Sept. 4, 2020
Planning summer fun this weekend? You're in luck. It looks like a summery Saturday and Sunday ahead followed by a cooler Labor Day. Strong to severe storms are possible Saturday night. Expect near average highs in the 70s and 80s Saturday and Sunday, with Labor Day highs in the 50s in the far north, and a lot of 60s elsewhere. A Minnesota man and a man from North Carolina are accused of trying to conspire with an international terrorist organization. Michael Solomon, 30, of New Brighton is facing one federal criminal charge for conspiring and attempting to provide material support to Hamas. Prosecutors also charged 22-year-old Benjamin Teeter of Hampstead, N.C. According to the criminal complaint, the men identify as members of the Boogaloo Bois, a group that seeks to violently overthrow the government.
Officials to Minnesotans: Stay vigilant this weekend to curb COVID-19's spread. State Infectious Disease Director Kris Ehresmann says simple backyard gatherings and weddings are accounting for much of a steep climb in cases recently. "COIVD still transmits when you're outside. All things being equal, outside is better than being inside. But you still have to socially distance and wear masks," she urges Minnesotans ahead of the Labor Day weekend. Double-digit death toll, 856 new cases reported today. The Minnesota Department of Health Friday reported 856 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 10 new deaths. The new cases were part of nearly 18,700 newly reported tests. 274 people remain hospitalized with nearly half in intensive care, while hospitalizations have plateaued.
Preparations for fall semester underway at the U of M. The university plan is to test students who are symptomatic or have had direct contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case. However Carl Anderson, with the on-campus Boynton Health clinic, says the U does not plan blanket testing of students. Earlier this week, the school also introduced plans to restrict movement of students living in campus residence halls during their first few weeks to limit the spread of COVID-19.
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