New Biden action against Putin

The U.S. is banning Russian planes from its airspace in retaliation for the invasion of Ukraine, Biden announced 

View in Browser | Listen Good morning, Our early morning wintry mix in eastern Minnesota is moving out and we'll have a partly sunny, mild day across the state. Highs 15 to 21 north, to mid-30s to lower 40s south. Find the latest on Updraft. Biden's first State of the Union: U.S. bans Russian planes from its airspace Addressing a concerned nation and anxious world, President Joe Biden has vowed in his first State of the Union address to check Russian aggression in Ukraine, tame soaring U.S. inflation and deal with the fading but still dangerous coronavirus. Biden declared Tuesday night that he and all members of Congress, whatever political differences there may be, were joined "with an unwavering resolve that freedom will always triumph over tyranny." He asked the lawmakers crowding the House chamber to stand and salute the Ukrainians as he began his speech. They stood and cheered. The U.S. president is aiming to lead the country out of the pandemic and reboot his stalled domestic agenda as well as confront Russia's aggression. [Continue Reading] When group homes close due to staffing shortage, residents have 'nowhere to go' Around the state, 59 people have been affected by group home closures just this year, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. These are facilities that often serve people living with disabilities that require specialized assistance and care. As of last fall, there were 257 fewer beds in group homes than there were in 2020, according to the Association of Residential Resources in Minnesota. The accelerating rate of closures are driven by staffing shortages in the profession that predate the pandemic but have been made worse by it, say group home operators. In the last quarter of 2021, more group homes closed than opened, signaling an unsustainable trend. "There's nowhere to go," says one Minnesotan whose sister's group home is closing this month. [Continue Reading] What else we're watching: Minnesotans who use medical marijuana now have a new way of consuming the cannabis:dried flower. Starting Tuesday, everyone who is registered for medical marijuana can apply to get it in its purest form. Sorry, no Major League Baseball opening day this year. Players have rejected  MLB's "best and final offer" to end the sport's lockout before the league's deadline to avoid canceled games. Commissioner Rob Manfred says he is canceling the first two series of the season that was set to begin March 31. Minnesota issued a record 106,488 gun permits last year. The total was nearly 10,000 higher than the 96,554 permits issued across Minnesota in 2020 and more than double the 51,404 permits granted in 2019. – Jiwon Choi, MPR News Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe today! SPONSOR   Connect With Us MPRnews.org MPRnews on iOS MPRnews on Android Podcasts from MPR News Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe today. Preference Center ❘ Unsubscribe You received this email because you subscribed or it was sent to you by a friend. This email was sent by: Minnesota Public Radio 480 Cedar Street Saint Paul, MN, 55101