Minnesota Today

Health officials say waning vaccine protection and precautions against infection drive COVID spike they’re calling alarming. They also opened another care center in Brainerd to relieve the pressure on hospitals. Also, the Vikings said COVID sent one of their players to the hospital, seriously ill. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

Minnesota is in line to receive billions of dollars in infrastructure money from the federal bill soon to be signed by President Biden, and some of that money could go toward expanding electric vehicle infrastructure in the state.

Minnesota Now listeners heard about the latest on Minnesota’s share of the money. Then, host Cathy Wurzer turned to Jon Hunter, senior director of clean air for the American Lung Association in Minnesota, to find out more about money for electric vehicle infrastructure. Overall, the bill includes about $7.5 billion for electric vehicle infrastructure. That’s less than the $15 billion the president originally sought.

Theme music is by Gary Meister.

Citing the ongoing pandemic, the judge in the Kimberly Potter case will let media record, broadcast and livestream the high-profile trial later this month. Potter is charged in Wright’s killing during a Brooklyn Center traffic stop. This is an MPR News morning update for Wednesday, November 10, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

A 41-year-old cold case in Texas turns out to be a missing Minnesota teenager, killed and left beside an interstate north of Houston. Also, St. Paul mayor Melvin Carter puts out a feeler on making some changes to St. Paul’s rent control measure, approved by voters and one of the strictest in the country. This is an evening update from MPR news, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer on Tuesday interviewed the Minnesota Department of Health's Kris Ehresmann on Minnesota Now. On Monday, the Minnesota Department of Health reported more than 4,200 new infections. Overall case numbers were as high as they were back in December of last year.

It’s the first time that lakes outside of the Twin Cities metro area have been labeled as impaired because of the human-made chemicals known as PFAS. This is an MPR News morning update for Tuesday, November 9, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

COVID cases hit a 2021 high, as a pause in a long surge ends and deaths climb to the highest point since before Christmas. Also, the state is adding to its list of polluted waters, including some nothern lakes where fish have been found with PFAS, the so-called forever chemicals. This is an evening update from MPR news, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

Health experts say making COVID-19 vaccines available for 5 to 11 year olds at school will make it easier for parents to get their kids immunized against the virus. This is an MPR News morning update for Monday, November 8, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

The new federal deadline requiring all health care employees to be fully vaccinated by January 4 comes as Minnesota's long-term care industry is already seeing a staffing crisis. This is an MPR News evening update for Nov 5, 2021. Hosted by Natasha Senjanovic. Our theme music is by Gary Meister. 

Sixteen Minnesota schools hosted COVID-19 vaccine clinics for children 5 to 11 years old to receive their shots Thursday. At one clinic in the gymnasium of Brooklyn Center Elementary, Gov. Tim Walz said there were more than 11,000 sites in the state where children ages 5 to 11 would be able to get the Pfizer vaccine, recently given emergency use approval in the age group.

This is an MPR News morning update for Friday, November 5, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.