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Stories from December 23, 2019

Cube Critics Celebrate the Holidays with the gift of film

Cube Critics arrive early this week because of the midweek holiday and releases. Does Greta Gerwig do justice to "Little Women"? And does Christian Bale make a convincing race car driver? And how does Terrance Malick deal with a story with a beginning, an end, and a middle in-between? Euan Kerr and Marcheta Fornoff reveal just enough.
by Euan Kerr and Marcheta Fornoff

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Evening Update

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As feds raise smoking age, debate isn’t yet over Minnesota

As feds raise smoking age, debate isn’t yet over Minnesota

A new federal law raises the minimum purchase age for tobacco products from 18 to 21. Tobacco 21 advocates in Minnesota still see value in having a state law pass, too.
by Brian Bakst

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'Just broken': Farm deaths shake firefighters in central Minnesota

Members of the Millerville Fire Department will gather Monday night to support each other following a weekend farm accident that took the lives of two people with close ties to the department, including its assistant fire chief.
by Mark Zdechlik

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Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources prohibits movement of farmed deer in Minnesota

Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources prohibits movement of farmed deer in Minnesota

The Department of Natural Resources enacted an emergency rule that prohibits the movement of farmed white-tailed deer for 30 days. The agency says the action is needed to prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease to wild deer.
by Dan Gunderson

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Ukraine emails fuel Democrats' call for impeachment trial witnesses

Ukraine emails fuel Democrats' call for impeachment trial witnesses

Democrats say heavily redacted emails published by the Center for Public Integrity show there is more to uncover about military aid that was withheld from Ukraine.
by Miles Parks

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Alabama school system prepares to sue over 3M contamination

An Alabama school system is taking the first step to sue 3M Co. over a closed landfill that's on school system property. News outlets report that Decatur's school system has filed notice saying it plans to sue over industrial toxins leaking from the one-time landfill that's beneath the former Brookhaven Middle School.
by The Associated Press

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Former state roads chief Zelle to run Met Council

Former state roads chief Zelle to run Met Council

Barely a year removed from leading the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Charlie Zelle will head the transit-oriented Met Council starting in January.
by Brian Bakst

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MPR News' most memorable stories from 2019

MPR News' most memorable stories from 2019

Politics and impeachment have filled our airwaves and our headlines on mprnews.org. But it’s the collection of stories about our state, our will and our natural resources that round out our most memorable stories of 2019.
by MPR News Staff

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Minnesota Court of Appeals overturns revenge porn law

The three-judge panel ruled the law is written too broadly and violates the First Amendment. A chief author of the law says he wants the Minnesota Supreme Court to review the decision.
by Briana Bierschbach and Matt Sepic

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Bigger Supreme Court? No more Electoral College? See what 2020 Democrats would do

Bigger Supreme Court? No more Electoral College? See what 2020 Democrats would do

Stacking up the positions of presidential candidates on changes to government institutions, there are divisions over expanding the U.S. Supreme Court and ending the Senate's filibuster.
by Danielle Kurtzleben , Lexie Schapitl and Elena Burnett

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'Here We Are: American Dreams, American Nightmares'

'Here We Are: American Dreams, American Nightmares'

Immigrants come to the United States filled with hope. But as NPR contributor Aarti Shahani shares in her new memoir, the American dream can quickly become the American nightmare.
by Chris Farrell and Kelly Gordon

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Holiday movies that stand the test of time

A new crop of Christmas movies are made each year, but only a few become beloved classics that people look forward to re-watching around the holidays. Stephanie Curtis, the movie maven, joins Angela Davis to discuss her favorite Christmas movies and why they stand the test of time.
by Jim Bickal, Stephanie Curtis and Angela Davis

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Photos: Our favorite images of 2019

Photos: Our favorite images of 2019

Our staff and freelance photographers bring everything you read and hear to life through pictures. This year, they’ve braved the wind and waves of Lake Superior, waited in courthouses day after day, followed a rural midwife from one home visit to another and flown in WWII era planes.
by Evan Frost and Christine T. Nguyen

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Saudi Arabia sentences 5 people to death for Khashoggi killing

