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Stories from February 8, 2019

Old pipes, rising rates: Duluth and other cities invest in water infrastructure

Old pipes, rising rates: Duluth and other cities invest in water infrastructure

The cost of water has spiked in recent years, as cities around the country have raised rates to replace aging infrastructure. The issue is especially acute in some unexpected places: The Great Lakes' biggest cities, including Duluth.
by Dan Kraker

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Many second chances pave ex-felon's path from prison to dream job

Many second chances pave ex-felon's path from prison to dream job

The 36-year-old Alabama native and seven-time felon knew building a new life would be a challenge. He aims to help other former felons succeed as well.
by Jon Collins

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To halt HIV, advocates push for PrEP outreach to black women

To halt HIV, advocates push for PrEP outreach to black women

After gay and bisexual men, black women are the group at highest risk for HIV transmission. Here's how women are teaching each other about the most effective ways to prevent infection.
by Heather Boerner

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Virginia governor says he won't quit; new allegation hits deputy

Virginia governor says he won't quit; new allegation hits deputy

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam told top staff Friday that he is not going to resign over a racist photo as another sexual assault accusation was leveled at his lieutenant governor, who would succeed him if he stepped down.
by Associated Press

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'Blindsided': Developer of stalled project blames Mayo Clinic

'Blindsided': Developer of stalled project blames Mayo Clinic

The developer of a much-touted -- but now suspended -- hotel, retail and residential development on prime Rochester real estate blamed Mayo Clinic for launching a competing hotel that put the project at a "considerable competitive disadvantage."
by Catharine Richert

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Humanitarian aid arrives for Venezuela; Maduro blocks it

Humanitarian aid arrives for Venezuela; Maduro blocks it

The military, which backs President Nicolas Maduro, has barricaded a bridge from Colombia. Opposition leader Juan Guaido, along with the U.S., is demanding that the aid convoy be allowed to pass.

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The pervasiveness of blackface in American culture

We examine the roots of blackface: where it started, why it's offensive, and why many white Americans don't get it.
by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

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Electric cars' range can drop 40 percent in cold temps

Electric cars' range can drop 40 percent in cold temps

A study of five electric vehicles by AAA also found that high temperatures can cut into battery range, but not nearly as much as the cold. The range returns to normal in more comfortable temperatures.
by Associated Press

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Unusually heavy snowfall so far this February

In Minnesota, it's rare for February to take the title of snowiest month, but so far this month is on track to do just that.
by Cathy Wurzer

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What goes into launching a presidential campaign?

Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar is holding an event on Sunday afternoon where she is expected to announce that she is running for president.
by Cathy Wurzer

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Unhappy with 7 p.m. bedtime, 9-year-old calls the cops

Unhappy with 7 p.m. bedtime, 9-year-old calls the cops

It's all good now between Max and the Madison (Wis.) Police Department, owing to the power of apology.
by Bob Collins

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Acting Attorney General says he hasn't discussed Mueller probe with White House

Acting Attorney General says he hasn't discussed Mueller probe with White House

The interim Justice Department boss told lawmakers he didn't want to talk about his conversations with President Trump but did want to try to allay concerns that he has served as a White House mole.

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A year after Parkland, a mother and daughter remember

A year after Parkland, a mother and daughter remember

Maya Altman survived last year's shooting in Parkland, Fla. At StoryCorps, she and her mom, Robyn, reflect on that day and how it has impacted them.
by Emma Bowman and Camila Kerwin

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Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos accuses 'National Enquirer' of extortion over personal photos

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos accuses 'National Enquirer' of extortion over personal photos

In purported emails posted online by Bezos, executives for National Enquirer parent company AMI threaten to publish intimate photos of Bezos if The Washington Post publishes a story about the tabloid.
by Bill Chappell and Richard Gonzales

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Living near your grandmother has evolutionary benefits

Living near your grandmother has evolutionary benefits

Humans are evolutionary oddballs for living long past our reproductive prime. New research explains how grandmothers might be the reason why.
by Jonathan Lambert

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Despite few details and much doubt, the Green New Deal generates enthusiasm

Despite few details and much doubt, the Green New Deal generates enthusiasm

The Green New Deal to address climate change is short on specifics and wildly ambitious. But even seasoned energy experts admire the enthusiasm it's generating.
by Jeff Brady

