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MPR News @mprnews.org · 9h

If fans want to see the Holidazzle and Aquatennial festivals return, the Minneapolis Downtown Council says a new event organizer will need to make it happen.

Minneapolis Downtown Council drops Holidazzle, Aquatennial festivals

The Minneapolis Downtown Council says it will no longer organize the city’s Holidazzle and Aquatennial festivals, citing the time and cost of putting on the events. The group hopes other organizations...

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MPR News @mprnews.org · 11h

Right now, state statute requires at least one person be on board of an autonomous vehicle, who could take over if needed.

But a new report says robotaxi company Waymo has hired lobbyists to explore the possibility of changing state laws to expand into Minnesota.

Could Minnesotans soon see driverless taxis on the road?

The company behind driverless ‘robotaxis,’ Waymo, has hired lobbyists in an effort to expand to Minnesota.

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MPR News @mprnews.org · 14h

Polaris, the Minnesota commercial and military vehicle company, announced Monday it will sell its majority stake in Indian Motorcycle to a Los Angeles private equity firm.

Minnesota-based Polaris to sell Indian Motorcycle brand

Polaris will sell its majority stake in Indian Motorcycle to a Los Angeles private equity firm.

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MPR News @mprnews.org · 16h

The Crosby Fire in Northeast Minnesota is now 85 percent contained, according to firefighting officials. The update Tuesday morning said the fire in George H. Crosby Manitou State Park is still 300 acres.

Crosby Fire now 85% contained, favorable conditions helped prevent spread

The Crosby Fire in Northeast Minnesota is now 85 percent contained, according to firefighting officials. The update Tuesday morning said the fire in George H. Crosby Manitou State Park is still 300 ac...

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MPR News @mprnews.org · 19h

Community members gathered at the Minnesota History Center over the weekend for Twin Cities Hip-Hop day. Ryan Dillard (also known as DJ Stage One) said the event is an opportunity to pause and reflect on hip-hop’s contribution to the region’s cultural identity.

Stories and art unite at Twin Cities Hip-Hop Day celebration

The Twin Cities hip-hop community gathered Sunday to share stories, honor practitioners and document history.

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MPR News @mprnews.org · 20h

Affordable housing is in short supply around the state. But in Oronoco, a small community a few minutes north of Rochester, one energy co-op is launching a new initiative to add to the supply.

Why a rural energy co-op is getting involved in housing

Affordable housing is in short supply around the state. In a small community a few minutes north of Rochester, one energy co-op is launching a new initiative to add to the supply.

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MPR News @mprnews.org · 21h

The Nature Conservancy purchased more than 12,000 acres of forest, rivers and wetlands between Two Harbors and Ely in northeast Minnesota that the conservation organization plans to restore and make accessible to the public.

12,000 acres of forest and wetlands in northeast Minnesota now public after land purchase

The Nature Conservancy purchased about 19 square miles of forest and rivers about 35 miles north of Two Harbors, which it plans to restore and make accessible to the public.

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MPR News @mprnews.org · 1d

The exhibition features artists — all based in Minnesota — who offer perspectives on gender, sexuality and queerness, drawn from their experiences as trans and queer people or as caregivers within those communities.

Lowertown St. Paul gallery spotlights Minnesota artists exploring gender and identity

A new Lowertown St. Paul exhibit brings together artists from across Minnesota whose work examines gender, queerness and the fight for justice — inspired by one family’s personal story.

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MPR News @mprnews.org · 1d

Check out our gallery for just some of the ways people are celebrating #IndigenousPeoplesDay across Minnesota today.

Minnesota celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day

The second Monday of October is recognized as Indigenous Peoples Day in Minnesota. The day celebrates Indigenous culture, traditions and communities.

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MPR News @mprnews.org · 1d

Officials are still investigating the cause of an explosion at a house in Hibbing that injured one person and set a neighboring house on fire.

Fire officials investigate house explosion in Hibbing

The home on Ninth Avenue East was engulfed in flames when emergency crews arrived Sunday evening.

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MPR News @mprnews.org · 1d

As students across Minnesota prepare for the annual MEA school break, many wonder what kind of impact the federal government shutdown will have on air travel.

MEA school break crowds take off at MSP, with shutdown looming over air travel

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport expects a surge in travelers during this week’s MEA school break, with Thursday expected to be busiest. While staffing is strong locally, officials say that ...

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MPR News @mprnews.org · 1d

Rising tariff costs and other economic factors are forcing retailers to pull back or even delay their plans to hire seasonal workers. These temp workers typically pack orders at distribution centers, serve shoppers and build holiday displays during the most important selling season of the year.

Uncertainty over the economy and tariffs forces many retailers to be cautious on holiday hiring

Rising tariff costs and other economic factors are forcing retailers to pull back or even delay their plans to hire seasonal workers. These temp workers typically pack orders at distribution centers, ...

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MPR News @mprnews.org · 1d

There are thousands of towns across Minnesota that time forgot. They are unincorporated communities, places that have no local government. Photographer Laura Grisamore has been to them all. She has pictures, stories and a burning desire to preserve memories of towns in their twilight.

Minnesota woman on a quest to preserve stories of disappearing towns

Have you ever been to Basswood, Oylen or Luce, Minnesota? Photographer Laura Grisamore has been to them all. She has pictures, stories and a burning desire to preserve memories of towns in their twili...

