Stories from January 10, 2025

A Pasadena rabbi and his wife moved to Minnesota. Then their temple burned in LA fires
Kara and John Carrier have been watching the damage from their new home in Minnesota. The couple moved here from Southern California, where John was the rabbi at Pasadena Jewish Temple.
As Legislature prepares for new session, rifts between parties show a partisan divide
The Minnesota Legislature will gavel-in a new session on Jan. 14 at noon, and MPR’s politics team is at the Capitol to cover it all. MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst and his guests talk about the 2025 legislative session.
Why right-wing influencers are blaming the California wildfires on diversity efforts
Prominent right-wing influencers are claiming that the response to the Los Angeles wildfires was hampered by workplace diversity policies. It's part of a wider strategy to discredit those policies.
Mitchell bid to delay burglary trial is latest twist in presession runup for Minnesota lawmakers
With the Capitol power situation already cloudy, a DFL state senator facing a burglary trial is asking that it be postponed. The tied Senate and closely divided Minnesota could face startup problems next week.
Delta Air Lines says 4 passengers injured after flight to Minneapolis was aborted
Four passengers were injured after a Delta Air Lines plane bound for Minneapolis aborted takeoff at Atlanta’s international airport. A Delta spokesperson said the plane had an engine problem. 
’Pizzagate’ gunman killed by police in North Carolina after traffic stop, authorities say
Authorities say the man who traveled armed to a pizzeria in the nation’s capital nearly a decade ago because of a fake online conspiracy theory has been shot and killed by police in North Carolina. 
Alec Baldwin sues for malicious prosecution after judge dismissed case of fatal ’Rust’ set shooting
Actor Alec Baldwin has filed a civil lawsuit for malicious prosecution and civil rights violations in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the Western movie “Rust.”
Investigation clears Duluth mayor’s campaign manager and partner
An external investigation commissioned by the city of Duluth has found Mayor Roger Reinert’s partner and campaign manager Amber Gurske did not act improperly through her communications with city staff early in his administration.
Timberwolves beat Magic 104-89 for 3rd straight victory
Julius Randle had 23 points and 10 rebounds, Anthony Edwards added 21 points and seven assists and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Orlando Magic 104-89 on Thursday night for their third straight victory.
Woman who stabbed classmate to please Slender Man can be released from psychiatric hospital
A judge has ruled that a Wisconsin woman who stabbed her sixth grade classmate to please the horror character Slender Man can be released from a psychiatric hospital. 
New data from the state health department shows hospital admissions for COVID-19 and RSV have increased, and flu-related hospitalizations are soaring. And Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity invited the public to pay tribute to former President Jimmy Carter Thursday. 
Supreme Court seems likely to uphold a federal law that could force TikTok to shut down on Jan. 19
The Supreme Court seems likely to uphold a law that would ban TikTok in the United States beginning Jan. 19 unless the popular social media program is sold by its China-based parent company.
As firefighters battle roaring fires, new evacuations are ordered
Despite some progress, the biggest blazes — the Palisades and Eaton fires — rage largely uncontained. On Friday evening, the LA Fire Department issued new evacuation orders for the Palisades fire.
COVID-19, RSV and flu: Up, up and way up
The latest confirmed hospitalization data shows notable increases of just over 30 percent in hospital admissions due to both COVID-19 and RSV during the last full week of December. Hospitalizations due to influenza jumped by just over 150 percent during that same week.
 In southern Minnesota, small-town schools plan as fears of Trump deportations rise
As a new Trump administration nears power, some communities are bracing for potential mass deportations and the impact they may have on schools. It’s especially concerning in small-town districts like St. James and Butterfield where most of the kids are Latino.
Art Friend heads to the Museum of Russian Art for a journey into the world of mushrooms
Mushrooms and art intertwine when MPR News senior arts reporter and critic Alex V. Cipolle explores botanical mushroom paintings, mycophilia and the cultural magic of fungi with chef Alan Bergo, offering a guide to demystifying art and sparking connection through curiosity.
Vikings wild-card playoff game rescheduled in Arizona due to California wildfires
The NFL has moved the Rams’ wild-card playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings to Arizona after days of devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area. The playoff game will be played Monday night at State Farm Stadium, the home of the Arizona Cardinals, in suburban Glendale, Arizona.