Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now

Stories from March 31, 2023

Jury finds Anton "Tony" Lazzaro guilty of sex trafficking

A federal jury today found one-time Minnesota Republican Party operative and top donor Tony Lazzaro guilty of sex trafficking. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Dan Kraker. Music by Gary Meister.

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Students, alumni celebrate UMD Women's Hoops title game appearance

Students, alumni celebrate UMD Women's Hoops title game appearance

Students and alumni are traveling to Dallas this weekend for the University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball team’s first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II National championship.
by Dan Kraker

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Jury finds ex-GOP operative Lazzaro guilty in federal sex trafficking case

Jury finds ex-GOP operative Lazzaro guilty in federal sex trafficking case

The one-time Minnesota Republican political operative and top donor faced federal charges of giving five girls, who were 15 and 16, cash and gifts in exchange for sex. Following the verdict the prosecutor described him as “Minnesota’s Jeffrey Epstein.”
by Matt Sepic

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Blizzard warning widens to Twin Cities; heavy snow expected Friday night

Blizzard warning widens to Twin Cities; heavy snow expected Friday night

A blizzard warning now stretches across a broad swath of central and southern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, and parts of Wisconsin Friday evening and overnight. How much snow depends on the timing of the changeover from rain.
by Ron Trenda

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Politics Friday: Minnesota lawmakers debate new gun laws as the nation sees another school shooting

Politics Friday: Minnesota lawmakers debate new gun laws as the nation sees another school shooting

MPR host Mike Mulcahy talks with Minnesota lawmakers about a public safety budget bill released this week that includes expanded background checks for gun purchases and a “red flag” measure aimed at reducing gun violence.
by Mike Mulcahy and Matthew Alvarez

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Federal judge: 18-20 year-olds can get Minnesota gun permits

Federal judge: 18-20 year-olds can get Minnesota gun permits

A judge has sided with gun owners in a case that challenged age limits around Minnesota permits to carry guns. An appeal is possible.
by Brian Bakst

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
A safe space for ‘sad girl’ music fans: Inside Electric Fetus’ boygenius listening party

A safe space for ‘sad girl’ music fans: Inside Electric Fetus’ boygenius listening party

Fans gathered at Electric Fetus Tuesday to soak in the first listen of boygenius’ highly anticipated album — “the record.” While the pandemic made in-person music gatherings nearly impossible, listening sessions are having a resurgence three years later.
by Sam Stroozas and Michelle Wiley

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
New research suggests Minnesota's COVID outcomes may not have been as good as they seemed

New research suggests Minnesota's COVID outcomes may not have been as good as they seemed

While the state had the sixth lowest unadjusted COVID-19 death rate, once that rate is adjusted for age and the presence of key comorbidities, Minnesota’s death rate shifts to exactly the middle of the pack.  
by Alyson Clary and Craig Helmstetter

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Where to celebrate Easter weekend in Minnesota

Where to celebrate Easter weekend in Minnesota

Whether you are religious or not, Easter can be a holiday that brings families and friends together. Here’s a round up of egg hunts and events for Easter weekend.
by Nicole Johnson and Anna Haecherl

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Diana Abu-Jaber on family myths and inheritance

Diana Abu-Jaber on family myths and inheritance

For immigrants who have to start life over in a new land, home carries a powerful lure. Diana Abu-Jaber says questions of identity and displacement haunted her Jordanian father, which inspired her latest novel, “Fencing with the King.”
by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Minneapolis, state agree on police operations overhaul, 3 years after Floyd's murder

Minneapolis, state agree on police operations overhaul, 3 years after Floyd's murder

Changes include limits on the use of Tasers and other nonlethal weapons, restrictions on when officers can conduct traffic stops and examining use of force. The state launched its probe following the May 2020 murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis officer.
by Jon Collins

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
More rain, thunder and heavy snow develop Friday

More rain, thunder and heavy snow develop Friday

Minnesota will see somewhat of a lull in the precipitation develop mid to late Friday morning before more showers and thunderstorms develop Friday afternoon turning to heavy snow quickly Friday evening with gusty winds.
by Sven Sundgaard

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Gophers gear up for Frozen 4, with title drought at 20 years

Gophers gear up for Frozen 4, with title drought at 20 years

One of the most driven and talented teams to take the ice for Minnesota in decades is seeking to bring a national championship back to the program for the first time in 20 years.
by The Associated Press

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

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. This is an MPR news morning update, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Cleanup continues at scene of train derailment in Raymond

Cleanup continues at scene of train derailment in Raymond

Cleanup will continue Friday at the scene of Thursday’s train derailment and fire in the western Minnesota community of Raymond. Crews have started moving some of the 22 derailed cars to better access the handful still burning.
by Andrew Krueger and Hannah Yang

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
As lawmakers dole out record surplus, many say they need more

As lawmakers dole out record surplus, many say they need more

With a historic budget surplus and a longer-than-usual stretch before the legislative deadline to adjourn, groups that feel short-changed by DFL budget targets are asking for more.
by Dana Ferguson

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Gwyneth Paltrow wins her ski crash case — and $1 in damages

Gwyneth Paltrow wins her ski crash case — and $1 in damages

The Utah jury quickly sided with the Oscar-winning actress -turned-lifestyle guru on Thursday, saying that she wasn't at fault and that she was the victim in the 2016 ski slope collision.
by Vanessa Romo

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!