MPR News PM Update
Aug. 20, 2021

Good evening,

The Minneapolis City Council and Mayor Jacob Frey are wrangling over language on a ballot measure to eliminate the police department and create a new department of public safety. For the second time Friday, Frey vetoed language presented by the council.

"We should tell the truth," Frey said. "We should let voters know the consequences of what they’re voting on and the consequences of what will happen if this actually passes."

The deadline for passage is midnight, otherwise the city could face legal challenges. The council can either overturn the veto with nine votes or find a compromise with the mayor.

Drought conditions continue in northern Minnesota, where total precipitation deficits reflect those in years 1910, 1934, 1936 and 1976 — all severe drought years. The state drought task force is declaring tighter water restrictions in northern Minnesota around the headwaters of the Mississippi, Rainy River Basin and the Red River Valley.

There were 10 newly reported deaths from COVID-19 among Minnesotans. Here’s a look at the state’s latest numbers:

  • About 1,700 news COVID-19 cases reported Friday.

  • Minnesota is averaging around 1,200 cases per day. That's up from about 900 cases per day a week ago.

  • Minnesota is on track to see its fourth COVID-19 wave peak in the next week, but what will happen next month remains uncertain.

  • Breakthrough cases among the vaccinated are rising and the Twin Cities metro is showing a huge racial gap in COVID-19 vaccinations.

  • Less than half of Black residents appear to be vaccinated in most of the 7 counties that make up the metro, while in most counties more than half of white residents have been vaccinated.

Subscribe to our Minnesota Today podcast to get up-to-date Minnesota news twice daily. — Nina Moini, MPR News
 
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