Stories from February 13, 2023

Great Lakes ice cover reaches record low
A much milder-than-average weather pattern across the Great Lakes for most of this winter has produced the lowest ice cover on record for the Great Lakes.
New details emerge for proposed Sanford-Fairview merger, including a possible big investment, and the state patrol is hoping to land a new chopper. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.
Round Lake-Brewster schools return to voters with a $30.48 million for buildings
This week the Round Lake-Brewster School District is asking voters to approve a $30.48 million bond referendum to address building needs — for the second time. School officials say with inflation raising the cost of living, it’s harder to get such bonds passed.
'Dr. Lisa on the Street' busts health myths and empowers patients
She's seen what happens when people don't trust or understand their doctor. Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick founded 'Grapevine Health' to get solid information out, especially to Black and Latinx patients.
Letters offer new details in Sanford, Fairview merger plans
The documents released Monday include a non-binding agreement that says after the merger, Fairview clinics and other facilities could continue using their current names. The combined company would be called Sanford.
How to love yourself tenderly and fiercely
MPR host Angela Davis talks about your most important relationship – the one you have with yourself. A therapist and a self-compassion expert join Davis to chat about what self-love is, what self-compassion isn’t and how to overcome beliefs like, “I’m not worth it.”
What's your salary? Pay transparency could help close the wage gap
How many people know how much money you make? Advocates for pay transparency say it can help close the pay equity gap. At 9 a.m. Monday, MPR News host Angela Davis talks about the pros and cons of putting your paycheck in the spotlight.
Rare warm February rain system Tuesday
Most years I would be forecasting heavy snow for most of Minnesota with this system. But temperatures Tuesday will be well above freezing across most of Minnesota, and likely in the 40s from the Twin Cities south and east.
Minn. lawmakers pitch $1.9 billion capital investment plan
After lawmakers failed to approve a public works construction bill in 2022, DFL lawmakers introduced their latest plan on Monday. Public hearings are set for later this week.
Fatal stabbing at Harding High leaves students, staff ‘heartbroken,’ ‘helpless’
Teachers and students are planning a candlelight vigil Monday evening at Harding High School in memory of the student killed last week. District leaders have also asked police to increase their presence around five city high schools.
Sniffer dogs offer hope in waning rescue efforts in Turkey
Days after the Feb. 6 earthquake in Turkey and Syria, hopes of finding people alive is waning. One U.S.-based team uses search-and-rescue dogs to try to find people still trapped days after the quake.
Unions, corporations are among top Walz inaugural donors
An initial look at donors to Gov. Tim Walz’s inaugural shows several unions, a handful of corporations and local pro sports teams.
South Minneapolis-raised Bobby Marshall joined the NFL as a quarterback in 1920, and went on to become a team captain and eventually a coach.
Mild Monday; widespread rain Tuesday
Mild weather will continue on Monday. Rain will arrive on Tuesday.
The five-year draft permit imposes more stringent limits on the pollutants the White Bear Township manufacturer can emit, and requires it to submit daily emissions reports to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. This is a morning MPR News update, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.
The U.S. needs more affordable housing – where to put it is a bigger battle
American suburbs mandated single-family homes generations ago, often to segregate areas by race and class. New laws allow more-affordable options like townhomes but construction so far has been slow.
Duluth-based fighter downs flying object over Lake Huron; 4th such incident in 8 days
A Duluth-based Air National Guard fighter jet shot down an “unidentified object” over Lake Huron on Sunday on orders from President Joe Biden. It was the latest military strike in an extraordinary chain of events over U.S. airspace.
Is chocolate good for your heart? Finally the FDA has an answer – kind of
For years, chocolate-lovers have pointed to studies suggesting compounds in cocoa may be good for heart health. But some of the recent evidence comes from flavanol-rich cocoa, not from candy bars.
‘Opportunity to make history’: Communities of color look to lawmakers to close gaps
In Minnesota, people of color and Indigenous people face disparate outcomes when it comes to income, housing, academic opportunities and more. Some DFL state lawmakers said this is the year to make progress in shrinking those gaps.
State taking input on new air permit for Water Gremlin
The five-year draft permit imposes more stringent limits on the pollutants the White Bear Township manufacturer can emit, and requires it to submit daily emissions reports to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Rescuers keep digging for survivors a week after the Turkey-Syria earthquake
People buried under rubble in southern Turkey continue to defy the odds, surviving freezing weather and a week without water. A 40-year-old woman was pulled alive in Gaziantep province early Monday.