Good morning, Minnesota. We're entering the week with a beautiful summery day. With comfortable breezes and highs in the upper 80s. Check out more on the Updraft blog.
Car drives into protesters, hits car which strikes and kills person
One person was killed in the Uptown area of Minneapolis on Sunday night after being struck by a car. This is a developing story, here's what we've been able to report so far:
"A witness said the eastbound SUV was moving at a high rate of speed as it approached just before midnight, and that the driver appeared to accelerate as they got closer to demonstrators who had blocked off Lake Street near Girard Avenue.
The driver struck a vehicle parked across one of the traffic lanes on Lake Street, apparently positioned to protect the crowd. That second vehicle then hit people.
Police said early Monday that the investigation into the incident was still beginning, although they believe the driver may have been impaired by drugs or alcohol." Check our website for the latest reporting.
The Minnesota Legislature is back in (special) session
While this special session is tied to the declared emergency around the COVID-19 pandemic, it will be more focused on approving a new state budget. And leaders warn it could drag on a bit.
“I have been telling people to plan to be in session from June 14 to July 1 at least,” said House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, R-Zimmerman. “Who knows, it could go longer than that.”
There are more than a dozen bills that need ratification before the Legislature’s job is done and any threat of a government shutdown is extinguished.
Gov. Tim Walz will renew a peacetime emergency around COVID-19, despite safety restrictions easing. The move allows regulations around price gouging and a moratorium on rental evictions to continue. The authority also eases moves being made around vaccinations and testing and supply acquisition. Some federal funds are also connected to the emergency status.
As for the budget, policy matters like police accountability, election procedures and environmental safeguards seem to be tripping up the process more than money.
Lawmakers have until June 30 to pass a full budget or risk having to lay off state workers and shut down some programs. Read more from reporter Brian Bakst.
Worker shortage frustrates Minnesota businesses
Minnesota officials have been reaching out to people on unemployment in hopes of linking them with jobs. Many businesses are increasingly frustrated with a shortage of workers, which some blame on enhanced unemployment payments. But filling open positions is not a new problem and solutions are more complicated than simply taking away pandemic relief money. Read the full story from Mark Zdechlik.
It was a deadly weekend on Minnesota's waters as four people died in apparent drownings and a boating accident. -
A new COVID-19 vaccine might be on its way. In a large scale study, Novavax said its vaccine was completely effective against the original coronavirus strain and also effective against some variants. It works differently than other vaccines.
— Sara Porter, MPR News | Find me on Twitter @SaraSporter | 
