Top of the Tuesday to ya, Minnesota! If you thought we were through the worst of the cold, think again. MPR News meteorologist Paul Huttner is predicting this will be the coldest week of winter in Minnesota. An even colder shot of Arctic air is expected to arrive this weekend. Temperatures could again approach negative 20 in the Twin Cities, with negative 40 up north once again. Get the latest from the Updraft weather blog. Minnesota’s vaccination progress slipped last week, and the trend is continuing. After a late January surge, vaccine rates have been slowing down as Monday’s vaccination numbers came in far lower than the prior Monday.
All told, about 10.1 percent of Minnesotans had received at least one dose as of Saturday, with about 2.8 percent completely vaccinated. The state on Monday ranked 14th among states in doses administered per 100,000 people.
We have good news, too. Hospitalizations and total cases are continuing their downward trend. The state Health Department reported 564 newly confirmed or probable cases Monday — the lowest number in nearly five months.
Here are Minnesota’s latest COVID-19 statistics: 6,302 deaths (3 new)468,682 positive cases (564 new), 454,290 off isolation (97 percent)6.8 million tests, 3.3 million Minnesotans tested (about 58 percent of the population)10.1 percent of Minnesotans vaccinated with at least one dose Three co-defendants are on the state's witness list in the trial of ex-cop Derek Chauvin, charged with killing George Floyd
In a court filing Monday, Assistant Minnesota Attorney General Matthew Frank named more than 360 people he is considering calling to the stand. On his list are former officers J. Alexander Kueng, Tou Thao, and Thomas Lane, who stand accused of aiding and abetting murder and manslaughter. Earlier on Monday, defense attorney Eric Nelson filed with the court his own list of potential witnesses. Both lists included Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo, Fire Chief Bryan Tyner, and Hennepin County Medical Examiner Dr. Andrew Baker as potential witnesses.
Another court has blocked an attempt to stop construction on the Line 3 pipeline.
The judge agreed that the construction of the 340-mile Line 3 across northern Minnesota will destroy wetlands and could result in other environmental harms.
But she said delaying construction also causes safety risks, because that would result in the continued operation of the existing Line 3, which is corroding and requires extensive maintenance.
“We’re disturbed that the court would not at least temporarily stop Enbridge from destroying the water and wetlands we have used and depended on since time immemorial,” said Red Lake Band of Chippewa Chairman Darrell G. Seki, Sr. “But we will not stop fighting.”
A new book tells the tale of a canoe trip two best friends took from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay.
Natalie Warren and Ann Raiho are the first two women to ever make that 2,000 mile trip. One canoe: two paddlers working together. Warren and Raiho did it well — but the trip had its share of obstacles, both physical and mental.
"Doing this trip with one other person was probably the biggest challenge of the expedition because we had to operate as one person for 100 days," she said.
Warren wrote a book re-telling their adventure. Listen to an excerpt on out website here. [needs link when live]
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