Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now

Stories from January 20, 2022

Florida man charged after 4 found dead at Minn.-Canada border

Florida man charged after 4 found dead at Minn.-Canada border

A Florida man has been charged with human smuggling after the bodies of four people, including a baby and a teen, were found in Manitoba near the border community of Emerson.
by The Associated Press

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Governor’s spending plan includes ‘Walz checks’

Governor’s spending plan includes ‘Walz checks’

As the Legislature gets ready for this year’s session, Gov. Tim Walz is pushing for tax relief with part of Minnesota’s budget surplus.
by Brian Bakst

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

Walz calls on Hennepin County sheriff to step down

Gov. Tim Walz is the latest elected official to call on Hennepin County's sheriff to resign. That’s after investigative documents today revealed that Sheriff David Hutchison was driving as fast as 126 miles per hour when he rolled over his government-issued SUV on Interstate 94 last month.  This is an MPR News Evening update for January 20, 2022. Hosted by Natasha Senjanovic. Our theme music is by Gary Meister. 

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
MN sports roundup: First woman ever to interview for an NFL general manager job

MN sports roundup: First woman ever to interview for an NFL general manager job

This week in Minnesota sports, Catherine Raiche of the Philadelphia Eagles made NFL history when she interviewed for the open Vikings general manager position. That and more from Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson.
by Cathy Wurzer

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Listener dispatches from Day 1 of the Twin Cities restaurant vaccination mandate

Listener dispatches from Day 1 of the Twin Cities restaurant vaccination mandate

Wednesday was the first day of the latest restaurant vaccination mandates in Minneapolis and St. Paul. We wanted to hear how it went, and listeners answered — here's what you shared with Minnesota Now.
by Cathy Wurzer and Lindsay Guentzel

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Extreme weather cost $280 billion globally in 2021

Extreme weather cost $280 billion globally in 2021

Large insurers are calling for urgent action on climate change after another year of costly catastrophic losses because of extreme weather.
by Paul Huttner

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Outside experts want changes in state driver’s license system

Outside experts want changes in state driver’s license system

Minnesota lawmakers and a group of outside experts that reviewed Minnesota’s system for driver’s license testing presented a report Thursday that calls for many changes.
by Tim Pugmire

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

What to expect in the trial of 3 ex-MPD officers in Floyd death

Thursday, jury selection was underway in downtown St. Paul in the federal trial of three former Minneapolis police officers accused of violating George Floyd's civil rights. MPR News editor Brandt Williams previewed the trial for host Cathy Wurzer.
by Cathy Wurzer

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Can we help kids learn to love math?   

Can we help kids learn to love math?   

Math performance on standardized tests has been dropping for years and worsened during the  pandemic. As the state of Minnesota prepares to revise its math standards for the first time since 2007, MPR News host Angela Davis talks with math educators about the importance of numeracy and how to help children love and understand math. 
by Angela Davis and Maja Beckstrom

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Kris Ehresmann, face of Minnesota's COVID response, set to retire

Kris Ehresmann, face of Minnesota's COVID response, set to retire

Ehresmann, 59, the state’s infectious disease director and one of the key players in the state’s battle against COVID-19, will retire Feb. 2 after 30 years in public health, officials said Thursday.
by MPR News Staff

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Cities across Minnesota declare climate emergencies, demand action

Cities across Minnesota declare climate emergencies, demand action

From Moorhead to St. Louis Park, cities around the state are working with the Minnesota Cities Climate Caucus to draw local attention to the climate crisis, calling on state and federal governments for legislative and financial support. 
by Dan Kraker

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
The big picture: How young people are reshaping spirituality

The big picture: How young people are reshaping spirituality

As we step into a new year, we’re looking to the future of big issues in America. Host Cathy Wurzer talked with researcher Josh Packard about how young people are reshaping the future of religion and spirituality.
by Cathy Wurzer, Kelly Gordon and Alex Cheng

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Jury seated in trial of 3 ex-MPD cops charged with violating Floyd's civil rights

Jury seated in trial of 3 ex-MPD cops charged with violating Floyd's civil rights

It took a single day Thursday to find 18 jurors for the federal trial of the three former Minneapolis police officers charged with violating George Floyd’s constitutional rights. Opening statements are expected Monday.
by Jon Collins and Nina Moini

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
MN activists return from work with Karen refugees in Myanmar region

MN activists return from work with Karen refugees in Myanmar region

Minnesotans Jesse Phenow and Ku Hser recently returned from the Myanmar region, where they helped Karen refugees dealing with displacement and persecution. They told host Cathy Wurzer about their work, the danger they faced and the emotions stirred by the journey.
by Cathy Wurzer, Kelly Gordon and Alex Cheng

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Previewing the trial of 3 ex-MPD officers in Floyd's death

Previewing the trial of 3 ex-MPD officers in Floyd's death

Jury selection began Thursday in downtown St. Paul for the federal trial of three former Minneapolis police officers accused of violating George Floyd's civil rights in his 2020 killing. MPR News editor Brandt Williams previewed the trial for host Cathy Wurzer.
by Cathy Wurzer, Brandt Williams and Elizabeth Dunbar

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Weekend forecast: Two batches of snow, cool temps

Weekend forecast: Two batches of snow, cool temps

We aren’t expecting any big snowstorms this weekend, but we will have two opportunities to shovel a bit of snow. Temperatures will be cool, but not overly cold.
by Ron Trenda

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Is the pandemic causing us to behave badly?

