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Stories from March 7, 2019

Man who threatened teens at Eden Prairie McDonald's pleads guilty

Man who threatened teens at Eden Prairie McDonald's pleads guilty

Lloyd Edward Johnson allegedly provoked a November confrontation with Somali-American teens at the restaurant and then pulled a gun on the teens as the situation escalated. He pleaded guilty to making terroristic threats, prosecutors said Thursday.
by MPR News Staff

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Man admits to hacking Minnesota databases over cop acquittal

A Minnesota man has admitted to hacking into state government databases in 2017 in retaliation for the acquittal of a police officer in the fatal shooting of a black motorist, Philando Castile.
by Associated Press

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The White House and its 'shadow cabinet' of Fox News TV hosts

The White House and its 'shadow cabinet' of Fox News TV hosts

Past administrations have had favored press members, says New Yorker reporter Jane Mayer, "but nothing where someone is so close in that they are coordinating on a daily basis with the president."
by Terry Gross

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FDA says it found asbestos in makeup at Claire's

FDA says it found asbestos in makeup at Claire's

The retailer, which markets products to young women, says its products are safe and says the test results "show significant errors." Other independent testers also found asbestos in the products.

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Cohen sues Trump Organization, wants it to pay legal bills

Cohen sues Trump Organization, wants it to pay legal bills

Michael Cohen filed a lawsuit Thursday claiming the Trump Organization broke a promise to pay his legal bills and owes at least $1.9 million to cover the cost of his defense.
by Associated Press

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Sports betting bill clears first committee, but odds still against it

Sports betting bill clears first committee, but odds still against it

For the first time, Minnesota lawmakers held a hearing on legislation to legalize sports betting in the state, but the bill's future is far from certain.
by Tim Pugmire

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Minnesota pedestrian deaths up in 2019, but it's not clear why

Minnesota pedestrian deaths up in 2019, but it's not clear why

Pedestrian deaths in Minnesota stayed steady the past few years even as national rates rose. But the first few months of 2019 have proved to be dangerous here. State officials are working to understand what's happening.
by Matt Mikus

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Can Minnesota talk about new nuclear power while there’s still a ban?

Can Minnesota talk about new nuclear power while there’s still a ban?

Senate Republicans and Democrats are at odds over whether nuclear energy can be part of the conversation about Minnesota's energy future if the state keeps its ban on new nuclear power plants.
by Elizabeth Dunbar

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Some 'cheaper' health plans have surprising costs

Some 'cheaper' health plans have surprising costs

Well-known insurers are selling new sorts of health plans outside the Affordable Care Act exchanges that may sound cheaper but aren't necessarily. Some, for example, charge extra for common surgeries.
by Julie Appleby

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Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown won't run for president

Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown won't run for president

Brown is the latest to pass on the 2020 race. He was re-elected last year, promising to "do everything he can" to elect a Democratic president and Senate in 2020.
by Brian Naylor

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Minnesota Senate backs snow-day relief for schools

Minnesota Senate backs snow-day relief for schools

Minnesota school districts are halfway to winning flexibility from the Legislature to write off the winter's snow days.
by Brian Bakst

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MN 2018 job gains far below estimate; Jan. jobless rate at 3 percent

MN 2018 job gains far below estimate; Jan. jobless rate at 3 percent

Minnesota's job growth for 2018 came in about two-thirds below the 31,000 job gains originally estimated, and growth continues to slow as the labor market tightens, state officials said Thursday.
by MPR News Staff

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Against the odds, a butterfly from Northfield survives a flight to Mexico

Against the odds, a butterfly from Northfield survives a flight to Mexico

The University of Kansas has been handing out small stickers marked with an email address, phone number, and unique identification code, and asking people to attach them to the discal cell on the butterflies’ wings. Then record the date and location. That's what Julianne Moore, of Northfield, did in her backyard last September.
by Bob Collins

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'She's speaking truth to power:' Local Jewish group rep reacts to Rep. Omar's comments

On Tuesday's Morning Edition we heard from Steve Hunegs, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, who explained why many Jews feel that Rep. Omar's recent comments were anti-Semitic. But others in the Jewish community disagree with that sentiment, including Amber Harris, who represents the Twin Cities chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace.
by Cathy Wurzer

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Supreme Court rules that World Bank can be sued

Supreme Court rules that World Bank can be sued

The 7-1 decision overturns a 70-plus year standard of immunity for the bank and its branches. Now a lawsuit filed in behalf of fisherfolk in India can go forward.
by Tim McDonnell

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Rochester police investigating homicide

Officials say a 28-year-old man was found dead of multiple gunshot wounds along a southeast side street early Tuesday.
by The Associated Press

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House broadly condemns hate after anti-Semitism dispute

House broadly condemns hate after anti-Semitism dispute

Divided in debate but mostly united in a final vote, the House passed a resolution condemning anti-Semitism and other bigotry Thursday, with Democrats trying to push past a dispute that has overwhelmed their agenda and exposed fault lines that could dog them through elections next year.
by The Associated Press

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Minnesota pledges 100 percent carbon-free energy. Is it possible?

