News Quiz: A week of culminations
A few hard-fought battles met their turning points in the news this week.
Following a turbulent end of session, Gov. Mark Dayton agreed to legislation to fund state agencies, while defunding the Legislature. Passionate protests at the Walker Art Center resulted in officials ordering the controversial sculpture "Scaffold" to be dismantled and burned. And despite opposition from environmentalists, businesses and other countries, President Donald Trump announced the U.S. will leave the Paris climate deal.
Read about the next steps in these stories, and test your news knowledge with our quiz below:
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Dayton OKs Minn. agency spending but slashes money to run Legislature
The governor agreed to legislation to completely fund state agencies the next two years, resisting calls from political allies to torpedo major spending pieces, heading off a potential government shutdown. While Republican leaders say Dayton's line-item veto of money to fund the Legislature violates constitutional separation of power rules, the governor believes he's on solid legal ground.
Walker Art Center's 'Scaffold' to be dismantled, burned
Walker Art Center officials said Wednesday the controversial sculpture will be taken apart in a ceremony set to start Friday. The move comes after members of the Dakota community objected to the piece.
What's the impact of pulling the U.S. out of Paris climate agreement?
Roopali Phadke, a Macalester College environmental policy professor, gave MPR News an outline of the Paris agreement and how Trump's decision could impact it.
The last men of Luverne prepare for a toast
It's too late to know now how many of the last men of Luverne wanted to be the last one living.
When their club started in 2010, they bought a bottle of hooch and 24 mugs. When there was only one left, he'd toast the other 23, all veterans of World War II. The three remaining vets aren't going to wait.
Old Minneapolis tunnel may get new life in an era of climate change
The old Bassett Creek tunnel below downtown Minneapolis doesn't carry nearly as much water as it used to. But as heavy rain storms become more frequent in a changing climate, officials are exploring whether it could play a bigger role in the future.
Bonus - A must listen: Al Franken's new memoir marries comedy and politics ... finally
The Democratic Senator's memoir is titled "Al Franken: Giant of The Senate." He joined MPR News host Tom Weber to talk about his early forays into comedy, his work on Saturday Night Live and his attempts to suppress his humor as an elected official.