Is the pandemic causing us to behave badly?

The prolonged stress, uncertainty and grief of the pandemic is making people angry — and some of them are taking it out in public. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about the increase in pandemic bad behavior with a New York Times journalist. And she talks about the causes of our anger and how to better manage it with a psychologist and an advice columnist.
by Angela Davis and Samantha Matsumoto

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
'Davos Man' is an angry, powerful look at economic inequality

'Davos Man' is an angry, powerful look at economic inequality

New York Times writer Peter S. Goodman does not like Davos Man. At all. And his new book does an excellent job explaining why — focusing on the rich getting richer as the COVID-19 pandemic raged.
by Michael Schaub

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Hennepin sheriff hit 126 mph drunk before crash; Walz calls on him to resign

Hennepin sheriff hit 126 mph drunk before crash; Walz calls on him to resign

Gov. Tim Walz on Thursday said Hennepin County Sheriff David Hutchinson should step down after a newly released Minnesota State Patrol report said the sheriff was driving drunk at high speeds in a county-owned SUV before he rolled it on I-94.
by Peter Cox and Brian Bakst

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Cold Thursday, warmer Friday; snow Friday night

Cold Thursday, warmer Friday; snow Friday night

Bitterly cold temperatures should ease into the teens by late afternoon Friday. Three clipper systems in the coming days each bring a chance of some fresh fluffy snow.
by Sven Sundgaard

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
'The Urge' says calling addiction a disease is misleading

'The Urge' says calling addiction a disease is misleading

A psychiatrist says calling it a disease takes important attention away from racism and other things that are often associated with addiction.
by Jeevika Verma

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Top U.S., European diplomats hold talks on Ukraine crisis

Top U.S., European diplomats hold talks on Ukraine crisis

Top American and European diplomats are meeting in Berlin as the allies seek to project a united front to Russia over concerns that it may be planning an invasion of Ukraine. 
by The Associated Press

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

Jury selection begins in federal trial for 3 ex-MPD officers

The federal courthouse in downtown St. Paul will be locked down tight this week, as jury selection starts in the federal trial of three former police officers charged in connection to the May 2020 killing of George Floyd. This is an MPR News morning update for Thursday, January 20, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Bitter cold eases this weekend

Bitter cold eases this weekend

It’s another bitter cold morning early Thursday: temps are in the teens and negative 20s with wind chills in the negative 20s and 30s. We have another subzero night Thursday night. Temps modify this weekend, into the teens but also some light snow chances return Friday and Saturday nights.
by Sven Sundgaard

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Russia accuses West of plotting 'provocations' in Ukraine

Russia accuses West of plotting 'provocations' in Ukraine

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova alleged Thursday that Ukrainian and Western claims of an imminent Russian attack on Ukraine were a “cover for staging large-scale provocations of their own, including those of military character.”
by The Associated Press

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Explainer: What are U.S. military options to help Ukraine?

Explainer: What are U.S. military options to help Ukraine?

The Biden administration is unlikely to answer a further Russian invasion of Ukraine by sending U.S. combat troops. But it could pursue a range of less dramatic yet still risky options, including giving military support to a post-invasion Ukrainian resistance.
by The Associated Press

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Biden predicts Russia will invade Ukraine, warns Putin

Biden predicts Russia will invade Ukraine, warns Putin

President Joe Biden says he thinks Russia will invade Ukraine and is warning President Vladimir Putin that his country would pay a “dear price” in lives lost and a possible cutoff from the global banking system if it does.
by The Associated Press

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Art Hounds recommend tales for young audiences

Art Hounds recommend tales for young audiences

The Minnesota Children’s Theatre presents the world premiere of “Bina’s Six Apples.” A ceramics sale at Franconia Sculpture Park shows off the artistry of St. Croix Valley potters. And drummer Josh Lubavich of Duluth launches a solo EP.
by Emily Bright

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Biden approval hits new low at one-year mark: AP-NORC poll

Biden approval hits new low at one-year mark: AP-NORC poll

President Joe Biden ends his first year in the White House with a clear majority of Americans for the first time disapproving of his handling of the presidency in the face of an unrelenting pandemic and roaring inflation. That's according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
by The Associated Press

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Experts see 'red flags' at nonprofit raising big money for Capitol riot defendants

Experts see 'red flags' at nonprofit raising big money for Capitol riot defendants

The Patriot Freedom Project has raised around $900,000 to support alleged Jan. 6 Capitol rioters. The group says the funds support defendants, but families have raised concerns about transparency.
by Tom Dreisbach

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Five moments that mattered in Biden's 1st year in the White House

Five moments that mattered in Biden's 1st year in the White House

President Joe Biden's 1st year in office was marked by the pandemic fight, the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan and a tough push to get his agenda through Congress.
by Ayesha Rascoe

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Jury selection begins in federal trial for 3 ex-MPD officers

Jury selection begins in federal trial for 3 ex-MPD officers

The federal courthouse in downtown St. Paul will be locked down tight this week, as jury selection starts in the federal trial of three former police officers charged in connection to the May 2020 killing of George Floyd.
by Jon Collins

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
New Zealand will not impose lockdown when omicron hits

New Zealand will not impose lockdown when omicron hits

"This stage of the pandemic is different to what we have dealt with before. Omicron is more transmissible," Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.
by The Associated Press

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!