ST. PAUL, Minn.-Gov. Tim Walz is requiring Minnesotans to wear face masks to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Walz signed an executive order Wednesday requiring Minnesotans to wear a face-covering in indoor businesses and indoor public settings. The order takes effect Saturday. Walz said in a statement “there’s no better way to demonstrate our Minnesotan values than…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Tim Walz is expected to announce a statewide face mask mandate on Wednesday to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The governor has scheduled a news conference with health officials and business owners to announce his “next steps in the state’s response to COVID-19.” His spokesman said it will be an announcement…
(Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office via AP) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota judge on Tuesday lifted a gag order in the criminal case against four former officers charged in death of George Floyd, but said he would take a news media coalition’s request to make body camera footage more widely available under advisement. Even though the gag order was vacated, Hennepin…
NEW YORK (AP) – Walmart Inc. said that it will be closing its namesake stores and Sam’s Clubs on Thanksgiving Day this year, saying that it wants to have its employees spend time with their families during the coronavirus. The move, announced Tuesday, marks the first major indication of how COVID will affect Black Friday store shopping, which for almost…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by two dozen Wisconsin residents challenging a variety of local stay-at-home orders enacted to curb the spread of the coronavirus. U.S. District Judge William Griesbach on Monday dismissed the challenge, filed in May, saying those bringing it did not properly join all of the defendants into one lawsuit. That mistake requires…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Legislature has passed a package of police accountability measures that include a ban on neck restraints like the one that was used on George Floyd before his death in Minneapolis. The sweeping package passed early Tuesday after legislators worked through the night on the bill, which was said to be one of the…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota has recorded its first COVID-19-related death in a child, according to health department data released Monday, as Gov. Tim Walz ponders whether students should head back to school for learning in the fall. Few details about the child were released Monday, but the Minnesota Department of Health said the child was between the ages of 0-5…
(AP Photo/Jim Mone) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The top Republican in the Minnesota Senate says legislative leaders have a tentative agreement on the outlines of a police accountability bill. But chances appear dimmer for a $1.9 billion public construction projects package that has yet to win the necessary GOP support in the Democratic-controlled House. Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka says the…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Teachers unions for Wisconsin’s five largest school districts asked Gov. Tony Evers and the state’s top health and education officials on Monday to keep schools closed at the start of the year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The letter was signed by union leaders for teachers in Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, and Racine. It was…
(AP Photo/Steve Karnowski) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota House Republican leaders said Monday they won’t provide the votes needed to pass a $1.9 billion public construction projects bill, and that they won’t back a package of police accountability measures either. House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, of Crown, made the comments at a news conference as lawmakers returned to the Capitol to…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The National Weather Service says five tornadoes toppled trees and tore up lake docks in Minnesota and Wisconsin during the weekend. In Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, the weather service says a tornado touched down a few miles southwest of Osseo early Sunday. The tornado with peak winds of 105 mph brought down trees and damaged outbuildings and crops….
WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said Friday she is receiving chemotherapy for a recurrence of cancer, but has no plans to retire from the Supreme Court. The 87-year-old Ginsburg, who has had four earlier bouts with cancer, said her treatment so far has succeeded in reducing lesions on her liver and she will continue chemotherapy sessions every two…
(John Autey/Pioneer Press via AP,Pool) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota’s hospitals have asked Gov. Tim Walz to impose a statewide mask mandate to slow the spread of the coronavirus. In a letter released Friday, the Minnesota Hospital Association urged the governor to act quickly to protect Minnesota from the surge hitting other states. While hospitalizations in Minnesota for COVID-19 have been…
MAPLEWOOD, Minn. (AP) — The leading manufacturer of N95 masks in the U.S. says it has investigated 4,000 reports of fraud, counterfeiting, and price gouging in connection with the product and filed 18 lawsuits as a result. 3M, based in Maplewood, is among the largest global producers of the N95 mask, which has been approved by the U.S. National Institute…
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S., Canada, and Mexico have agreed to keep their shared borders closed to non-essential traffic until at least late August because of COVID-19. Acting U.S. Department of Homeland Security Chad Wolf said Thursday in announcing the extension that restrictions on cross-border traffic that have been in place since March have helped slow the spread of the…
NEW YORK (AP) — Target has joined a list of the nation’s largest retailers that will require customers to wear masks as cases of COVID-19 spike. The policy will go into effect on Aug. 1. More than 80% of Target’s 1,800 stores already require customers to wear masks due to local and state regulations. Target said Thursday that it will…
