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Stories from June 7, 2023

Puerto Rico lost its only elephant — and cracked open a well of emotions

Puerto Rico lost its only elephant — and cracked open a well of emotions

Mundi the African elephant was the pride of Puerto Rico's only zoo. But her fate became entangled in the island's recent struggles with natural disasters and a debilitating debt crisis.
by Adrian Florido

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'Los Angeles Times' to lay off 13 percent of newsroom

The L.A. Times is the latest in a string of media outlets to cut staff, citing economic headwinds. Leaders say 74 journalists will lose their jobs.
by David Folkenflik

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Feds pull back a key copper-nickel mining permit for planned open pit mine near Babbit

Feds pull back a key copper-nickel mining permit for planned open pit mine near Babbit, and a federal judge declines to stop motorized towboat operations on the edge of the BWCA. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

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Party like he's 65: 4-day event honors Prince's birthday

Party like he's 65: 4-day event honors Prince's birthday

Celebrate the life and legacy of Prince on what would have been his 65th birthday at Paisley Park's “Celebration 2023.” Explore the significance of the number 7 in his history with live performances, panels and more.
by MPR News Staff and Nicole Johnson

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Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s office to direct more lawyers to cases of missing, murdered Indigenous people

Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s office to direct more lawyers to cases of missing, murdered Indigenous people

Survivors, family of Missing and Murdered Indigenous persons (MMIP) and advocates gathered to give testimony to the Not Invisible Act Commission, an advisory group of experts created to address the high incidence of human trafficking and murder across Indian Country.
by Melissa Olson

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Choi: Ending low-level traffic stops hasn't led to more crime in Ramsey Co.

Choi: Ending low-level traffic stops hasn't led to more crime in Ramsey Co.

Ending traffic stops for broken tail lights and similar vehicle violations hasn’t led to more violent crime but has dramatically cut the racial disparities in police stops, John Choi, the county attorney, said Wednesday.
by MPR News Staff

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What should a post-2020 downtown Minneapolis look like?

What should a post-2020 downtown Minneapolis look like?

A working group formed by the mayor issued a report Tuesday on possibilities for Minneapolis’ downtown. The group outlined other ways to draw people back to downtown, including loosening liquor laws to allow open containers outside during events. 
by Jon Collins

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Minnesota groups echo warning for LGBTQ+ people traveling elsewhere

Minnesota groups echo warning for LGBTQ+ people traveling elsewhere

The comments come after a national LGBTQ+ civil rights group on Tuesday issued its first-ever state of emergency after states across the country enacted policies restricting health care, public restroom access and other services for transgender people.
by Dana Ferguson

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Prince estate will release new music this weekend

Prince estate will release new music this weekend

Today would have been Prince’s 65th birthday. This weekend, the annual birthday celebration at Paisley Park will feature more previously unreleased music from the so-called “Prince Vault.”
by Cathy Wurzer and Gretchen Brown

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Wisconsin's GOP-led Legislature to block meningitis vaccine requirement for students

Wisconsin's GOP-led Legislature to block meningitis vaccine requirement for students

The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature plans to take the final step needed to stop Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' administration from requiring 7th graders be vaccinated against meningitis. The state Senate and Assembly plan to take action Wednesday that would block the proposal.
by The Associated Press

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Pope Francis is getting a hernia-related surgery in Rome

Pope Francis is getting a hernia-related surgery in Rome

The pope will undergo “a laparotomy and abdominal wall surgery under general anesthesia” on Wednesday, the Holy See's official news portal says. The pope had complained of abdominal pain on Tuesday.
by Bill Chappell

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June blooms with gardening expert Meg Cowden

June blooms with gardening expert Meg Cowden

MPR host Cathy Wurzer talks with gardening expert Meg Cowden about gardening tips, what’s in season, and what she’s planting, growing and cooking right now.
by Cathy Wurzer and Ellen Finn

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New report highlights payouts for Minnesota police misconduct

New report highlights payouts for Minnesota police misconduct

“If we're going to talk about reforming policing, if we're going to talk about any types of public policy, let's get some data, let's get some evidence that we know what's going on,” report author and Hamline University professor David Schultz told MPR News Wednesday.
by Cathy Wurzer, Lukas Levin and Matthew Alvarez

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Air quality improves; dew points drop Wednesday with showers west

Air quality improves; dew points drop Wednesday with showers west

Scattered showers will linger in western and southwest Minnesota Wednesday with cooler and drier air east. The next chance of showers develops Friday and Saturday statewide.
by Sven Sundgaard

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2 dead in shooting after high school graduation ceremony in Virginia capital

2 dead in shooting after high school graduation ceremony in Virginia capital

Police say two people have been killed and five more wounded in a shooting after a high school graduation ceremony in Virginia’s capital. Police also said Tuesday night that a 19-year-old is in custody and will be charged with two counts of second-degree murder.
by The Associated Press

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Why you might notice more religious groups at Pride celebrations this year

Why you might notice more religious groups at Pride celebrations this year

Some people of faith are organizing a pushback against the wave of anti-LGBTQ rights legislation making its way through state houses this year. They're calling it Faith for Pride.
by Jason DeRose

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Rochester condo building residents out at least a month amid structural worries

The 15-story building was evacuated Friday afternoon after a structural engineer alerted authorities. Engineers are examining the entire structure now. Officials will have a better idea of timelines when that work is done, the city said Tuesday. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.

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After recent mosque attacks, religious and city leaders discuss options

After recent mosque attacks, religious and city leaders discuss options

Vandalism and arson attacks on Minnesota mosques in recent months have some in the Muslim community worried about safety. Religious and city leaders in the Twin Cities gathered Tuesday night to discuss plans to protect houses of worship.
by Sarah Thamer

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Poll: A plurality of Americans support religious work exemptions—but only if not costly

Poll: A plurality of Americans support religious work exemptions—but only if not costly

The McCourtney Institute for Democracy’s most recent Mood of the Nation poll finds that a slight plurality of Americans favor religious-based work exemptions for government employees, “but only if the cost and inconvenience are minimal.”
by Craig Helmstetter

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Marc Heu Patisserie Paris: A place for Hmong grandmas to shy teenagers

Marc Heu Patisserie Paris: A place for Hmong grandmas to shy teenagers

The couple’s bakery has amassed a huge following since it first opened in 2019 on University Avenue in St. Paul’s Frogtown neighborhood.

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