Stories from August 17, 2022

Aurora chasing with MPR News
MPR News Photojournalist Ben Hovland is geared up for an aurora borealis chase, the fabled natural phenomenon you can witness in Minnesota. He shares his tips with us.
With the first day of school approaching, districts are scrambling to find teachers and staff, and the Crosstown highway is going to be closed for a while longer. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.
Either Dawanna Witt or Joseph Banks will lead the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office at a time of rising concerns about violent crime in the region and increased public scrutiny of law enforcement. They’ll also be tasked with stabilizing a department shaken by the actions of the current sheriff. And one of them will become the county’s first ever Black sheriff.
To encourage debate, Minnesota State University, Mankato relocates Abraham Lincoln statue
Minnesota State University, Mankato is hoping a new location for its Abraham Lincoln statue and an allied exhibit will be the place for public discourse surrounding Lincoln’s complicated legacy in Mankato.
Wisconsin school board votes in favor of pride flag ban
A Wisconsin school board has voted in favor of a policy that prohibits teachers and staff from displaying gay pride flags and other items that district officials consider political in nature.
Minneapolis school board backs effort to rename Patrick Henry High School
The Minneapolis school board took action Tuesday to begin a process to rename the city's Patrick Henry High School. A resolution says students, staff and the community "recognize the need for a school name that better represents the values of the community."
What our teeth say about class, beauty standards and health care in the U.S.
Who can and cannot access oral health care in our country and why are Americans so obsessed with perfect pearly whites? MPR News host Angela Davis talks to a journalist and two dentists who focus on oral public health and access to dental care.
Judge: Anti-immigration group's environment suit can proceed
An anti-immigration group has scored a legal victory in its federal lawsuit arguing the Biden administration violated environmental law when it halted construction of the U.S. southern border wall and sought to undo other immigration policies by former President Donald Trump.
Minnesota Now for August 17, 2022
Schools are trying to fill staff shortages; a new interactive theatre performance explores the kind of losses we don't often acknowledge; Paul Huttner has weather news; plans are — again — shaping up for an historic golf course important to many in the Twin Cities’ Black community; and John O'Sullivan talks about his quick video tours of Twin Cities hot spots on TikTok. Maybe he'll show you something new!
Looking for 1-minute TikTok tours of Twin Cities hot spots? You're in luck
John O’Sullivan leads one minute video tours on TikTok to a growing number of followers. He talks with Cathy Wurzer about his “bite sized” daily video tours of Minnesota and the Midwest. You can learn more at depotadventures.com or follow him on TikTok at “oneminutetours.”
Pull Huttner on statewide weather and the rare geomagnetic storm
MPR’s Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner speaks with Cathy Wurzer about the extended forecast, plus drought in the south, flooding in the north, crop conditions, a new, rare geomagnetic storm hitting the state and the 30th anniversary of Hurricane Andrew.
Many Minnesota schools grapple with staff shortages
The school year is just around the corner, but school districts across the state are still trying to fill open jobs. John Magas, superintendent of Duluth Public Schools, talks with Cathy Wurzer about how they are working to staff up the district’s schools.
Pence says he'd consider testifying to House January 6 committee
During an event in New Hampshire Wednesday morning, former Vice President Pence said he'd consider an invitation from the House January 6 committee to testify.
New theatre performance helps the audience create rituals to deal with loss
On Friday, Aug. 19, Wonderlust Productions opens their new interactive performance “Lost and Found” on an island in the Mississippi River. The performance is meant to engage people in creating rituals to acknowledge ambiguous loss — the losses we have all suffered but could not grieve. Leah Cooper, the Co-Artistic Director of Wonderlust Productions, speaks with Cathy Wurzer about the idea behind the “performance” and what those involved can expect.
Spotty thunder, partly cloudy Wednesday
Spotty showers and a few thunderstorms are possible Wednesday, mainly in the northern half of Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. The chances of rain expands and increases Thursday into Thursday night across most of Minnesota.
Liz Cheney just lost her House seat, but her fight against Trump continues
Liz Cheney's sustained criticism of former President Trump made her one of his top political targets. She has pledged her chief goal is to make sure he never wins back the White House.
Members of a major Minnesota nurses union have said they favor going on strike if negotiations don’t resolve differences with management of several health systems in the Twin Cities and Duluth. This is a morning update from MPR News, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.
Afghan women raise their voices in two new anthologies
This week marks a year since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan. But the Taliban hasn't succeeded in silencing Afghan women, whose voices ring out in two new and powerful collections.
Planned Parenthood to spend record $50M in midterm elections
The nation's leading abortion rights advocacy organization, Planned Parenthood, plans to spend a record $50 million ahead of November’s midterm elections. It's pouring money into contests where access to abortion will be on the ballot.
Spotty storms Wednesday; more rain chances ahead
Spotty showers and a few thunderstorms will be possible for much of Minnesota Wednesday. More widespread showers are possible late Thursday into Friday.
Target's profit sinks after it cut prices to clear inventory
Target has reported solid sales for the fiscal second quarter but its profits plunged nearly 90 percent because it slashed prices to clear inventories of clothing, home goods and other discretionary items. 
Pakistani doctor pleads guilty to terror charge in Minnesota
A Pakistani doctor and former Mayo Clinic research coordinator has pleaded guilty to a terrorism charge, more than two years after he was arrested for telling paid FBI informants that he pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State group.
Ex-cop Lane will report to Colorado prison in Floyd killing
Former Minneapolis police officer Thomas Lane, who was sentenced to 2 1/2 years for violating George Floyd’s civil rights, has been ordered to report to a low-security federal prison camp in Colorado in two weeks.
Murkowski advances in Alaska Senate race, Palin in House
Under a voter-approved elections process being used for the first time in Alaska elections this year, party primaries have been scrapped and ranked choice voting is being used in general elections.
Twenty years later, Fosston's police force returns
For decades, small towns have been disbanding police departments to save money, or more recently, because they can’t find officers to staff the department. But the northern Minnesota town of Fosston is challenging the trend by rebuilding a police force more than 20 years after it was eliminated.