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MUSICAL GIANT PASSESStephen Sondheim redefi ned the art
NATION
PLAYING FOR AXE, PRIDE Iowa win denies Gophers title hope
SPORTS
39° 26°Mild into next week, then
real cold blows in. B8¬2021 PULITZER PRIZE FOR BREAKING NEWS
TO P N EWS NAT I O N & WO R L D
H AV E YOU H E A R D?
M I N N E S OTA S P O RT S B U S I N E S S
UKRAINE CITES PLANNED COUP Zelenskyy says Russians were part of anti-govern-ment conspiracy. A4
France, Britain square off: Migrant crossings a crisis for both countries. A4
Rain soaks Northwest: Washington, British Colum-bia brace for floods. A2
Here’s a sad scoop: Rainbow Ice Cream, a Minnesota State Fair favorite for 90 years, is pulling the plug on its business. E1
St. Paul cops sue: Union objects to vaccine mandate; deadline is Dec. 31. B1
Tenant rule challenged: Demand for back rent may violate due process. B1
Wild trounces Jets: Kirill Kaprizov notches 4-point game in 7-1 victory. C2
Wolves win streak ends: Charlotte wins 133-115 with 3-pointer barrage. C3
‘Famous Dave’ honored: He’s inducted into Native American Hall of Fame. B3
22 Ace Hardware stores sold: Frattallone family ends nearly 50-year run. B3
STAR TRIBUNE Minneapolis, St. Paul MNVolume XL • No. 237Nov. 27, 2021
More of what matters to Minnesota. All day. Every day.
ONLINE: startribune.com • TIPS: 612-673-4414 • COMMENTS: 612-673-4000SUBSCRIPTIONS: Call 612-673-4343 or go to startribune.com/subscribe
By RAF CASERT and CALVIN WOODWARD • Associated Press
BRUSSELS – Nearly two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, the world raced Friday to con-tain a new coronavirus variant potentially more dangerous than the one that has fueled relentless waves of infection on nearly every continent.
A World Health Organiza-tion panel named the variant “omicron” and classified it as a highly transmissible virus of concern, the same category that includes the predominant delta variant, which is still a scourge driving higher cases of sickness and death in Europe and parts of the United States.
“It seems to spread rapidly,” President Joe Biden said of the new variant, only a day after celebrating the resumption of Thanksgiving gatherings for
millions of American families and the sense that normal life was coming back at least for the vaccinated. In announcing new travel restrictions, he said, “I’ve decided that we’re going to be cautious.”
Omicron’s risks are not understood. Early evidence suggests it carries an increased risk of reinfection compared with other highly transmis-sible variants, the WHO said. That means people who con-tracted COVID-19 and recov-ered could be subject to catch-ing it again. It could take weeks to know if current vaccines are less effective against it.
In response to the variant’s discovery in southern Africa, countries including the United States, Canada, Russia and a host of others joined the Euro-pean Union in restricting travel
World hurries to assess new virus threat
By MERYL KORNFIELD and LATESHIA BEACHUM Washington Post
A new variant of COVID-19 named omicron is raising concern around the globe.
South Africa on Thursday confirmed that scientists there had detected a variant with a high number of muta-tions that could make it more easily transmissible. On Fri-day, the World Health Orga-nization labeled it a “variant of concern,” a classification designated to only four other variants so far.
Some countries, includ-ing the United States, moved to shut down flights on Fri-day from southern Africa,
while pharmaceutical mak-ers vowed to keep close watch on how well their vaccines hold up against the new variant.
Thus far, there is too little research to draw conclu-sions, with experts urging caution but not panic. “This is the most concerning variant we’ve seen since delta,” Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Insti-tute, said in an interview on Friday. “It’s going to take a really high bar for something to take over for delta, and we don’t know whether this is going to do it.”
For a brief explainer on what is known about the situ-ation so far, turn to A5.
New mutations put authorities on edge
Shortly before 5 a.m., Alexis Hawkinson pulled into the parking lot of a Kohl’s department store in St. Louis Park and met her in-laws for the return of a family tradition: early morning shopping on Black Friday.
“We decided to beat the crowd,” said Hawkinson, 29, of Plymouth. “We thought it would be quieter rather than going in the middle of the day when things are picked over.”
They were right. Only about a half-dozen cars were in the Kohl’s park-ing lot. A decade ago, early mornings
on Black Friday produced chaotic scenes of throngs of shoppers trying to get inside stores, scoop up heavily discounted items and move on to the next place on their list.
But in recent years, retailers began discounting earlier and offering the same deals online as in stores. The frenzy around Black Friday dimin-ished and, last year, pandemic-related shutdowns dampened Black Friday as an “event” even more.
For both retailers and health experts, the behavior of shoppers
this Black Friday will provide insights regarding how Americans feel about the economy and the pandemic.
Surveys in recent weeks have shown that, as usual, consumers expect to spend more on holiday gifts and foods than last year. But with inflation at its highest level in 30 years, higher prices will account for a bigger portion of the gain than in the past.
Sizable groups of people, not as many as in pre-pandemic years but not far off, stood around entrances of
NOT AS CRAZY, BUT STILL BLACK FRIDAY
Zane Waite hefted a 50-inch TV while with his brother Lucas Waite and friend Siriyah Xiong at Best Buy in Maplewood.
Online, pandemic lessen frenzy but not traditionStory by GITA SITARAMIAH and NICOLE NORFLEET • Photo by DAVID JOLES • Star Tribune staff
Nations pause travel from affected areasU.S. will restrict arrivals from eight countries. A5
COVID numbers remain elevated in stateHospitalizations in Minnesota stay at high for year. B1
By KELLY SMITH [email protected]
Minnesota nonprofits are getting creative to find new ways to drum up toy donations this holiday season for the growing number of families in need.
Annual toy drives are navigating a second holiday season of higher demand during the pandemic and facing a new challenge this year: a national toy shortage thanks to a clogged global supply chain, lack of workers and rising shipping costs.
“We are nimble, we adapt — that’s the name of the game for nonprofits,” said Michelle Ness, executive director of PRISM, a Golden Valley-based non-profit that helps people in the north-western suburbs. “This is a great way for individuals and families to give back.”
In anticipation of toy supply issues, PRISM is putting out the word sooner in hopes of collecting enough toys for more than than 400 children in need — at least 100 more than last year — in New Hope, Crystal, Robbinsdale, Golden Valley and Plymouth.
“We’re excited to put smiles on the faces of families,” Ness said. “It will provide some hope, I believe, to fami-
lies who are struggling. ... We’re the keepers of hope.”
The number of Minnesotans need-ing help hasn’t yet subsided to pre-pandemic levels. The state’s food shelves have seen a small dip in the number of clients since 2020’s record high, but more people are relying on food stamps than in 2020.
Toy shortage has nonprofits asking for more help sooner
Naming suggests high transmissibility; markets plunge, African travel curbed.
BRIAN PETERSON • [email protected] Lytle, community and business engagement manager at PRISM, left,
put gifts in drop boxes at the Minneapolis Regional Chamber office Tuesday.
JEROME DELAY • Associated PressTravelers at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg,
South Africa, on Friday faced restrictions on outgoing flights.
“We’re excited to put smiles on faces of families.”Michelle Ness, executive director of the nonprofit PRISM
See SHOPPING on A8 Ø
See TOYS on A8 Ø
See VIRUS on A5 Ø
ZSW [C M Y K] A1 Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021
SATURDAYNovember 27, 2021
