Stories from May 17, 2022

State budget surplus will boost per pupil spending, student support, says governor. Also a man beaten by officers after he returned fire from an unmarked police van gets a $1.5 million settlement from Minneapolis. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.
Netflix lays off 150 employees amid subscriber decline
The layoffs are the latest signal of a major shift within the streaming giant as it recently reported a decline in subscribers for the first time in a decade, as well as slowing revenue growth.
Minnesota venues band together to push for tax relief before legislative session ends
Minnesota venues have begun to reopen in full swing, thanks in part to $165 million dollars of federal support distributed last year. Now, venues are being held liable by the state for thousands of dollars in taxes on the money they received — despite federal stipulations saying otherwise.
It’s finally Spring! Here’s how to enjoy the weather without letting your allergies get in the way.
Republican Wardlow to run in primary for attorney general
Doug Wardlow said he will run in the Republican primary for Minnesota attorney general. The announcement drew criticism from Jim Schultz, who defeated Wardlow for the Republican endorsement in the race and from the state GOP.
Conspiracy theorists flock to bird flu, spreading falsehoods
While it doesn't pose a significant threat to humans, the outbreak is prompting a new wave of some of the same conspiracy theories that emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nearly 43,000 people died on U.S. roads last year, agency says
Nearly 43,000 people were killed on U.S. roads last year, the highest number in 16 years as Americans returned to the highways after the pandemic forced many to stay at home.
From the archives: Dr. Danielle Ofri on how to communicate with your health care provider
Medical technology has advanced exponentially. So why are patient-physician relationships stuck in the past? That’s the heart of the question in Dr. Danielle Ofri’s book, “What Patients Say, What Doctors Hear.” Enjoy this archive offering from 2017 as you get ready for Friday’s conversation between Kerri Miller and author Megan O’Rourke about the difficulty of getting doctors to take chronic illnesses seriously.
FDA authorizes first COVID booster for children ages 5 to 11
The Food and Drug Administration expanded authorization of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID vaccine to enable kids ages 5 to 11 who were vaccinated at least five months ago to get a third shot.
Minneapolis to pay $1.5M to man beaten by police during George Floyd protests
Police shot Jaleel Stallings with a foam marking round in a Lake Street parking lot after curfew on May 30, 2020. He shot back with his handgun, but video shows that he tossed away his weapon and surrendered after realizing he’d fired at police.
Unsettled pattern next several days
Southern Minnesota will see showers Tuesday while northern Minnesota will remain dry. Thunderstorms will pop up in northern Minnesota Wednesday afternoon.
As the second anniversary of George Floyd's murder approaches, prosecutors and defense attorneys are preparing for the state criminal trial next month of the three former officers charged in his death. Former officers J. Alexander Kueng, Tou Thao and Thomas Lane are charged in Hennepin County District Court with aiding and abetting murder and manslaughter in Floyd’s killing. This is a morning update from MPR News, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.
Report finds little progress reducing violence against Native American women
A report from the human rights organization Amnesty International, says the U.S. has made little progress in reducing the disproportionate rate of violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women.
Showers return for some Tuesday, the first of a few rounds
Scattered showers will spread east across southern Minnesota Tuesday making for cloudier skies and cooler temperatures. Wednesday will be warmer with thunderstorms to the north.
Ukraine working to pull last fighters from Mariupol mill
Hundreds of Ukrainian fighters defending the last holdout in Mariupol were evacuated to areas controlled by Russian-backed separatists and officials worked to get the rest out. That signals the beginning of the end of a siege that became a symbol of Ukrainian resistance.
10 races to watch Tuesday, led by Senate contests in Pennsylvania and North Carolina
Five states hold primaries Tuesday. The top race is in Pennsylvania, where the GOP Senate primary will be another test of Trump's influence, while Democratic voters seem to favor John Fetterman.
Authorities say a man suspected in the stabbings of three people in Albert Lea has turned himself in to police. Police say first responders were called to an unknown emergency at an apartment complex after 8:30 a.m. Monday. 
Sanchez, Lewis lead Twins past Athletics 3-1
Gary Sanchez homered, Royce Lewis scored twice and the Minnesota Twins beat the Oakland Athletics 3-1. Lewis has played 10 major league games after being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft and is already making an impact.
In Duluth, preschool moves from the classroom to the forest
Duluth is at the forefront of a national trend to move preschool from the classroom to the outdoors. A dozen nature based play schools have opened in the Duluth area in the past decade. There's even a new major at the University of Minnesota Duluth in Childhood Nature Studies, the first program of its kind nationwide.