Good morning, Minnesota.
It is a tale of two forecasts in Minnesota today. Spotty T-showers. Warm front stalls in south metro. Highs 40s north, 60s south. Wind E 15 mph. Check out the latest forecast from Updraft.
Hesitation to get vaccinated is common in rural Minnesota. As of April 20, just 32 percent of eligible residents in Benton County had received a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to data from the Minnesota Department of Health. It's one of the lowest percentages of any Minnesota county, well below the statewide number of 53 percent.
Just two months ago, health care providers were struggling to procure enough precious vials of vaccine to quench the seemingly limitless demand throughout the state. The state, in turn, implemented a phased distribution rollout to make sure the most vulnerable populations could get it. And people eager for immunity spent hours scouring pharmacy websites for appointments and driving hundreds of miles to get one of the scarce doses.
But as that problem has abated thanks to an increase in available vaccine, a new one has risen to replace it. Vandal spreads hate at Moorhead mosque
Police and federal authorities are investigating hate messages that were found spray-painted early Sunday on the outside of a mosque in Moorhead, Minn.
Officers were dispatched to the Moorhead Fargo Islamic Community Center at about 5:20 a.m. Sunday. Police said the grafitti was found in several areas on and around the building.
Video surveillance from the building captured images of a suspect wearing a camouflage jacket and dark ski mask.
The two cities are “sharing overwhelming support” for the Islamic congregation, officials said in a release.
4 weeks left and $1 billion to bridge for Minn. lawmakers
Here’s the bottom line: All of the House bills add up to about $52.5 billion in spending out of the general treasury for the next two years, according to calculations from nonpartisan staff. The Senate plans, including those awaiting final votes, stand at $51.5 billion.
So that’s a cool $1 billion distance between them. And that’s just the top lines. There are countless differences in where each bill would put the dollars.
It’s not even as easy as saying just meeting in the middle.
COVID Latest in Minnesota:
Minnesota passes 4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered More than 55 percent of Minnesotans 16 and older have received at least one vaccine dose; more than 40 percent completely vaccinatedVaccine pace flat; Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause lifted
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— Michael Olson, MPR News | Find me on Twitter @publicmic
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