MPR News PM Update
 
Good morning,
Happy Friday. It's Aug. 20. We're getting some relief from the ongoing drought! Showers and thunderstorms are expected to move into western Minnesota Friday afternoon. Find the latest on the Updraft.

Kianna Ramos-Baker and her son Jaden Baker stand with a photo of Stacey James Danner at a memorial service for him at De LaSalle High School following his death from COVID-19. Courtesy of Kianna Ramos-Baker 
Stacey Danner was an ardent cheerleader and advocate for his north Minneapolis neighborhood, for Black entrepreneurs and for his wide circle of friends from all walks of life. But this spring, he wavered on getting a vaccine and fell gravely ill with COVID-19. His story illustrates that vaccine hesitancy in Minnesota’s Black community is complex.

Danner was hesitant to get a shot because he thought it hadn't been tested rigorously on Black people, a friend said.

"That's one of the unfortunate misconceptions that is grounded in historical truth, but not for these vaccines,” said state vaccine equity director Nathan Chomilo.

Vaccine hesitancy is in part the byproduct of inequitable health care, he said, where many people of color don't have regular access to a doctor they trust.

Learn more about vaccine hesitancy and about Danner and his impact on his friends and community in the full story by Catharine Richert.
A crowd packs onto the street on the opening day of the Minnesota State Fair on Aug. 22, 2019. Christine T. Nguyen | MPR News 2019
The Minnesota State Fair starts in less than one week, with its rule on carrying dangerous weapons currently in question.

Ramsey County judge Laura Nelson says she’ll decide before the State Fair opens whether people who have gun permits may carry their firearms onto the Falcon Heights fairgrounds.

The arguments go like this:
The gun owners group, which filed a lawsuit last week over the current restriction on firearms, argues that the fair never seriously enforced its gun ban, and only made it an official written rule this week.

Furthermore, they say the policy violates a law that prohibits state government entities such as the fair from enacting firearms bans as well as the Second Amendment.

State Fair and law enforcement officials said in court filings that they were concerned about public safety if they allow guns into the fair, citing the sale of alcohol and a recent trend of people openly carrying military-style rifles at political demonstrations.

“Ramsey County sheriff’s deputies have submitted affidavits outlining serious safety concerns that would be associated with folks doing open carry on the fairgrounds, causing panic, possibly causing stampedes, possibly causing confusion about an active shooter on the grounds,” fair attorney Leah Janus said.

Read more in the full report by Matt Sepic.
What’s next for the economy? It's a big question that we brought to the head of the Federal Reserve Bank in Minneapolis.

Neel Kashkari talked about the labor market, the potential for inflation and how the rest of 2021 might look for the Ninth District.

Listen to the full conversation and read highlights here.
Here's what else we're watching
Greenwood Fire forecast:  Winds Saturday will run between 15 and 25 mph with gusts over 30 mph likely in the fire zone Saturday. Combine the gusty west winds with lower dew points and humidity in the drier inbound air mass, and we could see the Greenwood Fire push aggressively eastward Saturday afternoon.  [ Read more from meteorologist Paul Huttner] 

Summer camps are another on a long list of traditions that are changing with the climate. Climate change is affecting everything from campers’ schedules to infrastructure needs to the kinds of trees on the property at Camp Mishawaka in Grand Rapids, Minn. And it isn’t alone. [ Listen to the latest Climate Cast to learn more.]

COVID booster shots are coming.
If all goes to plan, Americans who got Pfizer or Moderna shots can get a third dose eight months after their last jab. Here's why health officials think you'll need one. [Reporting by NPR.]
– Sara Porter, MPR News
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