Stories from February 17, 2023

Minnesota Rep. Grossell cited for DWI
Republican Rep. Matt Grossell was cited for driving drunk last week. He tested at nearly twice the legal limit, and it wasn’t the first time he has been arrested. 
MPR News has learned that the Metropolitan Council blocked a petroleum processor from discharging waste into the regional sewer system following an underground explosion and a series of leaks last summer. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Hannah Yang. Music by Gary Meister.
Official case reports suggest low COVID circulation in MN, but some readers report much more
Thanks to the 313 of you who participated in our reader survey last week. Seventy-five percent of respondents said they had heard about a lot of COVID going around the past couple of weeks. Official case reports do not show any increase in case rates.
Weekend weather: Above-normal temps; northern MN may see snow Sunday
Our temperatures will rebound this weekend and northern Minnesota has the best chance of Sunday flakes. We have the weekend forecast details, plus an updated Minnesota snow cover map.
Slaughterhouse cleaner admits child labor at 3 Minnesota plants, fined $1.5M
Federal authorities fined Packers Sanitation Services Inc. $1.5 million for using more than 100 children ages 13 to 17 to clean slaughterhouses in eight states. At JBS Foods in Worthington, PSSI had 22 underage workers on the overnight shift.
Immigrants and 'Driver's Licenses for All': 4 key questions, answered
A bill working its way through the Minnesota Legislature would make nearly 81,000 state residents eligible to apply for and obtain driver’s licenses regardless of their immigration status.
Rebroadcast: 10 years of Climate Cast
Climate Cast with Paul Huttner debuted 10 years ago on MPR News. Hear how the climate has changed in the last decade and how that’s affecting climate news, solutions and science. A rebroadcast of the 10th anniversary Climate Cast special takes a glance back and a look forward with an expert panel of climate scientists and communicators.
Minnesota author Shannon Gibney on her new speculative fiction memoir
How do you tell the story of your life when straightforward memoir isn’t enough? Shannon Gibney chose to get creative. The result is her new book, “The Girl I Am, Was and Never Will Be,” which uses both traditional memoir and speculative fiction to examine her life as a transracial adoptee.
Big snowstorm looks likely next week
Enjoy the mild conditions this weekend. Next week looks snowy. It’s too early to forecast where or how much, but models indicate a major winter storm Tuesday through Thursday with abundant moisture.
Minnesota workers could accumulate earned sick and safe time to take care of themselves or a loved one under a bill that the House of Representatives passed Thursday evening. Under the proposal, an employee could earn up to one hour of time off for every 30 hours they work with a cap of 48 hours each year. So after six weeks, a worker could earn one 8-hour day off. This is a morning MPR News update, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.
Quiet Friday; temperatures turning milder again
Friday will become breezy and milder.  Warmer-than-normal temperatures for the weekend.
MN House passes paid sick and safe time bill
The plan would let workers across Minnesota earn one hour of sick and safe time for every 30 hours worked. 
Investigators pinpoint, halt likely source of volatile substance found Minneapolis sewers
In the wake of a sewer explosion and evacuations on the U of M campus last summer, authorities believe they found the source of the volatile substance. And they've recently taken more steps to prevent a recurrence.
These Minnesotans farm ice — and it’s drawing climbers from across the U.S.
Ice farming is the art and science of making climbing ice on cliffs. Minnesota has three city-owned parks with volunteer-run ice farming systems for climbing, more than any other state in the country.