Morning Edition

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Morning Edition, with Cathy Wurzer in St. Paul and NPR hosts in Washington and Los Angeles, brings you all the news from overnight and the information you need to start your day. Listen from 4 to 9 a.m. every weekday.

Morning Announcements | Weather chats with Mark Seeley | Parting Thoughts

Racist video brings calls for action at Prior Lake High School
A video that targeted a Black 14-year-old freshman includes racial slurs and urges the girl kill herself. The police chief of Savage called the video “horrific, hateful, racist” and said an investigation is underway.
Bemidji touts quality of life — and a little cash — to recruit new residents
Bemidji is offering people $2,500 to relocate to the North Woods and bring their remote job with them. So far, more than 20 telecommuters have taken the city up on it, from the Twin Cities to as far away as Oregon and Arizona.
Latest on COVID-19 in MN: Hospital needs jump; cases surge
“We find ourselves in a really truly alarming spike in cases in recent days,” the state’s health commissioner said, adding that waning vaccine immunity is likely contributing to the surge. The burden on Minnesota hospitals is growing rapidly again.
Hefty spike in heating costs expected to hit Minnesotans
The higher bills are coming as many families are already struggling due to COVID-19, and the rising cost of food, housing and other expenses. 
District lines unclear, candidates run for Legislature anyway
Legislative candidates are announcing runs despite uncertainty about district lines that will not be redrawn until February. Some candidates may end up not living in the districts they hope to represent.
Latest on COVID-19 in MN: Pandemic digs in; bad numbers accelerate
Minnesota’s firmly back on the wrong track in the pandemic. The state on Monday posted its highest single-day count of new cases since December. Active cases also reached a 2021 high and the rate of tests coming back positive is edging higher.
Carbon markets drive research in soil carbon storage
A growing number of agri-businesses are offering to pay farmers for practices that store carbon in the soil. But the cost of accurately measuring carbon in fields might be keeping farmers out of the market. Researchers are trying to improve the process.
Long-term care industry, facing staffing shortages, on edge over vaccine mandate
President Joe Biden’s administration announced this week that all nursing home employees must get the COVID-19 vaccine by Jan. 4. Some Minnesota long-term care leaders say they are worried the requirement could cause more staff to quit at a time when there are 23,000 open jobs in the industry.
Fight for police reform will continue despite fall of ballot measure
Minneapolis voters may have rejected a ballot initiative to restructure public safety in the city, but longtime advocates for police accountability — some of whom opposed the amendment — say their fight isn’t over yet.