Feb. 25, 2021

Tonight will be mostly clear with lows in the mid 20s to the lower 30s. Tomorrow will be partly sunny with a chance of rain and snow northeast in the afternoon. Highs in the 40s. Find the latest from Updraft.

Gov. Tim Walz laid out his administration’s plans to vaccinate all of Minnesota, offering new details on who would be eligible when for the shots.

"By summer every Minnesotan is going to be eligible and get their shot," Walz said. "And I want to encourage you to do so."

Walz said that the goal is to have all Minnesotans age 65 and older vaccinated by the end of March.

The governor said that with the large number of people who have at least one underlying medical condition, and vaccines largely targeted for adults, by summer there will be relatively few eligible people left to vaccinate.

In other COVID-19 news, the state Health Department on Thursday reported 28,517 new vaccinations, down from the prior Thursday, with the trend line stuck flat to slightly declining.

Officials hope the arrival of some 45,000 weather-delayed shots on top of the state’s regular 100,000-dose allocation will soon jump-start the pace of vaccinations, although it hasn’t happened yet and the pressure to move faster is rising.

There are signs of a deal on security costs for the upcoming trials in the wake of George Floyd’s death. A state Senate committee advanced a scaled-back plan to put $15 million into a safety fund. That money would reimburse local agencies that send in help to Minneapolis, St. Paul or other cities facing unrest.

Differences remain, but Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen, R-Alexandria, says even without upfront financial assurances, he expects many departments to lend a hand.

“Let things happen that are going to happen and deal with it later," Ingebrigtsen said. "Cops are cops. They’re not going to not work. They’re not going to not do public safety.”

The Senate could vote as soon as Monday on a bill, although more negotiations are expected over the weekend.

You can get more of the latest news, in just a few minutes, via the Minnesota Today podcast. — Tim Nelson | MPR News

A new polar bear is taking charge at Como Zoo

Just in time for spring, Minnesota has a new polar bear. The Como Zoo said today that it has brought a 26-year-old female bear from the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, to join the St. Paul zoo’s 25-year-old male bear, Neil. He’s been alone since his brother, Buzz, had to be euthanized last summer after developing serious neurological problems.

COVID-19 vaccine makers' booster shots aim at a moving target: Coronavirus variants

The U.S. is still ramping up its vaccination program, hoping to finally clamp down on the COVID-19 pandemic. But even as vaccine doses are being rolled out, their makers are exploring several strategies to bolster them, hoping to protect people against worrying new variants that have sprung up in recent months, from South Africa to the U.K.

Sex ed bill moving in Minn. House draws GOP opposition

Legislation is moving in the state House that would require school districts and charter schools to have comprehensive sexual health programs in elementary and secondary grades. Some Republican lawmakers are strongly opposed and say sex education — especially for elementary school kids — should be left up to parents.

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Minnesota music legend Peter Ostroushko dies at 67

Celebrated fiddler, mandolinist and Minnesota music legend Peter Ostroushko has died. He was 67. Ostroushko’s career and range was widespread and eclectic — he appeared on Bob Dylan’s legendary “Blood on the Tracks” album, played with the Minnesota Orchestra and was a regular on A Prairie Home Companion for 40 years.

Biden marks 50M vaccine doses in first 5 weeks in office

On Thursday, Biden marked the administration of the 50 millionth dose of COVID-19 vaccine since his swearing-in. The moment came days after the nation reached the devastating milestone of 500,000 coronavirus deaths and ahead of a meeting with the nation's governors on plans to speed the distribution even further.

Manhattan prosecutor gets Trump tax records after long fight

A New York prosecutor has obtained copies of Donald Trump’s tax records after the Supreme Court this week rejected the former president’s last-ditch effort to prevent them from being handed over.

AG: Olympics gymnastics coach dies by suicide after charges

A former U.S. Olympics gymnastics coach with ties to disgraced sports doctor Larry Nassar has died by apparent suicide after being charged with two dozen crimes, including forms of human trafficking.

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