Juneteenth 'tinted with sorrow' and buoyed by hope

Overcast, stormy weekend. The weekend forecast is cooler and cloudy across Minnesota, with highs in the 70s on Saturday and in the lower 70s to the lower 80s on Sunday. There’s a chance of showers and thunderstorms statewide throughout the weekend.

A rally at Capitol against systemic racism on Juneteenth. Walz hopes to make it a state holiday. Gov. Tim Walz issued a proclamation recognizing today as Juneteenth Freedom Day. Walz says he would like it marked in future years as an official holiday, but that would require a change in law. On the Capitol grounds, a crowd gathered for a rally, celebrating Juneteenth and calling for racial justice.

Outdoor visits now allowed at long-term care. Here are things you should consider before seeing your loved ones. While outdoor and window visits are allowed, you will have to wear a mask, keep the 6-foot distance from one another and go through a temperature check while at the facility. Here’s more information about the new guidance on long-term care visits.

Mayo study says it’s “safe” to use plasma from recovered people on COVID-19 patients. The research followed 20,000 patients who received plasma from recovered patients, and found that using the plasma is safe for treating people fighting the virus. The study also found that the treatment was safe for a diverse group of patients, too. Does that mean that it’s effective? That’s still in question.

COVID-19 in Minnesota today: New daily death counts stay under 20 for a week; ICU, hospitalization numbers continue dipping. Health officials on Friday reported 17 more COVID-19 deaths in Minnesota, bringing the total to 1,361. As of Friday, 339 people were hospitalized, with 168 needing intensive care. Those ICU cases are the lowest since early May.