TOP STORIES
  • Twin Cities transit strike averted: Following a year of difficult negotiations, the union representing more than 2,300 Metro Transit bus drivers, light-rail operators and others approved a new contract this week, averting a strike.
  • U.S. likely to authorize booster shots: After struggling for months to persuade Americans to get the COVID-19 vaccine, U.S. health officials could soon face a fresh challenge: talking vaccinated people into getting booster shots to gain longer-lasting protection as the delta variant sends infections soaring again.
  • Coordinating with the Taliban: The U.S. military is coordinating with the Taliban while accelerating the airlift of Americans and Afghan allies from the Kabul airport, and also bringing in additional U.S. troops in a scramble to complete the evacuation in two weeks.
  • Mask mandate opponent has COVID: Republican state Sen. André Jacque, one of the Wisconsin Legislature's most conservative lawmakers and a vocal opponent of mask and vaccine mandates, tested positive for COVID-19 last week and was hospitalized with pneumonia.
  • Tropical storm feeds frustration in Haiti: Heavy rain from Tropical Storm Grace forced a temporary halt today to the Haitian government's response to the deadly weekend earthquake, feeding the growing anger and frustration among thousands who were left homeless.
  • Bair Hugger lawsuits back reinstated: Nearly 6,000 lawsuits against 3M over its Bair Hugger patient-warming device are back in play after a federal appellate court overturned a lower court decision to dismiss them.
WATCH THIS

Leaving Kabul: In this NPR video, the British Army evacuated Afghan civilians and British nationals in Kabul as evacuation flights restarted today.

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TRENDING
SPORTS ROUNDUP
  • Wolves trade former first-round pick: The Timberwolves traded Juancho Hernangomez and former top 6 pick Jarrett Culver to the Memphis Grizzlies for Patrick Beverley.
  • Analysis of the Beverley trade: The deal addresses some key needs for the Wolves, and closes the Jarrett Culver era in Minnesota with a thud.
  • Tim Tebow's comeback story ends: The Jacksonville Jaguars waived Tim Tebow today, parting with the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner who switched from quarterback to tight end in hopes of rejuvenating his pro football career.

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WORTH A CLICK

Masks in schools: Explaining the debate over face coverings in classrooms.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

August 17, 2012: Lakeville South girls' cross country were ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll as they stretched out with the boys' team along a wall at Lakeville South High School. (Photo: Richard Sennott/Star Tribune)