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Stories from December 21, 2018

Federal shutdown begins after lawmakers fail to reach deal

Federal shutdown begins after lawmakers fail to reach deal

A partial federal shutdown took hold early Saturday after Democrats refused to meet President Trump's demands for $5 billion to start erecting a Mexican border wall, a chaotic postscript for Republicans in the waning days of their two-year reign controlling government.
by Associated Press

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Minnesota governor's administration files Line 3 appeal

Minnesota governor's administration files Line 3 appeal

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton's administration on Friday appealed a state regulatory panel's approval of Enbridge Energy's plan to replace its aging Line 3 oil pipeline across northern Minnesota.
by The Associated Press

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Blind skaters share a goal: Let's play hockey

Blind skaters share a goal: Let's play hockey

Eighteen players this fall joined the Minnesota Wild Blind Hockey program, the first of its kind in Minnesota. Players come in many sizes and ages. The game's a little different, but the thrill is the same.
by Peter Cox

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Museum celebrates church hats and the women who wear them

Museum celebrates church hats and the women who wear them

Portraits and paintings of black women sporting extravagant hats will be on display at the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum until the end of January.
by Precious Fondren

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Supreme Court rejects Trump plea to enforce asylum ban

Supreme Court rejects Trump plea to enforce asylum ban

The Supreme Court won't let the Trump administration begin enforcing a ban on asylum for any immigrants who illegally cross the U.S.-Mexico border.
by Associated Press

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No U.S. charges against Chinese billionaire in alleged assault

No U.S. charges against Chinese billionaire in alleged assault

Minnesota prosecutors say there will be no charges filed against Chinese billionaire Richard Liu, who was arrested in Minneapolis after a Chinese college student accused him of sexual assault.
by Associated Press

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Scientists find a brain circuit that could explain seasonal depression

Scientists find a brain circuit that could explain seasonal depression

Research suggests the winter blues are triggered by specialized light-sensing cells in the retina that communicate directly with brain areas involved in mood.
by Jon Hamilton

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Identifying and treating kids with mental health concerns

Call to Mind is MPR's initiative to foster new conversations about mental health. Angela Davis led a panel discussion about treating and caring for kids with emotional issues.
by Sam Choo and Angela Davis

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Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg undergoes surgery for lung cancer

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg undergoes surgery for lung cancer

Short of complications in recovery, doctors say prospects look good for a full recovery for Ginsburg, 85. She hopes to be back on the court for the start of the new term in early January.
by Nina Totenberg

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Minnesota sues Comcast alleging overcharges, broken promises

Minnesota sues Comcast alleging overcharges, broken promises

The cable TV and internet giant overcharged customers for cable packages, charged consumers for unordered services and didn't deliver the prepaid Visa cards promised in its promotions, Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson said Friday.
by MPR News Staff

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Trump warns of 'very long' shutdown unless Senate approves border wall funds

Trump warns of 'very long' shutdown unless Senate approves border wall funds

The Senate will take up the House-passed funding bill with money for a border wall, but Democrats who oppose the $5 billion the president demanded are expected to block it.

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A look back at the year in Minnesota's climate

This year will rank among the 20 wettest years in state history, and among the 20 warmest. That's according to retired University of Minnesota meteorologist and climatologist Mark Seeley.
by Cathy Wurzer

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What a top-40 ranking for football recruiting means for Fleck, the U of M

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer chatted with Star Tribune digital sports editor Howard Sinker about the University of Minnesota's top-40 ranking for football recruiting, the outlook for Gophers basketball this season, and the upcoming Vikings-Lions game on Sunday.
by Cathy Wurzer

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That was this year? MPR News' best photos of 2018

That was this year? MPR News' best photos of 2018

Our staff and freelance photographers have crossed the state and country to make these images, and we hope they can help you stop and feel, something we haven't had much of a chance to do this year.
by Evan Frost

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Lawmakers sound bipartisan alarm after resignation by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis

Lawmakers sound bipartisan alarm after resignation by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis

Both Republican and Democratic members of Congress praised the retired Marine Corps general and expressed concern over the direction of Trump's military and foreign policy once Mattis is gone.

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Jayhawks play Friday night at First Avenue in Minneapolis

The latest album is mostly made up of songs that Jayhawks leader Gary Louris initially wrote for other artists like Jakob Dylan and Carrie Rodriguez. He wrote it with the Dixie Chicks.
by Cathy Wurzer

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Paul Schnell to take over Minnesota Department of Corrections

Schnell has spent his career at various police departments around the Twin Cities, the latest being police chief of Inver Grove Heights.
by Cathy Wurzer

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MN House probe into Rep. Hamilton allegations inconclusive

MN House probe into Rep. Hamilton allegations inconclusive

The House released a summary of a $38,000 investigation Friday, nine months after the allegations first surfaced. The full investigation was not made public. 
by Briana Bierschbach

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Millennials strike again: This time we're killing cash and 'Merry Christmas'

Millennials strike again: This time we're killing cash and 'Merry Christmas'

It's the holiday edition of everyone's favorite trope! A new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll tracks cultural changes in shopping and celebrating. But why not keep attributing them to generational whims?
by Alina Selyukh

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Pope to priestly sex abusers: Turn yourselves in

Pope to priestly sex abusers: Turn yourselves in

Pope Francis vowed Friday that the Catholic Church will "never again" cover up clergy sex abuse and demanded that priests who have raped and molested children turn themselves in.
by The Associated Press

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Caribou Coffee reports customer data breach at 265 stores

Caribou Coffee reports customer data breach at 265 stores

The Minnesota-based company says the data breach occurred between Aug. 28 and Dec. 3. Caribou says it's possible that customer name and credit card information may have been taken.
by The Associated Press

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Appeals court says drivers can't be stopped for cracked windshield if vision not impaired

Judge Kevin Ross wrote in a Dec. 10 opinion that a person driving with a windshield crack violates the law only when "its size, severity, or shape, limits or obstructs the driver's vision."
by Matt Sepic

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The NewsCut top 10: What we’ve got here is failure to communicate

The NewsCut top 10: What we’ve got here is failure to communicate

I'm taking a pass on a Top 10 list this year because I'm not that crazy about 9 of the top 10, reflective, perhaps, of my inability to get out more this year, due to declining health and the difficulty of keeping the blog updated when I'm not in a position to do so. Like it or not, page views are the coin of the realm for people who need to justify their existence as bloggers.
by Bob Collins

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Protesters question Sherburne Co.'s role in holding immigration detainees

Protesters question Sherburne Co.'s role in holding immigration detainees

Residents of Sherburne County have long accepted the county's contracts to house federal inmates in their local jail. But a couple Elk River churches have started questioning the county's role in housing ICE detainees and holding vigils to oppose a jail expansion.
by Kirsti Marohn

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The pigs of Edina

Look, people, how many times do we need to say it? If you're going to park your car and run into a store, crack the window so your pigs don't suffocate.
by Bob Collins

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What’s on MPR News – 12/21/18

Here are today's stories, topics, and guests on MPR News.
by Bob Collins

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The poet of Minnesota, Vietnam and mythical men

The poet of Minnesota, Vietnam and mythical men

Robert Bly is probably best known for his controversial nonfiction book 'Iron John.' But as a poet, he's conjured deeply resonant imagery of nature and war for 60 years, as his 'Collected Poems' reveal.
by Tom Vitale

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Politics with Amy Walter on Takeaway Friday

Politics with Amy Walter on Takeaway Friday

Politics with Amy Walter on the Friday Takeaway.

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