Good morning. Expect mostly sunny skies to the east and south regions of the state. Becoming mostly cloudy in the northwest. Highs from the lower 50s northeast to mid 60s southwest. Get more weather updates on Updraft.
“I absolutely feel for the parents that feel so strongly about this,” Minnesota's infectious disease director Kris Ehresmann said, recalling the joy of watching her kids play high school sports and acknowledging she chokes up while wearing her “mom hat” about what the celebrations the disease has taken from many kids families.
But she added: “I recognize what we’re seeing with disease transmission, and that is really concerning.”
Her comments came amid news that the Minnesota State High School League is reconsidering whether to play prep football and volleyball this fall after all.
The league has already indicated it plans to poll schools about their approach to football and volleyball — both sports that may involve prolonged athlete proximity that puts them at risk for spreading the coronavirus. The governing body will meet Monday to review the decision on fall sports in the face of COVID-19.
Ted Schultz, the activities director for Minnetonka public schools for more than a decade, said he will urge the league to bring football and volleyball back. He says precautions will work.
“I feel it's as safe a place as going down to the local grocery store, or to a restaurant. We are doing the best we can,” Schultz said. “The coaches and kids have been great so far. The data has shown me, again, I’m speaking only for Minnetonka, that we can provide a safe product.”
At the collegiate level, the Big Ten conference — which includes the University of Minnesota — announced Wednesday it changed course and will start play in late October.
Less than five weeks after pushing fall sports to spring in the name of player safety during the pandemic, the conference changed course Wednesday and said it plans to open its football season the weekend of Oct. 23-24.
The move does not mean Big Ten stadiums will be packed with fans. Tickets will not be sold to the general public, though some attendance is expected.
University of Minnesota President Joan Gabel issued a statement following the conference’s announcement, voicing her support for restarting the season. She said with many precautions in place, the gophers are ready to play football.
Gophers games will have "significantly reduced" in person attendance at games, following state health guidelines.
Republicans hoping Kistner can flip Craig seat in 2nd District National Republicans think they have a good chance to take back Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District seat, which Democrats flipped in the midterm election two years ago. First-term DFL incumbent Angie Craig is trying to fend off a challenge from first-time candidate Tyler Kistner. -- Mark Zdechlik, MPR News
Here are Minnesota’s current COVID-19 statistics:
- 1,927 deaths
- 85,351 positive cases, 78,953 off isolation
- 238 still hospitalized, 131 in ICU
- 1,733,292 tests, 1,247,867 people tested
Have questions leading up to the Election Day? #AskMPRNews. We want to hear your stories, too. #TellMPRNews what is motivating you to get out and vote this year.
-- Matt Mikus, MPR News @mikusmatt |
