Dec. 9, 2020
Mostly clear skies not only help temperatures soar Wednesday but also allow for viewing of a possible northern lights show into Thursday morning. Check out the latest from Updraft.

Minneapolis officials are poised to make historic cuts to the city’s Police Department in a budget measure they look ready to approve tonight.

Mayor Jacob Frey already proposed a $14 million cut to the police budget for next year, part of the impact of COVID-19 on city finances. The City Council cut further, and plans to reduce the force to 750 officers after next year, more than 100 officers below what Frey has proposed.

A federal jury has found Michael Hari, an Illinois militia leader, guilty on all counts in a civil rights and hate crime trial. Prosecutors said Hari was the mastermind behind a pipe bomb attack against the Dar Al Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington in 2017. Two men he recruited for the attack have already pleaded guilty and testified against him.

COVID-19 deaths in Minnesota jumped significantly in the latest data from state health officials, posting the third-highest toll so far in the pandemic.

Eighty-two deaths were reported today. It's a significant jump over the rolling seven-day average for deaths reported by the Minnesota Department of Health.

Hospital admissions also remained above the recent average, at 215 in the latest data, although the total number of COVID-19 patients in Minnesota hospitals has been drifting down since early November.

You can get more of the latest news, in just a few minutes, via the Minnesota Today podcast. — Tim Nelson | MPR News

Penalties rare for ignoring COVID-19 precautions

Even as Minnesota has become a national hot spot for coronavirus cases and deaths, many people are ignoring safety protocols ordered by Gov. Tim Walz. The safety measures allow for noncompliance penalties, but they appear to be rare. Health officials say education is a better approach than punishment to get people to follow COVID-19 safety measures.

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AP-NORC poll: Only half in U.S. want shots as vaccine nears

As states frantically prepare to begin months of vaccinations that could end the pandemic, a new poll finds only about half of Americans are ready to roll up their sleeves when their turn comes.

Minnesota prepares for a COVID-19 vaccine What you need to know

Murdock to decide whether whites-only group can use former church

Officials in the west-central Minnesota town of Murdock are expected to vote Wednesday on whether to allow a controversial religious group that worships ancient Norse gods to use a former church as a regional gathering place.

With new report recommending his release, Myon Burrell takes his case to pardons board

Burrell was 16 when a stray bullet hit and killed Tyesha Edwards, a Black sixth-grader, as she did her homework at her dining room table. Even though Burrell was a juvenile, he was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. A panel of legal experts found serious flaws in the investigation and recommends Burrell’s release.

Northern lights possible Wednesday night across Minnesota

The aurora borealis could be visible through the entire state late Wednesday night into early Thursday morning. It’s a product of what may be the strongest solar storm of 2020.

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