Feb. 26, 2021

Temperatures hit the 40s once again this afternoon across much of the state. Saturday brings colder air to northwest Minnesota with highs in the teens. Highs remain mild in the south. A quick-moving weather system brings snow to southern Minnesota overnight Saturday night into Sunday morning. Find the latest from Updraft.

Minnesota's budget picture has improved dramatically, according to the latest economic forecast from the state Management and Budget office.

Officials project to have a positive balance of $1.6 billion over the next two years, due to higher revenue and lower spending.

The previous report nearly three months ago estimated a $1.3 billion revenue shortfall.

Budget officials credit an improved U.S. economic outlook bolstered by large federal actions that have emerged since November and were not incorporated in earlier projections.

But the state agency also noted that unemployment continues to hit lower wage workers especially hard.

Meanwhile, COVID numbers remain fairly steady, although there has been an uptick in new and active cases.

Known, active COVID-19 cases rose to 7,367, but averaged over the past week the trend line remains stable. Twelve newly reported deaths raised Minnesota’s toll to 6,462.

The state Health Department reports the trend in hospitalization rates is encouraging and remains at levels seen last September.

Minnesota today reported 41,558 more COVID-19 vaccinations, higher than last Friday and one of the highest single-day counts since the agency began posting data in late December.

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

Leaders of tribal nations in Minn. ask Gov. Walz to pause Line 3 work during legal appeal

In a letter, the group urged Walz to issue an executive order putting a stay on the pipeline replacement project construction while lawsuits challenging the project’s approval play out in court.

- Earlier this month Another court blocks attempt to stop Line 3 construction
- Indian Country Today Enbridge Line 3 divides Indigenous lands, people
- Rivers of Oil An MPR News podcast on Line 3

Front-line food plant workers up next for COVID-19 vaccine

Meat and poultry processing plants were at the epicenter of some of the earliest COVID-19 outbreaks in communities in central and southern Minnesota. Vaccinations for the 45,000 workers at the state’s food processing plants are expected to begin in April.

- FAQ:What you need to know about getting a vaccine in MN

Suspect kills Duluth K-9; standoff continues

Police responded to a domestic call Thursday night and the suspect refused to surrender. After a police K-9 was sent to apprehend the suspect, the suspect fired shots that hit the dog, Luna.

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House to vote on virus bill; arbiter says wage hike a no-go

Democrats are ready to push a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package through the House on Friday, despite a setback that means a minimum wage boost is unlikely to be in the final version that reaches President Joe Biden.

U.S. advisers endorse single-shot COVID-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson

The FDA panel experts have ruled that the single-dose vaccine protected against COVID-19 and should be made available for adults. The agency is expected to quickly follow the recommendation and make the shot the third vaccine authorized for emergency use in the U.S.

College tuition sparked a mental health crisis. Then the hefty hospital bill arrived

A student sought counseling help after panicking over a tuition bill. A weeklong stay in a psychiatric hospital followed — along with a $3,413 bill. The hospital soft-pedaled its charity care policy.

Climate change, deforestation threaten monarch butterfly migration

The population of monarch butterflies that migrated to Mexico to ride out the cold winter months in the north fell 26 percent from a year earlier, according to a new report from the Mexican government and the Word Wildlife Fund.

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