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

Deadline close but still no plan for COVID ‘hero pay’
There’s still no plan for distributing $250 million in bonus pay for front-line Minnesota pandemic workers with a Labor Day deadline looming. 
'Intense, consuming': Phillips and staff work to evacuate Americans from Afghanistan
The U.S. military has officially withdrawn from Afghanistan, but there were still about 100 to 200 Americans in the country as of Tuesday. Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota told host Cathy Wurzer about his office’s efforts to evacuate Americans from Afghanistan.
For 2 weeks every August, Duluth is the nighthawk capital of the world
For two weeks at the end of every summer, thousands of nighthawks fly over Duluth during their marathon migration to South America. It's the largest known migratory concentration of the common nighthawk in the world.
Art Hounds celebrate nature-inspired sculptures and bold abstracts
“8 Chapters” in Granite Falls explores the relationships between humans and land through blacksmithing and found natural objects; Minneapolis rock band Jung Yeller’s LP is “a party from front to back,” and Taylor Evan’s abstract paintings grab your attention with their bold colors.
Freeman won't seek reelection as Hennepin County prosecutor
"When you get into your 70s and worked nonstop for over 50 years, I think you're entitled to a rest,” Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman told MPR News.
Advocates hope White Earth wild rice case will boost 'rights of nature'
The White Earth Nation filed suit last month against the state Department of Natural Resources in tribal court, contending a water use permit for the Enbridge Energy Line 3 pipeline puts wild rice at risk. Experts say the case for protecting wild rice in Minnesota could be important for the larger rights of nature movement.
How to keep kids in school safe from COVID-19
Children’s hospitals are sounding the alarm over the growing impact of COVID-19 on pediatric healthcare. Dr. Marc Gorelick of Children’s Minnesota told host Cathy Wurzer that schools need to adopt masking, social distancing and vaccination policies to keep kids safe.
Malcolm next? GOP senators threaten another commissioner’s job
Republicans in the Minnesota Senate are taking aim at another commissioner in the Cabinet of DFL Gov. Tim Walz: Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm. They’ve linked it to what they refer to as medical freedom. 
Research: Black women at higher risk for preterm births during heat waves than white women
University of Minnesota researchers found that college-educated Black women appeared more susceptible to health risks after heat wave exposure. They were 1.27 times more likely to experience premature labor and birth than white women without a college education.