Record School COVID Cases + Theater Is Back + Mall Of America Vax

Good morning, Minneapolis! Your usual curator, William, is off for the next few days, but Patch still wants to make sure you are up-to-date on all of your local happenings, so I am here to fill in! Please note that during this period your newsletters might be lighter than usual. Now, onto everything you need to know, in 5 minutes or less. — Nicole Fallon-Peek

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First, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy, a little rain. High: 77 Low: 63.

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Here are the top stories in Minneapolis today:

1. Schools across the state are seeing a record number of COVID-19 case counts, according to weekly data from the Minnesota Department of Health. During the week ending Sept. 18, there were more than 2,000 cases linked to pre-K to 12 school buildings, and 233 school buildings that experienced an "outbreak" (five or more people testing positive in a two-week period). Minneapolis Public Schools' current policy indicates that unvaccinated close contacts "need to quarantine for 14 days" after an outbreak of COVID-19 within a school. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
2. After 18 months, theater in Minneapolis has finally made its comeback. The Guthrie Theater and the Orpheum will lift their curtains again to entertain audiences and drive business back to local restaurants and shops. Theater patrons at both venues will be required to wear masks, as well as provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test. (WCCO 4 CBS)
3. The Mall Of America is adding vaccine appointments and will now offer the COVID-19 booster to eligible individuals. The venue is now authorized to administer 500 COVID-19 shots per day and has expanded its hours of operation over four days each week. The vaccination site is located on Level 2 of the mall in the Southeast Court. (Minneapolis Patch)
4. A Minneapolis man pleaded guilty yesterday to illegally possessing a firearm as a felon, says Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk. Donell Deon Flowers, 26, is a known member of the Tre Tre Crips gang and has multiple prior felony convictions in Hennepin County. (Department of Justice)
5. Target is seeking about 1,000 new Twin City hires for distribution center positions, including hiring managers, warehouse staff, and operational support staff. Minneapolis-based distribution center jobs will start at $20 per hour, which is $5 an hour more than the minimum pay for all Target jobs across the country. (Minneapolis Patch)

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You're officially in the loop for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update! If you're into these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to follow along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.