Stories from January 24, 2023

DFL lawmakers push to restrict use of 'forever chemicals'
Lawmakers proposed to ban non-essential uses of PFAS in products such as carpet, cleaning products, cosmetics and ski wax and to require manufacturers to disclose PFAS added to products sold in Minnesota.
Twin Cities set for snowy Wednesday morning rush
It may not be a major storm, but Wednesday’s light snow will come during the morning commute and, together with colder temperatures, will likely cause some stealthily slick roads.
A majority of full time Hamline University faculty voted Tuesday to ask the school's president to resign. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Nina Moini. Music by Gary Meister.
The Senate's Ticketmaster hearing featured plenty of Taylor Swift puns and protesters
The Senate Judiciary Committee held its much-anticipated hearing into Live Nation and the ticketing industry as dozens of Swifties rallied outside the Capitol and hundreds more joined in virtually.
Biden administration invites ordinary citizens to help resettle refugees
The Biden administration is encouraging ordinary U.S. citizens to help resettle refugees, via the newly launched sponsorship program Welcome Corps in partnership with non-profit organizations.
Historic St. Paul house, facing demolition, wins reprieve
The Justus Ramsey House on West Seventh Street dates back to the 1850s and has ties to Minnesota’s first territorial governor and St. Paul’s Black community. A judge’s temporary restraining order Tuesday stopped the building’s destruction.
Walz proposes checks for up to $2,600 based on income, family size
Gov. Tim Walz presented the last piece of his $65.2 billion state spending plan Tuesday, including sending back part of the state’s budget surplus to taxpayers and reducing, but not eliminating, the tax on Social Security income.
Minnesota Now and Then: Stillwater state prison opened 170 years ago
The story of the Minnesota State Prison began with an act by the territorial legislature in 1851. The first prisoners arrived two years later. Since then, the institution has figured largely in the history of Stillwater, Minn. where it was located.
From the archives: Naima Coster on her novel 'What's Mine and Yours'
This Friday, Big Books and Bold Ideas will feature Clint Smith, celebrated author of “How the Word is Passed,” which powerfully examines the legacy of slavery in America. Kerri Miller’s conversation with Naima Coster in 2021 trod a similar path, only Coster used a fiction lens to look at effects of segregation in her novel, “What’s Mine and Yours.”
Tax the rich? Liberals renew push for state wealth taxes
Bills announced Thursday in Minnesota, California, New York, Illinois, Hawaii, Maryland, Washington and Connecticut vary in their approaches to hiking taxes, but all revolve around the idea that the richest Americans need to pay more.
'Everything Everywhere' tops Oscar nominations with 11
The sci-fi indie hit “Everything Everywhere All at Once” leads nominations to the 95th Academy Awards with 11 nominations. A year after a streaming service won Hollywood’s top honor for the first time, big-screen spectacles dominated Tuesday’s nominations to the 95th Academy Awards with the “Avatar” and “Top Gun” sequels getting best picture nods.
3M cutting about 2,500 manufacturing jobs globally
Maplewood-based 3M, maker of Post-it notes, industrial coatings and ceramics, is cutting about 2,500 manufacturing jobs worldwide as it looks to align itself with adjusted production volumes. 
Above-normal temps through Friday; bitter cold weekend
Snow showers will develop in northern Minnesota Tuesday with the chance spreading statewide into Wednesday. Another clipper brings snow showers Friday before arctic air arrives Saturday.
World War II-era map sparks treasure hunt in Dutch village
A hand-drawn map with a red letter X purportedly showing the location of a buried stash of precious jewelry looted by Nazis from a blown-up bank vault has sparked a modern-day treasure hunt. It's all happening in a tiny Dutch village. 
The U's Board of Regents had approved the arrangement. Critics, including some lawmakers, said it would have been a conflict of interest because of Securian Financial's contracts with the university. This is a morning MPR News update, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.
As Sanford, Fairview look to push merger forward, questions about UMN’s role remain
The two health care companies have set a March 31 deadline to complete the merger. The U’s medical school dean says he wants the the university to be part of the deal but worries the deadline is too tight to resolve all of its concerns.
How an Alaskan 'puppy bus' went viral on TikTok
In the small city of Skagway, there's a one-of-a-kind bus service, that is designed for a very particular type of customer — puppies.
'Brotherless Night' explores a young Sri Lankan Tamil woman's life, love and idealism set against civil war
Twin Cities writer V.V. Ganeshananthan didn’t expect her second novel to take so long to write. But after almost two decades “Brotherless Night,” a tale set against the Sri Lankan civil war, is drawing critical acclaim. It’s a depiction of a determined young Tamil woman struggling with life, love and family even as her country descends into chaos.
A gunman killed 7 people in shootings in Half Moon Bay, California
Seven people were killed at two landscaping nurseries in Half Moon Bay, Calif., about 30 miles south of San Francisco. A suspect has been arrested, officials said.
Police: 2 students dead, adult hurt in Des Moines shooting
Two students were killed Monday and an adult employee was injured in what police said was a targeted shooting at a Des Moines school that is dedicated to helping at-risk youth, and three people were arrested afterward.
U president quits Securian Financial board amid criticism
The U's Board of Regents had approved the arrangement. Critics, including some lawmakers, said it would have been a conflict of interest because of Securian Financial's contracts with the university.