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Stories from January 18, 2019

4 ways Minnesota lawmakers hope to boost education

4 ways Minnesota lawmakers hope to boost education

State legislators with past teaching experience, including Gov. Tim Walz, will have a big hand in shaping education legislation this year. Here's a look at some of their priorities.
by Elizabeth Shockman

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Teenage diver finds tons of golf balls rotting off California

Alex Weber discovered more than 50,000 balls in the ocean near coastal California golf courses. When golf balls degrade, as these were doing, they release plastic particles and toxic chemicals.
by Christopher Joyce

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'Sold!' Auctioneers compete in Moorhead

'Sold!' Auctioneers compete in Moorhead

The Minnesota State Auctioneers Association is meeting in Moorhead, Minn., this week. Last night they named their new champion auctioneer.
by Dan Gunderson

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President Trump, North Korean leader Kim agree to second meeting next month

President Trump, North Korean leader Kim agree to second meeting next month

Trump first met with Kim in June 2018 in Singapore, and the two appeared to form an unlikely bond after Trump had previously criticized Kim on Twitter, slamming him as "Little Rocket Man."

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Shutdown pressures freshman Democrats to deliver on promise to break gridlock

Shutdown pressures freshman Democrats to deliver on promise to break gridlock

Many newly elected Democrats vowed to work with Republicans and avoid partisan posturing. But they are sticking behind House Speaker Pelosi's position not to give in on the demand for wall money.
by Kelsey Snell

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BuzzFeed: Trump directed Cohen to lie to Congress about a Trump tower in Moscow

BuzzFeed: Trump directed Cohen to lie to Congress about a Trump tower in Moscow

The report, citing two law enforcement sources, says Michael Cohen told the special counsel that Trump "personally instructed him to lie" to lawmakers about negotiations for a Trump Tower in Moscow.

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Minnesota's leadership has a new look

Richfield, Moorhead, and Brooklyn Center all elected their first mayors of color this past November. Those mayors talked with Angela Davis about the issues facing their communities and how those communities are changing.
by Manda Lillie and Angela Davis

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Getting back to winter across much of Minnesota

The first half of January has been warmer than usual across much of the state — with some places in southern Minnesota yet to see a subzero day. That's expected to change as early as this weekend.
by Cathy Wurzer

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Snowstorm continues Friday evening in southern Minn.; cold through the weekend

Snowstorm continues Friday evening in southern Minn.; cold through the weekend

As expected, the heaviest snow Friday afternoon has been in southern Minnesota, missing the Twin Cities metro area. As of mid afternoon on Friday, 8 inches of snow were tallied in Pipestone and Fulda in southwestern Minnesota, Albert Lea of south-central Minnesota reported 4 inches of new snow, but 7 inches of snow had already fallen…
by Ron Trenda

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What's next for Maya Moore and the Lynx?

The star forward's future with the Lynx is in doubt, after WCCO-TV reported Moore may sit out the next season or request a trade. MPR News host Cathy Wurzer checked in with Star Tribune digital sports editor Howard Sinker for the latest on the situation.
by Cathy Wurzer

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Ever wondered what gets the most airplay on MPR's sister station The Current?

According to an analysis by University of Minnesota librarian Shane Nackerud, the winning song is "Not the Kid," by Communist Daughter. He calculates the song has been played 541 times since 2009.
by Cathy Wurzer

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Federal shutdown has meant steep health bills for some families

Federal shutdown has meant steep health bills for some families

An air traffic controller is just one employee locked into the terms of a health plan because of the ongoing federal shutdown. It's meant his child's hospital bills are "out-of-network."
by Julie Appleby

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If shutdown continues, long lines could become 'routine' for Twin Cities airport

If shutdown continues, long lines could become 'routine' for Twin Cities airport

TSA agents and air traffic controllers who help keep the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport running haven't been paid in weeks -- but that's not why travelers flying from the Twin Cities might encounter long lines Friday.
by John Enger

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With higher stakes in the abortion debate, activists march on Washington

With higher stakes in the abortion debate, activists march on Washington

Anti-abortion rights activists gather once again for the March for Life in Washington, D.C., Friday. This year, they are fresh off the swearing in of conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
by Sarah McCammon

