Stories from March 10, 2023

The University of Minnesota's Board of Regents green-lit an estimated $950 million dollar request to the Legislature related to the U's plan to establish a medical system on campus.   This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Jacob Aloi. Music by Gary Meister.
Metrics show encouraging declines, while older adults continue to be at risk
While most COVID metrics this week show encouraging declines, wastewater data remains elevated and suggests COVID is still circulating. Health department data shows that older adults continue to be the most at risk.
Talking Volumes hits the road this spring
Minnesota Public Radio and the Star Tribune are proud to announce a special spring series of Talking Volumes. We are taking Talking Volumes on the road with two special events in Greater Minnesota. These special Talking Volumes pop-up events will be hosted by award-winning journalist Kerri Miller.
Millions who rely on Medicaid may be booted from program
If you get health care coverage through Medicaid, you might be at risk of losing that coverage over the next year. As states begin checking everyone’s eligibility for Medicaid for the first time in three years, as many as 14 million people could lose access to that coverage. 
Weekend snow: 6-plus inches across northern Minnesota; 3-5 in Twin Cities
Snow is headed our way Saturday and Saturday night, lingering in northern Minnesota into Sunday. We have the updated snow forecast plus weekend warnings and advisories for some areas.
Vinyl records outsell CDs for the first time since 1987
Vinyl sales grew for the 16th consecutive year in 2022, with 41 million albums sold — compared to 33 million CDs. Streaming is still the biggest driver of the music industry's growth.
A bill to declassify COVID-19's origins clears the House and heads to Biden
The House has unanimously voted to require the Director of National Intelligence to declassify information on the origins of COVID-19. It's not clear whether or not President Biden will sign the bill.
New author Jamila Minnicks on the resilience and history of all-Black towns
Jamila Minnicks’ debut novel is a stunner. “Moonrise Over New Jessup” uses fiction to tell the stories of real all-Black towns that flourished in the American South a century ago, thanks to a policy of separate but equal.
What we know about Trump possibly facing criminal indictment in New York City
Trump has been invited to testify before a Manhattan grand jury, typically the last step before a criminal indictment. Trump could become the first former president in U.S. history to be indicted.
Vikings release wide receiver, Minnesota native Adam Thielen
The release of Thielen, a Detroit Lakes native who played for Minnesota State University Mankato, follows the exit of linebacker Eric Kendricks as the team works to remake its roster and manage the NFL’s salary cap.
Saturday snow will make it a top 10 season for Twin Cities
Friday will bring dry weather with peeks of sunshine and above-freezing high temperatures in eastern Minnesota. More snow develops Saturday into Saturday night with heavy snow in northern Minnesota.
The job market slowed last month, but it's still too hot to ease inflation fears
U.S. employers added 311,000 jobs in February, only a modest slowdown from the previous month, indicating the labor market remains hot. The unemployment rate rose to 3.6% from 3.4% in January.
Daisy, matriarch of St. Paul's Como Park Zoo giraffe herd, dies at age 23
The matriarch of the giraffe herd at St. Paul’s Como Park Zoo has died at the age of 23. Zoo officials said Daisy the giraffe was euthanized early Thursday, after suffering from severe degenerative arthritis.
The bill will result in better tracking of detached catalytic converters, and require scrap dealers to be more discerning when buying them. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.
Quiet and dry Friday with more snow developing Saturday
Friday will see highs mainly in the 30s. We’ll have some peeks of sun but for the most part it will be mostly cloudy. More snow develops Saturday with accumulation nearly statewide. 
Northern forests struggle to adapt to climate change
Warmer temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns are causing a decline in the growth and survival rates of our trees, particularly among spruce and fir. And with life spans in the decades, the swift changes are creating trouble.
Staging the unseen: A roundtable talk with the creators of a new Jungle Theater play
Playwright and actor JuCoby Johnson and director H. Adam Harris discuss their new play “5” at the Jungle Theater, looking into how they created and brought to life an occasionally supernatural tale of gentrification
Meet the Minnesota lawyer prepping people for death through humor and a little Taylor Swift
Probate and estate planning lawyer Jen Gumbel provides words to live by — and die by. “You're either going to create a mess or clean up a mess.” Gumbel has been helping people plan for their deaths for more than a decade. But more recently, she's moved her tips about planning for the inevitable to social media.