Damaging winds could sweep much of Minnesota

Potentially dangerous storms headed for northern and central Minnesota. Damaging winds are expected to sweep over much of the state tonight and into early Saturday morning. Many forecast models keep storms mostly north of the Twin Cities. A few suggest the Twin Cities could get clipped by storms around 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. But forecast models vary on precise storm timing, so no matter where you are be sure to listen to NWS, NOAA weather radio, and other sources to keep updated overnight. You can also hear warnings as they are issued on MPR News stations across Minnesota.

COVID-19 in Minnesota today: As cases accelerate, no response 'off the table' We may need to turn the dial back on bars, restaurants and other public gathering places if case counts continue to rise, health officials warn. They also braced Minnesotans to expect the relatively stable counts of hospitalizations, intensive care cases and deaths to resume a steeper upward climb. The warnings came after the Health Department reported seven more deaths, putting the toll at 1,533 since the pandemic began. Total current hospitalizations (252) and the count of people currently needing intensive care (110) ticked up.

One thing the pandemic should not stop: Casting your vote. If you don’t feel safe going to the polls in a few weeks for the primary election, or even if you do, you can vote by mail. Yes, Minnesota allows absentee voting for absolutely any reason. All you have to do is register to vote and request a ballot. Here’s how to do it.

Digging into the data about COVID-19 and pregnancy. While health officials are still learning about the virus, preliminary evidence suggests the coronavirus can pass through the placenta, and pregnancy slightly raises a woman's risk of a severe case of COVID-19. Medical experts are urging calm and common sense. Here are some stories from couples, and things to consider.

Gov. Walz supports a mask mandate, but is hoping for GOP support, first. When speaking with Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer this morning, Walz said he was hoping to get Republican support for a potential order requiring masks in public spaces statewide, rather than enacting it unilaterally. “We are in a special session. They have made it clear that they are opposed to any of the decisions that I make using executive order under the emergency order. So I'm trying to get them to buy because I think, again, any ordinance you put out is going to be that social compact of people buying into it,” he said. Check out the full interview here.

-- Sara Porter | MPR News