Dec. 10, 2020 December is off to a balmy start in Minnesota. Temperatures are running about 10 degrees warmer than average through Dec. 10 in the Twin Cities. It’s been closer to 12 degrees above average so far this month in International Falls along the Canadian border. The Red River Valley is running close to 15 degrees warmer than average so far in December. Check out the latest from Updraft. With another special legislative session set to begin Monday, Minnesota lawmakers said Thursday they agree on some of what should be in a package of COVID-19 relief, but not on the entire plan. The bill language rolled out Thursday would direct $216 million in aid to businesses, but other key relief proposals aimed at workers and families remained in flux.
State health officials on Thursday reported 89 more deaths. It’s the third highest daily death toll so far from the pandemic. However, new COVID-19 cases totaled 3,523, making it one of the lowest counts in a month. The percent positive tests fell to 8.5 percent following a recent surge. Case counts are falling in every age group, but especially among the oldest Minnesotans. New hospital admissions also continue to retreat from last week’s record, although hospitalizations remain relatively high — more than 1,500 people remain in the hospital with COVID-19 as of Wednesday, with more than 350 needing intensive care. You can get more of the latest news, in just a few minutes, via the Minnesota Today podcast. — Hannah Yang | MPR News |