Stories from December 22, 2022

West Point will remove Confederate symbols from its campus
The storied military academy will take down likenesses of Robert E. Lee as part of a Department of Defense directive to do away with installations that "commemorate or memorialize the Confederacy."
Roads across much of the region are already ice and snow covered. Blowing snow will reduce visibility, making travel very difficult. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Jon Collins. Music by Gary Meister.
Senate passes $1.7 trillion bill to fund gov't, aid Ukraine
The Senate has passed a $1.7 trillion bill to finance federal agencies through September, aid Ukraine and provide assistance to communities recovering from hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters. The bill passed by a vote of 68 to 29 and now goes to the House for action later in the day.
In bitter cold, public transit becomes a refuge for some
For homeless people in the Twin Cities, keeping warm in subzero temperatures is a constant struggle. Metro Transit buses and light rail trains often serve as a respite. MPR News reporter Feven Gerezgiher hopped on the Green Line in Minneapolis Thursday to gather stories.
Dangerous wind chills, blizzard conditions muscle into Minnesota
Powdery snow from Wednesday will be blowing around for hours, creating ground-blizzard conditions in many areas. Travel will become very difficult in many areas. Here’s the latest.
How much snow fell in your part of Minnesota? Snow reports from across the state
Parts of Minnesota saw a foot of snow Wednesday into early Thursday, adding to what’s already been a very snowy winter across much of the state. See if weather spotters reported snow totals from your community.
Can Minnesota schools do better at teaching kids to read?  
Many children have a hard time reading because the way they've been taught failed them. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with Minnesota educators about reading instruction and the response to APM's investigative podcast Sold a Story. 
Are Minnesota's winters getting snowier? Well, yes, and no.
As Minnesota battles through a ground blizzard, let’s put these recent big winter storms that have slammed the area into a broader climate context. Minnesota's winters are getting warmer — that's one of the main impacts we're seeing here in Minnesota because of climate change. But are they also getting snowier?
$500 million for a state building? How did we get here?
The House Rules Committee approved a plan this week to spend nearly $500 million to renovate and expand the State Office Building. Some lawmakers and members of the public raised questions about the plan and why it was approved so swiftly. Here’s a look at how it happened.
Blizzard conditions on the way for many Thursday into Friday
Gusty winds replace the falling snow Thursday. Winds will increase to 20-25 mph in southwestern Minnesota, gusting to 30 mph. Winds Friday will be even stronger. Wind chills will range from minus 30 to minus 45 early Thursday and Friday mornings.
Minnesota braced for the second phase of a two-part winter storm on Thursday, with northwest winds forecast to increase through the day and create blizzard conditions that could last into Saturday. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.
Can dogs smell time? Just ask Donut the dog
After decades of wondering, an NPR reporter finally figures out how her husband's family dog knew when the school bus would arrive everyday. She did some digging — and now it all makes scents.
Doncic, Mavericks rebound to beat Timberwolves for split
Luka Doncic had 25 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds and Dallas Mavericks beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 104-99 on Wednesday night to split the two-game set.
American life expectancy is now at its lowest in nearly two decades
A new report shows the pandemic and the overdose crisis helped push down the average life expectancy in the U.S. for a second year in a row.
Boldy's goal sends Wild to 13th straight win over Ducks, 4-1
Matt Boldy scored the tiebreaking goal early in the third period and added two assists, and the Minnesota Wild won their season-best sixth straight game while continuing their two-year domination of the Anaheim Ducks with a 4-1 victory.
Winter storm updates: Big winds, bitter cold mess with travel, schools, life
State transportation officials issued a no-travel advisory for a wide swath of southcentral and southwest Minnesota on Thursday night, including the overnight closure of many state highways, as blizzard conditions swept into the region.
Marcie Rendon's long journey to award-winning novelist
Writer Marcie Rendon lived a lot before she got her first novel published. Now the White Earth Member has released three books in the award-winning Cash Blackbear series. Recently, she visited the Bemidji Public Library in northwest Minnesota, to read and to talk about the history, locations and experiences behind the books.