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Stories from March 30, 2023

The new place to live in Minnesota? Wright County

The new place to live in Minnesota? Wright County

The population of central Minnesota’s Wright County has grown by more than 4 percent since 2020, making it the state’s fastest growing county according to new estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau today.
by Craig Helmstetter

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Western Minnesota train derailment stokes the national angst about rail safety and communities near trains

Western Minnesota train derailment stokes the national angst about rail safety and communities near trains and the jury will soon decide the fate of an alleged sex trafficker who’s indictment rocked the Minnesota Republican Party. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

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Donald Trump indicted; 1st ex-president charged with crime

Donald Trump indicted; 1st ex-president charged with crime

A lawyer for Donald Trump said Thursday he's been told that the former president has been indicted in New York on charges involving payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign to silence claims of an extramarital sexual encounter.
by The Associated Press

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Former Rep. Gabby Giffords joins Minnesota leaders to urge new gun laws

Former Rep. Gabby Giffords joins Minnesota leaders to urge new gun laws

DFLers at the Capitol said they were ‘cautiously optimistic’ that they could pass a pair of gun measures this year. And they planned to call out Republicans if they voted against them.
by Dana Ferguson

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Latest UN climate report calls for urgent action. Where does Minnesota fit in?

Latest UN climate report calls for urgent action. Where does Minnesota fit in?

The latest United Nations climate report urges that the window of opportunity to prevent catastrophic climate change still exists — but is closing fast. What role do states, including Minnesota, play in keeping that window open?
by Paul Huttner and Ngoc Bui

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The Triple Rock Social Club sign has moved to Las Vegas

The Triple Rock Social Club sign has moved to Las Vegas

When The Punk Rock Museum officially opens in Las Vegas — a date mooted, after many delays, for this April 1 — chances are that you’ll see a lot of the Twin Cities on display.

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Ice, snow, rain to rake Minnesota Thursday into early Saturday

Ice, snow, rain to rake Minnesota Thursday into early Saturday

Waves of wintry weather will cause travel problems in some areas late Thursday into Friday morning. Many areas will have travel problems Friday afternoon into early Saturday. We have the updated advisories, warnings and winter storm watches.
by Ron Trenda

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A train derailed outside Raymond, Minnesota: Here's what we know

A train derailed outside Raymond, Minnesota: Here's what we know

Residents of Raymond in western Minnesota are returning to their homes following a train derailment in the early hours of Thursday morning that prompted an evacuation of the small town about 90 miles west of the Twin Cities.
by Cathy Wurzer, Alanna Elder and Melissa Townsend

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A mysterious South Dakota cold case that has dogged investigators for years is now a book

There’s a new book on the shelves from a local author about a real-life mystery. Memorial Day weekend 1971, two 17-year-old girls hopped in an old Studebaker for a kegger in Vermillion, South Dakota. They took a wrong turn near the gravel pits and were never seen again. Lou Raguse is a reporter on KARE 11 and the author of the book “Vanished in Vermillion: The Real Story of South Dakota’s Most Infamous Cold Case.” He joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about the case.
by Cathy Wurzer and Britt Aamodt

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Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt brings empathy to policing 

Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt brings empathy to policing 

Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt is the first Black woman to become a sheriff in Minnesota. MPR News Host Angela Davis talks with Sheriff Witt about her priorities and turning childhood hardship into her greatest strength.
by Angela Davis and Maja Beckstrom

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Minnesota Film Festival in Duluth to features films from Lake Superior to Korea

The Minnesota Film Festival lasts from March 29 through April 2. The festival features local and international films at the Zeitgeist Zinema theater in Duluth. Program Director Beth Chatelain joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about how the festival has been going so far and what audiences can look forward to.
by Cathy Wurzer and Ellen Finn

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Minnesota rushes to re-up hundreds of thousands at risk of losing Medicaid after pandemic

Starting Saturday, states can kick people off Medicaid who were allowed to stay in the program during the COVID-19 pandemic. They can stay but only if they sign up. Minnesota officials say it’s a daunting challenge to navigate those affected through the bureaucracy. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Cathy Wurzer Music by Gary Meister.

