Minnesota passes $216M COVID aid package to help businesses, workers

Good morning!

It's another day of sub-zero lows in northern Minnesota. Temperatures plunge below zero again up north Tuesday morning. The Twin Cities’ bottom around 10 above in most areas give or take a few degrees. Some light snow will fall across northern parts of the state, and highs will be in the 20s across Minnesota. Find the latest from Updraft.

Minnesota lawmakers have passed COVID-19 aid deal to help businesses and workers hurt by virus restrictions.

The $216 measure approved last night in the year's seventh special session includes grants to struggling small businesses and a 13-week extension of unemployment benefits for out-of-work Minnesotans.

Hopeful news: Monday's COVID-19 death toll the lowest count of the month; both new cases and hospitalizations continue to decline.

18 newly reported deaths on Monday was the lowest daily toll in two weeks. New confirmed cases of COVID-19 also fell to their lowest point in more than a month, even as tests were in line with recent daily average.

Here are Minnesota’s current COVID-19 statistics:

On Monday, the Electoral College made it official: Biden won the election, Trump lost.

Presidential electors of the Electoral College gathered in state capitals across the U.S. to cast their ballots for the nation's next president and vice president. Minnesota's all 10 electoral votes went to the Biden-Harris ticket.

“Democracy prevailed," President-elect Biden addressed Americans after the Electoral College vote Monday evening. “We know it now what beats deep in the hearts of the American people is this: Democracy. The right to be heard. To have your vote counted. To choose the leaders of this nation. To govern ourselves.”