SPOOKY SCREENINGS TO SEE ON HALLOWEEN PG 5 MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2018
EARLY WEEK
NO COSTUMES ARE REQUIRED FOR THESE SHOWINGS
MNDAILY.COM
POLITICS
PUBLIC HEALTH
Voting where it matters
Researchers treat virus spike in MN The state has seen abnormal levels of a polio-like virus that causes paralysis and weakness. BY LEW BLANK lblank@mndaily.com
TONY SAUNDERS, DAILY
Secretary of College Democrats at the University of Minnesota Abdinasir Nourkadi, 19, fills out his absentee ballot on Tuesday, Oct. 23 at Coffman Memorial Union. Nourkadi said he is voting for Ron Case for Mayor of Eden Prairie. Case was Nourkadi’s math teacher.
An illness with polio-like symptoms has seen unusually high numbers in Minnesota this fall, and University of Minnesota researchers are working together with the state government to find a treatment. Seven children have become sick with acute flaccid myelitis in Minnesota this year, surpassing the state’s average of one case per year. Symptoms include weakness, paralysis and slurred speech. Although the condition has no known treatment and is caused by more than 100 different infectants, University experts are working closely with the Minnesota Department of Health to investigate and treat the outbreak. This collaborative effort involves gathering spinal fluid samples from AFM patients and tracking the geography and characteristics of individual cases to better understand the outbreak. Due to the lack of known treatments for AFM, there is a small chance that this disease could transform into an epidemic, said
STUDENT VOTING TURNOUT
u See VIRUS Page 7
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HOUSING
Outcry in Como over apartment building draft
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TONY SAUNDERS, DAILY
Michelle Jancaric, left, and Carlie Derouin agree to fill out voter pledges for campus organizer Michaela Muza on Tuesday, Oct. 23.
With the midterms on the line, students could play a critical role — if they vote. BY AUSTEN MACALUS amacalus@mndaily.com
University of Minnesota students Ben Allard, Michael Geiger and Sarah Lardy all plan on voting in upcoming midterm elections. That decision could make a big impact — they’re voting in Minnesota’s 2nd
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SOURCE: THE NATIONAL STUDY OF LEARNING, VOTING AND ENGAGEMENT
Congressional District, outside the campus area, which is one of the many competitive districts that have put Minnesota at the center of the 2018 midterms and motivated students to turn out on election day. Thousands of University students will likely vote in the midterms — many in key districts that could determine the makeup of Congress next year. Despite historically low turnout, there have been efforts to increase voter turnout on campus and utilize the state’s absentee voting system so that students have the opportunity to impact races across the state with their votes.
Allard, vice president of University student group College Democrats, wanted to vote in his home district because of how close the race is. “I know more about my home district. I feel more connected there. And the stakes are higher,” said Allard, a thirdyear student. The 2nd District, which encompasses much of the metro’s southeast suburbs, is home to a tight race between Republican Rep. Jason Lewis and Democrat
students about potential problems in future elections, including the 2018 midterms. “The goal is to take the classes and areas of study that we’re working on and find ways to make sure we’re keeping courses relevant to the various audiences, which are existing election officials, current students, IT, design [and so on],” Chapin said. According to Chapin, who also teaches courses in the program, the committee wants to use members’ ties in the field to u See TRAINING Page 7
u See APARTMENT Page 7
u See VOTING Page 3
Humphrey School readies officials for midterms, future elections
BY AUDREY KENNEDY akennedy@mndaily.com
Amid national concerns about election security, the Humphrey School of Public Affairs has taken steps to bolster its election administration certification program. The 12-credit, online certificate for
election administration, now in its third year, created a committee this month comprising prominent election administration experts from around the country. The group plans to guide new curriculum for the program and grow its enrollment after seeing success in its first years. “Although the committee is newly formed, it’s already started working,” said Doug Chapin, a member of the committee and director of election research at Fors Marsh Group. This week, it is launching a new course on cybersecurity that will teach
BY IMANI CRUZEN icruzen@mndaily.com
A new Southeast Como development has raised resident concerns about the future of the predominantly single-family home neighborhood. The proposed residential development, which would replace two unoccupied single-family homes at 934 and 938 15th Ave. SE., includes two buildings of six four-bedroom units each and a smaller bike enclosure. Developers North Bay Companies and DJR Architecture will meet with the Minneapolis Planning Commission on Nov. 13 after hearing concerns from residents. Southeast Como Improvement Association met with the developers last summer to discuss safety, rezoning and parking, according to a SECIA letter sent to city planner Lindsey Wallace on Oct. 22. There were concerns the development did not meet the neighborhood’s small area plan, which was approved by the City of Minneapolis in July 2016. “It really doesn’t fit in the small area plan, the Como Blueprint,” said Karl Smith, president of the SECIA board. “And that created a lot more ... tension and quite a lot of frustration.” The plan encourages medium-density development and the maintenance of existing low-density housing. But with its high density, the development doesn’t meet the plan’s recommendations, Smith said.
HIGHER ED
The University is expanding its existing online program for certifying election officials.
Residents are concerned about a shift away from single-family homes in Southeast Como.
FOOTBALL
Minnesota triumphs late in 38-31 victory over Indiana Friday night Quarterback Tanner Morgan threw three touchdowns, 302 yards and one interception. BY JACK WARRICK jwarrick@mndaily.com
Minnesota didn’t expect the game to be tied with less than four minutes remaining, but the team pulled through in the waning minutes for the victory. The Gophers found their first Big Ten victory of the year after an ugly fourth quarter saw Minnesota blow a 31-9 lead. The day was made for freshman Rashod Bateman, who pulled down a 67-yard touchdown reception to put the team up 38-31. Defensive end Carter Coughlin forced a fumble on Indiana’s subsequent drive that Minnesota recovered, sealing the victory over Indiana at TCF Bank Stadium Friday. “We’ve got to get better. We’ve got to be able to finish. But they finished,” head coach P.J. Fleck said. The Gophers defense allowed three touchdowns and 22 points in under 10
minutes of clock time in the fourth quarter. The Gophers answered when quarterback Tanner Morgan threw a deep pass to Bateman to put the team ahead 38-31. On the next offensive drive for Indiana, Coughlin sacked Indiana quarterback Peyton Ramsey and forced the ball out for a fumble. Gary Moore jumped on it, and that was all the Gophers needed to win. “To be honest with you, I hit the quarterback and I had no idea what happened because I kind of dove for it and lunged for it. Then I got up and saw we had the ball,” Coughlin said. Morgan made his first start at quarterback, Tyler Johnson reeled in his 100th reception with Minnesota and veteran running back Shannon Brooks made his return to the field on Friday night. Morgan finished the game completing 17-24 passes for 302 yards, three touchdowns and an interception in a rainy, sparsely attended game. Zack Annexstad, the usual starting quarterback, suffered an “internal injury” in the first half of the Nebraska game. u See FOOTBALL Page 6
TONY SAUNDERS, DAILY
Quarterback Tanner Morgan prepares to pass the ball on Friday, Oct. 26 at TCF Bank Stadium.
VOLUME 119 ISSUE 17