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Congress to probe report that Trump directed lawyer to lie

Congress to probe report that Trump directed lawyer to lie

The report by BuzzFeed News, citing two unnamed law enforcement officials, says that Trump directed Michael Cohen to lie to Congress and that Cohen regularly briefed Trump and his family on the Moscow project -- even as Trump said he had no business dealings with Russia.
by The Associated Press

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Pending report will detail MNLARS woes, place blame

Minnesota lawmakers will soon receive a detailed report on what went wrong with the state's vehicle licensing system known as MNLARS.
by Tim Pugmire

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Stephen King, Amy Tan headed to Minneapolis for new book festival

Stephen King, Amy Tan headed to Minneapolis for new book festival

The Loft Literary Center's inaugural Wordplay Book Festival, slated for May 11-12, will feature more than 100 authors. Ready to book your weekend with the wordsmiths? Registration opens in March.
by Nancy Yang

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Attempts to make shutdown 'painless' may stretch limits of federal law

Attempts to make shutdown 'painless' may stretch limits of federal law

The Trump administration is trying to minimize the impact of the government shutdown by bringing furloughed workers back to work without pay. Critics say this may run afoul of the law.
by Ayesha Rascoe

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Smooth lake ice thrills Twin Cities skaters

Smooth lake ice thrills Twin Cities skaters

Even in the middle of a weekday, dozens of skaters could be seen from the shores of Lake Minnetonka. They were all out enjoying near perfect conditions not seen in years -- clear, smooth ice without snow on top.
by Peter Cox

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Case against Jayme's suspected kidnapper complicated despite 'I did it'

Case against Jayme's suspected kidnapper complicated despite 'I did it'

Jake T. Patterson's alleged admission to police that he killed James and Denise Closs and abducted their 13-year-old daughter Jayme doesn't make it an open-and-shut case, legal observers say.
by Brandt Williams

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For the men behind Laurel and Hardy, another fine mess

For the men behind Laurel and Hardy, another fine mess

The new film "Stan and Ollie" examines the lives of the pair after the cameras stopped rolling.
by Euan Kerr

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Embracing winter: the perfect skate

Peter Cox's excellent story on the perfect ice conditions on area lakes has a life lesson to it: you can't always get what you want. And one's man's trash... and all that.
by Bob Collins

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Newspaper apologizes for refusing to run obit with anti-Trump line

The obituaries editor of the Louisville Courier Journal was just looking out for the danger posed to the nation by a dead 87-year-old woman who didn't much care for the person who is president of the United States.
by Bob Collins

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Student apologizes for anti-Semitic proposal to a dance

Student apologizes for anti-Semitic proposal to a dance

The school's principal called the sign 'deeply offensive' but won't talk about any punishment for the students because of privacy concerns. It might not be a bad idea to go over the history curriculum, though.
by Bob Collins

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Heavy snow in parts of southern Minn. today, less snow for the metro area

Heavy snow in parts of southern Minn. today, less snow for the metro area

Here’s the latest on the southern Minnesota heavy snow as we go through Friday and Friday evening. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale forecast model shows the potential snow pattern Friday through Friday night: The color chart to the right of the loop refers to the strength of the signal that returns…
by Ron Trenda

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What’s on MPR News – 1/18/19

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

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'Politics with Amy Walter' on the Friday Takeaway

'Politics with Amy Walter' on the Friday Takeaway

'Politics with Amy Walter' on the Friday Takeaway

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The personal, the political, the poetic

The personal, the political, the poetic

Bookseller Danny Caine recommends a new "dazzling" collection of poetry that mixes the personal and political.
by Tracy Mumford

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Women's March divisions offer lessons for Democrats on managing a big tent

Women's March divisions offer lessons for Democrats on managing a big tent

The third annual Women's March is Saturday. The first march, held the day after Donald Trump's inauguration, was a moment of unity. But now there are questions about keeping the united front together.
by Asma Khalid

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Trump administration appeals ruling blocking citizenship question on 2020 census

Trump administration appeals ruling blocking citizenship question on 2020 census

The Trump administration is asking the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to review the first major court ruling over plans to add a question about U.S. citizenship status to the 2020 census.

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