TALKERS092221

TOP STORIES

• Vaccinated make up minority of severe COVID-19 hospitalizations in Minnesota: Updates from two large Minnesota hospital systems show that fully vaccinated people make up a minority of COVID-19 hospitalizations and an even lower share of severe illnesses requiring intensive care and ventilators.
• Many Minnesotans approve of Afghanistan withdrawal but not Biden's handling of pullout, new poll finds: Nearly half of state voters support the withdrawal of U.S. troops and civilians from Afghanistan but disapprove of how the Biden administration went about it, according to a new Minnesota Poll.
• Lots of distance for fans — social and otherwise — at Guns N' Roses show at Xcel Energy Center: Welcome to the post-COVID concert jungle. At the first of two concerts on back-to-back nights at the St. Paul arena, GNR did not implement any kind of vaccine or mask requirement despite the concert being moved indoors. Attendance may have suffered because of it.
• Viral spread in latest Minnesota COVID-19 wave more of a mystery: Minnesota's tracking of how and where people are infected with the coronavirus has plummeted in the latest COVID-19 wave, with 80% of infections identified in August coming from unknown sources. The change from an unknown rate of 41% at this time one year ago reflects an increase in social activities that makes it hard to pinpoint where someone got infected, but also a pullback of state contact tracing in the era of COVID-19 vaccinations.
• Hennepin County Board approves maximum property tax levy: The board on Tuesday approved a 3.5% maximum property tax levy for 2022 and $1 million to fund an anti-hate initiative. The levy will fund $900 million of next year's $2.4 billion budget, which will be up for a vote on Dec. 14. The board has raised the property tax levy each year by an average of 4.6% since 2015.
• Suspect in St. Paul quadruple murder said he "snapped": The man accused of fatally shooting four people whose bodies were found in an SUV stashed in a Wisconsin cornfield told his father that he "snapped," according to charges. The charges revealed that the four were shot in the area of W. 7th Street in St. Paul before they were driven 60 miles east to the Dunn County field.
• Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon and 10-mile race is back: The Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon is back this year but with COVID-19 protocols mandated to keep runners in the 26.2-mile and the 10-mile runs safe.

TRENDING

• Meet the fastest Ikea furniture assembler in the Twin Cities: An ace with an Allen wrench puts together Ikea furniture so you don't have to.
• 3 unique Twin Cities hotels offer a range of experiences for a perfect staycation: Looking for a nearby place to feel far away? Try these Twin Cities hotels.
• Secret ingredient produces a cookie so tender that it truly melts on the tongue: The secret ingredient for better cookies? This pungent powder from the Middle Ages.

SPORTS ROUNDUP

• Conor McGregor's first pitch at Twins-Cubs game was awfully high and outside: Donning a light-colored suit, the mixed martial arts superstar arrived on the mound with much fan fare to throw out the first pitch. The left-handed McGregor wound up, and ... yikes.
• Bob Motzko shares pain, support after son Mack's death: The death of 20-year-old Mack Motzko, who died in a car crash in July involving an allegedly impaired driver, brought an outpouring of love that the U hockey coach has cherished. "There is no end to this loss," Motzko said.
• Vikings will still lean on Dalvin Cook despite latest injury, Mike Zimmer says: "At this stage, it's time to get some wins," the Vikings coach said Wednesday. "Dalvin's a tough guy. If he can't play, there's a reason why he's not playing. But he makes us go, so we're going to continue to play him."