Health

Health
What’s in the new pandemic relief bill?
Congress passed a new stimulus package and President Trump signed it into law. MPR News host Kerri Miller spoke to an economist and political scientist about why it took so long and whether it’s enough to keep pandemic battered workers and small businesses afloat through winter.
Wiser resolutions? Lessons from COVID's unfulfilled ones
Remember those early-quarantine resolutions? Those of us lucky enough to have down time imagined tackling big projects and learning new skills. Often those things didn't get done because, well, 2020. Experts say that's to be expected.
MPR News reporters reflect on covering a pandemic
The pandemic presented a range of challenges for journalists in 2020. Guest host and reporter Brandt Williams talks with several fellow MPR News reporters who reported on various aspects of the pandemic and take your suggestions for what stories we should cover in the new year.
Hormel Foods has been buying meals by the hundreds from local restaurants during the pandemic. It’s part of a program the company has established to thank its employees with the occasional lunch and support the economy in Austin.
Dec. 29 update on COVID-19 in MN: 36 deaths; new daily cases fall below 1K
It was the first time since early October that new daily case counts fell below 1,000, but it came on low testing, making it difficult to draw any conclusions. Meanwhile, the death toll continues to climb.
Trump's $2,000 checks stalls in Senate as GOP blocks vote
With Republican senators deeply split over new spending, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked a swift vote proposed by Democrats. But the next steps are highly uncertain, and it's quite possible no bill passes. The Democratic-led House has already approved the larger checks.
As state COVID-19 relief goes out, some will miss out
The way the relief program was designed means that some restaurants won’t qualify for initial checks because their sales didn’t drop steeply enough, despite their falloff in revenue due to state restrictions.
Little Falls bus driver who delivered meals now awaits students' return
Back in March, when COVID-19 forced schools to shut down, Melanie Van Alst delivered meals — and sometimes homework — to homebound students who attend Little Falls Community Schools. But in November, when COVID-19 cases spiked in the region, the district switched to distance learning, and bus drivers were no longer needed.
Another legislative session looms on Zoom
Lawmakers have been working remotely for months due to the pandemic, but the increased workload of a budget session presents new challenges that still need to be worked out, including how members of the public can interact with lawmakers.