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Rain, thunder, snow develop Thursday into Saturday

Rain, thunder, snow develop Thursday into Saturday

A wintry mix of precipitation develops Thursday with a complex system that will linger into early Saturday. Thunderstorms are also possible late Thursday into Friday in far southern Minnesota as snowfall accumulates north.
by Sven Sundgaard

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Russia arrests 'Wall Street Journal' reporter, accusing him of espionage

Russia arrests 'Wall Street Journal' reporter, accusing him of espionage

Evan Gershkovich, a U.S. citizen, was on a reporting assignment in the Ural mountain city of Yekaterinburg when he was detained by agents from Russia's Federal Security Services.
by NPR Staff

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Jeannette Walls' 'Hang the Moon' transports readers to Prohibition

Jeannette Walls' 'Hang the Moon' transports readers to Prohibition

Walls' excellent construction of her female characters is most satisfying; each represents women from varying walks of life, each fighting for their own place in a male-dominated world.
by Keishel Williams

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Evacuation ends after train cars derail, catch fire in western Minnesota

Evacuation ends after train cars derail, catch fire in western Minnesota

Cars carrying ethanol and corn syrup left the tracks early Thursday, leading officials to evacuate the small town of Raymond, about 90 miles west of the Twin Cities. People were being allowed to return home as of noon. No injuries were reported.
by Kirsti Marohn, Mark Zdechlik, Tim Nelson, Kerem Yücel and Hannah Yang

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Casualties reported after Army helicopters crash in Kentucky

Casualties reported after Army helicopters crash in Kentucky

Two military helicopters crashed Wednesday night in southwestern Kentucky during a training mission, the U.S. Army said in a statement. The status of the crew members wasn't immediately known.
by The Associated Press

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4 storylines to watch for Major League Baseball's opening day

4 storylines to watch for Major League Baseball's opening day

How many home runs will Aaron Judge hit? Will the San Diego Padres finally get their first World Series title? And how will a suite of rule changes affect the game?
by Becky Sullivan

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Minnesota rushes to re-up hundreds of thousands at risk of losing Medicaid after pandemic

Minnesota rushes to re-up hundreds of thousands at risk of losing Medicaid after pandemic

Starting Saturday, states can kick people off Medicaid who were allowed to stay in the program during the COVID-19 pandemic. They can stay but only if they sign up. Minnesota officials say it’s a daunting challenge to navigate those affected through the bureaucracy.
by Michelle Wiley

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Art Hounds: Love, collaboration and Shakespeare

Art Hounds: Love, collaboration and Shakespeare

In Lanesboro, Commonweal Theatre’s play “Bernhardt/Hamlet” is a “love letter to theater.” Artists at Northside Artspace Lofts display their “Works in Progress” in north Minneapolis. Members of the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet display their range at Sundin Hall in St. Paul on Friday.
by Emily Bright

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President Biden set to visit Minnesota Monday

President Biden set to visit Minnesota Monday

Details were scarce but the White House said Biden will tout his economic agenda as part of his nationwide Investing in America tour.
by MPR News Staff

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Lazzaro's former friend sends prosecutors texts, photos as sex trafficking trial nears end

Lazzaro's former friend sends prosecutors texts, photos as sex trafficking trial nears end

A former friend of one-time Minnesota Republican Party operative and key donor Anton “Tony” Lazzaro gave the FBI text messages and other new evidence on the evening before prosecutors cross-examined Lazzaro in his federal sex trafficking trial. Alongside a photo of sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein sent on the anniversary of Epstein’s death, Lazzaro allegedly wrote “Poor Jeff” and “RIP my brother.”
by Matt Sepic

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