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Stories from August 23, 2022

After delay, Biden readies student loan help, payment pause

After delay, Biden readies student loan help, payment pause

President Joe Biden on Wednesday is set to announce his long-delayed move to forgive up to $10,000 in federal student loans for many Americans and extend a pause on payments to January, according to three people familiar with the plan.
by The Associated Press

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Can downtowns come back from COVID-19 better and more inclusive?

Can downtowns come back from COVID-19 better and more inclusive?

Downtowns took a big hit during the COVID-19 pandemic as many people shifted to remote work and embraced new habits. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks about how cities in greater Minnesota are trying to bring the people back and create vibrant and inclusive town centers.
by Catharine Richert, Maja Beckstrom and Matthew Alvarez

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What happens in our brains when we hear our favorite songs

What happens in our brains when we hear our favorite songs

Hearing your favorite song can put you in a great mood and get you ready for your day. But what is happening in your brain when you listen to music? Guest host Catharine Richert spoke about the healing power of our favorite songs, and how music is connected to mental health.
by Catharine Richert and Samantha Matsumoto

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Minneapolis Police Department plans to purchase drones

Minneapolis Police Department plans to purchase drones

State law already allows law enforcement in the state — including MPD — to use drones. Minneapolis Councilmember LaTrisha Vetaw told MPR News host Tom Crann that the department had previously borrowed drones from other jurisdictions and now wants to purchase its own.
by Tom Crann and Megan Burks

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Police give new details on Eden Prairie Center shooting

The investigation continues after police say a 19-year-old man died from a self-inflicted gunshot Monday at a sporting goods store at the mall. Eden Prairie police say the man asked to see a semi-automatic handgun, then ran with it to another part of the store, loading and firing it one time. This is the MPR News afternoon update for August 23, 2022. Hosted by Peter Cox. Theme music by Gary Meister.
by Peter Cox

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Ask a Science Teacher with Jill Jensen

Ask a Science Teacher with Jill Jensen

Jill Jensen is the president of the Minnesota Science Teachers Association, as well as a seventh grade life science teacher at Scott Highlands Middle School in Apple Valley.
by Cathy Wurzer and Gretchen Brown

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Endangered — and tiny — primate born at Duluth zoo

Endangered — and tiny — primate born at Duluth zoo

The Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth is home to a tiny new baby cotton-top tamarin — one of the world's smallest and most endangered primates.
by Dan Kraker

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Two months after the Dobbs ruling, new abortion bans are taking hold

Two months after the Dobbs ruling, new abortion bans are taking hold

A cascade of new abortion restrictions known as "trigger bans" are taking effect in the aftermath of the Supreme Court decision overturning the right to the medical procedure.
by Sarah McCammon

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Black-led credit union opening in north Minneapolis

One of the biggest stories Kelly is following? The opening of a Black-led credit union in north Minneapolis aimed at addressing systemic financial issues.
by Cathy Wurzer

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Data show increasing insecticide levels in Minnesota deer

Data show increasing insecticide levels in Minnesota deer

A second year of testing by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources found increased levels of neonicotinoid insecticide in white-tailed deer.
by Dan Gunderson

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Police say suspect shot '20 to 22 rounds' amid standoff

Authorities in southeastern Minnesota say a Pine Island man fired “20 to 22 rounds” at police during a daylong standoff on Saturday that ended with his surrender. Court records show that in 2016, former Rice County Sheriff Troy Dunn petitioned a court to revoke the man’s permit to carry a pistol because of safety concerns.
by Matt Sepic

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The use of drones by Minnesota law enforcement agencies

The Minneapolis Police Department is preparing to present its proposed policy on the use of deploying drones in an effort to combat crime, respond to emergencies and deescalate dangerous situations.
by Cathy Wurzer and Ellen Finn

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The history of Minnesota's state muffin

The history of Minnesota's state muffin

Minnesota is known for many things — its over 10,000 lakes, the birth place of Prince, Minnesota nice and frozen tundra — but what about muffins? Doug Mack wrote about the history of state foods, including Minnesota's state muffin.
by Tom Crann, Ngoc Bui and Sam Stroozas

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From the archives: Dan Buettner on how to live the longest, healthiest life

