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Stories from April 25, 2023

Mattel unveils a Barbie with Down syndrome

Mattel unveils a Barbie with Down syndrome

The company has been moving to diversify its doll collection. It has so far made other Barbie and Ken dolls with wheelchairs, vitiligo, hearing aids and prosthetic limbs.
by Jaclyn Diaz

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Worst of Minnesota flood season may be over

Worst of Minnesota flood season may be over

Drier and milder weather in the forecast will likely lead to more rapidly falling river levels in the next week.
by Paul Huttner

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Non-farming landlords control a significant amount of land. Some want to use it to help curb climate change

Non-farming landlords control a significant amount of land. Some want to use it to help curb climate change

Land use, including agriculture and forestry, has become Minnesota’s number two source of carbon emissions, after transportation. And one group you may not think of has some decision-making power to help reduce that pollution: non-farming landowners.
by Cathy Wurzer and Alanna Elder

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Minnesota House has passed historic approval of legalization for marijuana, Senate is next

Minnesota House has passed historic approval of legalization for marijuana, Senate is next. Also, authorities are investigating two suspicious fires at mosques in Minneapolis. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

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What lessons have we learned from the COVID pandemic?

What lessons have we learned from the COVID pandemic?

The nonpartisan Covid Crisis Group has released its investigative report, titled "Lessons from the Covid War: An Investigative Report." This is what it found.
by Mary Louise Kelly and Erika Ryan

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Minnesota House passes marijuana bill, more hurdles ahead

Minnesota House passes marijuana bill, more hurdles ahead

House passage of a bill to make cannabis legal and accessible for adults 21 and up comes ahead of a Senate vote expected later this week. But competing versions must be matched up before final action.
by Brian Bakst

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Flooding, lock closures halt barge traffic on stretch of Mississippi River

Flooding, lock closures halt barge traffic on stretch of Mississippi River

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has closed eight of its Mississippi River locks in Minnesota and Wisconsin, saying river levels are unsafe for any navigation for the time being.
by Tim Nelson

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‘It’s simply life-saving,’ says Minnesotan who uses gender-affirming care

‘It’s simply life-saving,’ says Minnesotan who uses gender-affirming care

The Minnesota legislature has passed a bill that legally protects people who come to the state for gender-affirming care. MPR News host Angela Davis speaks with the author of the bill and a Minnesota physician who provides gender-affirming care to children and teenagers.
by Angela Davis, Samantha Matsumoto, Danelle Cloutier and Nicole Johnson

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How will Minnesota cities implement the cannabis bill, if it passes?

How will Minnesota cities implement the cannabis bill, if it passes?

The Minnesota cannabis debate resumed Tuesday after stretching late into the evening last night. A vote in the House is expected Tuesday afternoon and the Senate is due to vote Friday. If the bill becomes law, recreational marijuana would become legal in Minnesota this summer and city will have to implement it. MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Alex Hassel, an Intergovernmental Relations Representative at the League of Minnesota Cities, about how implementation of marijuana legalization could play out at the municipal level.
by Cathy Wurzer and Ellen Finn

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Listen to five Minnesota artists with Local Show host Diane Miller

Listen to five Minnesota artists with Local Show host Diane Miller

Whatever sound you are into, there is a Minnesota musician for you. Diane Miller is our guide through the variety of music that is popping across the state. She hosts The Local Show on MPR News’ sister station, The Current. Miller joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to highlight five artists with new songs or upcoming shows.
by Cathy Wurzer and Ellen Finn

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The famed Shakespearean actress who moved to Blue Earth, Minnesota

The famed Shakespearean actress who moved to Blue Earth, Minnesota

In honor of the 459th anniversary of the birth of William Shakespeare, we have a little history nugget for you. There are surprising historical connections to be gleaned from small-town graveyards. We talked about the link between one of the great Shakespearean actresses of the London stage in the early 1800s and the town of Blue Earth in southern Minnesota.
by Cathy Wurzer and Emily Bright

