Stories from December 16, 2022

Prolonged storm winding down; arctic outbreak coming
Our four-day storm is gradually coming to an end. Scattered snow showers will persist into Saturday. Arctic cold will arrive for all of next week.
Utilities are warning thousands of electricity customers across northeastern Minnesota that ongoing power outages could last through the weekend, as temperatures are expected to drop. This is the evening MPR News update for Friday, Dec. 16, 2022. Hosted by Lisa Ryan. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
Future of Us: How the pandemic has and hasn’t changed the ‘Land of 20,000 Nonprofits’
Minnesota foundations are giving nonprofits more money and more grace when it comes to jumping through hoops for it. But McKnight Foundation President Tonya Allen says it’s just the beginning of a deeper transformation.
COVID steady, RSV and flu down, but hospitals still packed tight
Last week’s jump in cases across the state has for the most part reversed in this week's data. Cases went up again in southwestern Minnesota, but in all other regions, cases fell. Non-intensive care COVID hospitalizations followed a similar trend recently. After jumping up to the highest level since early 2022, non-ICU hospitalizations declined in the past week of data.  
FBI: Minnesota man was making arsenal, revered Colorado Springs mass shooter
A 20-year-old Savage, Minn. man who said he idolized the shooter who killed five people at a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs and was building an arsenal of automatic weapons to use against police was arrested this week as he tried to buy grenades from an FBI informant, according to charges filed this week.
Holiday gift guide: Five new books featuring Minnesota music
With clubs and parties finally open full-time again, this was a bountiful year to go out and experience music in the Twin Cities. It’s also been a good year to read books by and about local artists, old and new.
10 Minnesota musicians causing a stir in December
Welcome to The Scouting Report, a monthly list of 10 Minnesota artists with exciting new projects, as curated by our local music team at the Current.
Duluth remembers Mimi Parker with Low 'Christmas' EP listening party
A Very Mimi Christmas: A Low Christmas Album Listening Party will occur 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21 at Sacred Heart Music Center, 201 W. Fourth St., Duluth. 
Canine psychologist Alexandra Horowitz on her book 'The Year of the Puppy'
Dog week continues on Big Books and Bold Ideas with a conversation about what canine researcher Alexandra Horowitz learned by observing and then adopting a puppy. What happens during that critical first year of a dog’s life — and how can learning about it help us become better companions and caretakers?
Housing Commissioner Jennifer Ho has big plans to get more Minnesotans into homes  
MPR News host Angela Davis talks with Minnesota Housing Finance Commissioner Jennifer Ho about preventing evictions, the scope of homelessness and why she thinks its time for state government to “go big” to help lower-income Minnesotans into housing. 
Brittney Griner says she'll play in the upcoming WNBA season
In her first public statement since being freed from Russia, the two-time Olympic gold medalist says she'll play for her team, the Phoenix Mercury, when the season starts in May.
Snow showers slowly wind down; brutal cold next week
Snow showers continue on and off Friday into Friday night as our multiday storm slowly moves east. Friday will still be relatively mild but temperatures will be cooling down through the weekend. Next week brings subzero temperatures and wind chills.
Power restored to tens of thousands of Minnesota households
Utilities warn some households will likely lose power again over the next couple weeks as more trees weighed down by the heavy snow bend or break over power lines.
A former vaccine event coordinator is suing the Minnesota Department of Health for racial discrimination, and alleges that her supervisor referred to her using a racial slur. Leticia Alonso, who’s Latina, says in a lawsuit filed Wednesday that MDH used a dispute over missing gift cards as a pretext to fire her. This is a morning MPR News update, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.
Scattered snow showers persist Friday; becoming colder this weekend
We’ll have scattered snow showers statewide still Friday but generally, they’ll be lighter. Temperatures will still be mild ranging from the low 30s to the upper 20s. Colder air moves in for the weekend and next week.
Cities, counties head back to Capitol, sales tax wish lists in hand
A new rec center. Road improvements. A campground expansion. Those are just a few projects stalled because of the Minnesota Legislature's inaction on a tax and spending package during the last legislative cycle. Cities and counties are hoping for better luck in the next legislative session.
How do you think Minnesota should spend its $17.6 billion surplus?
From creating affordable housing and cutting taxes to funding education and free lunch for students, Minnesotans have many ideas for what to do with the surplus. But how do you actually impact what happens?
Lobbying law could squeeze some Minnesota legislators
A law taking hold in January will prohibit legislators from holding office while working for entities built around lobbying or other government affairs services. Some lawmakers’ outside jobs are already under scrutiny. 
Police say increasing women among the ranks is one step towards police reform 
The Brooklyn Park Police Department is one of a few agencies in the state that has signed an initiative with the goal of turning its department to 30 percent women by the year 2030.