Stories from July 27, 2022

Facebook's parent company reports a drop in revenue for the first time ever
CEO Mark Zuckerberg says Meta will slow hiring and tighten its budget. Soaring inflation, interest rate hikes and other economic woes have affected the digital advertising the company depends on.
Manchin, Schumer report abrupt deal on health, energy, taxes
For months, Manchin's opposition had blocked a larger agreement sought by President Joe Biden and other Democrats, partly on grounds that he said it would fuel rather than fight inflation.
A judge on Wednesday sentenced two former Minneapolis police officers to federal prison for failing to stop Derek Chauvin from murdering George Floyd. Jurors convicted Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng of failing to get medical care to George Floyd and not intervening as Derek Chauvin kneeled on Floyd’s neck. MPR News evening update for July 27, 2022. Hosted by Matt Sepic. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
Judge puts hold on North Dakota trigger law banning abortion
A North Dakota judge on Wednesday put on hold the state’s trigger law banning abortion while a lawsuit moves forward that argues it violates the state constitution.
Parade attack suspect indicted for murder, attempted murder
The man accused of opening fire on an Independence Day parade in suburban Chicago has been indicted by a grand jury on 21 first-degree murder counts, 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery, representing the seven people killed and dozens wounded in the attack on a beloved holiday event.
In rare contact, U.S. offers Russia deal for Griner, Whelan
The U.S. has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday. In a sharp reversal of previous policy, Blinken also said he expects to speak with his Kremlin counterpart for the first time since before Russia invaded Ukraine.
Lake Minnetonka conservation board mulls proposal to limit wakes
The Lake Minnetonka Conservation District board is taking public comment on a proposal to change rules that would limit boat speeds within 300 feet of shore
Finding focus in a scattered time
Are you easily distracted? Having a hard time concentrating on work or other tasks? MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two psychology researchers about the science of distraction, why the COVID-19 pandemic and other stressors steal our attention and how we can reclaim our focus. 
Can you buy peace of mind? Some wealthier Minneapolis neighborhoods are trying
The Minneapolis Police Department’s “buyback” program allows organizations, sports teams or neighborhoods to buy extra overtime police patrols. But the program has been criticized as inequitable and further stretching the department’s resources at a time when some less wealthy neighborhoods say police are totally unresponsive.
Two dead in house explosion, fire in Hopkins
Fire and rescue crews from across the southwest metro responded Wednesday morning to an explosion and fire at a home in Hopkins.
Health regulators say nearly 800,000 doses of monkeypox vaccine will soon be available for U.S. distribution. The Wednesday announcement follows weeks of delays and growing criticism that authorities have been too slow in deploying the shots. 
Democrats' push to protect same-sex marriage is personal for Sen. Tammy Baldwin
Baldwin, the first openly gay person elected to the Senate, is leading the charge to secure the 10 Republican votes needed for a filibuster-proof majority to pass a bill codifying marriage equality.
Instability showers north; cooler Thursday, then heating up
We’ll see partly cloudy skies Wednesday but some instability showers will pop up, primarily for the northern half of Minnesota. Thursday will bring our coolest high temperatures this month so far before things heat up this weekend.
A Hennepin County judge on Tuesday partly reversed course and is now allowing city leaders to implement the controversial Minneapolis 2040 plan while they appeal a lawsuit from its opponents. This is a morning update from MPR News, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.
Pope in headdress stirs deep emotions in Indian Country
It was a stunning image: Pope Francis briefly wearing a full Indigenous headdress, after he apologized for the Catholic Church’s role in Canada’s “disastrous” residential school system for Indigenous children. But some Indigenous people took to social media to express unhappiness with an iconic gesture they found incongruous with the Catholic Church history of abuse.
Isolated showers Wednesday; comfortable through Friday
An unsettled atmosphere will lead to a few pop-up, instability showers in the northern half of Minnesota mainly Wednesday afternoon. Highs will continue below normal through Friday before becoming hotter this weekend.
Beginners try their luck at a Minnesota State Fair favorite: crop art
Crop art is a staple of the Minnesota State Fair. Artist Liz Schreiber recently spent a Saturday morning teaching a crop art class in Marine on the St. Croix.
The ambulance chased one patient into collections
After a car wreck, three siblings were transported to the same hospital by ambulances from three separate districts. The sibling with the most minor injuries got the biggest bill.
A new dictionary will document the lexicon of African American English
A new research collaboration between Harvard University and Oxford University Press aims to compile the first fully-formed dictionary of African American English.
Once-ignored Indigenous knowledge of nature now shaping science
Traditional ecological knowledge has long been dismissed by Western culture as stories or legends, rather than real science. But there's new interest in tapping into the wisdom about plants, trees, wildlife and climate that Native American people have collected over time.