MPR News
banner
mprnews.org
MPR News
@mprnews.org
Minnesota news. Independent + nonprofit. Free thanks to members. Listen on air, read online or follow here ❤️

📷: The Minnesota Capitol building just after sunset on a spring evening, by Brian Bakst | MPR News.
A special primary is being held Tuesday to fill the District 47A seat that became vacant after Rep. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger resigned to run for the Senate. The district covers parts of Maplewood and Woodbury.

La guía del votante también se encuentra disponible en español.
Special primary election for State Representative District 47A
The special primary for District 47A takes place on Tuesday, Dec. 16. The seat became vacant after Rep. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger decided to run for state Senate.
www.mprnews.org
December 15, 2025 at 8:40 PM
A special primary is being held on Tuesday, Dec. 16 for District 64A. The seat became vacant after Kaohly Her was elected to St. Paul mayor.

La guía del votante también se encuentra disponible en español.
Special primary election for State Representative District 64A
The special primary for District 64A takes place on Tuesday, Dec. 16. St. Paul mayor-elect Kaohly Her previously held the role as state representative for the area.
www.mprnews.org
December 15, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Authorities identify the suspected gunman in Friday's shooting in Stewartville as a former student wrestler who graduated last year.
Police identify gunman as former Stewartville student as classes resume after Friday shooting
Classes started late on Monday morning at schools in Stewartville, as authorities continue to investigate a shooting early Friday that left a student critically injured and the suspected gunman dead.
www.mprnews.org
December 15, 2025 at 4:36 PM
The sounds of jittery, out-of-breath shouts, sideline pep-talks and crunching pads echoed inside one of the biggest stages in American football on Sunday. Seventy Native American high school athletes played at U.S. Bank Stadium as part of the fourth annual Native All-American football game.
Native All-American is a 'big stage' for players and a laboratory for leadership
Seventy Native American high school athletes were living the dream: playing at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis as part of the fourth annual Native All-American football game.
www.mprnews.org
December 15, 2025 at 4:14 PM
The Fed reappointed Neel Kashkari, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, and other regional presidents, easing fears the Trump administration would reshape monetary policy.
Reappointments reinforce Fed independence — for now
The Fed reappointed Neel Kashkari, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, and other regional presidents, easing fears the Trump administration would reshape monetary policy.
www.mprnews.org
December 15, 2025 at 3:05 PM
A 7-year-old child was recently separated from their parents in an operation carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Burnsville. Advocates are helping parents make caretaker arrangements in case they are detained.
As ICE operations continue, immigrant parents look to make arrangements for their children
A 7-year-old child was recently separated from their parents in an operation carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Burnsville. Advocates are helping parents make caretaker ...
www.mprnews.org
December 15, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Multiple staff members of Planned Parenthoods in Minnesota have expressed discontent with executive leaders and top managers. They characterized the work environment as disrespectful and chaotic.
Staff complaints, financial pressures roil Planned Parenthood in Minnesota
Planned Parenthood faces external pressures from federal budget cuts and hostile state governments. But current and former employees at the organization’s Minnesota-based Midwest affiliate complain th...
www.mprnews.org
December 15, 2025 at 12:17 PM
“We know that the only way that we can respond, and we must respond, is by increasing in light and in Jewish pride because people who target Jews expect us to cower in fear,” said Rabbi Tzemach Feller, co-director of Chabad of Macalester-Groveland.
Jewish Minnesotans condemn fatal mass shooting at Hannukah event in Australia
Sunday marks the first day of Hanukkah for Jewish people around the world. But many will be gathering with heavy hearts after at least 15 people were killed in what Australian officials say was a “tar...
www.mprnews.org
December 14, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Tyler Pitlick and Ryan Hartman also scored for Minnesota, while Jesper Wallstedt made 34 saves.
Joel Eriksson Ek's late goal lifts Wild past Senators 3-2
Joel Eriksson Ek scored with 23.1 seconds remaining to lift the Minnesota Wild to a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
www.mprnews.org
December 14, 2025 at 9:27 PM
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is launching a new research project aimed at figuring out why state elk populations appear to have stalled.

