Stories from February 14, 2023

St. Paul schools bring cops back to campus as a 16-year-old is charged in stabbing death and march remembers missing Native women. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.
Meat-plant workers lean on MN lawmakers for safety help
The Minnesota Legislature is considering bills to add more worker protections in the meat-processing industry around safety and inspections. Employees say it’s overdue.
St. Paul's historic Justus Ramsey House is coming down. Slowly.
The 171-year-old stone house at the center of a preservation battle with a St. Paul restauranteur is coming down. But in a good way, carefully, with an eye toward reconstructing it on another site.
American Indian women and girls represented 8 percent of all women and girls murdered in Minnesota, despite making up less than one percent of the state’s population.
St. Paul superintendent announces upped security at 5 schools after death of Harding High student
St. Paul school superintendent Joe Gothard told reporters the district is increasing police presence at some schools after the stabbing death of 15-year-old Devin Scott in the hallways of Harding High School last Friday.
From the archives: Shannon Gibney on 'Dream Country'
Minneapolis author Shannon Gibney just published her memoir. But it’s probably unlike any memoir you’ve read before. She’ll tell MPR News host Kerri Miller about it on Friday’s episode of Big Books and Bold Ideas. Until then, enjoy this 2018 conversation between Miller and Gibney when her second book, “Dream Country,” had just come out.
16-year-old charged with murder in St. Paul Harding High stabbing
Prosecutors on Tuesday charged a 16-year-old with the second-degree murder in the stabbing death of a 15-year-old Friday at Harding High. Separately, St. Paul’s school superintendent said district, police and city leaders are working to craft a new approach to schools and policing.
Reports: T-Mobile users experience service outages across U.S.
Customers of wireless provider T-Mobile US Inc. reported widespread service outages in the U.S. late Monday. Posts on Downdetector.com and Product-Reviews.net indicated T-Mobile service outages in multiple areas of the country.
Lots of widespread rain; blizzard for NW Minnesota
Rain will continue to spread across Minnesota Tuesday. Blizzard conditions will develop over parts of west-central and northwestern Minnesota early Tuesday night.
Inflation eased again in January – but there's a cautionary sign
Annual inflation cooled in January for the seventh month in a row. But price increases accelerated between December and January, fueled by rising shelter, food and gasoline prices.
March-type storm in February
Rain will overspread Minnesota from south to north on Tuesday. Blizzard conditions will develop over parts of west central and northwestern Minnesota Tuesday night.
A vigil on Monday remembered 15-year-old Devin Scott, who was stabbed to death on Friday. This is a morning MPR News update, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.
Haley announces presidential campaign, challenging Trump
Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador, announced her candidacy for president on Tuesday. She becomes the first major challenger to former President Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination.
Melting guns and bullet casings, this artist turns weapons into bells
At a time when mass shootings are regularly rocking the country, Stephanie Mercedes is takes guns and bullet casings and turns them into instruments of mourning. Some look like primitive relics.
Mayo 'mini brains' offer new ways to understand addiction
On the 19th floor of Mayo Clinic's Gonda building, tiny pearls of brain tissue are being grown in a lab. These so-called “mini brains” may help deepen the science of addiction. 
'Taking up space': Black designers focus on joy in Augsburg exhibition
Through an art exhibition at Augsburg University, Minneapolis designers and curators Olivia House and Silent Fox are developing their canon of the next generation Black designers.
UFOs? Airborne objects? What we know about 4 recent shootdowns
The shootdowns came in steady succession over the weekend, after alarms were raised in early February over an object spotted over Montana.