Thursday temperatures should stay fairly mild but keep an eye out for precipitation. We could see a light wintry mix overnight into early Thursday morning with patchy light snow and light freezing rain could cause some slick roads early morning. Find the latest on Updraft.
Signs giving students tips on proper mask wearing hang in the doorway of a classroom on Sept. 1, 2020. Evan Frost | MPR News 2020
The Minneapolis public school system is moving to online learning, saying the latest COVID-19 wave has brought staffing to a crisis level. The move will start on Friday, with in-person classes set to resume Jan. 31.
The state's third largest district has been dealing with hundreds of staff absences daily, and can't keep the doors open with the people they have, Ed Graff, the district’s superintendent, said Wednesday.
"We've reached our tipping point,” he said. “As much as we did not want to move to this space, this is where we are."
Rochester public schools announced Wednesday it will also go to distance learning next week. Adding to the growing list of schools and school systems temporarily closing their doors.
What else we're watching:
Art Hounds suggest stories in movement and music. Duluth’s Ellen Sandbeck’s intricately cut paper art reflects the Mississippi River. Art Hounds also note The Moving Company’s production of “Anamnesis” in Minneapolis, and the Naked Stages Fellows movement-based works, streaming this month.
Why are some folks hacking home COVID tests by swabbing their throat?The FDA-approved tests call for a nasal swab. Some doctors are tweeting that they're doing a throat swab too — though they don't recommend this step to the public. Here's a look at the swab debate.
The Twin Cities are tightening COVID bar, restaurant rules as cases climb. Minneapolis and St. Paul will soon require proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID test to enter places serving food and drink. Some business owners worry the move will spark new confrontations with patrons.
What do you want to know about COVID-19? During the noon hour today host Cathy Wurzer will be sharing audience questions with Dr. Susan Kline, a professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine at the University of Minnesota. It's the first in a series where we pose your COVID and related health questions to medical professionals. Share your questions with us by emailing minnesotanow@mpr.org.
