MPR News PM Update

Oct. 8, 2021

The intensive care unit at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd has 10 beds. Currently, they're all full. Nine of the patients have COVID, and eight of those are on ventilators — one has been for the past 23 days.

Across greater Minnesota, hospitals are struggling to keep up with demand amid the latest COVID-19 surge. Dr. Greg Davis directs the ICU at St. Joseph's and says they're holding critically ill patients in the emergency department until an ICU opening can be found.

"There's a shortage of ICU beds around the state. So we sort of co-op and transfer patients around to wherever there's a bed open —  if there's a bed open."

Davis says the solution isn't as simple as opening more ICU beds, since they require specialized equipment and trained staff.

Crow Wing County's COVID vaccination rate continues to lag behind the statewide average. Davis says eight of the nine COVID patients in the ICU were unvaccinated.

The number of active COVID cases in the state continues to rise and now tops 25,000 for the first time since last December.

Subscribe to our Minnesota Today podcast to get up-to-date Minnesota news twice daily.  — Kirsti Marohn, MPR News
 
Activists call for Minneapolis cops who appear in body camera video to be disciplined
Longtime activists critical of police brutality today called for the immediate firing of Minneapolis police officers who can be seen on recently released body camera video indiscriminately firing so-called less-than-lethal weapons at protesters during the unrest that followed the killing of George Floyd by then-officer Derek Chauvin last spring.  
 
Twins host winter clothing drive Saturday for Afghan refugees
Donations collected at the event by Target Field will aid Afghan families housed at military bases in Wisconsin and Indiana. Organizers are specifically requesting winter gear for children and adults. 
 
Long-term care CEOs: Pandemic pushes staff shortages to crisis levels
Minnesota long-term care leaders say they have 23,000 open positions and that the shortage has never been worse. That’s forcing some care facilities to restrict admissions. "We can't admit people if we don't have the staff to take care of them," one CEO says. 
 
Need some winter wheels? MnDOT's got giant snowplows for sale
Now for sale: Eight sweet, orange rides with big beds from the Minnesota Department of Transportation. A pair sold last week. No word on gas mileage. 
 
Highway project threatens Hmong farmland in Dakota County
Land ownership and access is a major barrier for farmers of color in Minnesota. A Hmong farming group in the process of buying its land is already worried about a potential loss to construction. 
 
Halloween events in Minnesota and their COVID precautions
We’ve got the details on some of the spookiest events happening across the state, and what you need in order to attend them.
 
Active weather targets Minnesota over the weekend
A wetter pattern is settling in across Minnesota, causing everything from areas of fog to rain showers. Over the weekend, an area of low pressure brings even heavier rain, a severe weather risk, and eventually ushers in cooler temperatures. 
 
SPONSOR

 
 
Appetites: Tradition and community make bouja a Midwest staple
The community bouja party at the Avon Hills Folk School happens every October on the second Saturday of the month. Tomorrow, visitors can get the perfect opportunity to soak in the fall foliage while enjoying a perfect fall meal — a hot bowl of bouja soup.
 
What's behind up-and-coming Duluth's sluggish population growth?
There's been a lot of positive buzz around Duluth recently — tourist numbers are soaring, the city's outdoor scene has gotten lots of national press. Yet despite all that enthusiasm, the population has barely budged in 20 years, while many other midsize cities in Minnesota are growing. 
 
The Postal Service is slowing the mail to save money. Critics say it's a death spiral
As of Oct. 1, some first-class mail has been delivered more slowly. Some say between that and recent price increases, it spells trouble for the agency.
 

Preference Center ❘ Unsubscribe

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