June 14, 2021

Tonight it’ll be clear with lows in the upper 40s to upper 50s. Tomorrow it’ll be sunny with highs in the upper 70s to upper 80s, except near Lake Superior which will be in the upper 60s to mid-70s . Find the latest on Updraft.

A 35-year-old St. Paul man was arrested for vehicular homicide in connection with a crash that killed a woman who joined an ongoing protest in Uptown Minneapolis late last night.

The family of Deona Erickson said they weren’t surprised that she was at the protest on Lake Street. Garret Knajdek said his sister was passionate about justice and helping others.

Erickson had apparently parked her car to block traffic as demonstrators gathered on Lake Street to protest the shooting of Winston Smith by police at an Uptown parking ramp earlier this month.

"She does everything for everybody else that she possibly can," Knajdek said. "Everything has always been sacrifice for her. What can she do to help somebody else, no matter what situation she's in or how bad off she is."

Police said the driver was possibly impaired by drugs or alcohol and plowed into Erickson’s car. She died at the Hennepin County Medical Center shortly after.

A witness said the eastbound SUV was moving at a high rate of speed as it approached, and that the driver appeared to accelerate as they got closer to demonstrators.

The Minnesota Department of Health reports 118 new cases of COVID-19 Monday. That’s down nearly 80 cases from last week. There were five newly reported deaths, one of which was in long-term care.

Minnesota’s seven-day average for new cases went down to 156 cases per day, which is a decline from 232 per day a week ago. The positivity rate hits a record low at 1.2 percent, and hospitalizations are at the lowest they’ve been since the state started tracking that data last summer.

Nearly two-thirds of Minnesotans over the age of 16 have at least one dose of the vaccine.

Subscribe to our Minnesota Today podcast to get up-to-date Minnesota news twice daily. — Hannah Yang | MPR News

Special session begins with Walz emergency extension

A special session of the Minnesota Legislature got underway Monday and will likely last most of the rest of the month. Lawmakers must pass a new two-year budget by the end of June to avoid a state government shutdown.

Food insecurity worsens, even in America's breadbasket

More than 50 million people have experienced food insecurity during the pandemic, up from 35 million in 2019, according to the Feeding America nonprofit, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization. Low income, debt, unemployment, disability, homelessness, food price increases, age and environment all can play a role. The pandemic has added to the problem.

State appeals court upholds approval of Line 3 oil pipeline

On a 2-1 vote, a Minnesota Court of Appeals panel has upheld the state's approval of the Line 3 oil pipeline replacement project, dealing a blow to tribes and environmental groups battling the project.

SPONSOR

Ketanji Brown Jackson, Supreme Court prospect, set to be confirmed to appeals court

Ketanji Brown Jackson, a hot prospect for nomination to the Supreme Court should a vacancy arise, is set to be confirmed to the U.S. Court of Appeals by the Senate.

Four people die on Minnesota lakes, rivers over the weekend

As people continue to flock to lakes and rivers to swim and boat for relief from the ongoing heat wave, it was a deadly weekend on Minnesota waters.

Novavax says its COVID vaccine is extremely effective

In a large scale study, Novavax said its vaccine was completely effective against the original coronavirus strain and also effective against some variants. It works differently than other vaccines.

Worker shortage frustrates Minnesota businesses

Minnesota officials have been reaching out to people on unemployment in hopes of linking them with jobs. Some blame enhanced unemployment payments for the worker shortage, but others underscore the labor shortage preceded the pandemic. Challenges with child care and transportation have prevented some from joining the workforce.

Preference Center ❘ Unsubscribe

This email was sent by: Minnesota Public Radio
480 Cedar Street Saint Paul, MN, 55101