Stories from October 28, 2021

Minneapolis sued over Upper Harbor Terminal project
A group of Minneapolis residents with an environmental justice group filed a lawsuit over the city’s plans to develop the Mississippi River site, north of downtown. The lawsuit alleges that the city failed to properly study the plan’s environmental impact.
Soaker: Here are some rainfall totals for Minnesota
Thursday brought just the kind of steady soaking rains Minnesota needs to recharge soils before free-up this fall.
Former NY governor Andrew Cuomo faces a misdemeanor sex charge
Cuomo was forced from office after nearly a dozen women accused him of sexual harassment. He now faces a criminal complaint alleging he forcibly touched a female staff member.
Minneapolis Council president files ethics complaint against police chief
Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender announced Thursday that she filed an ethics complaint against the city's police chief, Medaria Arradondo, after he held a news conference Wednesday to speak out against the public safety charter amendment.
White House looks to protect U.S. financial systems from climate change risk
The cost of climate-change-enhanced weather disasters is hitting taxpayers and companies directly. Now the White House is taking steps to protect the country’s financial systems from such risks.
4 things to know about possible changes to your student loan debt
The head of the office of Federal Student Aid, Richard Cordray, spoke with lawmakers about loan forgiveness and a resumption of student loan repayments after the pandemic pause.
2 portraits of young men face off — and show a story about race in the history of art
Thomas Gainsborough's 18th century painting “Blue Boy” inspired 21st century painter Kehinde Wiley, and they're being shown across from each other at the Huntington Art Museum near Los Angeles.
Minnesota working group stalls on $250M payout to front-line workers
Minnesota lawmakers set aside $250 million in bonus pay for front-line workers last summer. A nine-member working group had met since July to decide who would get the bonus pay and how much. The monthslong effort concluded Wednesday without a deal, greatly reducing the chance any checks will go out this year.
In a special edition of Minnesota Today, host Cathy Wurzer talked on Minnesota Now with Dr. Madeleine Gagnon, a pediatrician and the vice chief of staff at Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare about how clinics and providers are preparing to deliver vaccines to kids. Theme music is by Gary Meister.
Jaleel Stallings sues Minneapolis and MPD over excessive force
Jaleel Stallings filed a federal civil rights lawsuit Thursday against the city of Minneapolis and 19 police officers. He says police used excessive force during the unrest following George Floyd’s murder and then lied in their reports that he’d been resisting arrest.
In Baudette, Minn., anticipation grows for the border reopening
When the United States-Canada border closed in March 2020 because of the pandemic, it split two towns that function as one: Baudette, Minn. and Rainy River, Ontario. But the long separation will soon end when the border is fully reopened next month. MPR News host Cathy Wurzer talked with the mayors of both cities about what it’s been like living in a community divided.
What to know about the rollout of COVID vaccines for kids
The Minnesota Department of Health is preparing to vaccinate thousands of kids ages 5 to 11 after the Food and Drug Administration advisory panel gave the initial OK to use the Pfizer vaccine. Vaccines could be available as early as Nov. 4 if the shots are approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at their meeting next week.
Facebook is changing its name to Meta
The change comes as Facebook looks to recast its public image from battered social network to tech innovator focused on building the next generation of online interaction known as the "metaverse."
Jill Riley on the Rolling Stones show and a possible Congressional Gold Medal for Prince
Jill Riley of The Current speaks with Cathy Wurzer on Minnesota Now and plays some musical selections. Plus, MPR News producer and stand-up comedian Aron Woldeslassie entertains us about lutefisk.
Thursday’s Song of the Day on Minnesota Now came from Will Moore, the music director at WTIP in beautiful Grand Marais. 
Trump's strategy to overturn the 2020 election didn't work. Next time it might
Robert Costa's book “Peril,” which he co-wrote with Bob Woodward, goes inside Trump's war room on the eve of the Jan. 6 insurrection. Costa says the 2024 election could trigger a constitutional crisis.
Answering your COVID-19 vaccine questions
Guest host Stephanie Curtis talks with two doctors about the latest vaccine news including shots for young children and COVID boosters, plus the latest public health guidance to limit the spread of COVID-19. And we get the latest news on the pandemic in Minnesota from MPR News senior reporter Catherine Richert.
Appetites: Union Hmong Kitchen moves into new space inside Graze
If you've been paying any attention to the Twin Cities food scene over the last few years, you know Yia Vang, the creative mastermind behind Union Hmong Kitchen. Not only has he been preparing to open a new space inside Graze food hall, he also recently celebrated becoming a US citizen after coming to the U.S. when he was four years old.
Sustainability is a way of life for Indigenous communities in Minnesota — and beyond. In partnership with We Are Still Here Minnesota, MPR News presents In Focus: Sustainability in Indian Country, a conversation led by community leaders and moderated by Twila Dang.
Weekend forecast: Mild Saturday, breezy and cool on Sunday
Saturday still looks like the nicer day of the coming weekend. Temps will be chilly on Sunday, and winds will ramp up. We have weekend forecast details, including trick-or-treat weather.
Minneapolis mayor faces voters with policing on their minds
The Democrat faces a tough fight to keep his job in the city's first election since George Floyd's death under the knee of a white police officer in May 2020. Jacob Frey's fate is likely tied to whether voters agree with his moves to change the city's Police Department — and whether they agree with his opposition to a ballot question that would replace it with something new.
A wet storm slowly moves out of Minnesota Thursday, with mild weather continuing through Saturday. Next week turns much colder, with some highs only in the 30s.
Biden announces deal, seeks votes: 'Let's get this done'
President Joe Biden says he has reached a “historic” framework with Democrats in Congress on his sweeping, though scaled-back domestic policy plan.
Amy Klobuchar delayed her mammogram. She doesn’t want you to do the same
The Minnesota senator was treated for breast cancer this year. She has bipartisan legislation that would encourage people to catch up on health screenings, which plummeted during the pandemic.
ExxonMobil’s chief executive says his company “does not spread disinformation regarding climate change″ as he counters congressional allegations the industry concealed evidence about the dangers of it.
A persistent storm continues to move a soaking rain across Minnesota Thursday, which is also keeping temperatures from cooling or warming much.
Medaria Arradondo on Wednesday spoke out strongly against a November ballot measure intended to remake his department, warning it wouldn’t fix relations between residents and the police and could do serious damage to a department already severely understaffed. This is an MPR News morning update for Thursday, October 28, 2021. Hosted by Phil Picardi. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
A novel ended George Rabasa's writing career — and then jolted it back to life
George Rabasa’s novel “Undressing Lavinia,” the story of a Mexican woman facing cancer in Minnesota, was so tough to get down on the page, he quit writing entirely. Then a chance glance on his computer gave the book and his writing a new lease on life.
Art Hounds: Dance meditation considers movement across borders
Ananya Dance Theatre performs “Dastak: I Wish You Me” for an in-person audience at O’Shaughnessy in St. Paul. Other Art Hounds picks — a puppetry extravaganza that teaches Cherokee and a “private conversation” through mixed media in Fergus Falls.