Good morning! A spring-like thaw continues into the weekend. Mild air and sunny skies will prevail in Minnesota most of this weekend. Highs will reach the 40s once again today and Saturday. It'll remain dry until late Saturday evening to Sunday morning when a quick-hitting snow is expected for southern Minnesota, brining 1-3 inches total. Highs Sunday will range from the mid-20s to lower 30s. Find the latest on Updraft. Gov. Tim Walz says every Minnesotan should be able to get a shot by the summer. The state’s vaccination effort, however, continues to struggle for traction.
Walz laid out plans Thursday to get COVID-19 shots into the arms of every Minnesotan who wants one by the summer while keeping the state’s short-term focus on residents 65 and older. He even suggested the Minnesota State Fair was possible this year.
"The finish line's there. Let's finish this thing,” Walz said in remarks that were mostly upbeat about the state’s current circumstances on the one-year anniversary of the first Minnesotan showing COVID-19 symptoms.
Front-line essential works are next in line after older Minnesotans. Once more than 70 percent of the state's age 65 and over population receives a shot, it'll move on to the next group, which is expected to happen in April. That pool includes people with underlying health conditions and workplace exposure risk, including some 45,000 employees working at Minnesota food processing plants. "The finish line's here": Positive trends in Minnesota's COVID situation hold strong. While Minnesota’s COVID-19 vaccination pace remains frustratingly flat, the overall pandemic picture continues to brighten. Health officials reported 7 new COVID deaths Thursday, about on par with the recent average. Known, active cases stayed below 7,000 for the fourth consecutive day. Here are Minnesota’s latest COVID-19 statistics: - 6,450 deaths (7 new)
- 481,831 positive cases (996 new), 468,498 off isolation (97 percent)
- 7.2 million tests, 3.4 million Minnesotans tested (about 59 percent of the population)
- 14.1 percent of Minnesotans vaccinated with at least one dose
The U.S. launched strikes in Syria last night, killing 1 and wounding several. The action targeted facilities belonging to a powerful Iranian-backed Iraqi armed group, according to the Pentagon. The strikes were retaliation for a rocket attack in Iraq earlier this month that killed one civilian contractor and wounded a U.S. service member and other coalition troops. House Democrats are voting on the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package today. Democrats are ready to push the measure in the House despite a setback that means a minimum wage boost is unlikely to be in the final version that reaches President Joe Biden. The relief bill would provide millions of people with $1,400 direct payments. It contains billions of dollars for vaccines and COVID-19 testing, schools, state and local governments, and businesses hurt by the pandemic. Say hello to Nanutaaq, the Como Zoo's new polar bear to be "the Queen Nan." The Como Zoo has brought the 26-year-old female bear from Chicago to join the St. Paul zoo’s 25-year-old male bear, Neil. Since last summer, Neil has been alone because his twin brother had to be euthanized for serious neurological problems. Nanutaaq and Neil seem to get along well so far, although the new bear "is “very bossy," says Como Zoo senior keeper Allison Jungheim. "She’s going to be the queen Nan, I guess." Find photos of Nanutaaq and her story here.
— Jiwon Choi, MPR News | Find me on Twitter @ChoiGEE1 | 
