Stories from February 7, 2023

Most police body camera footage goes unseen; AI is changing that
Truleo, a Chicago-based company, makes use of artificial intelligence to sift through hundreds of hours of police body camera footage. Founded after the murder of George Floyd, the technology is being used in more than a dozen police departments across the country.
Winter snows eased but didn't end Minnesota's drought
Unless Minnesota records a wet spring, the drought story will likely continue. Many areas will need an excess of 2 to 5 inches of precipitation above average this spring to erase drought.
Ramsey County begins transfer of inmates as debate over jail funding intensifies
A state order reduces the Ramsey County jail’s operational capacity to 324 inmates. The Department of Corrections issued a similar capacity reduction order to Beltrami County on Jan. 27. Both orders highlight a series of concerns about conditions in the state’s jails.
Governor Tim Walz signed a landmark energy bill today requiring electric utilities to provide carbon-free power to Minnesota by 2040. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.
Walz signs carbon-free energy bill, prompting threat of lawsuit
Clean energy advocates, large utilities and labor unions said the new target would put the state on track to reduce carbon emissions and address climate change. But North Dakota officials say they may sue over the new law.
Hibernating bear saved after getting stuck in melting snow near Roseau, Minn.
DNR officials believe the nearly 400-pound bear was hibernating in a culvert when it was forced out by melting snow. It wound up stuck in deep snow beside a road and farm fields. Passersby apparently tried to feed and dig out the bear.
She was declared dead, but the funeral home found her breathing
"This is an awful situation that has caused unnecessary trauma for the impacted resident and her loved ones," the New York attorney general's office told NPR.
Winter play: Snowkiting on White Bear Lake
Our intrepid north central Minnesota reporter, Mathew Holding Eagle III, tried out kiteboarding for the first time — atop frozen White Bear Lake.
Bill to slow catalytic converter theft races forward at MN Capitol
Minnesota is an attractive target for catalytic converter thieves. A series of proposals to head off their theft and resale is on the move at the Legislature.
How to watch President Biden's State of the Union address
President Joe Biden is set Tuesday night to deliver his second State of the Union address. The annual speech, delivered before a joint session of Congress, typically provides a president with his single largest audience of the year, usually in the tens of millions. NPR and MPR News will provide live coverage, and a bilingual broadcast in Spanish is available online.
A wholesome approach to heart health for American Heart Month
How’s your heart? Is it weighing heavy or are you having physical symptoms. MPR News host Angela Davis revisits how to sleep better, how to forgive someone and why there are racial disparities in heart health.
Two Black Minnesota police chiefs on what went wrong with policing in Memphis
Calls for police reform have stepped up again after Tyre Nichols was fatally beaten last month by officers in Memphis. MPR News Host Angela Davis talks about the future of policing with two Black Minnesota police chiefs, Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges and Eagan Police Chief Roger New.   
Mild, breezy Tuesday; snow showers possible Thursday
Clouds will move out early Tuesday making way for more sunshine and breezy, mild temperatures. Another chance of snow showers arrives Thursday.
A bill headed to the governor gives the Minnesota attorney general’s office new funding to increase staff to do criminal prosecutions. Democrats said it responds to local officials’ calls for state help to respond to violent crime, while Republicans said the legislation is too vague as to how the money would be used. This is a morning update from MPR News, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.
Windy again Tuesday, continued mild through the week
Tuesday will be windy again, this time from the west. Highs will be back in the 30s with more sunshine. Wednesday will be warmer. The next chance of rain, snow showers is Thursday.
State court backs Leech Lake Ojibwe in dispute over proposed mill
The Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled Monday in favor of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, and ordered the city of Cohasset to reconsider whether a more detailed environmental review is required for a proposed wood mill.
Rescuers work for second day to find quake survivors as death toll surpasses 5,400
Rescue workers fanned across Turkey and Syria Tuesday in a second day of desperate searches to find survivors from the massive earthquake and aftershocks that had the death toll climbing by the hour.
An Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights seeks to make flying feel more humane
The meltdowns that recently brought flights to a halt have prompted lawmakers to draft new rules for airlines. The changes would give travelers at least $1,350 if bumped from an overbooked flight.
Immigration fees may go up and green card applicants could be hard hit
Facing a budget crunch, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is planning to raise the cost of applications. Attorneys say it could make green cards harder to obtain for working class immigrants.
Winter Play: Let's go ride a kite!
For our Winter Play series, where MPR News staff try winter activities new to them, Bemidji bureau reporter Mathew Holding Eagle III drove further — and maybe flew further — than anyone else as he tried winter kiteboarding.
Buzzz! New research finds more than 500 bees native to Minnesota
Minnesota sits at the intersection of several ecoregions, making it a prime place to catalog bees, some so tiny they can only be identified through a microscope. The University of Minnesota and the DNR are working now on a definitive list of the state’s native bees.
AMC Theatres will charge more to sit in the middle of the auditorium, and less to sit on the front rows. The pricing model has already been implemented in select U.S. markets.
Legislature passes funding for AG Ellison to hire prosecutors
A bill headed to the governor gives the Minnesota attorney general’s office new funding to increase staff to do criminal prosecutions. Democrats said it responds to local officials’ calls for state help to respond to violent crime, while Republicans said the legislation is too vague as to how the money would be used.
This wasn't the first Chinese balloon over the U.S. Why were the others ignored?
Chinese surveillance balloons have flown over the U.S. at least four times in recent years. But the U.S. didn't learn about these cases until the intelligence community discovered them afterwards.
Future of Us: What's next for education in Minnesota?
Minnesota’s 2020 Teacher of the Year, Qorsho Hassan, on how the pandemic and the murder of George Floyd reshaped shaped her vision for education to center student voice and leadership.