"We'll at least be able to get a good snapshot of this population," said Kelsie LaSharr, the DNR's elk coordinator.
State elk populations stagnate, researchers look into why
Elk population growth in Minnesota's three wild herds has stagnated and researchers aren't sure why. An upcoming state Department of Natural Resources research project could help answer that question.
www.mprnews.org
December 14, 2025 at 6:41 PM
This year has seen a number of disruptions affect farmers, like trade wars and tariffs. Here's how a new $12B aid package might ease some of that pain.
USDA announced $12B in aid for farmers. Here’s what to know
Payments are expected to reach farmers by February of next year. Details on how payouts will be calculated are set to be announced by the end of December.
www.mprnews.org
December 14, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Eyewitnesses said federal agents surrounded a construction site in Chanhassen on Saturday morning, trapping two workers on the roof. A video on social media shows one worker being brought down and taken into an ambulance.
ICE agents corner Chanhassen construction workers amid frigid temperatures
Eyewitnesses said federal agents surrounded a construction site in Chanhassen on Saturday morning, trapping two workers on the roof. A video on social media shows one worker being brought down and tak...
www.mprnews.org
December 13, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Alena Bruzas of Francie & Finch Bookshop in Lincoln, Neb., recommends “Wilder Weather” by Barbara Boustead.
Ask a Bookseller: ‘Wilder Weather’ by Barbara Boustead
Alena Bruzas of Francie & Finch Bookshop in Lincoln, Neb., recommends “Wilder Weather” by Barbara Boustead.
www.mprnews.org
December 13, 2025 at 8:36 PM
After some recent bleak years for winter sports enthusiasts, this season is delivering the frigid temperatures and steady snowfall Minnesota is known for.
Minnesotans get outdoors to enjoy snowy start to winter
After some recent bleak years for winter sports enthusiasts, this season is delivering the frigid temperatures and steady snowfall Minnesota is known for.
www.mprnews.org
December 13, 2025 at 7:40 PM
A World War II Medal of Honor recipient from southern Minnesota, whose remains were only just identified this summer, will now be returning home to his final resting place next spring, more than 85 years after he left his home town.
WWII Medal of Honor recipient, who died as POW, will be returned home to New Ulm
A World War II Medal of Honor recipient from southern Minnesota, whose remains were only just identified this summer, will now be returning home to his final resting place next spring, more than 85 ye...
www.mprnews.org
December 13, 2025 at 5:06 PM
The Minnesota Wild have acquired Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks in the biggest blockbuster trade of the NHL season.
Wild acquire star defenseman Quinn Hughes from the Canucks in a blockbuster NHL trade
The Minnesota Wild have acquired Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks in the biggest blockbuster trade of the NHL season. Minnesota sent center Marco Rossi, winger Liam Ohgren, defenseman Zeev Buiu...
www.mprnews.org
December 13, 2025 at 3:03 PM
A 13-year-old student at Horizon Middle School in Moorhead has been charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance.
Moorhead teen possessing 1,500 fentanyl pills charged with drug possession
The pills’ total street value is estimated to be over $35,000, the Moorhead police department said.
www.mprnews.org
December 12, 2025 at 11:24 PM
The Trump administration is arguing that requiring real-time American Sign Language interpretation of events like White House press briefings “would severely intrude on the President’s prerogative to control the image he presents to the public.”
Trump administration says sign language services 'intrude' on Trump's ability to control his image
The Trump administration is arguing that requiring real-time American Sign Language interpretation of events like White House press briefings “would severely intrude on the President’s prerogative to ...
www.mprnews.org
December 12, 2025 at 9:02 PM
The Minneapolis City Council approved a plan Thursday to start street reconstruction at George Floyd Square next year. It calls for rebuilt streets that will be open to traffic and buses, with space set aside for gardens and memorials.
Street reconstruction approved for George Floyd Square, after years of debate
Street reconstruction is slated to start at George Floyd Square next year, after years of debate over how best to memorialize the intersection where a Minneapolis police officer murdered George Floyd ...
www.mprnews.org
December 12, 2025 at 6:55 PM
A former judge and criminal investigator landed an assignment Friday as the first Director of Program Integrity in state government, part of a fresh set of efforts by Gov. Tim Walz to contain a spiraling problem of fraud in Minnesota programs.
Walz taps new official to head off fraud, takes other steps to address lapses
With proven or alleged fraud shaking multiple Minnesota-managed programs, Gov. Tim Walz is appointing a new official in an effort to stop future abuses. Public frustration with fraud is a political li...
www.mprnews.org
December 12, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Schools in Stewartville, just south of Rochester, were closed Friday as authorities investigate what they’re calling a “critical incident.” In a statement posted online just before 7:30 a.m., the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office said deputies were on scene at Stewartville’s middle and high school.
Stewartville schools closed Friday after ‘critical incident’
Schools in Stewartville, just south of Rochester, were closed Friday as authorities investigate what they’re calling a “critical incident.”
www.mprnews.org
December 12, 2025 at 2:58 PM
In her new book, artist-scholar Jessica Lopez Lyman examines how local Latina/x artists use their creative practice to reclaim space and resist oppression. She dives into these "movidas" in “Place-Keepers: Latina/x Art, Performance, and Organizing in the Twin Cities.”
The art of movidas: New book looks at how Minnesota Latina/x artists resist oppression
A new book traces a decade of Latina/x arts activism in the Twin Cities, revealing the artists who have been quietly safeguarding their communities and reshaping the region’s cultural future.
www.mprnews.org
December 12, 2025 at 1:40 PM
A display at the late Minnesota House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman’s desk cropped up in the wake of her assassination. Leaders decided it should remain as a reminder of the impact of political violence.
‘Reminded of what we’ve lost’: Hortman tribute will be reminder to deescalate Capitol rhetoric
A display outside the Minnesota House of Representatives and at the late House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman’s desk cropped up in the wake of her assassination. Legislative leaders have decided it should...
www.mprnews.org
December 12, 2025 at 12:37 PM
The agent, who’s assigned to another HSI office and is in Minnesota on “temporary detail for an operation,” is unfamiliar with the Twin Cities, did not know where they were going, and “was in fear that he was being abducted.”
FBI: Man, woman drive to police station with Homeland Security agent trapped in vehicle
A man and a woman are facing charges of assaulting a federal officer after Homeland Security Investigations agents tried to arrest the man Wednesday for overstaying his student visa. The pair drove to...
www.mprnews.org
December 12, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Now in its 27th year, the Holiday Train has raised more than $26 million and collected more than 5 million pounds of food for local food banks across the U.S. and Canada.
Holiday Train begins annual journey across Minnesota on Friday
A colorful holiday tradition is set to begin its annual journey across Minnesota on Friday. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway’s Holiday Train has 21 stops planned across the state in the coming day...
www.mprnews.org
December 12, 2025 at 12:47 AM