Bars, masks and taxes

The Legislature is back in town with a 2022 session that began Monday. 

View this email as a web page Jan. 31, 2022 Researchers at the Mayo Clinic say the surge in COVID-19 cases in Minnesota has reached its peak but warn levels remain dangerously high. Mayo data scientist Curtis Storlie says Minnesota cases likely peaked several days ago. "The case reported data is a lagging indicator of where we are at because you have a few days before you get a test. Once you're infected, it gets sent to the state they have to adjudicate. And so for the most part, we're probably about a week behind in terms of our reported numbers." Storlie says people should continue to be vigilant and take COVID safeguard seriously because cases, while decreasing, remain relatively high. Subscribe to our Minnesota Today podcast to get up-to-date Minnesota news twice daily. — Mark Zdechlik, MPR News Bars, masks and taxes: The Legislature is back in town Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan welcomed lawmakers back for the 2022 Legislative session with some baked goods as they entered the House and Senate. Big surplus, big stakes as Legislature reconvenes Minnesota's divided Legislature returns to action Monday with lawmakers proposing competing ideas about how to spend a record projected $7.7 billion budget surplus. Get ready for more cold after a mild Monday Colder, windy conditions will again sweep across the state, slipping into the northwestern corner of Minnesota Monday night, where snow will fall into early Tuesday. Free training attracts more nursing students An effort to increase the number of certified nursing assistants in Minnesota by providing free training has filled classes across the state. But a state official says the momentum must be maintained if the state wants to address the demand for thousands of workers in Minnesota nursing homes. Three ex-cops' trial in Floyd killing enters second week Prosecutors will likely bring more policing and medical experts to the stand this week in the federal trial of three former MPD officers. The defense argued last week that Floyd's death was not the fault of Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao. Van Gogh exhibit in Mpls. will explore new understanding of the artist's work This summer the Minneapolis Institute of Art will show six paintings by Vincent van Gogh in a show exploring new understanding of work created in 1889. Parent sues Rocori schools over accusations of racist bullying A Cold Spring parent is suing a central Minnesota school district over racist bullying and harassment she says her Black children endured at school. The lawsuit accuses the district of violating the Civil Rights Act by failing to respond to reports of harassment. SPONSOR   Home generator sales are booming with mass outages, climate change and COVID More extreme weather can mean extended blackouts, and it's especially disruptive for those working at home. Owners and experts offer guidance on what kind of generator to get and how to use it safely. Omicron amps up concerns about long-COVID and its causes As coronavirus infections soar worldwide, scientists are racing to pinpoint the cause of the baffling condition and find new treatments before a potential explosion of cases. 2 men convicted of murdering Ahmaud Arbery reach plea deals in hate crimes case A federal hate crime trial for Gregory and Travis McMichael is scheduled for February. Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe today! Preference Center ❘ Unsubscribe This email was sent by: Minnesota Public Radio 480 Cedar Street Saint Paul, MN, 55101