Stories from April 28, 2023

The Minnesota Senate this afternoon passed a bill legalizing cannabis in the state.
Red Wing woman sentenced to 27 years in 2003 death of infant son
A judge in southeastern Minnesota on Friday gave a 27-year sentence to a Red Wing woman who pleaded guilty in the 2003 death of her infant son. Four teens found the baby's body on an isolated beach near Lake Pepin on Dec. 7, 2003.
Scattered showers, snowflakes this weekend; river flooding eases
We’ll have cool weekend temps, with showers at times and even a chance of flakes in some spots. River levels are lowering in many locations.
Have tech skills, will work. Why IT jobs remain hot despite mass layoffs
The number of openings in the technology field is still high, and tech jobs continue to be attractive to workers looking for stable, lucrative careers.
Senate passes marijuana legalization, bill heads into final discussions
The Minnesota Senate passage of a legal marijuana framework puts the shift in drug policy on the doorstep. If House and Senate negotiators can merge their bills, Gov. Tim Walz is prepared to sign a compromise.
‘Lord Split Me Open’: The raw art of Cameron Patricia Downey 
In her first-ever solo exhibition, “Lord Split Me Open,” at the Hair and Nails gallery in Minneapolis, artist Cameron Patricia Downey explores themes of memory, archive and the intersection of fact and fiction. Downey's gravity-defying artwork incorporates a range of mediums, from sculpture to film, and often features found objects and repetition.
U of M graduate student workers win vote to unionize
More than 2,400 eligible workers voted in favor of unionization while only 70 voted no in an election this month, according to the union.
Celebrate Indie Bookstore Day with these Minnesota favorites
Minnesota is full of a lot of bookworms. Saturday is Independent Bookstore Day and we put together a list of some of your favorite places to browse.
More canine influenza cases reported in the Twin Cities
Dog owners in the Twin Cities should keep their pets distanced from unfamiliar dogs. They should also consider avoiding dog parks and interactions with other dogs while out on walks.  
Police seek man charged with arson in Minneapolis mosque fire
Jackie Rahm Little, 36, was charged in connection with Monday’s fire at Masjid Al Rahma mosque. As they search for him, authorities say they are working to determine if Monday’s fire is connected to a fire Sunday at another mosque nearby.
Heavy rain last week preludes wet weather again this week
With two rainy weeks behind us, the chance of the dry season starting may be some time away. Mark Seeley joins MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about that and more.
Cool, wet, windy weekend; figuring the last frost
Look for occasional scattered showers Friday and Saturday with snow possible in the Arrowhead Saturday night into Sunday. Wind gusts will increase to over 40 mph Sunday. There are signs of warmer weather later next week.
A former Minneapolis police officer pleaded guilty Thursday to criminal vehicular homicide in connection with a fatal crash. Brian Cummings, 39, admitted in court that he was chasing a vehicle stolen in a carjacking at speeds approaching 100 miles per hour on July 6, 2021 when he struck and killed Leneal Frazier. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.
Scattered showers, becoming cooler and windy this weekend
We are stuck in a cloudy, showery pattern with temperatures cooling back down this weekend. Scattered showers will persist on and off Friday with highs in the 50s mainly. It will become windy and colder Sunday.
AI-generated deepfakes are moving fast and policymakers can't keep up
Tech companies are in a race to roll out AI chatbots and other tools. As technology gets better at faking reality, there are big questions over how to regulate it.
Missile and drone strikes across Ukraine claim at least 15 lives
An apartment building in the Ukrainian city of Uman has been hit after a series of airstrikes across the country on Friday. The attack is the deadliest hit on a Ukrainian apartment since January.
Airbnb let its workers live and work anywhere. Spoiler: they're loving it
Airbnb says its Live and Work Anywhere policy is all about winning the global war for talent. A year in, the company and its workers are reaping all sorts of added benefits.
Backyard chickens are having their moment in the spotlight
Backyard chickens are having a moment. Around Minnesota, many communities which once outlawed keeping a coop in the backyard are relaxing those regulations.
Arts Briefs: From puppets to pop culture 
Arts briefs include the PlayLabs Festival, the new History Theatre season, puppet theater and feminist fiber arts. Also: Absolute Bleeding Edge looks at the horror of bad vibes.
Wet weather may mean more mosquitoes, ticks across Minnesota this summer
Summer in Minnesota is celebrated, but it does come with some nuisances: mosquitos and ticks. And the above-normal snow and rainfall across much of the state over the past few months may mean those nuisances are worse this summer, compared to recent years.
Sudanese Farming Group works to grow culturally relevant crops, get access to land
Last year, Khalid Elhassan began working outside his full-time engineering job to start a farming collective near the Food Group’s warehouse in New Hope. MPR News Host Emily Bright talked with Khalid Elhassen, founder of the Sudanese Farming Group, about the effort.
Ex-Minneapolis cop pleads guilty in fatal high-speed crash
Brian Cummings pleaded guilty Thursday to criminal vehicular homicide in connection with a 2021 crash. He was chasing a stolen vehicle at speeds approaching 100 miles per hour when he struck the car of Leneal Frazier, killing him.