Stories from July 29, 2022

MnDOT exploring new pavement mixes to reduce use of carbon-intensive concrete
The experimental pavement mixes incorporate recycled bottles, fiber and other materials to reduce the proportion of concrete needed. The agency is also looking at whether it can sequester carbon in its pavement.
The House passed legislation Friday to revive a ban on semi-automatic guns, the first vote of its kind in years and a direct response to the firearms often used in the crush of mass shootings ripping through communities nationwide.
Harry Wait was so determined to show Wisconsin's election system is vulnerable to fraud that he logged onto the state website, requested an absentee ballot in the state Assembly speaker’s name and had it delivered to himself. Then he ran to a sheriff to tell him that he had committed fraud.
A Republican state senator’s residency is under scrutiny as he seeks a new term. First-term lawmaker Gene Dornink says he moved this year to avoid facing a fellow Republican incumbent after new district boundaries were set. Now a court is being asked to decide if he appropriately established residency in a southern Minnesota district. This is the afternoon MPR News update for Friday, July 29, 2022. Hosted by Hannah Yang. Theme music by Gary Meister.
People with disabilities who live in group homes have reached a settlement almost six years after they filed a lawsuit alleging that Minnesota disability programs rely too much on group homes and don’t provide support for people to live more independently. 
Signs point to COVID concerns in southern Minnesota
We’re looking forward to the day we can report (hopefully) a consistent downturn in COVID metrics and call this a COVID mesa instead of a COVID plateau. But for now, flat metrics are the reality, and the possibility remains that things will get worse before they get better.
The Senate passed a bill to help sick veterans. Then 25 Republicans reversed course
Veterans groups are slamming GOP senators for blocking a bill that would have given health care and benefits to veterans affected by from toxic chemicals and burn pits in wars dating back to Vietnam.
Holocaust survivor Lucy K. Smith dies at 89
Funeral services were held Friday morning for St. Paul resident and Holocaust survivor Lucy K. Smith. During WWII in Poland she and her mother hid for six years and were never caught.
GOP senator’s residency in reelection bid challenged
State Sen. Gene Dornink, who represents a southern Minnesota district, moved after new district boundaries paired him with a fellow Republican. Now some want the state Supreme Court to scrutinize his residency.
Minneapolis-based Lakota storyteller uses humor to 'right size' Pope's visit
Pope Francis wore an eagle feather headdress during his visit to apologize to Indigenous people in Canada for abuses suffered at residential schools. Alfred Walking Bull, a writer and storyteller deployed his sense of humor.
This year’s July was dryer than normal across most of Minnesota.
A ruff month alone in the BWCA, Luigi the dog comes home
A big black dog who goes by the name of Luigi, returned home this week after spending a month in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The dog was separated from his owners during a portage near the Sawbill Trail.
Adult English language learners head back to class in Minnesota
Adult English language learners across Minnesota are among those who suffered a gap in learning during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Now providers of these services are reimagining their curriculum as they head back into the classroom, and face increased demand due to an influx of new immigrants.
Twin Cities' photographer sees the Hmong diaspora in Western landscapes
Called “Paj qaum ntuj,” or “Flowers of the Sky,” the Walker exhibit showcases Her’s black-and-white landscape photos of the Mount Shasta region in northern California. It’s a departure from Her’s usual work with portraits — and a captivating story of a community’s relationship to its history and land.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said Thursday he will not appeal a district judge's abortion ruling that invalidated several Minnesota restrictions. This is a morning update from MPR News, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.
Lovely Friday; much warmer weekend
Beautiful, dry Friday. Then heating up for the weekend with scattered storms likely on Sunday. Next week gets seriously hot.
Floyd family, others see inequality in penalties for ex-cops
Three former Minneapolis police officers went before a federal judge during the last week to be sentenced for violating George Floyd’s civil rights, and for each man, U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson handed out penalties well below what prosecutors sought and below federal guidelines. For some Floyd family members and activists, the penalties were too small.
Summer boosters for people under 50 shelved in favor of updated boosters in the fall
The Biden administration is scrapping plans to offer COVID boosters for people under 50 this summer. Instead officials will push for an earlier release of the next generation boosters in the fall.
Few Black men become school psychologists. Here's why that matters
Psychologists play a critical role in K-12 schools, but there's a clear mismatch between the demographics of school psychologists and the student populations they serve.
More people are opting to get sterilized — and some are being turned away
Doctors says more of their patients are seeking permanent sterilization procedures, but some patients are reporting that doctors are unwilling to operate on people of childbearing age.