
by MPR News Staff

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Raw Wednesday: Rain, wind, snow showers linger; temps stay cool

Raw Wednesday: Rain, wind, snow showers linger; temps stay cool

Rain and snow showers will continue on and off Wednesday into Wednesday night with temperatures holding in the 30s and gusty north winds at 10-20 mph. Temperatures remain cool into next week with some sun late Thursday.
by Sven Sundgaard

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St. Paul school board votes to keep mask mandate in place

St. Paul school board votes to keep mask mandate in place

St. Paul Public Schools will be keeping a mask mandate in place for now, even as most other districts in the state have dropped face covering requirements amid a decreasing number of new COVID cases.
by Tim Nelson

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Moderna says its low-dose COVID shots work for kids under 6

Moderna says its low-dose COVID shots work for kids under 6

Moderna says its COVID-19 vaccine works in babies, toddlers and preschoolers. The company announced early findings from a study of children younger than 6 on Wednesday.
by The Associated Press

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Vikings agree to 3-year, $42M deal with OLB Za'Darius Smith

Vikings agree to 3-year, $42M deal with OLB Za'Darius Smith

The Minnesota Vikings and free agent outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith have agreed to contract terms. Smith gets a three-year deal worth $42 million with incentives that can push the value to $47 million.
by The Associated Press

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Byron, Minn., schools bar Ukrainian flag display in class

Teachers in the Rochester-area school district are asking administrators to reevaluate policies that they say prevent teachers from displaying the Ukrainian flag in classrooms. This is an MPR News morning update for Wednesday, March 23, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

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Cold, windy Wednesday with rain/snow showers

Cold, windy Wednesday with rain/snow showers

Wednesday will yield another raw and wet day with snow showers continuing in the northeast part of the state and a mix of scattered rain and snow showers southeast. Winds will be blustery from the north at 10-20 mph. Cool temperatures will continue through the week.
by Sven Sundgaard

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Taliban cancels girls' higher education despite pledges

Taliban cancels girls' higher education despite pledges

In a surprise decision the hardline leadership of Afghanistan’s new rulers has decided against opening educational institutions to girls beyond Grade six, a Taliban official said Wednesday on the first day of Afghanistan’s new school year. 
by The Associated Press

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Ukraine says Russia seized relief workers in Mariupol convoy

Ukraine says Russia seized relief workers in Mariupol convoy

Ukrainian leaders have accused Russia of seizing 15 rescue workers and drivers from a humanitarian convoy trying to get desperately needed aid into the bloodied city of Mariupol.
by The Associated Press

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Tornado rips through New Orleans and its suburbs, killing 1

Tornado rips through New Orleans and its suburbs, killing 1

A tornado tore through parts of New Orleans and its suburbs Tuesday night, flipping cars, ripping roofs off homes and killing at least one person in a region that was pummeled by Hurricane Katrina 17 years ago.
by The Associated Press

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In the future of 'Here Lies,' the mourning can't bury their dead

In the future of 'Here Lies,' the mourning can't bury their dead

Olivia Clare Friedman's “Here Lies” provides a poignant portrait of the way grief can bring people together, uniting even strangers through a common pain and commitment to keep memories alive.
by Kristen Martin

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Takeaways: Joy, tears, culture wars dominate Jackson hearing

Takeaways: Joy, tears, culture wars dominate Jackson hearing

It’s not just Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson who is being watched as she makes history as the first Black woman to be considered for the job. 
by The Associated Press

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Minneapolis families come together to ease strike burden

Minneapolis families come together to ease strike burden

Striking educators and the district have not yet reached an agreement, as students have missed 11 days of school. While families in the district come together to form child care pods, create safe havens for teens, provide food for their neighbors and support teachers, they say they’re eager for the strike to end.
by Elizabeth Shockman

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