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Stories from February 1, 2023

Winter report card: Snow, temperature extremes add up to average

Winter report card: Snow, temperature extremes add up to average

Minnesota’s winter temperatures so far this season are running very close to average in the Twin Cities, even though December delivered extreme cold and January brought persistent warmth.
by Paul Huttner

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Ilhan Omar is likely to be kicked off House committee in latest partisan clashes in DC

Ilhan Omar is likely to be kicked off House committee in latest partisan clashes in DC, and music fans will get another encounter with Ticketmaster for another blockbuster Minneapolis show, this time Beyonce. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

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Advocates team up to recognize women and girls in sports

Advocates team up to recognize women and girls in sports

Leaders in advancing girl’s and women's sports in Minnesota received recognition for National Girls and Women in Sports Day at a ceremony inside the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul on Wednesday.
by Nina Moini

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'A more equitable Minnesota': Walz signs CROWN Act into law

'A more equitable Minnesota': Walz signs CROWN Act into law

Gov. Tim Walz signed the CROWN Act into law Wednesday, banning discrimination based on a person's natural hair texture or style.
by Dana Ferguson

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Watch out, Minneapolis: The tow truck cometh

Watch out, Minneapolis: The tow truck cometh

Minneapolis has handed out more than 2,000 tickets in the last three days and towed more than 200 vehicles off of the even sides of non-snow emergency streets, as they pick up enforcement of a winter parking ban instituted last week. 
by Tim Nelson

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Teen pleads guilty to murder in shooting outside Richfield school

Teen pleads guilty to murder in shooting outside Richfield school

Fernando Valdez-Alvarez, 19, of Minneapolis, admitted in court to shooting and killing 15-year-old Jahmari Rice and wounding another 17-year-old outside the South Education Center in Richfield on Feb. 1, 2022, prosecutors said Wednesday.
by Matt Sepic

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Tired of cold? This saint turns water to beer and says spring is near

Tired of cold? This saint turns water to beer and says spring is near

Long celebrated by farmers welcoming spring, St. Brigid Day is a bank holiday in Ireland for the first time this year. Though the start of spring is farther off for us here in Minnesota, chef and cookbook author Beth Dooley says there’s no reason we can’t cook up some bread and stew to celebrate, too.
by Megan Burks and Tom Crann

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Auto racing: Allouez Bay racing event postponed to Feb. 18

Auto racing: Allouez Bay racing event postponed to Feb. 18

NASCAR on Ice, an ice racing event featuring NASCAR drivers and retired cars, was postponed a second time on Wednesday due to ice conditions.

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Winter Play: Falling ice! Ice climbing in Duluth

Winter Play: Falling ice! Ice climbing in Duluth

The sport of ice climbing is taking off. Duluth MPR News reporter Dan Kraker gave it a try for the first time — and he survived. He joins host Cathy Wurzer to tell the tale of his first ice climbing adventure in our Winter Play series.
by Cathy Wurzer and Gretchen Brown

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Documentary series traces history of racial injustice, resistance in Twin Cities

Documentary series traces history of racial injustice, resistance in Twin Cities

Twin Cities Public Television released a documentary called Jim Crow of the North in 2019. A new series by the same name explores more stories about resistance to racial discrimination in the Twin Cities region. It hinges on this question: Why is Minneapolis the epicenter of a global racial reckoning?
by Cathy Wurzer and Ellen Finn

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Tired pups: Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon winner and runner up dish on this year's race

Tired pups: Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon winner and runner up dish on this year's race

The 300 mile Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon ended last night. Musher Keith Aili’s dog team finished first. Ryan Anderson was favored to win his fifth race but his team came in second. Host Cathy Wurzer speaks with them both about the race.
by Cathy Wurzer and Gretchen Brown

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Beargrease sled race winner, runner-up talk dogs, cold, competition

Beargrease sled race winner, runner-up talk dogs, cold, competition

Keith Aili crossed the finish line about eight minutes ahead of second-place musher and past champion Ryan Anderson. They spoke to MPR News host Cathy Wurzer Wednesday about dealing with 20-below race temps and coaching dogs that aren’t all that keen on people.
by Cathy Wurzer and Tim Nelson

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Temps swing Wednesday-Thursday; sustained warmup starts Friday

Temps swing Wednesday-Thursday; sustained warmup starts Friday

Wednesday will be a warmer day. Cold will surge back south briefly late Thursday into Friday before a sustained weekend warmup. And welcome to February, a month of brighter and warmer changes.
by Sven Sundgaard

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Biden lawyer: FBI searching Biden's Rehoboth Beach, home

Biden lawyer: FBI searching Biden's Rehoboth Beach, home

The FBI is conducting a planned search of President Joe Biden’s Rehoboth Beach, Delaware home as part of its investigation into the potential mishandling of classified documents. That's according to a statement from Biden's personal lawyer.
by The Associated Press

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February forecast: Paul Huttner has the short and long term weather outlook

February forecast: Paul Huttner has the short and long term weather outlook

As we move into the first part of February and the last part of meteorological winter — what’s the outlook for freezing and thawing temps? Host Cathy Wurzer talks with MPR News Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner.
by Melissa Townsend and Cathy Wurzer

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John Beargrease sled dog race has a winner

Keith Aili of Ray, Minnesota crossed the finish line at about 3 o'clock on Tuesday afternoon. This is a morning MPR News update, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.

