MPR News Update
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Good morning, it’s Wednesday. Here’s what you need to know.


Warmer air is back. Twin Cities highs in the upper 40s with 10 to 15 mph winds. At night, lows in the upper 30s with a 50 percent chance of rain. Highs in the north near 40; southwest highs in the lower 50s. Temps dip at night to lows in the mid-20s up north and upper 30s in the south. More on Updraft. | Forecast


Joe Biden’s lead is growingAnd the former vice president won Big Tuesday’s largest prize: Michigan. Overall, it was another pile of Democratic delegates that added to Biden’s lead over Bernie Sanders. In the past week or so, the primaries have given a major boost to Biden’s centrist, establishment Democratic platform over Sanders’ insurgent, progressive one.


Minnesota Republicans want safer cities, but no gun control. State Senate Republicans are pushing measures to encourage more cops in the Twin Cities and on light rail trains. Missing from their public-safety plans are the expanded background checks for gun-buying and a means to take guns from people deemed a threat — that’s what House DFLers are pushing.


St. Paul students will be out of school “in the indefinite future, as it stands right now.” That was the message from district superintendent Joe Gothard on Tuesday, day one of the teachers’ strike. Some 3,600 educators are striking; 37,000 students don’t have classes. The main sticking point was getting more mental health services for students, plus more multilingual interpreters and special education funding.


The teachers’ union president says striking wasn’t an easy decision for teachers. "Educators want to be with their students. But they also want their students to enter schools that are supported and have the resources our kids need to thrive,” Nick Faber said.


Flu, cold or coronavirus? Three major viruses with similar symptoms are all making their way across the country. Perhaps the scariest is COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, a third confirmed case of which is now in Minnesota. Big differences among the three viruses, however, are their intensity and how they show up in the body. The AP explains.


Let us help you navigate the COVID-19 outbreak. We’re taking your questions here and answering them as the virus continues to spread.

-- Cody Nelson, MPR News
Strike leads to search for child care for St. Paul parents
During the strike, the city of St. Paul will keep open some school buildings and use libraries and rec centers to serve free breakfast and lunch to its students. These measures are expected to help a fraction of the 37,000 students who make up the district. They are critical services in a district where 70 percent of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.
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UN: Last year was second-warmest and decade was hottest ever
Last year was the second warmest on record, the past decade was the hottest in human history and January was the warmest January since 1850, the head of the U.N. weather agency said Tuesday.
Russia passes bill allowing Putin to stay in power past 2024
Putin has ruled Russia for more than 20 years. After serving for two consecutive four-year terms — a limit outlined in the current version of the constitution — Putin shifted to the prime minister's seat in 2008, with his close ally Dmitry Medvedev becoming a placeholder president.
Coachella delays 2020 edition due to coronavirus concerns
The dates are moving from Apr. 10-12 and Apr. 17-19 to the weekends of Oct. 9 and 16.
Food comes full circle in Sleepy Eye, where even the bison eat local
A new brewery in downtown Sleepy Eye has partnered with a local bison farmer in an unusual arrangement: The bison eat the spent grains that the would otherwise get thrown away, a byproduct of the brewing process — and eventually, the meat from those bison shows up on the brewery cafe’s menu.
Springtime icebreaking ritual begins again in Duluth
Every March the Alder helps clear channels through the ice for the upcoming shipping season, so that 1,000-foot long ships loaded with taconite, coal, limestone and other cargo can maneuver without getting stuck. | Video: The yearly ritual of breaking through Lake Superior’s harbor ice
What's on the radio today?
9 a.m. — MPR News with Kerri Miller
Can the novel coronavirus sicken the global economy as well as millions of people? Chris Farrell guest hosts.

10 a.m. — 1A

For millions of Americans, going to the office each day now means staying home. The impact of COVID-19 is being felt in workplaces across the country. But in a gig economy, how do you stay afloat when the world you rely on disappears behind closed doors?

11 a.m. —MPR News with Angela Davis

First, in Minnesota, young black girls are about eight and a half times more likely to be suspended than their white female peers. We are talking about discipline disparities in schools and how to solve this problem.

Then, this weekend is the college curling national championships at the Fargo-Moorhead Curling Club. Two guests explain the sport’s growing popularity and some facts on how curling got started.

12 p.m. —  MPR News Presents

New York Times reporter Tatiana Schlossberg speaks about her new book "Inconspicuous Consumption: The Environmental Impact You Don't Know You Have." She was interviewed for the Commonwealth Club's "Climate One" series by Greg Dalton.

This programming schedule is subject to change.
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