May 18, 2020

Temps finally warming for southern Minn. Folks in the southern half of the state can look forward to the comeback of temps in the 70s by Tuesday. Meanwhile, because of ongoing dry conditions along with winds gusting over 40 mph near Duluth, a Red Flag Warning was issued for portions of the Arrowhead on Monday. Read more on the latest Updraft blog.

Latest on COVID-19 in MN: 731 dead; life curbs loosen, risk remains. Minnesota’s COVID-19 toll climbed again. The state Health Department reported 731 Minnesotans have died from the disease, up 9 from Sunday; 488 people are currently hospitalized, with 229 in intensive care, counts that have stayed roughly stable over the past few days. Minnesota’s top health official implored residents to wear masks outdoors and keep their distance from others as the state loosens restrictions on daily life driven by COVID-19.

Retail stores across the state start to reopen, cautiously. As of Monday, nonessential retailers in Minnesota with a coronavirus safety plan were allowed to reopen at 50 percent capacity. But some stores are taking time prepare. Businesses that are planning to reopen are struggling not only with the virus, but with bringing back staff who may have been laid off or replacing inventory that’s expired since the governor issued the order to close most nonessential businesses, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce President Doug Loon said.

Session over, but lawmakers are already preparing to come back. Left undone was one of the top priorities, a package of public works construction projects funded by the sale of state bonds commonly known around the Capitol as the bonding bill. But Gov. Walz said he got some of the things he wanted, including an affordable insulin program and raising the age to buy tobacco to 21.

— Sara Porter, MPR News

Central Minnesota bar owner backs down, says he won't defy state order to remain closed

Kris Schiffler, who owns Shady’s Hometown Tavern, in Albany, Minn., and five other bars in the area, had been planning to open the tavern’s doors at noon Monday, a long line of customers at his door. But instead he stepped out of the open doors of his restaurant with a bullhorn, telling the crowd he would comply with a judge’s ruling.

‘Food is medicine’: Native chefs making healthy meals for Twin Cities elders

Chefs and volunteers are cooking and delivering meals every weekday, focusing on healthy foods with at least 50 percent indigenous ingredients.

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High school yearbook staff shifts from prom to pandemic

"We have more of a focus, I would say, on current events, how it's impacting the community, not just the students at the high school,” said teacher and yearbook adviser Denetre Stetz.

New coronavirus vaccine candidate shows promise in early, limited trial

Cambridge, Mass.-based Moderna, Inc., is reporting preliminary data suggesting its COVID-19 vaccine is safe, and appears to be triggering an immune response in test subjects.

Daily dose of sweetness: Grads to get top billing at Austin theater

The graduating class of 2020 in Austin may not get a traditional high school ceremony. Instead, they will get their name on the marquee of the historic Paramount Theatre. | Who is someone in your life working to spread good?

Congress gave colleges a $14 billion lifeline. Here's where it's going

Like so many sectors of the economy, higher education is taking a big hit from the pandemic. The U.S. Department of Education has so far distributed more than $10 billion in relief funds to colleges.

A nurse's simple fix puts COVID-19 patients at ease

Nurses are thinking a lot about personal protective equipment — how much they need it, whether they'll run out. But some are also thinking about how scary it can look to patients.

Despite the risks, essential retail workers often have little option but going to work

That people of color make a large part of the essential worker workforce may offer one clue as to why COVID-19 is affecting communities of color disproportionately. And while Walz recently indicated that employers must provide safe working conditions, and that employees may collect unemployment insurance if they leave their jobs out of safety concerns, fear of contracting the virus remains a pressing concern.

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