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Tom Brady retires, insisting this time it's for good

Tom Brady retires, insisting this time it's for good

Tom Brady has announced his retirement. Brady won a record seven Super Bowls for New England and Tampa. He is the most successful quarterback in NFL history and one of the greatest athletes in team sports.
by The Associated Press

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Republicans set to oust Rep. Omar from Foreign Affairs panel

Republicans set to oust Rep. Omar from Foreign Affairs panel

Newly empowered House Republicans are preparing to oust Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee. Republicans want to remove the African-born Black lawmaker from the panel over comments she has made critical of Israel.
by The Associated Press

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Fate of last ex-cop charged in Floyd murder lies with judge

Fate of last ex-cop charged in Floyd murder lies with judge

A defense attorney says a former Minneapolis police officer who held back bystanders while his colleagues restrained a dying George Floyd is innocent of criminal wrongdoing and should be acquitted. But prosecutors argue Tou Thao “acted without courage and displayed no compassion” even though he could see Floyd’s life slowly ebbing away.
by The Associated Press

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Not as cold Wednesday, light snow develops north

Not as cold Wednesday, light snow develops north

Temperatures are near or subzero but not nearly as cold early Wednesday. We’ll see highs near 20 in southern Minnesota to the single digits north. Cold air swings back south touching off light snow Wednesday night.
by Sven Sundgaard

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5 YA books this winter dealing with identity and overcoming hardships

5 YA books this winter dealing with identity and overcoming hardships

The pale daylight and early darkness of winter create a space for stories — in particular for stories that ask the reader to mull themes and ideas that can sometimes be difficult.
by Caitlyn Paxson

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Tyre Nichols laid to rest in Memphis on Wednesday

Tyre Nichols laid to rest in Memphis on Wednesday

The Rev. Al Sharpton will deliver the eulogy, and Vice President Kamala Harris is set to attend at the invitation of Nichols' family.
by Joe Hernandez

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Junk food companies say they're trying to do good. A new book raises doubts

Junk food companies say they're trying to do good. A new book raises doubts

As the marketing of soda and fast food ramps up around the world, the companies involved forge partnerships to help the poor. The new book 'Junk Food Politics' casts a critical eye at their efforts.
by Pien Huang

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Native Americans left out of 'deaths of despair' research

Native Americans left out of 'deaths of despair' research

During the time that deaths from addiction and suicide among white Americans rose by about 9 percent, deaths among Native Americans shot up by about 30 percent, a new study shows.
by Rhitu Chatterjee

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Avivo Village shines as solution for unsheltered homelessness in Minneapolis

Avivo Village shines as solution for unsheltered homelessness in Minneapolis

In 2020, the nonprofit Avivo went tent to tent at the massive encampment in Powderhorn Park to learn what it would take for residents to come indoors. From that came Avivo Village, an indoor community of 100 small units in the North Loop designed specifically for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
by Grace Birnstengel

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Is providing a portable toilet an endorsement of a homeless encampment?

Is providing a portable toilet an endorsement of a homeless encampment?

Minneapolis has stopped fulfilling requests for portable toilets at encampments on city property. Some city council members say they think it’s a way for the city to skirt responsibility for its encampments.
by Grace Birnstengel

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Minneapolis City Council too gridlocked to change homeless encampment approach

Minneapolis City Council too gridlocked to change homeless encampment approach

Long a liberal city, one might think agreement would be easier in Minneapolis than other cities. But efforts to change city code that affects homelessness or to pause encampment closures have failed due to political gridlock and confusion.
by Grace Birnstengel

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Winter Play: Ice climbing on the North Shore

Winter Play: Ice climbing on the North Shore

As part of MPR News’ Winter Play series, reporter Dan Kraker tried ice climbing for the first time on a cliff north of Two Harbors, an experience he found challenging, rewarding and — when it was over, at least — fun.
by Dan Kraker

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Minneapolis made little progress on homeless encampments in 2022. Why?

Minneapolis made little progress on homeless encampments in 2022. Why?

Eager to improve the city’s response to encampments, new Minneapolis City Council members have been gridlocked, in part due to Mayor Jacob Frey’s recent expansion of power. Instead of creating a formal policy, the city is sending more police officers and establishing perimeters while closing camps.
by Grace Birnstengel

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