Minnesota Today

Hundreds of thousands of unemployed Minnesotans will benefit from the federal COVID-19 relief bill signed Sunday by President Trump. State Commissioner of Employment and Economic Development Steve Grove said there’s aid ready for many of those who will have a gap in coverage. This is the MPR News afternoon update for Dec. 28, 2020. Hosted by Kirsti Marohn. Theme music by Gary Meister.

Minnesota enters the last week of 2020 carrying a heavy burden of more than 400,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 5,100 deaths from the disease.

But as a new year approaches, there are signs of hope. Distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine will continue this week across the state, with vaccinations ramping up for residents and staff at Minnesota's long-term care facilities. They're next in line after thousands of health-care workers in the state have received their first doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines in the past couple weeks.

This is an MPR News morning update for Monday, December 28, 2020. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

After blizzard conditions and sub-zero temperatures blanketed most of the state, the State Patrol says driving will remain a challenge over the holiday weekend. Also, Minnesota has reached another difficult marker in the COVID-19 pandemic: more than 5,000 deaths. This is an MPR News afternoon update for Dec. 24, 2020. Hosted by Nina Moini. Theme music by Gary Meister.

State infectious disease director Kris Ehresmann says several providers are anticipating they’ll see delays in receiving Moderna vaccines. Wednesday’s winter storm did not help.

This is an MPR News morning update for Thursday, December 24, 2020. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

The National Weather Service is warning that a flash freeze and low visibility due to blowing snow will make travel impossible in some places. The Minnesota State Patrol reported more than 250 crashes with 41 injuries as of Wednesday afternoon. This is the MPR News evening update for Dec. 23, 2020. Hosted by Jon Collins. Theme music by Gary Meister.

Morning rain is expected to quickly change to snow midday. This is an MPR News morning update for Wednesday, December 23, 2020. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Gov. Tim Walz says the state isn’t letting up its commitment to providing COVID-19 testing, even when front-line workers and vulnerable residents start to get vaccinated. He says Minnesota expects to receive 250,000 vaccines by the end of the year. This is your MPR News evening update for Dec. 22, 2020. Hosted by Jon Collins. Theme music by Gary Meister.

The Senate acted swiftly Monday night, in a 91-7 vote, to approve more than $900 billion for coronavirus assistance, shortly after the House of Representatives passed the package. The aid comes after months of partisan sniping over what elements should be in a relief measure that virtually all lawmakers on Capitol Hill argued was long overdue.

This is an MPR News morning update for Tuesday, December 22, 2020. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

A second COVID-19 vaccine is expected to start arriving in the state within days, after Friday's emergency authorization by federal officials. Like the Pfizer vaccine that Minnesotans started receiving last week, the Moderna vaccine requires two shots weeks apart. This is the MPR News evening update for Dec. 21, 2020. Hosted by Nancy Lebens. Theme music by Gary Meister.

COVID-19 statistics in Minnesota passed several encouraging milestones over the weekend: The rolling seven-day average of new cases each day dropped below 3,000; the average number of hospital admissions fell below 150 a day; and the average test positivity rate over the past week dropped below 7 percent.

While those are still alarmingly high numbers, they’re levels not seen in six weeks or longer. But the positive signs came amid a mounting December death toll.

This is an MPR News morning update for Monday, December 21, 2020. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.