Stories from October 26, 2023

Confederate monument melted down to create new, more inclusive public art
A project in Charlottesville, Va., seeks to upend the narrative around the statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee that was the center of deadly white nationalist protests there in 2017.
Climate change is wreaking havoc on the global insurance market
Climate change is wreaking havoc on the global insurance market. That’s the takeaway from a piece in Grist that points out natural disasters now cost the U.S. insurance industry $100 billion a year.
Flags at state buildings in Minnesota will be flown at half-staff to honor the lives lost in yesterday’s mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine. Authorities say a gunman killed 18 people and injured 13 others in shootings at a bowling alley and a bar.  That story and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Jacob Aloi. Music by Gary Meister.
Scary and sudsy: Spooky car washes pop up across Minnesota for Halloween
Developers of Tommy’s Express Car Wash pride themselves on their design: open, bright and soothing for people with autoplenophobia — fear of car washes. But it’s Halloween season, which is all about fear. So this weekend, Tommy’s washes across Minnesota and the country are switching things up.
Workers with autism make connections at St. Paul job fair
A job fair for adults with autism drew about 350 attendees to the State Services for the Blind office in St. Paul on Thursday. The fair was meant to facilitate the job hunt — something that can be hard for autistic workers.  
Minnesota tree nursery plans big expansion to meet demand
Minnesotans are planting more trees. Efforts to mitigate climate change are driving the demand. The outdated state tree nursery in northern Minnesota is undergoing major renovations so it can grow millions of new seedlings each year.
Rep. Phillips set to file paperwork for presidential run Friday in New Hampshire
Minnesota U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, a Democrat now in his third term in Congress, has been exploring a primary challenge to President Joe Biden. He faces long odds beating an incumbent for the party nomination.
Brooklyn Center puts pause on police reform policy
The policy changes proposed after the police killing of Daunte Wright would prevent officers from pulling people over for smaller violations.
Weekend weather: Cold; flakes at times Saturday afternoon and evening
There are some flakes in our Saturday forecast and the entire weekend will be cold. We have the forecast details, plus an update on Thursday snow in northwestern Minnesota.
A southwest Minnesota man faces charges including second-degree manslaughter, child endangerment and negligent storage of a loaded firearm in connection with the fatal shooting of a 2-year-old boy by another child earlier this month.
Minneapolis City Council president faces strong challenge in 'bellwether' contest
Minneapolis City Council President Andrea Jenkins and challenger Soren Stevenson share similar views on major issues like affordable housing, police reform and racial equity. However, Jenkins, a self-titled “pragmatic progressive,” isn’t progressive enough for some who want to see a majority on the council that will stand up to a “strong mayor.”
 How your vote can influence the power of local government
Local elections are around the corner, and voters in many cities will decide who ends up on their city council. MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about the importance of city council and county commission seats and how your vote can decide the balance of power for your local government.
Scattered rain showers with wind, cold, snow coming; latest drought update
Scattered rain showers are back in Minnesota with snow falling in northwestern Minnesota Thursday. Temps drop Friday with winds increasing. Snow will fall in southern Minnesota Saturday.
Republicans are rallying behind the new U.S. House speaker, Rep. Tom Emmer who sought the job. Anoka — the “Halloween Capital of the world” — is honoring one of its own for a gourd-gantuan achievement.
Vikings safety Cam Bynum's wife hasn't seen a game in person. She needs a visa from the Philippines
Minnesota safety Camryn Bynum won the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award after two interceptions in the final 5½ minutes of the game that helped the Vikings preserve a victory over San Francisco. He seized the opportunity to spread the word about his quest to reunite with his wife, Lalaine.
Scattered showers Thursday; snow in northwest Minnesota
Expect a soggy Thursday nearly statewide. Scattered rain showers will dominate with snow in the northwest. Winds will increase and temperatures will fall on Friday.
People go to Noodles & Company to save a buck, not to have one interrupt their meal. But that’s what happened in Beloit, Wis., on Tuesday when a deer came crashing through a restaurant window. 
Raptors beat Timberwolves 97-94 in season opener
Dennis Schroder scored 22 points in his Toronto debut, O.G. Anunoby had 20 and the Raptors gave new coach Darko Rajakovic a victory in his first game by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 97-94.
A suspect in the fatal shooting of 18 in Maine is still at large. Residents are sheltering in place
Authorities have launched a massive search for a U.S. Army reservist who they say fatally shot 18 people at a bowling alley and a bar in Maine. The shootings in the city of Lewiston on Wednesday night sent panicked patrons scrambling under tables and behind bowling pins.
Death toll in Gaza approaches 7,000 as aid groups raise alarm about fuel
Aid groups are escalating their warnings that a lack of fuel has reached a critical point across Gaza. The U.N. agency providing relief to Palestinians says it could run out of fuel within a day.
This teacher shortage solution has gone viral. But does it work?
State and federal governments have made hundreds of millions of dollars available to pay for Grow Your Own teacher programs. But researchers say it's unclear whether they actually work.
Who is Mike Johnson? An ardent conservative who embraces far-right policies
The new House speaker opposes abortion rights and same sex marriages. He's also an ally of former President Donald Trump and refused to certify the 2020 presidential election results.
Minnesota school boards and their powers: 3 key questions, answered
Elected school boards are at the top of the accountability chain in Minnesota school districts, overseeing school administration, curriculum and governance while answering to voters. But how much power do they have and what does the job entail?
Art Hounds: Frank Theatre returns
Art Hounds recommend ofrendas, music and more in Minneapolis for Día de los Muertos this weekend.
In Duluth, hard-fought mayoral campaign nears finish
On Nov. 7, Duluth voters will decide the city’s most contested mayoral election in 15 years, in a contest that pits two-term incumbent Emily Larson, the city’s first woman to be elected mayor, against attorney and former state legislator Roger Reinert.
Shootings spotlight 'alarming' jump in violence against rural Minnesota officers
At least 14 officers in rural areas of Minnesota and western Wisconsin have been shot this year, with four killed. Observers say the dangers of rural policing are growing, with suspects more willing to pull the trigger, yet the reality is rarely examined or discussed.
Courts approve overseas travel for several Feeding our Future defendants
A federal judge on Wednesday allowed a man convicted in the Feeding our Future case to travel to east Africa to sell property in order to make restitution payments. Liban Alishire is among at least three defendants whom courts have allowed to make limited overseas trips.
Who is Mike Johnson? New House speaker is a strong Trump ally and a quiet force among Republicans
A low-key lawmaker in Congress for less than a decade, new House Speaker Mike Johnson isn’t recognizable to most Americans. But the social conservative and devoted ally of former President Donald Trump has been a quiet force within the Republican conference he now unexpectedly leads.