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Harry Belafonte, activist and entertainer, dies at 96

Harry Belafonte, activist and entertainer, dies at 96

Harry Belafonte, the civil rights and entertainment giant who began as a groundbreaking actor and singer and became an activist, humanitarian and conscience of the world, has died. He was 96.
by The Associated Press

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Minneapolis nonprofit works to deconstruct — rather than demolish — old buildings

Minneapolis nonprofit works to deconstruct — rather than demolish — old buildings

In much of the state, the snow has melted, the ground has thawed and you know what that means. It’s the beginning of construction season! That also means demolishing old buildings to make way for those new construction. But back in 2020, Hennepin County became one of the first counties in the nation to offer ‘green grants’ for deconstruction, an alternative to demolishing a building. Here’s how it works.
by Cathy Wurzer and Ellen Finn

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Sunshine Tuesday, Wednesday; more showers ahead as spring slogs on

Sunshine Tuesday, Wednesday; more showers ahead as spring slogs on

Most of Minnesota will see a fair amount of sunshine Tuesday. Northeastern Minnesota will be cloudier. Highs will range from the mid 40s to low 50s. More rain is on the way late Wednesday into the weekend. Snow is possible in the Arrowhead.
by Sven Sundgaard

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University of Minnesota leaders move to name new interim president

Two finalists for chancellor of the Minnesota state system of colleges and universities will appear before the state board tomorrow followed by public forums Thursday. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.

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GM, Samsung plan new EV battery cell factory in U.S.

GM, Samsung plan new EV battery cell factory in U.S.

General Motors and South Korea's Samsung SDI say they plan to invest more than $3 billion in building a new electric vehicle battery cell plant in the United States. 
by The Associated Press

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Cool, bright Tuesday; warmer Wednesday and Thursday; more showers on the way

Cool, bright Tuesday; warmer Wednesday and Thursday; more showers on the way

We should see more sunshine Tuesday but it will still be cooler than normal. Highs will range form the mid-40s to the low 50s. We’ll be warmer Wednesday and Thursday ahead of more showers late Wednesday and to end the week.
by Sven Sundgaard

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Gray goes 7, Gallo homers to help Twins beat Yankees 6-1

Gray goes 7, Gallo homers to help Twins beat Yankees 6-1

Sonny Gray pitched seven scoreless innings and Joey Gallo homered as the two former Yankees helped the Minnesota Twins to a 6-1 win against New York.
by The Associated Press

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Minnesota graduation rates inch toward pre-pandemic highs

Minnesota graduation rates inch toward pre-pandemic highs

Nearly 84 percent of Minnesota seniors graduated within four years in 2022, the state’s education commissioner said Tuesday. Black and Native students saw notable gains. Search the database to find out how your school or district performed.
by Elizabeth Shockman

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As teacher shortages loom, one district grows future educators in high school

As teacher shortages loom, one district grows future educators in high school

A school district in San Antonio, Texas, has built an entire high school dedicated to raising the next generation of teachers. It's a bold experiment that could pay off big if shortages continue.
by Cory Turner

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One mile at a time, outdoor enthusiasts create new Driftless Area hiking trail

One mile at a time, outdoor enthusiasts create new Driftless Area hiking trail

Marty Walsh grew up in Chicago, but his love for backpacking and his adopted home of southeast Minnesota has inspired him to create a 100-mile hiking trail that celebrates the topsy-turvy topography of the state's often overlooked Driftless Area.
by Catharine Richert

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Muslim leaders seek public help to stop attacks on Minnesota mosques

Muslim leaders seek public help to stop attacks on Minnesota mosques

Minneapolis police are partnering with the FBI to investigate a possible bias motive behind an arson attempt at a Minneapolis mosque on Sunday evening. Authorities also are investigating a fire at another mosque, less than a mile away, on Monday night.
by Feven Gerezgiher

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