Stories from November 11, 2022

Minnesota House Republicans in a surprise move Friday chose Rep. Lisa Demuth to represent their caucus as minority leader, edging out current minority leader and former House Speaker Kurt Daudt. Demuth is set to become the first Black Minnesotan to lead a legislative caucus in the state. This is the afternoon MPR News update for Nov. 11, 2022. Hosted by Lisa Ryan. Theme music by Gary Meister.
Election results improve prospects for legalized recreational marijuana in Minnesota
Advocates for legalizing recreational marijuana in Minnesota say the prospects of that happening have improved, in the wake of this week's election results that saw the DFL take control of both legislative chambers.
Do wealthy countries owe poorer ones for climate change? One country wrote up a bill
At global climate negotiations, developing countries say they're being devastated by a problem they didn't cause. So they're looking for compensation for the losses and damage from climate change.
Kurt Vonnegut would have turned 100 today — his war novels are relevant as ever
The author — who died in 2007 at the age of 84 — wrote satirical novels that won him a cult-like following among young people in the 1960s. Vonnegut's novels communicated: "Hey, you're not alone."
This week’s COVID-19 data is mostly positive insofar as it shows relatively little change from the last few weeks, especially when it comes to cases and hospitalizations, and still no signs of a fall surge.  
Ask a Bookseller: "Found Audio" is a creepy fall read
The printed novella “Found Audio” sounds very fitting for our radio-based book series. It’s called “Found Audio,” by N. J. Campbell, and it was published by Two Dollar Radio, a small press in Ohio. 
Talking Volumes: Ross Gay on 'Inciting Joy'
The 2022 season of Talking Volumes ended on a joyous, raucous note with poet Ross Gay. Don’t miss this rollicking conversation between Gay and host Kerri Miller as they talk about how to grow joy from the often messy and painful soil of living.
Snow tapering up north; cold weekend, cold week ahead
Light snow is tapering off across northern Minnesota. Prolonged, much colder weather will stay with us.
Minneapolis Senator Kari Dziedzic won a closed-door contested race to be the new senate majority leader. Dziedzic says she will work to keep her caucus united to pass priority legislation in the narrowly divided chamber. Dziedzic is the first woman to serve as DFL majority leader. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.
Tropical Depression Nicole moves through Georgia
Tropical Depression Nicole was moving through Georgia on Friday morning after a day of causing havoc as it churned through Florida as a hurricane and then a tropical storm.
U.S. providing abortion access for detained migrant youths
The U.S. government took steps Thursday to ensure that pregnant migrant youths who are in its custody but not accompanied by parents can access abortion services by assigning them to shelters in states that still allow the procedure.
Report: Tweets with racial slurs soar since Musk takeover
Instances of racial slurs have soared on Twitter since Elon Musk purchased the influential platform, despite assurances from the platform that it had reduced hateful activity, a digital civil rights group reported Thursday.
What the 2022 midterms mean for President Joe Biden's presidency
Biden's job just got tougher. The midterm election results mean Republicans likely will control the House. But there are some political silver linings in divided government.
World War I veteran receives posthumous Purple Heart medal
A World War I veteran who was shot during one of the bloodiest battles in U.S. military history received a posthumous Purple Heart medal this week.
DFLers see ‘historic’ chance to solidify legal abortion in Minnesota
Tuesday’s elections delivered majorities to the Minnesota House and Senate that favor enshrining access to abortion in state law. Supporters of legalized abortion now say they’re preparing to flex that new political power quickly next year at the Capitol.