Stories from February 15, 2023

Frey: Affordable rental housing in Minneapolis surged last year
The number of affordable rental housing units created in Minneapolis last year was about three times higher than the yearly average for most of the last decade. 
State Supreme Court keeps ban on felon voting, as lawmakers near the end of long debate on the matter, and new details emerge in fatal shooting by St. Paul police on Saturday. This is an evening update from MPR news, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.
Rep. Gaetz says no charges for him in sex trafficking case
Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Republican known for his strong support of former President Donald Trump and membership in the arch-conservative Freedom Caucus in the House, said Wednesday that the Justice Department has ended a sex trafficking case with no charges against him.
White supremacist gets life in prison for Buffalo massacre
A white supremacist who killed 10 Black people at a Buffalo supermarket was sentenced to life in prison without parole Wednesday after relatives of his victims confronted him with pain and rage caused by his racist attack.
Authorities continue to ask for the public’s help in finding a Windom, Minn., man who was convicted on murder charges Tuesday after failing to show up for the trial.
Raquel Welch, actress and Hollywood sex symbol, dead at 82
Welch is best known for her roles in “Fantastic Voyage” and “One Million Years B.C.” She is survived by her son and daughter.
NORAD is back in the news. So what does it do, exactly?
The air defense center was created in the 1950s, as a counter to a rival superpower. Now NORAD is front and center again, prompting questions about what it does — and how it copes with modern threats.
Minneapolis City Council eyeing next step toward funding sidewalk clearing
The proposal from two council members would begin as soon as 2024 and cover the entire 2,000-mile city sidewalk network by 2027. There’s a public forum Wednesday night and a meeting Thursday.
The U.S. could run out of cash to pay its bills between July and September
If Congress fails to raise the nation's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling, the U.S. government could run out of cash between July and September, or even sooner, the Congressional Budget Office said.
Why a group of Allina Health Mercy Hospital doctors wants to unionize
Physicians at Allina Health Mercy Hospital are unionizing. They filed a petition for representation through Doctors Council SEIU, which already represents other healthcare workers at Allina Mercy, Unity and other hospitals throughout the state.
World Cup cross-country ski races in Minnesota are back on for 2024
After a lengthy delay due to the pandemic, plans to host a World Cup cross-country skiing event in Minnesota — the first held in the U.S. in more than 20 years — are back on for 2024.
North Minneapolis talent join St. Paul Chamber Orchestra for celebration
To celebrate Black History Month, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra is teaming up with the Capri Theatre in north Minneapolis for a concert this weekend. The event called Northside Celebration features music from the orchestra and singers from the neighborhood.
Hope Breakfast owner feeding earthquake survivors, relief workers in Turkey
Twin Cities chef and restaurant owner Brian Ingram said he knew what he had to do when he saw the devastation from last week’s earthquake in Turkey and Syria: He bought a plane ticket and went there to help.
MN Supreme Court defers to lawmakers on felon voting rights
Minnesotans convicted of felonies who have served their prison time must complete all aspects of their sentence, including parole and probation, before their voting rights are restored, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled Wednesday. The decision puts the issue back in the hands of the Legislature. 
Icy conditions spread as temps drop; weekend weather looks drama-free
The blizzard in western Minnesota will wind down during Wednesday. Strong northwest winds are bringing us colder air. Standing water from the rain and melted snow are freezing into ice.
Mining companies finalize joint venture to pursue copper-nickel mines
PolyMet Mining and Teck American, which have worked on separate copper-nickel mining projects in northern Minnesota for more than a decade, have officially combined to form a new joint venture called NewRange Copper Nickel.
Blizzard continues in western Minnesota; getting icy
Blizzard conditions continue in western Minnesota Wednesday morning. Falling temperatures will produce widespread iciness.
There’s been a drive for decades to diversify the nation’s mostly white police forces, including in the Twin Cities. But the recent fatal beating of a Black man by five Black Memphis police officers has renewed questions about the role police officer diversity plays in reducing officer misconduct or brutality. This is a morning MPR News update, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.
Blizzard conditions close highways, schools in western Minnesota
Blizzard conditions led to highway and school closures in parts of western Minnesota on Wednesday morning. Light snow and northerly winds gusting to near 50 mph were creating near-zero visibility at times.
Shopify deleted 322,000 hours of meetings. Should the rest of us be jealous?
The pandemic had an unexpected side effect: peak meeting misery. With Shopify's radical announcement last month, the working world wants to know if a future without meetings is even possible.
How do pandemics begin? There's a new theory — and a new strategy to thwart them
Animals carry millions of pathogens. So it's a daunting task to find the one with the greatest potential to spark a pandemic. Now scientists are rethinking the way they hunt for that next new virus.
Activists say diversifying police forces not best answer to cop misconduct
There’s been a drive for decades to diversify the nation’s mostly white police forces, including in the Twin Cities. But the recent fatal beating of a Black man by five Black Memphis police officers has renewed questions about the role police officer diversity plays in reducing officer misconduct or brutality. 
New app will help preserve and teach Dakota language one word at a time
“We're using modern technology to save our ancient languages. And it’s using the best of both to preserve our ancient knowledge,” said Šišókaduta, who was one of the leaders in the dictionary project.
Analysis: How Minnesota’s school funding leaves the most in-need districts behind
Minnesota’s funding for public K-12 schools is above the national average, but data Minneapolis Schools Voices has analyzed reveals that the aggregate picture obscures significant inequities in the state’s funding system.
Health concerns grow in East Palestine, Ohio, after train derailment
Air monitoring continues in East Palestine after the crews released a number of toxic chemicals in what officials called a "controlled explosion" last week.
Appetites: Drown your winter sorrows in a bowl of this bright, creamy parsnip soup
Beth Dooley’s parsnip soup with cumin, black pepper and lime has a creamy consistency smooth enough to make you think you’re indulging. And a hit of lime and apples adds a little brightness during these cold, dark days.
From meet-cutes to happy endings, romance readers feel the love as sales heat up
Romance novel sales are surging, even as overall book sales experience their first decline in years. And no, fans are not embarrassed by their love of the genre.
Minneapolis, Bemidji rallies advocate for missing, murdered Indigenous people
Hundreds of people gathered Tuesday in honor of missing and murdered Indigenous people. Marchers said that the issue needs to be taken more seriously with better help from media and law enforcement.