Stories from April 5, 2022

Zoos hiding birds as avian flu spreads in North America
Zoos across North America are moving their birds indoors and away from people and wildlife as they try to protect them from the highly contagious and potentially deadly avian influenza.
Change to state's police arbitration system yields some results
More police officers and their employers are settling discipline cases outside of arbitration, a process Minneapolis elected officials have said ties their hands when it comes to police accountability.
Tax debate at Capitol heats up, as Walz administration says GOP plan favors rich Minnesotans. Also, Minnesota farmers had another good year in 2021. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.
After George Floyd, some cities gained ground in police contract negotiations
After the murder of George Floyd, many hoped police contract negotiations would yield reform. Now several major cities, including Minneapolis, have signed new contracts. The results are mixed.
MPR reporter Tim Nelson got in touch with his longtime friend and colleague Brian Bonner, a former journalist for the St. Paul Pioneer Press and the former editor of the Kyiv Post, Ukraine’s premiere English language newspaper. Brian shared what his adopted home country looks like during a war.
Asian American women respond to racist incidents and violence
The national organization Stop AAPI Hate recorded close to 6,300 reports of hate incidents against Asian Americans in 2021. More than half of them targeted Asian women. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two Asian American women in Minnesota about their experiences and their communities’ responses.
Despite drought Minnesota farmers fared well in 2021
Despite drought conditions that affected much of Minnesota last year, farm profits improved for the second year in a row because of high prices for crops and livestock.
Heavy snow targeting northern Minnesota
Expect additional waves of snow up north and rain mixing with snow in southern Minnesota Wednesday into Thursday. The Twin Cities could get another snowy coating by Thursday morning.
Footage of 11-year-old Prince speaking up on 1970 teacher's strike uncovered
While digging around in old news film in the basement of the WCCO TV station for footage of the 1970 Minneapolis teachers strike, WCCO production manager Matt Liddy found footage that appears to be Prince at 10 or 11 years old, being interviewed by a reporter, outside his former junior high school. Matt joined Cathy to talk about his find.
Dr. Jay-Sheree Allen on physician burnout
What are the ongoing struggles medical professionals have faced during the pandemic and what could a potential exodus mean for America’s health care system? The Journal of the American Medical Association published an article about the impact long-term burnout has had on physicians and health care staff.
MPR reporter Tim Nelson got in touch with his longtime friend and colleague Brian Bonner, a former journalist for the St. Paul Pioneer Press and the former editor of the Kyiv Post, Ukraine’s premiere English language newspaper. Brian shared what his adopted home country looks like during a war.
St. Paul man charged with arson in downtown grocery store fire
The criminal complaint alleges Timothy John Arsenal set a fire in a recycling bin outside the Lunds & Byerlys store in downtown St. Paul early on the morning of March 29.
New program pays residents to attend, take notes at Minneapolis public meetings
Meetings of school boards, zoning boards, planning commissions and other committees may make communities tick, but they can be a large time investment for most media organizations to cover. A new program in Minneapolis aims to shed more light on those meetings by paying local residents to attend and take notes, which are published online for anyone to use.
From the archives: Writer Max Porter on 'Grief is the Thing with Feathers'
This Friday, MPR News host Kerri Miller will talk with renowned grief expert and neuroscientist Mary-Frances O'Connor about happens in our brains when we grieve. But novels teach us just as much as science. In anticipation of the coming show, enjoy this one from the 2016 archives, when Miller talked with writer Max Porter about his debut novel, “Grief is the Thing with Feathers.”
 Wet three days ahead; snow north
Periods of rain will dominate the midday and afternoon Tuesday in southern Minnesota with rain and snow in northern Minnesota where some places will see accumulations. Heavier snow develops overnight north.
Democratic, GOP Senate bargainers reach $10B COVID agreement
Senate bargainers have reached agreement on a slimmed-down $10 billion package for countering COVID-19 with treatments, vaccines and other steps. But the compromise ended up dropping all funding to help nations abroad combat the pandemic. 
Tuesday rain kicks off soggy, windy midweek
Rain and snow showers north are moving back in Tuesday starting off a few days stretch of wet, windy weather and below-normal temperatures.
Staff-strapped Grand Marais businesses brace for a tourist boom
In Grand Marais, business owners are struggling to gear up for what they expect to be a busy pandemic-sparked summer tourist season. The past two years, there haven't been nearly enough workers to staff hotels and restaurants.
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health on Monday reported the latest outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the state is now affecting a total of 13 poultry flocks — up from seven last Friday. This is an MPR News morning update for Tuesday, April 5, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
Zelenskyy at the UN accuses Russian military of war crimes
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told the U.N. Security Council that the Russian military must be brought to justice immediately for war crimes. The Ukrainian leader made his plea via video Tuesday as grisly evidence continued to emerge of civilian massacres carried out by Russian forces on the outskirts of Kyiv.
A man accused in the beating death of a woman on the Red Lake Indian Reservation has been sentenced to 12 years in prison. William Jones IV pleaded guilty last year to one count of second-degree murder for the 2019 killing at the victim’s house in Ponemah, located on the north side of Lower Red Lake. 
Minnesota House Democrats call for $1.15B more for education
The Minnesota House Democratic majority on Monday proposed spending $1.15 billion of the state's $9.25 billion budget surplus on education, drawing a sharp contrast with Republicans who control the Senate and who want to cut taxes by $3.4 billion while spending just $30 million more on schools.
Jayhawks rally, rock North Carolina 72-69 to win NCAA title
Kansas finished off the biggest comeback in national championship history Monday night, getting a big game from David McCormack, crucial shots from Remy Martin and surviving a potential game-tying 3-pointer by Caleb Love at the buzzer for a 72-69 victory over North Carolina in the Superdome. 
The climate cost of the war in Ukraine
There's concern the U.S. push to send more natural gas to Europe will increase climate warming emissions. But energy experts say the crisis might actually speed up the shift to cleaner energy.
Another booster? A vaccine for omicron? Here's what could be next for COVID vaccines
Federal health officials are convening with outside advisers April 6 to talk about a vaccine plan, whether that's another booster in the fall, an omicron shot or one that targets more than one strain.