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Stories from August 18, 2023

Spending up in Minnesota school board races

Minnesota school board candidates are spending more on their campaigns than in the past. There is increased competition for open seats as well. Nearly 200 people have filed to run for the more than 100 open board seats in this year’s elections. This is the evening MPR News update for Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. Hosted by Hannah Yang. Theme music by Gary Meister.

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Arts Briefs: Theater in unusual places

Arts Briefs: Theater in unusual places

In this week’s Arts Briefs: A St. Anthony Falls ghost story and Open Streets. Also, in Absolute Bleeding Edge: Chaos on the television
by Jacob Aloi, Alex V. Cipolle and Max Sparber

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Excessive heat warning Saturday afternoon/evening; cooler Sunday

Excessive heat warning Saturday afternoon/evening; cooler Sunday

We’ll have hot temperatures and steamy dew points Saturday afternoon into Saturday evening. Excessive heat warnings and heat advisories cover much of Minnesota and parts of western Wisconsin during that time.
by Ron Trenda

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Health data roundup: COVID-19 continues to inch upward, deaths by suicide on the rise

COVID-19 activity remains low in Minnesota, but the number of hospital admissions with COVID-19 increased. Deaths by suicide in the U.S. increased again in 2022 according to new data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
by Alyson Clary and Craig Helmstetter

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Minnesota program empowers Native American students in museum fields

Minnesota program empowers Native American students in museum fields

The Minnesota Historical Society's Native American Undergraduate Museum Fellowships program provides six students with 10-weeks of training and experience, aiding their entry into tribal historic preservation and museum fields.
by Alex V. Cipolle

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World chess just placed restrictions on both trans women and trans men

World chess just placed restrictions on both trans women and trans men

The International Chess Federation will stop allowing transgender women to participate in women’s tournaments. The group said changing genders has a “significant impact” on a player’s status.
by Juliana Kim

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Judge rejects Minnesota abuse victims' suit against Vatican

Judge rejects Minnesota abuse victims' suit against Vatican

A judge in St. Paul this week rejected a lawsuit that four clergy abuse victims from Minnesota filed against the Vatican. Judge Eric Tostrud ruled that the Vatican is exempt from U.S. lawsuits under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and the law’s limited exceptions do not apply in this case.
by Matt Sepic

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With better adoption prospects, Minnesota shelters see influx of dogs from across the U.S.

With better adoption prospects, Minnesota shelters see influx of dogs from across the U.S.

Animal shelters in some parts of the U.S. are increasingly being filled to capacity or beyond with dogs. And now more than ever, those animals are streaming into Minnesota in hopes they can find a forever home — here.
by Tim Nelson

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'Biking far with friends': Minnesota Randonneurs take 745-mile ride through France

'Biking far with friends': Minnesota Randonneurs take 745-mile ride through France

This weekend, 15 members of a Minnesota cycling group will be in France riding in the oldest long-distance road cycling event in the world: The Paris-Brest-Paris. And it’s not a race — it’s a journey.
by Gracie Stockton and Cathy Wurzer

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Isabel Cañas' 'Vampires of El Norte' elegantly navigates a multiplicity of genres

Isabel Cañas' 'Vampires of El Norte' elegantly navigates a multiplicity of genres

In many ways — setting, historical elements, the mix of romance and horror, the use of Spanish — “Vampires of El Norte” is the spiritual sister of “The Hacienda,” and a perfect example of genre mixing.
by Gabino Iglesias

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Hurricane Hilary grows off Mexico and could reach California as a very rare tropical storm

Hurricane Hilary grows off Mexico and could reach California as a very rare tropical storm

Hurricane Hilary grew rapidly to Category 4 strength off Mexico’s Pacific coast on Friday and could reach Southern California as the first tropical storm there in 84 years, causing “significant and rare impacts” including extensive flooding.
by The Associated Press

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Minnesota State Fair neighbors eye safety, parking as get-together nears

Minnesota State Fair neighbors eye safety, parking as get-together nears

Two different neighborhood groups from St. Paul and Falcon Heights, Minn. formed task forces after residents noticed years of concerns of safety and parking issues during the last few fair seasons.
by Aaliyah Demry

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‘Oh, there’s no more Sriracha!’ Asian grocers and consumers confront a shortage of their beloved hot sauce

‘Oh, there’s no more Sriracha!’ Asian grocers and consumers confront a shortage of their beloved hot sauce

$46.99 for a bottle of Sriracha? A shortage of chili peppers is crimping production for the California producer, squeezing supplies and driving up prices. Some consumers are looking to alternatives.
by Hibah Ansari

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$260 tax rebate deposits catching some Minnesotans by surprise

$260 tax rebate deposits catching some Minnesotans by surprise

Some recipients of a Minnesota tax rebate have taken to the internet or called the state tax agency to inquire if their payment is legitimate. After the direct deposit phase, paper checks hit the mail for the rest of a $1 billion-plus distribution.
by MPR News Staff

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Smoky skies with hot, dry weather ahead

Smoky skies with hot, dry weather ahead

Wildfire smoke is creating haze and occasionally unhealthy air across Minnesota Friday. It will be warmer and breezy Friday afternoon but hot by Saturday with highs well into the 90s for many.
by Sven Sundgaard

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Fresh rights for Minnesota renters: Here’s a guide.

Fresh rights for Minnesota renters: Here’s a guide.

Newly passed legislation evens the playing field between landlords and tenants, housing advocates say.

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Minnesota State Fair navigates new marijuana laws, enhances security

The start of the Minnesota State Fair is less than a week away, and the fair's police chief says fairgoers will likely notice more security this year. A Rochester woman has pleaded guilty to a felony charge for her role in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.

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On Maui, another fire is burning but capturing less attention than Lahaina

On Maui, another fire is burning but capturing less attention than Lahaina

While the world focuses on the devastation in West Maui and the destruction of the historic community of Lahaina, another wildfire is still burning in the hills some 25 miles away in Kula.
by Deanne Fitzmaurice and Eric Westervelt

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How Biden is using Camp David to elevate a summit with Japan and South Korea

How Biden is using Camp David to elevate a summit with Japan and South Korea

For 80 years, presidents have used the rustic mountain retreat at Camp David to host foreign leaders. President Biden is hoping to tap into that history for talks with Japan and South Korea on Friday.
by Asma Khalid

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Minneapolis weighs increasing funding for community violence prevention

Minneapolis weighs increasing funding for community violence prevention

Earlier this week, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey proposed a $1.8 billion budget which includes an increase in funding for community-driven violence prevention efforts.
by Nina Moini

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Rochester, Minn., woman pleads guilty to Jan 6. felony charge

Rochester, Minn., woman pleads guilty to Jan 6. felony charge

A Rochester, Minn., woman on Thursday pleaded guilty to a felony civil disorder charge for her role in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Victoria Charity White, 41, is the fifth Minnesota resident to be convicted in connection with the assault.
by Matt Sepic

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