Stories from March 30, 2022

More fallout, and rancor, after Minneapolis kids get back to class, as the superintendent leaves and battles remain before the school board. Also, the pandemic takes a chunk out of Minnesota’s graduation rate. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.
Brighter days ahead: 50s return this weekend
Temperatures will be near to slightly above average this weekend.
Walz signs ALS research legislation
Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill that funds new research for ALS and provides money for people caring for those who have the disease. The legislation was pushed by Sen. Dave Tomassoni who was diagnosed with ALS last year.
Head of Minneapolis Public Schools will not seek new contract
The announcement, shared by a letter with the school board, comes just after the end of an educator strike during which 30,000 students missed three weeks of classes. 
Black St. Olaf College students organize Marlys Boone House
Mannie Bioh and Mariam Prater are Black students who wanted to find a safe space to be themselves and take a break from the mainstream white culture in Northfield, Minnesota. So they are building that community themselves on the St. Olaf College campus.
Minneapolis based physician Dr. Kirsten Shaw created a new app to help medical students detect cardiac abnormalities. She says it’s something doctors really need.
Katie Thornton knows a lot about skyways
As Minneapolitans head back to work downtown, traffic in the skyways is picking up. Independent journalist Katie Thornton and host Cathy Wurzer take a closer look at this 60-year old system and how it has impacted equity and access in downtown Minneapolis.
Paul Huttner & Cathy Wurzer talk weather: 3-30-22 edition
Paul Huttner and Cathy Wurzer discuss the 2-Part storm system moving across the state and looks forward to milder temps this weekend. Plus, Huttner explains how people can become severe weather spotters for the National Weather Service.
Do I really need another booster? The answer depends on age, risk and timing
Health officials argue the protection of the COVID vaccine booster wanes over time and say some people need a second booster. But other infectious disease experts say three shots are enough for now.
Rep. McCollum calls on Thomas to resign from Supreme Court
Democratic U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum said recent revelations that Thomas' wife pushed Donald Trump’s White House chief of staff to take steps to overturn the 2020 presidential election have left the justice "ethically compromised.”
The Minneapolis Division of Race and Equity is charged with bettering the city’s government culture and connections to BIPOC residents. But in the past year, 8 of their 9 staff members have quit. Jay Boller, cofounder and editor of the online news source "Racket" explains what happened.
March has felt more like winter than spring this year. MPR’s chief meteorologist Paul Huttner summarizes current spring storms and when we can expect to transition to bluer skies and warmer temperatures.
Historically, violent conflict around the world has led to a flurry of international adoptions by Americans. It happened most notably after the Korean war. But since 2005, the rate of Americans adopting from other countries has steadily declined. On Thursday, host Angela Davis explored how the pandemic has affected international adoption and whether the war in Ukraine could lead to another international adoption spike. 
Wintry mess Wednesday; 50 for the weekend
After a wet and icy night, snow will continue to fall Wednesday in northern Minnesota. In southern Minnesota, rain showers and wintry mix turn to snow showers Wednesday afternoon. Warmer temps are on track for Saturday and Sunday.
Hotbed for women's hoops in Minnesota goes beyond Bueckers
Paige Bueckers has led the Connecticut Huskies to their 14th straight Final Four. They'll play in the national semifinals in Minneapolis. The talent in the Twin Cities area goes well beyond Bueckers.
Russia bombards areas where it pledged to scale back
Ukrainian officials say Russian forces pounded areas around Ukraine’s capital and another city just hours after Moscow pledged on Tuesday to scale back military operations in those places.
Minn. astronaut ends record-long spaceflight in Russian capsule
Mark Vande Hei, a NASA astronaut, is back on Earth after a yearlong, record-setting spaceflight. He caught a Russian ride from the International Space Station on Wednesday with two cosmonauts. 
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office on Tuesday confirmed the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s probe into the police killing of Locke is in the hands of prosecutors, who will now review the evidence for possible charges. This is an MPR News morning update for Wednesday, March 30, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
'Beacon of goodness': NCAA women's gymnastics is booming
The arrival of Olympic champion Sunisa Lee, new, relaxed rules on athlete compensation and better exposure on TV are fueling interest in NCAA women's gymnastics.
Legal ethics experts agree: Justice Thomas must recuse in insurrection cases
Legal ethics experts had previously said while Ginni Thomas is an outspoken conservative activist, her husband is able to act as an independent judge of matters that come before the court.
Fleury, Wild beat Flyers 4-1, extend win streak to 7 games
Marc-Andre Fleury made 32 saves and won his second straight start for Minnesota, and the Wild extended their winning streak to seven games with a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.
Thunderstorms, freezing rain and snow cause travel headaches across Minnesota
Depending on where you live in Minnesota, you may have woken up to snow, freezing rain or thunderstorms — or some combination of the three. The messy mix of precipitation caused difficult travel across much of the state.
In Rochester, unlikely activists rally to save heron nests
The fate of a great blue heron rookery has prompted local residents to question the environmental costs of Rochester’s housing growth. 
South Korea has key rocket launch, days after North's ICBM test
The launch comes six days after North Korea conducted its first intercontinental ballistic missile test since 2017 in an apparent attempt to pressure on the Biden administration amid stalled talks.
Hennepin top prosecutor candidates say they'll reduce crime and disparities
The half dozen people who hope to be the next Hennepin County Attorney all say that reducing violent crime and racial disparities in the criminal justice system are among their top priorities.
Former West Side Flats residents have mixed memories about their old neighborhood
Some of the earliest immigrants to the city of St. Paul lived in areas that were eventually torn down — leaving residents to find new places to live. Many Mexican immigrants settled in areas like Swede Hollow and the West Side Flats.