Minnesota

State public health leaders are briefing reporters now. The newest numbers show the vaccination trend line at a new high, while active COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations hold fairly steady.

Minneapolis city officials on Monday canceled plans to hire so-called "social media influencers" to disseminate official information during the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin.

The newest numbers follow a weekend that saw the number of reported vaccinations accelerate.

Minnesota set a new record for COVID-19 vaccinations Sunday, with nearly 70,000 new doses reported. That beats the old record, set the day before, of around 56,000 doses.

The Minnesota Department of Commerce says qualifying households can now receive up to $1,200 in emergency energy assistance this year, up from the usual $600 maximum, in the wake of this month’s severe winter weather that drove up utility costs.

Parts of central and western Minnesota saw more than a half-foot of snow on Sunday, as Saturday’s spring-like conditions were followed by a rapid return to winter to end February across much of the state.

Two people are dead and a sheriff's deputy was wounded after an attempted traffic stop ended in gunfire Saturday night in Wadena County. It’s the third fatal police shooting in the state in less than a week.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said Saturday that a Duluth man who fatally shot a police dog and engaged in a nearly 20-hour standoff with authorities was shot and killed by law enforcement.

Minnesota health officials are reporting a record single-day increase in COVID-19 vaccinations, with Saturday’s update showing more than 56,000 additional doses administered to state residents.

The newest numbers come a day after Gov. Tim Walz said every Minnesotan should be able to get a shot by the summer. While the counts reported Friday are encouraging, the trend line shows no signs yet of an upswing.