Some Minnesotans skirt COVID-19 booster guidelines

GOP plan limits 'hero pay' to 200,000 people 

View this email as a web page Sept. 30, 2021 Three weeks after classes started, Minnesota's school kids are showing up in greater numbers among the state's COVID-19 cases, as K-12 students are reshaping the pandemic yet again.   The latest data from the Minnesota Department of Health shows Minnesotans under 20 now make up nearly a third of all COVID cases in the state, up from just 20 percent a month ago.  The sharp rise in student cases is happening despite cases in other age groups growing much more slowly, or even declining.  But all these newly discovered cases are also coming amid vastly expanded testing. Around 6 percent of kids 10 to 19 are getting tested for COVID each week, with a positivity rate around 8 percent. That positivity rate for teenagers is actually down from recent weeks.   That's making it unclear the degree to which more Minnesota kids are getting infected with COVID-19, versus the degree to which health officials and providers are just looking harder for infections.  But the rise comes as school boards and school officials have been debating mask mandates, remote learning and other precautions on a school-by-school basis — sparking anger in some communities and even a scuffle at one school board meeting.  Subscribe to our Minnesota Today podcast to get up-to-date Minnesota news twice daily. — Tim Nelson, MPR News GOP plan limits 'hero pay' to 200,000 people A Republican proposal for distributing $250 million in pandemic worker pay would limit eligibility to select health workers, first responders and corrections officers. Congress passes bill to avert partial government shutdown With only hours to spare, Congress passed legislation that would avoid a partial federal shutdown and keep the government funded through Dec. 3, and sent the bill to President Joe Biden. Texas man, 24, admits shooting at police station during riot A man who had been part of a far-right group that wants to foment a civil war admitted in federal court Thursday he traveled to Minneapolis to sow chaos after the police murder of George Floyd. Seeking peace of mind, some Minnesotans skirt COVID-19 booster guidelines The FDA has approved COVID-19 booster shots for a limited number of people who first got the Pfizer vaccine. But in the weeks before those boosters became available, some people were already getting them. Concerns about vaccine effectiveness and the desire for peace of mind play a role. In Focus: Learning in the time of COVID A challenging school year lies ahead in Minnesota, a state that ranks as one of the country's worst when it comes to inequality in educational outcomes. Watch the conversation host Angela Davis moderated with parents, teachers and advocates about the ongoing toll of the pandemic on our educational system. SPONSOR   Leaf now! Head north this weekend for Minnesota's best fall colors Fall colors are starting to pop across the state. Most areas north of St. Cloud are either at peak or are approaching peak fall colors. Here are some recommendations on where to go for the best leaf peeping. Biden's approval rating recovers some from last month's low, an NPR poll finds The latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist survey finds that 45 percent of U.S. adults approve of the job President Joe Biden is doing, while 46 percent disapprove. That's a little better than his numbers last month. Preference Center ❘ Unsubscribe This email was sent by: Minnesota Public Radio 480 Cedar Street Saint Paul, MN, 55101