Minnesota reports state's first COVID-19 reinfection numbers

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may [see it online](. [Star Tribune]( Talkers TOP STORIES - Minnesota reports state's first COVID-19 reinfection numbers: While reinfections make up only 1% of the total 797,984 infections identified through testing, state health officials said [they reinforce the need for vaccination to reduce the threat of severe COVID-19 illness and hospitalization]( in Minnesota. Among the 8,184 total reinfections, 4,293 have been identified through testing since July 1. - U.S. will make large firms give paid time off for vaccinations: The federal government [will require companies with at least 100 workers to provide paid time off]( for employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and paid sick leave to recover from effects of the shots, a Biden administration official said Monday. - Literacy gap leads to split on Minneapolis superintendent's future: Half of Minneapolis Public School students can't read at grade level — a statistic that has long held true — and some parents are losing patience, showing up to protests holding signs that say "literacy for all." School board members are also starting to show frustration with what they see as a lack of progress on teaching kids to read and write. Despite some gains, a stubborn achievement gap persists between white students and students of color. The issue [factored into the board's 5-4 decision last month to begin negotiations]( to renew Superintendent Ed Graff's contract. - Minneapolis sees nearly 40% increase in carjackings over last year, part of national trend: More than 440 carjackings in Minneapolis have been reported in 2021, [a 38% increase compared with last year](, according to city statistics. Most recently, several carjackings occurred over a period of hours on Friday in south Minneapolis, similar to a slew of cities where these incidents have been on the rise in recent months — the crimes largely committed by juveniles. Minneapolis didn't specifically track carjackings until September 2020 because they were so infrequent. - University of Minnesota to offer free or reduced tuition to Native American students: The University of Minnesota announced Monday it will offer free or reduced tuition to many Native American students attending its five campuses starting in fall 2022, [expanding a cost waiver program]( it previously only offered at its Morris campus. - Northstar rail runs into trouble in Anoka County: As the COVID-19 pandemic approaches its second anniversary, [a disagreement over finances has flared up]( between the Metropolitan Council and Anoka County, which has balked at paying some of Northstar commuter rail's operating expenses due to the line's plunging ridership. - Top Minnesota Democrats skip campaigning against Minneapolis policing question: More than a year after George Floyd died at the hands of Minneapolis police, the divide over Question 2 has torn through established partisan political lines. With polls closing Tuesday, U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith and Gov. Tim Walz have made their opposition clear but appear to be [staying away from actively campaigning to defeat the measure.]( - Leaders dial up doomsday warning to kick-start climate talks: World leaders turned up the heat and resorted to end-of-the-world rhetoric on Monday in [an attempt to bring new urgency to sputtering international climate negotiations](. - Supreme Court takes up Texas law banning most abortions: The Supreme Court is taking up challenges to a Texas law that has virtually ended abortion in the nation's second-largest state after six weeks of pregnancy, with at least one conservative justice who let the law take effect [raising questions about its novel enforcement scheme]( that its defenders argue shields it from federal court review. - Xcel sets goal of carbon-neutral natural gas by 2050: Minnesota's largest utility already had a net-zero goal for electricity. Now, [it's laying out a path to net out the carbon impact of natural gas consumption.]( WATCH THIS Orlando's Luka Doncic sinks 36-foot three-pointer under pressure: After nearly losing the ball after it bounced off a defender's foot, Doncic recovered by [burying a long, long three-pointer so cleanly that the net barely moved.]( Talk to us! Send feedback on this newsletter, questions, story tips, ideas or anything else to [talkers@startribune.com](. TRENDING - These Twin Cities-area restaurants are serving takeout Thanksgiving dinners: Once again, metro-area restaurants are preparing [a wide variety of holiday heat-and-serve holiday dinner options.]( - KARE's Boyd Huppert reveals he has cancer: Huppert, best known for his weekly feature, "Land of 10,000 Stories," revealed that [he has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma](, an uncommon blood cancer, Sunday on KARE's evening news broadcast. - Resort-like $3.4M Faribault estate offers fishing pond, sports bar: The owners of a Faribault property created [recreational amenities for generations of family members to enjoy.]( SPORTS ROUNDUP - Vikings fear torn pectoral muscle for Danielle Hunter: Hunter, who left Sunday night's game against the Cowboys with an announced shoulder injury in the second quarter, is feared to have torn his right pectoral muscle, according to two league sources. [Hunter is having a MRI this morning to confirm the initial diagnosis.]( - Sunday felt like the beginning of the end for the Vikings: There are still 10 games left and a lot could change. [But Sunday felt like one of those games.]( - Gophers running back Bryce Williams likely out for season: Coach P.J. Fleck updated Williams' injury status on Monday, with the team [already trying to replace injured running bacs Mohamed Ibrahim and Trey Potts.]( Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can [sign up for Talkers here](. WORTH A CLICK Rewinding video of shootings often reveals police errors: How does a turn-signal violation become a fatal shooting? [The New York Times examined footage from 120 vehicle stops]( over the last five years in which police officers killed motorists who were not brandishing a gun or knife or being pursued for violent crimes to see the impact of "officer-created jeopardy." TRIVIA WINNER Congratulations to Mark Bolf! Mark was randomly selected from among the many readers who correctly answered that Sudan is the African country whose military seized power last week. He wins a $15 gift card. Be sure to read Talkers on Friday for another trivia question! Good luck! FROM THE ARCHIVES Nov. 1, 2018: Canada geese took off from the water near the Pine Creek Dike as the sun fell over Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge on the Mississippi River in western Wisconsin. Established in 1936, the refuge was set aside as a resting and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. It includes more than 6,000 acres of rolling prairies, wetlands and forests. (Photo: Jeff Wheeler/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 © 2021 StarTribune. All rights reserved. We value your opinion! 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