Saudi Arabia sentences 5 people to death for Khashoggi killing

Charges against two senior aides to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman were dismissed, and the killing was found to be not premeditated. A U.N. official called the verdict a "mockery" of justice.
by Laurel Wamsley

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Why tobacco industry giants backed raising the minimum age of purchase

Why tobacco industry giants backed raising the minimum age of purchase

President Trump has signed off on raising the age of sale from 18 to 21 for cigarettes and e-cigarettes. Health advocates worry it guards the industry from further sweeping regulations.
by Merrit Kennedy

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North Korea promises a Christmas surprise. Here are the options

North Korea promises a Christmas surprise. Here are the options

With the holiday just days away and no sign of a diplomatic breakthrough in sight, here are what experts say are the possibilities for North Korea's "Christmas gift."
by Geoff Brumfiel

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Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg to step down immediately

The board said a change in leadership was necessary to restore confidence in the company as it works to repair relationships with regulators and stakeholders. The Max was grounded worldwide in March after the second of two crashes of its jet, killing a combined total of 346 people.
by The Associated Press

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Police: Woman struck, killed in Maplewood

Investigators say there may have been a dispute between the woman and another person that preceded her death.
by The Associated Press

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Cooler but still mild; light rain, snow possible Christmas Day into Thursday

Cooler but still mild; light rain, snow possible Christmas Day into Thursday

A weak cold front will cool us a bit but temperatures will remain on the mild side this week. A variety of mostly light precipitation is likely to come our way on Christmas Day and mainly Christmas night and Thursday.
by Bill Endersen

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For her head cold, insurer coughed up $25,865

For her head cold, insurer coughed up $25,865

A New York woman worried that her sore throat might be strep, so she went to the doctor to have it checked out. Then came the bill — with a price tag similar to a small SUV.
by Richard Harris

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Trove of recipes dating back to Inquisition reveals a family's secret Jewish roots

Trove of recipes dating back to Inquisition reveals a family's secret Jewish roots

Many Jews were forced to convert during the Inquisition, a history often lost to their descendants. Finding recipes adhering to Jewish food customs helped one woman unearth her family's hidden past.
by Greg Allen

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MPR News Update

by Cathy Wurzer

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Willmar keeps the refugee door open despite concerns

Willmar keeps the refugee door open despite concerns

Rising numbers of Somali and Latino immigrants have brought opportunities and tensions to west-central Minnesota. A recent Kandiyohi County vote to accept more refugees has put those divisions into clearer focus.
by Riham Feshir

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More and more players find pickleball to their taste

More and more players find pickleball to their taste

The hybrid sport is attractive to older people, but others enjoy it just as much.
by Peter Cox

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Car seat safety tips for holiday travel

Car seat safety tips for holiday travel

Properly installed car seats can drastically reduce the risk of injury or death during traffic accidents. Here are some pointers on how to do it.
by Jon Collins

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Innocence Lost: Could it happen again?

Innocence Lost: Could it happen again?

Many survivors say while the Children’s Theatre has made significant changes, the broader community’s culture of silence remains.
by Marianne Combs

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Audio reflections: MPR News reporters share memorable sound from 2019

Audio reflections: MPR News reporters share memorable sound from 2019

When MPR News reporters are in the studio, crafting those in-depth stories that listeners rely on every day, ear-grabbing background sound is usually on the checklist of things to do. 2019 saw many stories that provided some of those unique sounds. We compiled a list of reporter favorites.
by Mike Moen

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Hanukkah special: 'Candles Burning Brightly.'

Hanukkah special: 'Candles Burning Brightly.'

MPR's Mindy Ratner has produced a holiday special about the music, history, foods and traditions of Hanukkah.

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Sunday felt like March, and we'll see mild temps this week; how about rain and snow chances?

Sunday felt like March, and we'll see mild temps this week; how about rain and snow chances?

Sunday felt more like March than December, but how long will the mild temps last? We look at that and when we might see some rain and snow. You’ll also get a peek at the veils of high clouds that filtered our sunshine Sunday afternoon.
by Ron Trenda

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