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Stories from January 19, 2023

MN health officials ‘cautiously optimistic’ we've seen the worst of flu

MN health officials ‘cautiously optimistic’ we've seen the worst of flu

Preliminary data shows a decline in new hospitalizations for both influenza and the respiratory virus RSV. Outbreaks of respiratory disease in schools have also remained fairly flat for the past few weeks.
by Michelle Wiley

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David Crosby, an icon of American rock, has died at age 81

David Crosby, an icon of American rock, has died at age 81

David Crosby, an icon of American rock, has died. A co-founder of The Byrds and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young influenced a generation of rockers and singer songwriters. He was 81.
by Eric Westervelt

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Nelson Mandela's great-grandson on healing racial divides

Nelson Mandela's great-grandson on healing racial divides

MPR News host Angela Davis is headed to South Africa for a tour of the country. Before she goes, she talks with Siyabulela Mandela, the great-grandson of former South African president Nelson Mandela. Siyabulela Mandela is a human rights advocate with a lot to say about racial division and healing.
by Angela Davis, Samantha Matsumoto and Nicole Johnson

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Walz plan spends billions for businesses, workers and environment

Walz plan spends billions for businesses, workers and environment

Gov. Tim Walz laid out spending plans Thursday or starting a family and medical leave program, bolstering the pay of health care aides, speeding the development of clean energy and helping small businesses and farmers. 
by Brian Bakst

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Job growth streak ends as Minnesota loses jobs in December

Minnesota's 14-month streak of job growth has come to an end. The state lost a total of 5,200 jobs last month.  This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Jacob Aloi. Music by Gary Meister.
by Jacob Aloi

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Minnesota House passes right to abortion bill as supporters and opponents gather

Minnesota House passes right to abortion bill as supporters and opponents gather

The Minnesota House of Representatives late Thursday approved a proposal to enshrine in state law the right to an abortion — and access to other reproductive health care. After hours of passionate debate, the House voted 69-65 to pass the bill.
by Dana Ferguson

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The impacts of climate change on our health — from our bodies to our cells

The impacts of climate change on our health — from our bodies to our cells

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Dr. Rick Woychik and Dr. Gwen Collman from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences on the impact of climate change on our health.
by Cathy Wurzer, Paul Huttner and Ngoc Bui

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Snow tapers; quiet weekend ahead, near-normal temps

Snow tapers; quiet weekend ahead, near-normal temps

Snow totals from this latest storm are highest in southeastern Minnesota and portions of Wisconsin. We have updated snow totals, plus a look at our weekend weather.
by Ron Trenda

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U.S. hits its debt limit and now risks defaulting on its bills

U.S. hits its debt limit and now risks defaulting on its bills

The U.S. is undertaking "extraordinary" measures to avoid defaulting on its obligations after the country reached its debt limit on Thursday. Now, a big political fight looms.
by Rafael Nam

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Is it time for a reality check on rapid COVID tests?

Is it time for a reality check on rapid COVID tests?

At-home rapid tests have become a staple of COVID-19 precautions, but some experts worry that people are relying too much on these tests and that's creating a false sense of security.
by Sydney Lupkin

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Snow begins to wind down Thursday; cooler Friday into the weekend

Snow begins to wind down Thursday; cooler Friday into the weekend

The majority of snowfall accumulation is done but we’ll see an additional 1 to 2 inches, even 3 for some areas through the morning and midday Thursday. Light snow showers will diminish through the afternoon with cooler temperatures Friday moving in.
by Sven Sundgaard

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Therapy by chatbot? The promise and challenges in using AI for mental health

Therapy by chatbot? The promise and challenges in using AI for mental health

Some companies and researchers think smart computers might eventually help with provider shortages in mental health, and some consumers are already turning to chatbots to build "emotional resilience."
by Yuki Noguchi

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Duluth-based podcast invites survivors to host, tell their stories

Duluth-based podcast invites survivors to host, tell their stories

Perhaps this figure rings true for you: 70 percent of adults in the U.S. have experienced at least one traumatic incident in their lives. Some who are ready talk about it have turned to Duluth-based Laura Anderson.
by Cathy Wurzer and Britt Aamodt

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St. Paul shooting leaves teen with life-threatening wound, Central High classes canceled

Central Senior High School classes, after school activities and athletics are canceled Thursday after Wednesday’s shooting at the Jimmy Lee Recreation Center. Police are investigating. This is a morning MPR News update, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.

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Storm drops more than a half-foot of snow on parts of Minnesota

Storm drops more than a half-foot of snow on parts of Minnesota

The Twin Cities surpassed the seasonal average of 51.2 inches — with a total of 52.1 inches at the airport so far this winter. St. Paul’s snow emergency parking rules begin at 9 p.m. Thursday.
by Andrew Krueger

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Bret Easton Ellis' first novel in more than a decade, 'The Shards,' is worth the wait

Bret Easton Ellis' first novel in more than a decade, 'The Shards,' is worth the wait

Hermetic, paranoid, sleek, dark — and with brief explosions of the sex and violence that have characterized Ellis' oeuvre — The Shards is a stark reminder that the author is a genre unto himself.
by Gabino Iglesias

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Here's why a high-stakes debt ceiling fight looms on Capitol Hill

Here's why a high-stakes debt ceiling fight looms on Capitol Hill

House Republicans want to leverage must-pass legislation to raise the debt limit to extract federal spending cuts, but President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats aren't interested in negotiating.
by Susan Davis

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Bill requiring carbon-free electricity in Minnesota by 2040 passes first committee

Bill requiring carbon-free electricity in Minnesota by 2040 passes first committee

The bill drew support from clean energy advocates and labor unions hopeful it would reduce Minnesota’s reliance on fossil fuels to generate power and create clean energy jobs. But some rural electric cooperatives testified that it could be difficult to meet the mandate while maintaining affordable, reliable power.
by Kirsti Marohn

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Study shows heavy stones may give big leaps in water — plus real-world implications

Study shows heavy stones may give big leaps in water — plus real-world implications

Researchers have studied the physics behind heavy stones skipping across the surface of water. They say these findings could be applied to real-world problems like de-icing airplanes.
by Alejandra Marquez Janse and Christopher Intagliata

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Art Hounds explore an artist’s legacy, and recommend a 'Haunting' play

Art Hounds explore an artist’s legacy, and recommend a 'Haunting' play

This week’s Art Hounds recommend the spine-tingling play “The Haunting of Hill House” at Rochester Repertory Theatre and “Act III: Who the Heck is Hoffman?” a posthumous exhibit of painter Frank Hoffman’s life’s work, curated by a St. Paul artist.
by Emily Bright

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New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern plans to leave office

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern plans to leave office

Speaking to her party's annual caucus, 42-year-old Ardern said "it's time" for her to move on and that she "no longer had enough in the tank" for her premiership.
by Ashley Westerman

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St. Paul rec center shooting victim 'critical'; rec center worker arrested

St. Paul rec center shooting victim 'critical'; rec center worker arrested

“We are shocked by this. We ought to be shocked by this,” St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said Thursday as he briefed reporters on Wednesday’s shooting outside the Jimmy Lee Recreation Center.
by Sarah Thamer and MPR News Staff

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