Minnesota lifts ban on indoor visits to senior homes, urges caution amid virus surge

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers Top stories - Minnesota lifts ban on indoor visits to senior homes, urges caution amid virus surge: Despite an alarming surge in coronavirus cases, the administration of Gov. Tim Walz is [rolling back a heart-wrenching policy]( that prevented families from visiting their loved ones in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities during the pandemic. - Federal judge upholds Minnesota's extended ballot counting: A federal judge has [upheld a Minnesota state court agreement]( that allows counting of absentee ballots received up to seven days after Election Day. - Health workers losing pay over testing delays, quarantine rules: A bill slated to be introduced in the Legislature on Monday would [require hospitals and nursing homes to give paid time off]( to health care workers who need to go on leave for COVID testing and quarantine. - COVID-19 hospital admissions reach single-day high in Minnesota: A single-day high of [at least 92 Minnesotans with COVID-19 were admitted to hospitals]( on Oct. 5, according to the latest state health data on the pandemic. Health officials encourage social distancing and mask-wearing to prevent virus growth from fueling more hospitalizations and deaths. Testing of all 1,273 inmates in Stillwater prison for COVID-19 last week revealed [an outbreak of 90 positive cases]( as the facility is kept on lockdown to address the deadly disease, state officials reported over the weekend. [We are tracking the spread of COVID-19 in Minnesota here.]( - Health care is focus as Supreme Court hearing begins: Barring a dramatic development, Republicans appear to have the votes to confirm Barrett to a lifetime seat on the Supreme Court. If she is confirmed quickly she could be on the Supreme Court when it hears the latest challenge to the law popularly known as "Obamacare" on Nov. 10, a week after the election. One after another, Democrats sought to [tie her nomination to the upcoming court case.]( - South Dakota town lashes back at George Floyd's uncle after Confederate flag debate: After Selwyn Jones led the charge to remove Confederate flag-adorned patches from the uniforms of Gettysburg, S.D., police, [the backlash from the town was immediate.]( - Trump, Biden court Minnesota's Catholic vote: Catholics comprise the largest single religious group in the nation, an estimated 23 % of the electorate. They’re being targeted in battleground states such as Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Many Minnesota faithful are being targeted with [mailings, text messages, phone calls and invitations to Zoom events]( that include praying the rosary with a nun. - Quest for diversity leads multiracial adoptive family to move from rural Minnesota to the city: A pilgrimage to the George Floyd memorial in Minneapolis this summer confirmed what the Lundquist family had thought for a long time: [They could no longer live in the overwhelmingly white city of Roseau, Minn.]( - There are 22 days until Election Day! Early voting is underway in Minnesota for the 2020 general election. [Check out our guide to the candidates running for major offices]( and where they stand on the issues, as well as key races in the battle for the state Legislature. Got questions about how to register, how to request an absentee ballot, or how to find your polling place? [Here's what you need to know about how to vote in Minnesota.]( Are you voting for the first time this year? [Here are answers to some basic questions young voters may have.]( What happens after you seal, sign and send in your vote? Here’s a look at [how no-excuse absentee ballots are processed and counted.]( Sign up for [our Morning Hot Dish politics newsletter]( to get the latest campaign and election news.  Watch this Please enjoy this sheep on a trampoline: [What more do you need to know?](  Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](.  Trending - "Mad Max" meets the Beatles in "Bands on Vans" concert series: The series has turned into [a bright light for pandemic-darkened Twin Cities music fans](, who in this case stream out of bars to see the shows rather than cramming inside. - A young mother, a cancer diagnosis, and a year of grieving: When cancer hijacked a new mother's happily ever after, [she planned a death as unconventional as her life.]( A year later, her husband is the father he never expected to be, carrying on her legacy. - At just 425 square feet, tiny house near Cedar Lake hits market for $400K: Built in 1922, decades before the tiny house trend, [this home is no fixer-upper.](  Sports roundup - Zimmer's fourth-down gamble fit an aggressive pattern: Mike Zimmer decided to go for the kill Sunday night in Seattle. Whatever you think of his decision, it’s worth realizing the choice fits with how the Vikings head coach [has been operating over the past few years.]( - Gophers season opener vs. Michigan will be nationally televised: The latest battle for the Little Brown Jug will happen [under the lights at TCF Bank Stadium.]( - Guerin embraces his mission to refurbish the Wild: Change has been the theme of the Wild for the past few months, with [the team shedding its previous likeness]( in the aftermath of a quick exit from the playoffs.  Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](.  Worth a click The creepiest place to visit in every state: From haunted hotels to abandoned asylums, with a few clowns for good measure, [Thrillist reports.](  Trivia winner Congratulations to Therese McCauley! Therese was randomly selected from among the many readers who correctly answered that St. Louis County is considering offering a $1 million incentive for film and television productions. She wins a $15 gift card. Be sure to read Talkers on Friday for another trivia question!  From the archives Oct. 12, 1969: From left to right, Dale Hackbart, Gary Larsen and Carl Eller celebrate the Vikings' 31-0 rout of the Bears at Soldier Field. (Photo: John Croft/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.](