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of laid-off workers seeking unemployment benefits remained stuck at 1.3 million last week, a historically high level that indicates many companies are still cutting jobs as the viral outbreak intensifies. This is the second week in a row that the U.S. Department of Labor has said that about 1.3 million Americans have filed for unemployment…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence planned to speak at Ripon College on Friday before touring a dairy farm near La Crosse. President Donald Trump’s campaign announced the planned visit on Wednesday. Pence was last in Wisconsin in June for a school choice round table and a faith-based event, both in Waukesha County. Ripon touts itself as the birthplace of…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Attorneys for George Floyd’s family have filed a lawsuit against the city of Minneapolis and the four police officers charged in his death. The lawsuit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Minnesota alleges that the officers violated Floyd’s rights when they restrained him and that the city allowed a culture of excessive force, racism and impunity…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin has broken a record for confirmed new COVID-19 cases for the fourth out of six days. Gov. Tony Evers and state health leaders on Tuesday implored people to wear masks and take precautions to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The state Department of Health Services reported 964 confirmed new cases Tuesday, breaking a previous…
BOSTON (AP) — The Trump administration has rescinded a rule that would have required international students to transfer schools or leave the country if their colleges hold classes entirely online this fall because of the coronavirus pandemic. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced the decision as a court hearing was getting underway on a challenge to the rule by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute…
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo added four more states to New York’s quarantine list on Tuesday as he sought to contain the spread of COVID-19 from regions of the country where infection rates are growing. The addition of Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, and Wisconsin means that travelers from 22 states will be required to quarantine for…
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The body of “Glee” star Naya Rivera was found Monday at a Southern California lake, authorities said. Ventura County Sheriff’s officials confirmed at an afternoon news conference that the body that search crews found floating in the northeast corner of Lake Piru earlier in the day was the 33-year-old Rivera. The discovery came five days after…
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Wearing a face covering to prevent the spread of the coronavirus may soon be mandatory in Wisconsin’s largest city. The Milwaukee Common Council votes Monday on an ordinance requiring masks in public spaces. Anyone age 3 and older would have to wear a face-covering in buildings open to the public, as well as any outdoor public space…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota reported 499 newly confirmed cases of coronavirus on Monday, with a dip in the positivity rate, as Gov. Tim Walz continues weighing whether to impose a statewide mask requirement. Monday’s total came after Minnesota reported more than 800 cases on Saturday — its highest case count since May — and 715 on Sunday. Monday’s numbers often…
ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (AP) — The United States is grappling with the worst coronavirus outbreak in the world, as Florida shattered the national record for a state’s largest single-day increase in new confirmed cases with a reported 15,299. Deaths from the virus also have been rising in the U.S., especially in the South and West, although they are still well…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Legislative leaders have agreed on most details of a public construction package and a tax bill, the Minnesota Senate’s top Republican said Monday, while discussions are continuing on whether a compromise is possible on police accountability in response to the death of George Floyd. Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka said at a news conference that his chamber…
WASHINGTON – The Washington Redskins will officially retire the team’s nickname and logo, according to a statement by the team. The team announced the decision in a Tweet on Monday. pic.twitter.com/wFvTxdUP9s — Washington Redskins (@Redskins) July 13, 2020 The change comes less than two weeks after owner Dan Snyder launched an organizational review amid pressure from sponsors to make a change. Native…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesotans will be allowed to visit family members in senior living centers under new guidance Friday from state health officials that loosen restrictions in place for months due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Minnesota Department of Health said long-term care facilities will be able to designate family members or others as essential caregivers for residents of such…
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday toughened a requirement to wear masks during the coronavirus pandemic, mandating that businesses open to the public deny service or entry to customers who refuse to wear one. The governor also expanded where people must have a face-covering beyond indoor public spaces. Starting immediately, they have to wear one outdoors if…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Face masks will be mandatory inside all University of Wisconsin campus buildings statewide under a policy adopted unanimously by the Board of Regents. Interim UW President Tommy Thompson said at Thursday’s meeting there was no way to open safely amid the coronavirus pandemic without the mandate. Thompson strongly advocated for the mandatory mask policy at his…
(AP PHOTO) UPDATE: WASHINGTON (AP) – The Supreme Court has issued a mixed verdict on demands for President Donald Trump’s financial records. The decisions will keep his tax returns, banking, and other documents out of the public eye for the time being. The court kept a hold on President Donald Trump’s financial records that Congress has been seeking for more…
DALTON, Minn. (AP) – Authorities say a powerful tornado damaged farms and left one person dead in western Minnesota as severe storms moved across parts of the Midwest. The National Weather Service says the tornado struck at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday near Dalton. Three farmsteads were hit, and one of those farmhouses was flattened. Otter Tail County says two people were…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — An attorney for one of four Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd is asking to have his client’s case dismissed, saying there isn’t probable cause to charge him based on all of the evidence in the case and the law. In court filings made public Wednesday, Thomas Lane’s attorney, Earl Gray, painted an…