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MPR News @mprnews.org · 2d

Firefighters were strengthening the containment line around the Crosby Fire in George H. Crosby Manitou State Park along the North Shore. Officials said Sunday that the fire grew from about 260 acres to 300 acres in the past day, but it’s also now 50 percent contained — 5 percent more than Saturday.

North Shore wildfire now 50% contained, hiking trail remains closed

Firefighters are strengthening the containment line around the Crosby Fire in George H. Crosby Manitou State Park along the North Shore. Minnesota Interagency Fire Center officials said that the fire,...

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MPR News @mprnews.org · 2d

Israel says it expects all of the living hostages held in the Gaza Strip to be released Monday. The announcement on Sunday confirmed the next phase of the breakthrough ceasefire deal with Hamas, as Palestinians awaited a long-promised surge of aid deliveries into the enclave.

Israel lays out plans for hostage release and prisoner swap expected on Monday

Israel says it expects all of the living hostages held in the Gaza Strip to be released Monday. The announcement on Sunday confirmed the next phase of the breakthrough ceasefire deal with Hamas, as Pa...

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MPR News @mprnews.org · 2d

The ship left port in Superior, Wis., in 1975 “With a load of iron ore, 26,000 tons more, than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty,” as immortalized in Gordon Lightfoot’s famous song about the wreck. The Fitz would have passed just a few miles off shore from Split Rock.

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MPR News @mprnews.org · 2d

Two thousand people are expected to turn out next month when Split Rock Lighthouse and the Minnesota Historical Society host a memorial to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald on Nov. 10.

Huge crowd expected for 50th anniversary memorial of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald

Two thousand people are expected at the 50th anniversary commemoration of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald at Split Rock Lighthouse on the North Shore of Lake Superior on Nov. 10.

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MPR News @mprnews.org · 2d

Four years ago, deer infected by chronic wasting disease were illegally dumped on public land in Beltrami County. Since then, a team from the University of Minnesota Center for Prion Research and Outreach has been studying CWD’s effects on the environment and other cervid animals.

U of M researchers studying how CWD lingers and travels in environment

Four years ago, deer infected by chronic wasting disease were illegally dumped on public land in Beltrami County. Since then, a team from the University of Minnesota Center for Prion Research and Outr...

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MPR News @mprnews.org · 3d

A special fundraising initiative recently launched at Bemidji State University is aimed at replanting trees on campus. That's after a destructive storm in June destroyed an estimated 9 million trees throughout Beltrami County.

BSU looks to reclaim ‘University of the Pines’ legacy through fundraiser

A special fundraising initiative recently launched at Bemidji State University is aimed at replanting trees on campus. That's after a destructive storm in June destroyed an estimated 9 million trees t...

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MPR News @mprnews.org · 3d

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is pulling a set of breathalyzer testing instruments believed to have delivered erroneous results in five counties.

Minnesota pulls breathalyzers for review after data entry errors reported

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension announced that it is asking local departments to suspend use of the instruments until they could be assessed.

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MPR News @mprnews.org · 3d

Starry stonewort, a fast-growing invasive algae, was discovered in the Rush Lake channel. The Whitefish Chain of Lakes Association mounted a counter-attack, including hand pulling, chemical treatment and monitoring.

Whitefish Chain’s early attack on invasive species shows signs of success

Starry stonewort, a fast-growing invasive algae, was discovered in the Rush Lake channel. The Whitefish Chain of Lakes Association mounted a counter-attack, including hand pulling, chemical treatment ...

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MPR News @mprnews.org · 3d

Visitors to Anoka will now be able to drink alcoholic beverages and walk around outside year-round in a designated area downtown near the Red River.

The Anoka social district, which initially started as a 30-day trial in 2023, is open year-round, effective Oct. 7, with a few exceptions.

Visitors and residents can now 'sip and stroll' year-round in downtown Anoka

The Anoka social district, which initially started as a 30-day trial in 2023, is now open year-round, effective Oct. 7, with a few exceptions.

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MPR News @mprnews.org · 4d

The Trump administration says "substantial" layoffs of federal workers have begun, appearing to follow through on threats to slash the size of government during the shutdown.

White House says 'substantial' layoffs of federal workers have begun, with few details

The Trump administration says it has started the process of issuing reduction-in-force notices to federal employees. It's not clear how many agencies are affected or how many people.

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MPR News @mprnews.org · 4d

There’s a new polar bear at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. The zoo announced Friday that Astra, the 4-year-old female polar bear from Washington state, arrived at the zoo Thursday evening.

Polar bear arrives at Como Park Zoo in St. Paul

The arrival of the 700-pound, 4-year-old female polar bear is part of a plan to support the threatened species.

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MPR News @mprnews.org · 4d

The St. Paul Downtown Development Corporation announced Friday that it has acquired the Alliance Bank Center building from Madison Equities.

The 16-story building in downtown St. Paul was left vacant by Madison Equities after it stopped paying the building’s utility bills.

St. Paul Downtown Development Corporation acquires vacant Alliance Bank Center building

The 16-story building in downtown St. Paul was left vacant by Madison Equities after it stopped paying the building’s utility bills.

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