March 17, 2020

Rain, snow, wind gusts hit Minnesota starting tonight. I hope you enjoyed plenty of sunshine Tuesday — the next three days will be pretty stormy. By Tuesday evening, more clouds move back while rain and snow spread across the state overnight. Highs Wednesday will be in the mid-30s to mid-40s.

Latest on COVID-19 in Minnesota: 60 cases confirmed, restaurants close at 5 p.m. The Mall of America is also temporarily closing its doors from 5 p.m. Tuesday until at least the end of this month. State lawmakers have voted unanimously to direct $200 million toward a health care response fund.

Joe Biden vs. Bernie Sanders: Who will win St. Patrick’s Day primaries tonight? While Ohio called off its primary amid the coronavirus pandemic, Arizona, Illinois and Florida are still voting Tuesday in their presidential primary elections. Get the latest stories, analysis and results on our primary live blog here.

You DON’T NEED to stock up bottled water, experts say. Tap water is safe to drink, and you will not get COVID-19 by drinking it. If you are worried about your water bill during the virus outbreak, some cities, including Minneapolis and St. Paul, are taking steps to make sure people don't lose access to water. Both cities have suspended water shutoffs for 30 days.

Stay up-to-date on Minnesota’s latest COVID-19 news. Subscribe to our daily podcast, Minnesota Today, to get the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak in Minnesota — from the most up-to-date case and test counts to tips on working from home, taking care of your kids and more. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.

— Jiwon Choi, MPR News

Minnesota tightens criteria for COVID-19 testing

State health officials Tuesday said the move will allow them to focus on highest-priority patients: Health care workers, patients already being hospitalized and those who live in what the department calls “congregate living” situations, such as long-term care facilities or nursing homes.

Related: Limited access to COVID-19 tests frustrates patients, health professionals
White House: More drive-through coronavirus test sites to open this week
Have you tried to get tested? Tell us about your experience

White House wants to send checks to Americans as coronavirus stalls economy

President Trump has proposed sending money directly to Americans to help blunt the economic impact caused by the coronavirus pandemic, saying it's time to "go big" to boost the now-stalled economy.

U.S. stocks jump:White House plans $1 trillion stimulus

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Walz gets some legislative pushback on closure order

Some Republican lawmakers are questioning whether Gov. Tim Walz went too far in ordering bars, restaurants and other businesses to close in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.

MN House, Senate: Pass emergency COVID-19 funding bill

Myth-busting: You won’t get COVID-19 from your tap water

As concern grows over the spread of COVID-19, many people across Minnesota and the U.S. have been stocking up on items like food, cleaning supplies and bottled water. But why water? We asked some experts about water and COVID-19, and here’s what we learned.

DFL moves to online party conventions

After initially delaying regional conventions because of COVID-19, the state DFL Party has decided to use online balloting instead of in-person gatherings.

Walleye fishing catch-and-release only again on Mille Lacs, closed entirely in July

Walleye fishing will be catch-and-release only again this year on Mille Lacs Lake, and off limits altogether during the month of July, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced Tuesday.

It's time to get serious about social distancing. Here's how

We're all trying to do the right thing. But how does this work exactly? Can we visit grandma? Have a playdate? Have friends for dinner? We check in with experts for answers.

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