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Craig Helmstetter

@craigstetter.bsky.social

1.8K followers 2.3K following 230 posts

Data geek. Ph.D. Sociologist. Minnesotan. Member: AAPOR, ASA. Former: Managing Partner, APM Research Lab (American Public Media's data journalism hub); Wilder Research/MN Compass; Community Indicators Consortium president; MN Legislative Auditor's Office

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Craig Helmstetter @craigstetter.bsky.social · Aug 22

Find a bit more info, and a lot of gratitude, here: www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

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Craig Helmstetter @craigstetter.bsky.social · 13d

good show @kellygordonmn.com !

www.mprnews.org/episode/2025...

What to know about COVID in 2025

MPR News guest host Kelly Gordon talks with an infectious disease physician about how the COVID-19 virus is changing, the latest testing guidelines and how you can best protect yourself and others.

www.mprnews.org

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Reposted by Craig Helmstetter

MPR News @mprnews.org · 13d

Do you have questions about vaccine recommendations and changes? After a flurry of state and federal news last week around vaccines and who should get them, Minnesotans may be struggling to keep up. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

Vaccine confusion? 5 Minnesota questions, answered

Minnesotans may be struggling to navigate a blizzard of state and federal news last week around vaccines, who should get them and when. Here are some answers to key questions about what’s happening.

www.mprnews.org

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Craig Helmstetter @craigstetter.bsky.social · Sep 5

Friends of the BLS (which includes several former BLS leaders) statement related to this month's jobs report: www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2025...

Background Information for Jobs Day – Sept 5 — The Friends of the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Click Background Information for Jobs Day – Sept 5 to read the entire PDF document.

www.friendsofbls.org

Craig Helmstetter @craigstetter.bsky.social · Sep 5

1st #jobsreport after the Trump administration's dismissal of BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer (following last month's less-than-stellar report): little change in number of jobs (+22K) in Aug and net downward June-July revisions of 21K.

www.bls.gov/news.release...

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Craig Helmstetter @craigstetter.bsky.social · Sep 2

COVID levels up by another 18% over the past two weeks in Twin Cities wastewater according to latest data from U of MN

wastewater.uspatial.umn.edu/sars-cov-2/

Also up in my household right now! Stay healthy out there!

Craig Helmstetter @craigstetter.bsky.social · Aug 29

Great job @cjsinner.bsky.social!

Craig Helmstetter @craigstetter.bsky.social · Aug 29

Nice #dataviz in today's @startribune.bsky.social coverage of MN's test scores @maryjowebster.bsky.social!

www.startribune.com/mn-school-te...

Student test scores remain flat in Minnesota. See how your school did.

Attendance rates are up across student groups as districts pilot ways to give kids a sense of belonging at schools.

www.startribune.com

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Craig Helmstetter @craigstetter.bsky.social · Aug 28

A summary of what is going on with new COVID-19 vaccines this fall, via @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social

yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/p/covid-19-v...

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Craig Helmstetter @craigstetter.bsky.social · Aug 22

Thanks Chris! I hope all is well

Craig Helmstetter @craigstetter.bsky.social · Aug 22

Find a bit more info, and a lot of gratitude, here: www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

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Craig Helmstetter @craigstetter.bsky.social · Aug 15

Reporting by @peterncox.bsky.social , graph by @mikusmatt.bsky.social

www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

Peter Cox (@peterncox.bsky.social)

Reporter, MPR News

peterncox.bsky.social

Craig Helmstetter @craigstetter.bsky.social · Aug 14

New update coming today www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/cor...

Also see

wastewater.uspatial.umn.edu/sars-cov-2/

(We are now only updating www.apmresearchlab.org/covid/mn-key... appropriately monthly, but those are the main sources we rely on)

Situation Update for COVID-19 - MN Dept. of Health

www.health.state.mn.us

Craig Helmstetter @craigstetter.bsky.social · Aug 13

Democrat Xp Lee and Republican Ruth Bittner will move forward to a special general election next month to fill the seat formerly held by the late House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman
www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0... reported by @mprnews.org's @bydanaferguson.bsky.social, graphic by @apmresearchlab.org

www.mprnews.org

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Reposted by Craig Helmstetter

APM Research Lab @apmresearchlab.org · Aug 13

Results are in for:
🗳️ Duluth Council Member At Large (Elect 2)
and
🗳️Duluth School Board Member At Large (Elect 2)

www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0... @apmresearchlab.org @mprnews.org

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Reposted by Craig Helmstetter

APM Research Lab @apmresearchlab.org · Aug 13

Results are in for St. Paul City Council Ward 4 special election

www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0... @mprnews.org @apmresearchlab.org

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Reposted by Craig Helmstetter

APM Research Lab @apmresearchlab.org · Aug 13

Results are in for White Bear Lake primary election for Mayor

www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0... @apmresearchlab.org @mprnews.org

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Reposted by Craig Helmstetter

APM Research Lab @apmresearchlab.org · Aug 13

Results are in for the City of Isanti's special election for Mayor

www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0... @apmresearchlab.org @mprnews.org

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Reposted by Craig Helmstetter

APM Research Lab @apmresearchlab.org · Aug 13

Results in for Duluth City Council Member District 2

www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0... @apmresearchlab.org @mprnews.org

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Craig Helmstetter @craigstetter.bsky.social · Aug 13

Results are in for the Two Harbors city council (at large) special election

www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0... @mprnews.org @apmresearchlab.org

Craig Helmstetter @craigstetter.bsky.social · Aug 13

as are the Stearns County Commissioner, District 4

www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0... @apmresearchlab.org @mprnews.org

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Craig Helmstetter @craigstetter.bsky.social · Aug 13

House District 34B primary results are in!

www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0... @apmresearchlab.org @mprnews.org

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Reposted by Craig Helmstetter

APM Research Lab @apmresearchlab.org · Aug 13

We are helping @mprnews.org track MN's elections tonight!

🗳️MN House: District 34B primaries
🗳️St. Paul: City Council, ward 4
🗳️Stearns County: Commissioner
🗳️White Bear Lake: Mayor
🗳️Isanti: Mayor
🗳️Two Harbors: City Council
🗳️Duluth: City Council, School Board

www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

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Reposted by Craig Helmstetter

APM Research Lab @apmresearchlab.org · Aug 12

Just updated on The @marketplace.org Dozen:

⛽Average price per gallon of gas was $3.29 in July, down by over 9% from 1 year ago

🍳Average price for a dozen eggs was $3.60 in July, falling but still nearly 17% higher than 1 year ago

More: www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...

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Reposted by Craig Helmstetter

Craig Helmstetter @craigstetter.bsky.social · Aug 5

As a Minnesotan, it pains me to report...

My latest via @mprnews.org

www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0... cc @apmresearchlab.org

On second look, nation favors Wisconsin slightly more than Minnesota or Iowa. And much more than California

Earlier this summer we reported that the “nation thinks Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa are ‘equally good.’” New data suggests that Wisconsin has a slight edge. However, Democrats favor Minnesota and Re...

www.mprnews.org

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Reposted by Craig Helmstetter

APM Reports @apmreports.org · Aug 7

Explore the database of nursing homes in the story. For each one, see:

• Percent of residents with a serious mental illness
• Number of abuse-related citations
• Nurse staffing rating

www.apmreports.org/story/2025/0...

A map of the continental United States with colored dots representing nursing home locations.

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