Stories from June 26, 2023

Families of fatal crash victims call for independent investigation
The families of five young women killed June 16 in a high-speed crash on Lake Street joined Twin Cities Muslim leaders Monday in calling for an independent investigation into the incident.
Swift leaves fans in a state of grace at 'intimate' Minnesota shows
Are the Swifties right? Star Tribune music critic Jon Bream thinks so. He joined All Things Considered on Monday to discuss the Taylor Swift takeover and what is in his opinion, the most “fan-fulfilling” concert he has ever attended.
Pleasant Tuesday; rain chances Tuesday night, Wednesday
Many areas will have a dry Tuesday, but rain chances move into western and northern Minnesota during the afternoon. We take a look at the rest of this week as well.
Families of young women killed in crash call for independent probe of what happened and a North Shore landmark burned over the weekend. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.
U students to see tuition increases in the fall
Students on the Twin Cities and Rochester campuses of the University of Minnesota will see a 3.5 percent tuition increase this fall. Students on other campuses will see smaller bumps. Officials say grant and other funding will help blunt the effects.
Talking Volumes returns in 2023 for 24th season
The hit author series continues for a 24th season. Minnesota Public Radio and the Star Tribune are bringing back Talking Volumes in 2023, hosted by award-winning journalist and MPR News host Kerri Miller. Come join us at the Fitzgerald Theater in downtown St. Paul this fall for conversations with four new blockbuster authors.
Child lead exposure is the highest it's been in four years. Who's solving the problem?
The state legislature passed a $240 million bill back in May focused on lead exposure in drinking water. But in older homes in Minneapolis, lead exposure doesn’t just come from the plumbing. It could be all over the home, from the walls to the window sills.
Like it or not, the sound of your voice can say a lot about you. For some transgender people, a key part of their journey is getting their voice to reflect their identity.
Ask a Bookseller: 'On the Savage Side'
Aden Evosirch of the Winchester Book Gallery in Winchester, Va., recommends “On the Savage Side,” by Tiffany McDaniel. It is based on a true unsolved murder case in rural Ohio where six women, known as the Chillicothe Six, disappeared from the area in 2014 and 2015. Four were later found dead.
No Excuses: Race and reckoning at a Chicago charter school
Coming up at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, MPR News with Angela Davis presents an award-winning education documentary from APM Reports about a Chicago charter school trying to reinvent itself after its policies were accused of being racist.
Minnesota, Wisconsin dairy farmers face oversaturated market, temporarily cut-off sewer service
Dairy farmers around the region are facing an oversaturated market. It’s been made worse for some farmers in the region when the Metropolitan Council temporarily cut off sewer service to the Hastings Creamery.
Welcome weekend rain; seasonable temperatures this week
Significant rain over the weekend but the drought is not over. More rain is possible midweek. Temperatures will be near normal for late June this week.
Weekend tornadoes raked NW Minnesota
While storms across the state stayed relatively tame, some in Mahnomen saw more extreme weather. The area was the target of tornadoes with wind speeds were between 135 to 160 miles per hour with some damage to homes. The National Weather Service had survey teams out all weekend and plan to release more information. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.
Wonderful weekend rain; quiet Monday
Welcome rainfall over the weekend. Isolated showers lingering early Monday. Temperatures back to near normal.
Biden will announce how billions of dollars for expanding broadband internet are being distributed
President Joe Biden will announce how much money each state is set to receive from the largest-ever federal investment in broadband expansion. The amount each state, territory and Washington, D.C., will receive from the $42.5 billion program depends primarily on the number of unserved locations in each jurisdiction. 
3 works in translation: History and literature intertwined
It is easy to act as if fiction and history were separate. But they cannot be completely divided. Jenny Erpenbeck's “Kairos” and Oksana Lutsyshyna's “Ivan and Phoebe” help readers connect with time past.
Mitch Landrieu is Biden's man to rebuild America and deliver broadband to millions
This is the year that a lot of the money from Biden's 2021 infrastructure law starts flowing to states and local governments. Mitch Landrieu is tasked with implementing and promoting the effort.
U.S. pedestrian deaths reach a 40-year high
The number of pedestrians killed by drivers has been climbing for over a decade. Experts say some solutions are within reach.
Photos: Sun shines on for Twin Cities Pride parade
The sun broke through the clouds earlier Sunday, just as the Twin Cities LGBTQ+ Pride March began its route. Thousands of colorfully-dressed people attended the parade, which started at South Third Street and Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis and proceeded to Loring Park.
Researchers use AI to help save a woodpecker species in decline
Minnesota researchers are using small audio recording devices to better understand the range and population of red-headed woodpeckers. The bird has seen a precipitous population decline over several decades. Scientists want to learn where the bird is doing well, so important habitats can be preserved.