Welcome to a new month! Here are top headlines to start your Monday with: Today is the first day of meteorological spring but we will still have some fresh snow on the ground today waiting for a thaw tomorrow. Snow will fade away early morning Monday, and daytime highs will be near 20 degrees across the state. Get the latest from Updraft. Depending on a court decision today, ex-cop Derek Chauvin might face another murder charge, and a delay in his trial. The state appeals court will consider whether to reinstate a third-degree murder charge against former Minneapolis police officer Chauvin for the killing of George Floyd last year. The trial is currently set to begin next Monday, March 8, but could be delayed when the court has its decision on the additional murder charge this afternoon. A Hennepin County judge dropped the third-degree murder charge against Chauvin in October -- a charge officials now say Chauvin was ready to plead guilty to days after Floyd's killing. Read the latest on the case. Minnesota reported a record vaccination number -- over 120,000 administered -- over the weekend. The state is now averaging more than 34,000 vaccinations a day — the highest since vaccinations began in December. About 16 percent of Minnesotans have received at least one COVID shot; half of the current priority group, people age 65 and older, have received at least one dose. With the newly authorized J&J single-shot vaccine arriving in states soon, the vaccination numbers will likely continue to increase in Minnesota and U.S. The FDA gave a green light to the nation's third COVID-19 vaccine over the weekend, and the company says it's already started shipping the several million doses and expects to deliver 20 million doses by the end of this month. The vaccine, endorsed by FDA advisers as well as a CDC panel, is 66% effective in preventing moderate to severe COVID illness, and 85% effective in preventing severe or critical disease. Here are Minnesota’s latest COVID-19 statistics: - 6,483 deaths (8 new)
- 484,594 positive cases (813 new), 470,819 off isolation (97 percent)
- 7.3 million tests, 3.5 million Minnesotans tested (about 61 percent of the population)
- 16 percent of Minnesotans vaccinated with at least one dose
Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID aid package is now on the Senate floor while the minimum wage talk remains a challenge. The Senate takes up President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus aid package this week, following a largely party-line House vote on Saturday. Potential efforts to try to push businesses to boost the minimum wage mean the bill may ping pong back to the House, since any changes to the package would require another vote. Read more on the latest developments and four dynamics to watch with the relief package this week. Who won last night's mostly snoozy Golden Globes? "Nomadland" wins the best motion picture; Chadwick Boseman wins the best actor. Technical difficulties and an overall uninspired program were the themes of this year's Golden Globes. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association hamfistedly attempted to address its lack of Black members -- there are zero Black members in the organization of about 90 journalists voting on the awards. At Walker Art, 600 Highwaymen create a theater with two audience members and a phone. The pandemic shut down theaters across the country a year ago -- but hasn't meant a complete end to live theatrical creativity. This week the Walker Art Center begins a run of a show without sets, lighting, or even actors. It's called "A Thousand Ways." At 9 a.m. on MPR News: So you’re vaccinated — now what? If you are one of those lucky ones who got the COVID shot in Minnesota, you may wonder: What can I do and can't do after completing my vaccination? This morning, host Kerri Miller will speak with two experts to answer some of your questions.
— Jiwon Choi, MPR News | Find me on Twitter @ChoiGEE1 | 
