Stories from December 24, 2018

December 24, 2018 5:12 PM

An icon of Christmas cheer went dark, some parks close

The lights were not twinkling. The toy trains were not whirring. Even the nearby bathrooms were locked.

by Associated Press

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December 24, 2018 2:19 PM

Prosecutors say suspects dragged trooper from vehicle

Two Milwaukee men were charged in Faribault County with assault, fleeing police, and felony drug possession.

by Matt Sepic

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December 24, 2018 1:30 PM

Not very merry: U.S. stocks plunge before Christmas

President Donald Trump's attacks on the Federal Reserve tumbled the U.S. stock market Monday, which could mean the worst December for stocks since 1931.

by The Associated Press

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December 24, 2018 1:00 PM

Rerouted cruise ship rescues two fishermen stranded in Caribbean

The Empress of the Seas was headed for Cuba, but changed its course for Jamaica due to weather. That's how it ended up in the path of two fishermen from Costa Rica who had been adrift for 20 days.

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December 24, 2018 12:01 PM

Good travel through Christmas; major winter storm beginning on Wednesday

Snowfall has been light for much of Minnesota so far this winter. MSP Airport has measured just 7.6 inches for the Twin Cities. These quiet conditions will continue from Christmas Eve through Christmas night. Weak disturbances will kick out just some patchy light snow Monday night and Tuesday, so over-the-roaders around the state should be…

by Bill Endersen

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December 24, 2018 11:48 AM

Love the holidays? The Philippines celebrates 4 months of Christmas mania

Counting down from September, nine days of Mass, heaps of roast pig, colorful lights and festivities all over the place — the Filipinos know how to make the season bright, and eternal.

by Julie McCarthy

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December 24, 2018 11:32 AM

Trump: Federal Reserve is the 'only problem our economy has'

President Donald Trump lashed out at the Federal Reserve Monday after administration officials spent the weekend trying to assure the public and financial markets that Jerome Powell's job as Fed chairman was safe.

by Associated Press

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December 24, 2018 10:53 AM

Bad vibes: How hits to the head are transferred to the brain

A question about heading soccer balls inspired a series of experiments to understand how the brain changes shape when someone's head takes a hit.

by Jon Hamilton

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December 24, 2018 10:36 AM

50 new Christmas albums from this year — yes, this year! — ranked

When it comes to Christmas music, it might seem like all the classics have already been written. That said, there have to be a few more hits-to-be buried in this impressive new list from Rolling Stone.

by Cathy Wurzer

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December 24, 2018 10:34 AM

Bill of the month update: Skier to get $6,358 refund after surgery for broken leg

Ski buff Sarah Witter will get $6,358 back from her hospital and insurer after a review of her bill following the NPR-Kaiser Health News story about her case.

by Jordan Rau

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December 24, 2018 10:32 AM

Longtime Star Tribune journalist Lori Sturdevant eases into retirement

Her last full day in the office was on Friday, which Governor Dayton declared "Lori Sturdevant Day" in the state of Minnesota.

by Cathy Wurzer

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December 24, 2018 10:30 AM

Gingerbread cred: Bakers craft winning edible art down to the last detail

Tiny working gingerbread clock gears, meticulously hand-painted playing cards, scenes that tell stories — all comes into play at the annual National Gingerbread House Competition in North Carolina.

by Kristen Hartke

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December 24, 2018 10:29 AM

Take a deep breath, smell triggers memories more than other senses

According to psychology professor Bridget Robinson-Riegler, smells have a strong connection to the memory parts of the brain. MPR News host Angela Davis talked to Professor Robinson-Riegler about smells and memories.

by Angela Davis

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December 24, 2018 9:51 AM

Celebrating food traditions

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two guests about food traditions — how they're shared, why they matter, and what role they play at the holidays.

by Angela Davis

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December 24, 2018 8:42 AM

Plowable snow forecasted for west-central, northeastern MN this week

The storm is expected to arrive Wednesday evening and linger through Friday. Then following the snow, the cold settles in. Expect subzero temps Friday and Saturday nights.

by Euan Kerr

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December 24, 2018 8:16 AM

MN House DFL readies 10 bills for first-week rollout

The incoming DFL majority in the Minnesota House will propose a MinnesotaCare buy-in, paid family leave and gun safety as part of its initial batch of 10 bills for the 2019 legislative session.

by Tim Pugmire

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December 24, 2018 7:51 AM

Indonesia searches for tsunami victims; death toll hits 373

Efforts to collect hundreds of bodies and save the injured were stepped up in Indonesia on Monday following the country's latest tsunami, as scientists collected evidence on how a volcanic eruption triggered the weekend tragedy.

by The Associated Press

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December 24, 2018 6:19 AM

Book 'without borders' by 80+ artists lets kids color outside the lines

Children are invited to use their imaginations to fill in the blanks in "Coloring Without Borders." The bilingual book was created to help immigrant families separated at the U.S.-Mexico border.

by Noel King

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December 24, 2018 6:13 AM

If you feel thankful, write it down. It's good for your health

A growing body of research shows keeping a log of what you are thankful for can lower stress, help you sleep better, and may even reduce the risk of heart disease. But it's not for everyone.

by Maanvi Singh

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December 24, 2018 6:10 AM

How the partial government shutdown could affect you

Mail service and Social Security checks won't be interrupted, but national parks and small business loans will see some temporary changes.

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December 24, 2018 6:08 AM

The story of the year: Same old same old

I wrote last week that I'm not posting the most viewed stories of the year on NewsCut this year, but I will post the story of the year -- the one I wrote about on this date in 2015. Nothing much has changed. My story of the year in 2018, is the same one it was in 2015

by Bob Collins

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December 24, 2018 4:00 AM

St. Paul police expanding new mental health unit

The St. Paul Police Department deals with thousands of expensive calls related to mental health problems. They're expanding its mental health unit to help deal with calls that are not crisis level.

by Alisa Roth

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December 24, 2018 3:29 AM

Christmas travel looks fine; Update on the late Wednesday through early Friday winter storm

There’s only a trace of snow on the ground right now at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Meteorologists call it a white Christmas when there’s one inch or more of snow cover on Christmas morning. We could see a few flurries late Monday night and on Christmas Day in the Twin Cities metro area, but that won’t…

by Ron Trenda

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December 24, 2018 3:09 AM

When we were brave and dreamed big

Tonight is the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 8 orbit of the moon. No human had ever seen its dark side, and no human had ever seen an earthrise, as captured by the famous picture, which some credit with propelling the environmental movement.

by Bob Collins

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December 24, 2018 1:07 AM

Party buses ruin Christmas light shows

A family that produces a Christmas light show on their Chaska cul-de-sac, is threatening to pull the plug unless party buses stay away.

by Bob Collins

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December 24, 2018 12:00 AM

What’s on MPR News – 12/24/18

Here are the stories, topics, and guests you'll hear today on MPR News.

by Bob Collins

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December 24, 2018 12:00 AM

Humankind documentaries: World War I Christmas Truce

Two Humankind/WGBH specials: "The World War I Christmas Eve Truce" and "Reclaiming the Holidays."

by MPR News Staff

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December 23, 2018 7:10 PM

Is Santa real? A doubting brother and the gift of a mother's voice

As a kid, NPR editor Bruce Auster loved to record his family talking. A snippet of tape captured by chance on a long-ago December night marked a moment before cancer changed everything for his family.

by Bruce Auster