WHISTLING STRAIGHTS, Wis. (AP) – With no guarantee of fans, there won’t be a Ryder Cup this year. The PGA of America says the Ryder Cup has been pushed back to 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The PGA Tour still hasn’t allowed spectators at its events, and no other golf tournament is dependent on partisan cheering like the Ryder…
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has upheld Trump administration rules allowing some employers to refuse to provide free contraceptive coverage on religious grounds. The high court on Wednesday said the Trump administration acted properly when it allowed more employers who cite a religious or moral objection to opt-out of covering birth control. The Obama-era health law said most employers…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The University of Minnesota is reviewing its fall semester plans to make sure that international students aren’t forced to leave the country under new guidance from federal immigration authorities. The guidelines Monday from the U.S. Immigration and Customers Enforcement say international students must leave the U.S. or transfer to another college if their schools plan to offer classes…
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon) (AP) – President Donald Trump says he will pressure governors to reopen schools and colleges this fall, arguing that some want to keep schools closed for political reasons against the will of families. Trump said he is “very much going to put pressure on governors and everybody else to open the schools.” Trump did not immediately explain…
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has formally notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, although the pullout won’t take effect until next year, meaning it could be rescinded under a new administration or if circumstances change. The withdrawal notification makes good on President Donald Trump’s vow in late May to terminate U.S. participation in…
(AP Photo/Steve Karnowski) ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Tim Walz is prepared to call Minnesota lawmakers into a special session that would begin Monday. The session is triggered by an extension of the peacetime authority that Walz has used to manage the coronavirus in Minnesota, Minnesota Public Radio News reported. The first special session this summer came soon after the…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is retreating from its original plans to name businesses and other places where there have been at least two confirmed coronavirus cases after business groups and Republican lawmakers opposed the idea. The department told local health officials in a call that it initially planned to start naming the businesses on…
(AP) – New federal guidelines say international students will be forced to leave the U.S. or transfer to another college if their schools offer classes entirely online this fall. The guidelines provide additional pressure for campuses to reopen even amid growing concerns about the recent spread of COVID-19 among young adults. President Donald Trump has insisted that schools and universities…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — University of Wisconsin-Madison instructors are growing more worried that the campus can’t reopen safely this fall as the coronavirus continues to surge among young people. The university plans to reopen as scheduled but classes with more than 100 students will be held online only and all in-person instruction will stop at Thanksgiving to prevent students from…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota public safety officials are updating the state’s driver’s manual to give motorists who are legally carrying firearms some guidance on what to do if they are stopped by police. The change comes four years after Philando Castile was fatally shot during a traffic stop after he told an officer he had a gun. The change being…
(Scott Jensen/Facebook) ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — State Sen. Scott Jensen said he’s being investigated by the Minnesota State Board of Medical Practice for some public comments he made as a doctor about the coronavirus. In a video released Sunday, the Chaska Republican said the investigation related to his earlier criticism of the Minnesota Department of Health for following federal…
MADISON, Wis.-Wisconsin health officials are urging people to stay home during the Fourth of July holiday to help stem a recent surge in coronavirus infections. The state health department said Thursday that nearly 20% of total reported cases in the state have come in the last two weeks. The agency says the spike has been driven largely by young people…
ST. PAUL, Minn.-Health experts are urging Gov. Tim Walz to require masks in public statewide amid concerns over the spike in coronavirus cases elsewhere. Nationwide, the infection curve rising in 40 of 50 states. Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm says the evidence is increasingly clear that masks are effective. Walz says he’s reevaluating the situation daily. Minnesota has seen an uptick…
WASHINGTON-The U.S. government says unemployment fell to 11.1% in June as the economy added a solid 4.8 million jobs. But the job-market recovery may already be faltering because of a new round of closings and layoffs triggered by a resurgence of the coronavirus. While the jobless rate was down from 13.3% in May, it is still at a Depression-era level….
MINNEAPOLIS-Some members of a commission reviewing a proposal to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department expressed concern about the fast-tracked timeline they must follow to get the issue on the November ballot. The Minneapolis Charter Commission voted Wednesday that it will have two public hearings on the issue. The first will be July 15. The City Council is proposing to amend…
ST. PAUL, Minn.-Walleye fishing on Minnesota’s Mille Lacs Lake has closed for July. The planned closure took effect Wednesday, in anticipation of a fall walleye season. Officials with the Department of Natural Resources determined closing the popular lake to walleye fishing in July would provide the best chance for walleye fishing this fall, by reducing hooking mortality when water temperatures…
