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.

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May 1 update on COVID-19 in MN: 371 dead; 'just getting our arms' around the spread
Minnesota’s health commissioner on Friday defended Gov. Tim Walz’s decision to extend the state’s stay-at-home order as necessary in the face of rapidly rising numbers of COVID-19 cases reported and deaths recorded.
Family's illnesses suggest coronavirus may have been in Minnesota longer than thought
Kate Austin came home from Japan in late January with a strange illness she couldn’t seem to beat. Her arrival caused a chain reaction of sickness among friends and family that ultimately ended in a coronavirus diagnosis.
Parole programs are responding to a number of challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer talked to Brian Kopperud, Dakota County’s director of community corrections, about how his department is shifting protocols to support clients.
New Hope nursing home sees 'devastating' 47 deaths from COVID-19
In a statement released Wednesday, St. Therese of New Hope said that since early April, 47 residents of the 258-bed facility have died of the disease caused by the coronavirus.
Northern Minn. companies step in to help fill PPE shortage
Hospitals and clinics have struggled to get enough personal protective equipment, or PPE, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Duluth, and across the state, local companies have retooled to manufacture masks, face shields, and other equipment to help meet that shortfall.
How does PPE get to Minnesota health workers who need it?
Many hospitals and clinics are struggling to get the personal protective equipment they need to protect health care workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. MPR News has been digging into the factors driving the shortage, what’s being done about it and the impact it’s having on health care workers. Here’s what we learned.
Walz decision on stay-at-home order due Thursday
Gov. Tim Walz must decide whether to extend limits on nonessential travel and business operations past Sunday night. He’s gradually allowed more exceptions, though he’s taking a longer view on bars and spectator sports.
Minnesota State system prepares for lessons ahead
May is usually a month of graduation ceremonies for Minnesota State, the system of public colleges and universities that serves over 350,000 students each year. But this is not a typical year.
Duluth brewery CEO on pandemic’s pinch: ‘Business is hard in the good times’
As weeks of closures and social isolation wear on, many Minnesota small businesses are looking for creative ways to navigate the coronavirus crisis. Among them is Ursa Minor Brewing in Duluth, which opened around a year and a half ago.
Backyard nature: 'Funny-looking birds' on Linnea's playset
The strange birds on two young girls’ playset turned out to be wood ducks, but it brought their family a laugh, anyway.