MPR News Update
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Good morning and welcome to Thursday. Here’s what you need to know.


Wet, and maybe snowy. The Twin Cities see morning and afternoon rain with highs in the mid-40s and wind gusts up to 40 mph. At night, it’ll get colder with lows in the upper 20s and high winds. Statewide, patchy fog in the morning and a chance of rain (potentially snow up north.). Highs range from mid-30s in the northwest to 40s in the southeast. Chance of snow at night up north as temps dip everywhere. More on Updraft. | Forecast


President Trump has suspended travel between the U.S. and Europe, aside from the United Kingdom, for 30 days. He placed blame on the European Union for not acting quickly enough to stymie coronavirus’ spread. Trump also said he’s directing government agencies to provide financial relief (how much remains uncertain) “for workers who are ill, quarantined or caring for others due to coronavirus.”


The University of Minnesota is moving all classes online at least for the month of March. That’s for all five system campuses. Minnesota State system leaders have not yet decided on how to handle any in-person class suspensions as coronavirus continues its rapid spread.


There are at least five coronavirus cases in Minnesota. The fourth and fifth surfaced in Olmsted and Ramsey counties. COVID-19 is now officially a pandemic, according to the World Health Organization.


Please continue sending us your coronavirus questions. We will continue to answer them.
Minneapolis and University of Minnesota police need your help. They’re trying to catch an alleged serial sexual abuser. More information here.


St. Paul teachers are continuing their strike, and 36,000 students have more time out of class. Reports the AP: “Teachers and support staff picketed again outside the city's schools, as parents scrambled to make alternative plans for their children.”


Amid the strike, the district has laid off over 2,000 workers. The district told our education reporter Elizabeth Shockman that it sent 2,414 layoff notices to school staff, including some union workers.


Some say Joe Biden now has a clear path to the Democratic presidential nomination. That and other takeaways from Big Tuesday primaries are in NPR’s wrap-up. However, Bernie Sanders isn’t going anywhere.


-- Cody Nelson, MPR News
Minnesota leaders dust off state quarantine law as COVID-19 spreads
State leaders are dusting off a law first written almost two decades ago during an anthrax scare that spells out the circumstances and procedures for forced quarantines.
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Singapore wins praise for its COVID-19 strategy. The U.S. does not
"Our response is much, much worse than almost any other country that's been affected," says one expert. 
U.S. Soccer apologizes for saying male players have 'more responsibility' than women
U.S. Soccer President Carlos Cordeiro apologized for "the offense and pain caused by language in this week's court filing, which did not reflect the values of our Federation or our tremendous admiration of our Women's National Team. Our WNT players are incredibly talented and work tirelessly, as they have demonstrated time and again from their Olympic Gold medals to their World Cup titles."
Art Hounds: Dancers navigate personal boundaries and consent in 'Touch Code'
Plus, Art Hounds recommend "The Rinky Dink Show" and "The Fox."
What's on the radio today?
9 a.m. — MPR News with Kerri Miller

Financial turmoil in the stock market is one of many issues raising questions from consumers about their own financial security. We look at personal finance management during a time of global economic change and public health challenges. Chris Farrell guest hosts.

10 a.m. — 1A

As new cases of COVID-19 continue to emerge around the country, schools are taking extra precautions to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Some of these include switching classes online, extending spring break and, in the cases of some colleges, campus evacuations.

The closures have left many wondering what's going to happen to those who depend on schooling for housing, meals and even child care. In cities like New York, where roughly 114,000 public school students are homeless, many worry about the disproportionate effect closures will have on students without those resources.

How are parents, teachers and students coping with school cancellations and evacuations?

11 a.m. —MPR News with Angela Davis

The latest edition of Counter Stories.

12 p.m. — MPR News Presents

A new debate from the Intelligence Squared series. The motion is: "Anti-Zionism is the New Anti-Semitism." Zionism, the belief in the Jewish right to self-determination in the land of Israel, has been the topic of contentious global debate for decades.


This programming schedule is subject to change.
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