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Supreme Court stops Louisiana abortion law from being implemented

Supreme Court stops Louisiana abortion law from being implemented

The high court effectively blocked the restrictive law pending a decision on whether the court will hear the case. Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the liberal justices for the temporary stay.
by Nina Totenberg, Barbara Campbell and Richard Gonzales

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'Full-service' community schools get a deeper look at the Capitol

'Full-service' community schools get a deeper look at the Capitol

Full-service schools put education, health care and other student and family needs under one roof. The model has caught the attention of DFL Gov. Tim Walz and some lawmakers in the Legislature. But not everyone's on board.
by Elizabeth Shockman

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Reader suggestions: Books we should teach in schools

Reader suggestions: Books we should teach in schools

The decision to pull two books from reading lists for Duluth's high school students has sparked discussion about what literature should be required reading. We've compiled a list of books that MPR News readers said they'd recommend high school students be required to read.
by Sara Porter

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ChangeMakers: Walter 'Q bear' Banks Jr., instrumental to the Minneapolis sound

ChangeMakers: Walter 'Q bear' Banks Jr., instrumental to the Minneapolis sound

Walter "Q bear" Banks Jr. has been broadcasting the Minneapolis sound at the station for 40 years. "It doesn't matter what color you are. Black people do exist and we can be owners of companies and owners of businesses," Banks said.
by Evan Frost

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Meteorologist warning of tornado pummeled by fans of vapid TV show

Katy Morgan, a TV meteorologist in Nashville, had to break into regular programming on Wednesday to warn residents about two tornadoes. She interrupted The Masked Singer, which apparently is a Fox TV show that provides the sum and substance of some people’s lives. Yesterday 2 people died due to flooding. 2 tornadoes caused damage. Unfortunately,…
by Bob Collins

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Cold sunshine today; snow for parts of Minnesota this weekend

Cold sunshine today; snow for parts of Minnesota this weekend

Thursday’s snow total at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport was 5.9 inches, which brings our official February total to 10.4 inches: The “R” after the 5.9 inch entry means that a new Twin Cities snowfall record was set for February 7. Disregard the snow depth, that measurement was taken early Thursday morning. MSP airport tallied more…
by Ron Trenda

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Target app raises prices when you walk into a store

After a KARE 11 investigation, Target says it's changing its app to make clear that the price displayed for an item is different depending on whether you buy it in the store or buy it online.
by Bob Collins

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The politics of playing nice

There's little likelihood you've heard many male candidates for office examined for their "niceness" but female candidates can't escape the inspection and a Boston Globe columnist is using Sen. Amy Klobuchar as one example.
by Bob Collins

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Brace for the cold, enjoy the sunshine

Brace for the cold, enjoy the sunshine

It’ll be a bright Friday, but temps will be running about 25 degrees below average. There will be enough wind to generate wind chills in the -25 to -35 range in the Twin Cities metro area and much of eastern Minnesota, where the wind chill advisory continues until  noon: A wind chill warning for even…
by Ron Trenda

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What’s on MPR News – 2/8/19

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

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'Black Leopard, Red Wolf' is a beast of a book

'Black Leopard, Red Wolf' is a beast of a book

Our critic likens reading Marlon James' new epic fantasy to being slowly eaten by a bear that occasionally cracks jokes -- painful and strange, but upsettingly beautiful for all that.
by Amal El-Mohtar

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'Politics with Amy Walter' on the Friday Takeaway

'Politics with Amy Walter' on the Friday Takeaway

"Medicare for all: a buoy or a brick for Democrats?" Politics with Amy Walter, on The Friday Takeaway

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Court officers say Minnesota still struggles for equal justice

Judges, county attorneys and other legal professionals say Minnesota's criminal justice system still fails people of color, 25 years after a landmark state Supreme Court report.
by Brandt Williams

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Avoiding the ouch: Scientists are working on ways to swap the needle for a pill

Avoiding the ouch: Scientists are working on ways to swap the needle for a pill

A lot of vaccines and some medications need to be delivered by injection. Two groups of researchers are designing ways of delivering these medications by putting them in pill form.
by Joe Palca

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