Editor’s Note: Due to COVID-19, TommieMedia staff members are working remotely. This is a special News in :90 report from Kat’s home in Fridley, Minn.

Gov. Tim Walz on Wednesday extended Minnesota’s stay-at-home order until May 4, saying his original order has bought the state valuable time to slow the spread of the coronavirus and should continue.

Walz said Minnesotans have responded well to the order, which was due to expire Friday, but cases of COVID-19 are increasing and community spread is rising.

Minnesota reported 85 new cases Wednesday, raising the state’s total to 1,154, and five new deaths for a total of 39. The department said 135 patients were hospitalized Wednesday, up 15, while 64 were in intensive care, unchanged.

The governor’s new order also extends the closure of bars, restaurants and other public accommodations until May 4. Walz said his agency heads will develop protocols over the next three weeks to get even more people back to work. But he said it’s unlikely schools will reopen May 4.

Sen. Bernie Sanders ended his presidential bid on Wednesday, making Joe Biden the presumptive Democratic nominee to challenge President Donald Trump in a general election campaign that will be waged against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic.

Sanders initially exceeded sky-high expectations about his ability to recreate the magic of his 2016 presidential bid, and even overcame a heart attack last October. But he couldn’t convert unwavering support from progressives into a viable path to the nomination, with “electability” fears fueled by questions about whether his democratic socialist ideology would be palatable to general election voters.

He called Biden a “very decent man” but didn’t offer an explicit endorsement of the former vice president. Biden, who is backed by much of the party’s establishment, told supporters at a virtual fundraiser that he had a “short conversation” with Sanders on Wednesday.

TommieMedia won awards in two regional journalism contests in early April, including two Crystal Pillars at the 2020 College Student Production Awards, which are sponsored by the Upper Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

“Navigating handicap accessibility at St. Thomas,” produced by Noah Brown and Emily Sweeney, received a Crystal Pillar for General Assignment – Serious News in the College-News category. Mackenzie Bailey and Taylor Shupe received a Crystal Pillar in the College category of Arts & Entertainment/Cultural Affairs for their studio show episode “Backstage Pass with Lumasi.”

TommieMedia also received three Awards of Merit in the Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association’s Eric Sevareid Awards contest.

Stories that were honored include: “Navigating handicap accessibility at St. Thomas” (Hard Feature), “The Locker Room with men’s basketball – Dec. 5, 2019” (Sportscast/Program) and “Backstage Pass with Lumasi” (Talk/Public Affairs). The multistate contest only gives first-place honors and Awards of Merit.

Read the full recap here.

Kat Barrett can be reached at barr1289@stthomas.edu.