Stories from January 26, 2023

The Biden administration has imposed a 20-year mining ban on about 225,000 acres of federal land near the Boundary Waters. The decision places about 350 square miles of federal land within the watershed of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness off-limits from future mining exploration and development.  This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Nina Moini. Music by Gary Meister.
Walz pitches $3.3 billion public works plan
The $3.3 billion bonding bill would shatter prior records but would require GOP support for Gov. Tim Walz to pull off.
Fohrenkam guilty of murder in killing of Minneapolis student Deshaun Hill
Charging documents alleged Hill and Cody Fohrenkam passed close to one another on a sidewalk in February 2022, possibly close enough to brush shoulders, before Fohrenkam shot.
Minnesota Now for Jan. 26, 2023
Hear details on Gov. Tim Walz’s proposal for new taxes and tax cuts, a conversation about Holocaust Remembrance Day, the latest on a new state proposal to recycle old electronics, an “optimist” works to fill a local news void, and all the sports news you need to know.
5 Memphis cops charged with murder in Tyre Nichols' death
Attorneys for Nichols' family say officers beat the 29-year-old father for three minutes during the Jan. 7 stop. Nichols' stepfather said he and Nichols' mother are "fine with" the second-degree murder charges.
Review: First Avenue's best new bands celebrates rising Twin Cities talent
On a frosty Friday night, concertgoers young and old crowded the historic First Avenue floor, shedding winter coats and stomping snow off their shoes. Hosted in conjunction by local radio stations The Current, Radio K, KFAI, and 93X, First Avenue’s Best New Bands is a continuance of a mid-’80s tradition.
MN Senate votes to ban discrimination based on hair, OKs Juneteenth holiday
Backers said Black Minnesotans, particularly women, face workplace discrimination for styling their hair in braids, twists or locks, or for their natural hair texture. Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery following the Civil War.
Feds slap 20-year mining ban on land near Boundary Waters
The U.S. Department of the Interior issued a 20-year ban Thursday on new mining projects on 225,000 acres of federal land near the Boundary Waters, dealing a huge blow to the proposed Twin Metals mine near Ely, Minn.
Weekend weather: Cold! Subzero wind chills as frigid air settles in
Thursday night snow could slow our Friday morning commutes. Much colder air and gusty winds are on tap for the weekend. Snow is possible in the far south Saturday morning.
Walz unveils plan for Minnesota taxes — here's who will get a break
Gov. Tim Walz has been unveiling his wish-list for state spending in pieces. And on Tuesday, he released the final part of his budget — and it includes taxes and tax breaks. Rochelle Olson is a politics and government reporter with the Star Tribune, and she talked to MPR News host Cathy Wurzer about who may pay more and who could get a break.
Are the risks of sports gambling worth the reward?
The online sports betting industry shows no signs of slowing down. Guest host Chris Farrell talks about the normalization of sports betting, what it means for young adults and their mental health, and the risk of developing a gambling addiction.
Historic St. Paul house to be deconstructed, preserved in public-private deal
Plans are in the works to take apart and eventually rebuild St. Paul’s historic Justus Ramsey House at a different site on West Seventh Street. The agreement, which includes public money, came after a judge on Tuesday halted the building’s demolition.
Subzero temps, winds settle in after Thursday-Friday snow
Temperatures Thursday will be cooler, in the teens east and 20s west for highs. We’ll see sunshine before clouds increase as more snow showers develop late Thursday into early Friday. Bitter cold and wind moves in behind it.
Starting at 9 p.m. Thursday, parking will not be allowed on the even side of streets that are non-snow emergency routes. The rules are set to remain in place until April 1. This is a morning MPR News update, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.
Cooler Thursday with some sun; snow overnight into early Friday, then frigid
Temperatures will be colder Thursday, with highs in the teens east and 20s west but we’ll have some sunshine too. Snow showers will develop in northwest Minnesota late Thursday and spread across Minnesota Thursday night into early Friday.
Social media platforms face pressure to stop online drug dealers who target kids
During a House committee hearing Wednesday, parents, activists and law enforcement officials accused social media sites of enabling drug dealers to sell fentanyl to young Americans.
America's eggs-istential crisis
Eggs have tripled in price in the last few years and in some places, it's hard to find them at all. Now a raft of competitors are hoping to lure Americans away from their beloved breakfast food.
5 takeaways from the massive layoffs hitting Big Tech right now
Some 200,000 tech jobs have been lost in what is seen as one of the sharpest downturns in the tech industry's history. Here is what you need to know about the mass layoffs in Silicon Valley.
Boeing faces a criminal charge of fraud related to deadly 737 Max crashes
The airplane manufacturer will be arraigned in federal court in Texas Thursday as relatives of those killed in two plane crashes seek to overturn an agreement that gave Boeing immunity.
Art Hounds have ideas to exercise your art brain
A discussion at Open Book in Minneapolis explores artist Sam Robertson’s illustrated art-book take on the King James Bible. Sarah Nassif’s hands-on “Weaving Water” workshop connects the ancient art of indigo dyeing and spinning fiber with local water systems. And at The Southern Theater, the group Cumar combines West African rhythms and Celtic dance to create something new.
Sweet treat: Play explores life of Boundary Waters' 'Root Beer Lady'
St. Paul’s History Theatre presents a one-woman play about Dorothy Molter, the last legal non-Indigenous resident of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. “She was a trailblazer,” the play’s director says. “She felt a calling and she went for it.”