Minnesota pledges 100 percent carbon-free energy. Is it possible?

Minnesota already has a 25 percent renewable energy mandate, and close to half of the state's electricity comes from carbon-free sources: renewable energy, which mostly comes from wind but also solar and hydroelectricity; and non-renewable nuclear, which doesn't give off carbon.
by Elizabeth Dunbar

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A reporter’s job is among the most stressful? Oh, please

The flaw in the survey is that people define what is stressful and while soldiers and firefighters would pass muster by any standard -- potentially dying on the job seems like a reasonable benchmark -- and maybe airline pilots can claim stress from the perception of danger, there's no explaining why broadcasters and news reporters (No. 7 on the list) make the list other than being notorious complainers.
by Bob Collins

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Cedar-Riverside residents press police on gun violence

Cedar-Riverside residents press police on gun violence

The death of a 17-year-old on a day when several others were injured by gunfire has galvanized residents of the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood in Minneapolis. Dozens filled a conference room to tell top police officials of their concerns Wednesday.
by Matt Sepic

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MN school sees gains when kids' art, social needs take center stage

MN school sees gains when kids' art, social needs take center stage

In Rochester, an arts-focused elementary school has brought health care, social services and other family needs under its roof. Leaders say the whole effort is helping at-risk children. Challenges remain, but the school's caught the attention of the Walz administration.
by Catharine Richert

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State lawmakers join those preparing for spring floods

State lawmakers join those preparing for spring floods

With lots of snow on the ground and more in the forecast, state officials and even the Legislature are starting to prepare for floods.
by Brian Bakst

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Mankato grain silos to be area’s largest mural

Mankato grain silos to be area’s largest mural

There's not much a community can do with abandoned, concrete silos, the kind that dot Minneapolis' Hiawatha Avenue and the Prospect Park area. Or is there? Mankato has the right idea. An artist is going to treat them like the canvas they are and make art.
by Bob Collins

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Drug trafficking and the art of probable cause

There's nothing wrong with nabbing drug traffickers through probable cause, of course, but the cases highlight how easy it is to obtain it when an officer is looking for a reason to pull someone over who doesn't look quite right. Sometimes the police are right; sometimes they're not.
by Bob Collins

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The ‘science’ of misogyny costs professor his job

Professor Alessandro Strum, a guest professor, is no longer welcome at the European particle physics research center CERN. Not after he offered his own scientific theory at a symposium on gender equity - that women are not as able at physics as men.
by Bob Collins

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Morning weather briefing; winter storm watch this weekend

Morning weather briefing; winter storm watch this weekend

As you head out the door Thursday morning, be ready for a fairly quiet weather day. Far southern Minnesota could see a dusting of light snow, with a flurry chance Thursday evening in the  Twin Cities metro area. Minnesota highs will be in the teens west to lower 20s east: The weekend snowstorm. I know,…
by Ron Trenda

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Daily Digest: No action on Omar in the House

A quick look at some political stories in the news this Thursday.
by Mike Mulcahy

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What’s on MPR News – 3/7/19

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

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Uber not criminally liable in death of woman hit by self-driving car, prosecutor says

Uber not criminally liable in death of woman hit by self-driving car, prosecutor says

The woman was walking a bicycle across the road when she was fatally struck by the SUV. The car had a human operator behind the wheel but was in computer control mode at the time of the crash.

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R. Kelly goes back to jail, takes risks with TV interview

R. Kelly goes back to jail, takes risks with TV interview

A spokesperson for the Cook County Sheriff's Office said Kelly would not be released from jail until he pays the full child-support debt. His next hearing was scheduled for March 13.
by Associated Press

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Bill raising federal minimum wage to $15 heads to U.S. House floor

Bill raising federal minimum wage to $15 heads to U.S. House floor

It's the Democrats' latest attempt to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 from $7.25 by 2024. Amazon and several presidential candidates support the bill, though it faces high hurdles in the Senate.
by Alina Selyukh

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Facebook promises more private and self-destructing messages

Facebook promises more private and self-destructing messages

CEO Mark Zuckerberg is pledging users more enhanced privacy and other features when it comes to private messages. Skeptics say Facebook is solidifying power, in the guise of user service.
by Aarti Shahani

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Paul Manafort sentencing: What you need to know

Paul Manafort sentencing: What you need to know

On Thursday, a federal judge will tell the president's former campaign chairman how much time in prison he must serve and how much money he must pay for bank and tax fraud.
by Ryan Lucas

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School lessons targeted by climate change doubters

School lessons targeted by climate change doubters

As climate change becomes a hotter topic in American classrooms, politicians around the country are pushing back against the near-universal scientific consensus that global warming is real, dire and man-made.
by Associated Press

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