Virus risk factors show who is likely to land in the hospital

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers Top stories - Virus risk factors show who is likely to land in the hospital: Hypertension and obesity — the same scourges fueling diabetes and heart disease in Minnesota over the past two decades — have each been [identified in at least half of all COVID-19 hospital patients](, according to COVID-NET, a federal tracking site that receives hospitalization data from Minnesota and a dozen other states. The pandemic [has now been associated with 748 deaths in Minnesota](, including 608 long-term care residents, according to the latest COVID-19 figures provided Tuesday by the Minnesota Department of Health. Total infections have reached 17,029, and the number of hospitalized patients stands at 545 — with 229 of those patients in intensive care. We are [tracking the spread of COVID-19 in Minnesota here.]( - Despite risks, Trump says he's taking hydroxychloroquine: The White House hurried Tuesday to defend President Donald Trump's decision to [take a malaria drug to protect against the coronavirus](, despite warnings from his own government that it should only be administered for COVID-19 in a hospital or research setting due to potentially fatal side effects. - Man shoots down drone flying over southern Minnesota chicken processing plant, charges say: The drone operator said he was capturing images of chickens being put down in connection with the coronavirus pandemic, [according to the criminal complaint.]( - UCare discounts Medicare premiums, following industry trend: UCare is [discounting premiums for about 100,000 seniors]( in its Medicare Advantage health plans as people use less health care with COVID-19. The Minneapolis-based health plan said Tuesday it is discounting premiums by 20% for the months of July and August while eliminating copays for Medicare primary care and mental health clinic services during the COVID-19 public health emergency. - Fed's Powell says new lending programs to launch by June 1: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Tuesday that the Fed's lending programs for medium-sized businesses and state and local governments would [begin operating by the end of this month.]( - Rep. Omar describes a bruising life in new memoir: Tracing her life from Somalia to the U.S., from Minnesota to the halls of Congress, the high-profile Democrat [often frames her experiences as battles]( – from the schoolyard brawls of her youth, to conflicts with a family she felt didn’t take her seriously, and to discord within a Minneapolis Somali community that she says led to lies about her personal life that still dog her political career. - Pandemic will alter Communion rituals for many U.S. Christians: Holy Communion will have a different look when in-person worship services resume at the end of May in the Catholic Diocese of Knoxville, Tenn. The wafers signifying the body of Christ will be placed in the hands of parishioners by priests and deacons wearing face masks and safety glasses. [Similarly striking changes in Communion will take place]( at Catholic and Protestant churches across the United States over coming weeks as restrictions on large gatherings –- imposed because of the coronavirus outbreak –- are gradually eased. - Special session to pick up where Minnesota Legislature left off: Gov. Tim Walz and legislative leaders pledged Monday to [forge ahead with negotiations over a billion-dollar public construction package]( in anticipation of a mid-June special session, hoping to break the partisan impasse that blocked a deal in the final days of regular business.  Watch this What is going on underneath this parking lot? Reddit user whitedeerwoods posted [this video of air and debris spewing from under the flexing pavement]( in a northern Illinois parking lot after heavy rain.  Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](.  Trending - Are you recycling a lot more these days? You're not alone.If it seems like [big blue bins are overflowing more than usual](, it’s not your imagination – local recycler businesses have seen a bump in household recycling during the state’s stay-at-home order - For these Minnesotans, painting in the great outdoors is the perfect socially distant activity: Plein-air painting, a solitary outdoor tradition popularized by the French Impressionists, is oddly suited to our socially distanced COVID-19 times. But ironically, plein-air — French, roughly, for “open air” — also [provides a way to socialize with strangers](, breaking out of the isolating nature of quarantine. - Twin Cities chefs dig into their pantries for high-quality lunch ideas: We asked Twin Cities chefs to tell us what’s in their pantries, and how they’d use those items to [make a run-of-the-mill lunch into something extraordinary](. Take their ideas and run with them using whatever you have on hand. These recipes are a launchpad.  Sports roundup - 10 odd things in baseball's safety plan: The reported measures range from the mundane to the seemingly extreme to the borderline impossible, and they all underscore a fundamental question – [is this worth it?]( - After losing the offseason, are the Vikings doomed by all of their turnover? No free agency. No trades. No offseason programs, real or virtual. No minicamps, rookie or full-squad. That can't bode well for a team has [lost so many significant players since the end of last season](, right? - NHL considering eight or nine "hub" cities to finish the season: The NHL continues to consider options to finish this season, with [the selection of multiple “hub” cities]( appearing to offer the most likely path to accomplish that.  Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](.  Worth a click Mount St. Helens isn't where it should be. Scientists may finally know why. "he volcano is responsible for the deadliest eruption in the U.S., yet many mysteries remain about the closely watched peak, including why it formed in the first place," [National Geographic reports.](  From the archives May 19, 1958: Chicago White Sox manager Al Lopez digs into a carton of ice cream at Metropolitan Stadium before an exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants, who had seven former Minneapolis Millers in the lineup, including starting pitcher Pete Burnside. Some of the chill may have rubbed off on Lopez's team as the White Sox lost 10-1. (Photo: Paul Siegel/Star Tribune) Connect with Star Tribune [facebook]([twitter]([pinterest]([instagram]( [Manage email preferences]( • [Subscribe to Star Tribune]( • [Privacy Policy]( • [Unsubscribe]( This email was sent by: StarTribune, 650 3rd Ave S, Suite #1300, Minneapolis, MN, 55488 © 2020 StarTribune. All rights reserved. We value your opinion! [Give us your feedback.](