Stories from October 7, 2022

Hennepin County attorney candidate renews lapsed law license
A candidate for Hennepin County attorney says she is renewing her law license after temporarily deactivating it. After it came to light that Martha Holton Dimick is no longer authorized to practice law in Minnesota, her campaign said she paid the license fee Thursday, and the state is expected to restore her authorization in the coming weeks.
New Minneapolis public safety leader lashes out on Twitter, regrets it
Cedric Alexander, who heads an office that oversees Minneapolis police and fire departments and the city’s 911 system, sent rude replies on Twitter Thursday to people asking him about police presence in downtown.
Bernie Sanders stumps for Keith Ellison in Minnesota
The Vermont senator and former presidential candidate told hundreds at the University of Minnesota that voters faced a historic choice in the midterm election and encouraged them to support progressive candidates.
Best fall color weekend for Minnesota?
This may be the best weekend for fall colors in Minnesota.
Minneapolis Office of Community Safety Commissioner Cedric Alexander apologized Friday, the day after he engaged in a number of dust-ups with constituents on Twitter.  This is the evening MPR News update. Hosted by Lisa Ryan. Theme music by Gary Meister.
The best of Minnesota writers on stage for Talking Volumes
MPR’s fall member drive is underway. This week, for a special edition of Big Books and Bold Ideas, host Kerri Miller featured highlights of three Minnesota authors who appeared with her on stage at the Fitzgerald Theater for Talking Volumes.
Weekend weather: Frosty start, then temps recover a bit
Frost or freezing temps will nip outdoor plants late Friday night into early Saturday, then temps recover a bit for the remainder of the weekend. We have you weekend weather, plus a fall color update.
Audio postcard: Wildflowers of fall
Wildflower chasers Kelly Povo and Phyllis Root sent us a postcard from the Oronoco Prairie SNA in southeastern Minnesota, where the colors of fall are red, yellow and even blue.
Cold Friday with lighter winds; warming trend into next week
Friday will see lighter winds but with some lingering clouds and highs only in the 40s to around 50 across Minnesota. Most areas will be near or below freezing Friday night with a rebound into the 50s and 60s over the weekend with bright sunshine.
Kate Beaton's new graphic memoir is about the dark type of job you take for money
Kate Beaton, known for her popular webcomic “Hark a Vagrant,” is out now with her new graphic memoir “Ducks” — which dives into the day-to-day life of working in the Canadian oil sands.
Former naturalist Kelsey Olson doesn’t believe Minnesota’s first governor and military leader during the U.S.-Dakota War deserves to be the public park’s namesake. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.
A chilly Friday; warmer through the weekend
A chilly Friday with highs mainly in the 40s to around 50 for some in southern Minnesota. We’ll have some lingering clouds but winds will be lighter from the northwest at 5-10 mph. After a cold early morning Saturday, temperatures rebound through the weekend.
'It's not right': Players want more from NHL against racism
Two years since Matt Dumba took a knee to focus attention on society and the NHL's issues with racial intolerance, the Minnesota Wild defenseman no longer feels alone.
Here's what Elon Musk will likely do with Twitter if he buys it
Musk says he'd loosen rules against spreading misinformation, allow former President Donald Trump back on Twitter, shake up the company's business model and find new revenue sources.
Early signs a new U.S. COVID surge could be on its way
Here we go again. The virus is starting to surge in many European countries and there are early signs a wave may be starting in the U.S. too.
Why childbirth is so dangerous for many young teens
Laws banning abortion in many conservative U.S. states are expected to boost birth rates among adolescents, whose bodies often aren't built for safe childbirth, or for carrying a pregnancy to term.
New London woman wants name change for Sibley State Park
Former naturalist Kelsey Olson doesn’t believe Minnesota’s first governor and military leader during the U.S.-Dakota War deserves to be the public park’s namesake.
Pollinators need your help in the winter too
Minnesotans are growing more pollinator gardens, with native plants chosen because their flowers attract bees and butterflies to the yard. But to really help pollinating insects, those gardens need thought and care all year long, including during fall cleanup.