From the archives: Dan Buettner on how to live the longest, healthiest life

Dan Buettner's specialty is Blue Zones — communities where people live the longest, healthiest lives on the planet. It mirrors the conversation coming on Friday’s Big Books and Bold Ideas, which explores the latest science on aging detailed in Morgan Levine’s new book, “True Age: Cutting-Edge Research to Help Turn Back the Clock.”
by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

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All trails back open after wildfire at Isle Royale National Park

All trails back open after wildfire at Isle Royale National Park

Officials at Isle Royale National Park reported Monday that all trails on the Lake Superior island are now back open, after crews fully contained a wildfire.
by Andrew Krueger

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Sunshine Tuesday with increasing rain, thunder chances into Wednesday

Sunshine Tuesday with increasing rain, thunder chances into Wednesday

Temperatures, dew points are increasing Tuesday as well as the chance of showers. Western Minnesota will see a few thunderstorms late in the day Tuesday. Wednesday brings the chance of showers, thunder for the rest of Minnesota.
by Sven Sundgaard

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Lockdown lifted at Eden Prairie Mall; police say one dead, no ongoing danger to the public

Authorities locked down the Eden Prairie Center mall on Monday night after a report of a gunshot fired in the building. Police said they found a man dead in the mall, but that there was no ongoing danger to the public. This is a morning update from MPR News, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.

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Hiker who died in fall at Oregon's Multnomah Falls ID'd

A Minnesota woman who fell and died while hiking near Multnomah Falls east of Portland, Oregon, on Friday afternoon has been identified by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office.
by The Associated Press

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More sun Tuesday; chance of thunder northwest spreading south Wednesday

More sun Tuesday; chance of thunder northwest spreading south Wednesday

Temperatures will be a degree or two warmer for most of Tuesday with more sunshine. The chance of a few thunderstorms is possible in the northwest late in the day. That chance spreads across the state Wednesday.
by Sven Sundgaard

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Buxton early exit, Twins fall; Garcia HR, Texas takes 3 of 4

Buxton early exit, Twins fall; Garcia HR, Texas takes 3 of 4

Twins All-Star center fielder Byron Buxton exited early with tightness in his right hip and the Texas Rangers beat Minnesota 2-1. Buxton left in the seventh inning.
by The Associated Press

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An $18,000 biopsy? Paying cash might have been cheaper than using her insurance

An $18,000 biopsy? Paying cash might have been cheaper than using her insurance

A hospital's cost calculator said her procedure would be $1,400 for patients without insurance. Instead, the bill was almost $18,000 and, her part was more than $5,000 — the balance of her deductible.
by Lauren Sausser

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Fed up with poor broadband access, he started his own fiber internet service provider

Fed up with poor broadband access, he started his own fiber internet service provider

Over 40 million Americans lack reliable internet access. Jared Mauch is among the ISP "mavericks" taking matters into their own hands. Now, he's getting help from the government to continue his work.
by Emma Bowman

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Spiders show signs of REM-like activity, raising the question: Do they dream?

Spiders show signs of REM-like activity, raising the question: Do they dream?

A team of researchers filmed jumping spiders overnight and observed behaviors that mirror rapid eye movement sleep in other species. It helps that baby jumping spiders have translucent exoskeletons.
by Kai McNamee

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Some bars are playing a major role in fighting monkeypox in the LGBTQ community

Some bars are playing a major role in fighting monkeypox in the LGBTQ community

Monkeypox is spreading primarily among gay and bisexual men, and owners of bars that serve that community feel well-positioned to share information without adding to stigma against LGBTQ people.
by Camille Petersen

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Election contests to watch Tuesday in Florida, New York and Oklahoma

Election contests to watch Tuesday in Florida, New York and Oklahoma

Florida and New York had their congressional maps scrambled by redistricting, boosting the number of notable races Tuesday. But the biggest matchup in Florida is at the top of the ticket.
by Elena Moore

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Return of rare Ojibwe horse lifts spirits — but still needs help

Return of rare Ojibwe horse lifts spirits — but still needs help

A small farm outside River Falls, Wis., is raising a herd of rare and endangered Ojibwe horses, part of a grassroots effort to revive the rare breed that’s adapted to the forests along the Minnesota-Canada border.
by Dan Kraker

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