Stories from November 30, 2023

U.S. report includes calls for Indigenous leadership and self-determination to fight climate change
The Indigenous peoples chapter of the latest National Climate Assessment lays out the specific ways climate change affects indigenous communities — and why indigenous leadership and self-determination are essential for addressing the climate crisis.
Judge Wilhelmina Wright, the first Black woman to serve as a federal judge in Minnesota, says she plans to step down from the federal bench on Feb. 15. And the latest Minnesota Community Measure report says the cost of health care services for people with private insurance increased 7 percent in 2022. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Jacob Aloi. Music by Gary Meister.
Tips to improve your chances of seeing the northern lights
Chances to spot the northern lights are strong Thursday night and early Friday morning. Here are a few tips on how to monitor conditions, and how to catch the extraterrestrial show.
Calls for Minnesota to withdraw investments continue. Here's state auditor Julie Blaha's take on the issue
On Wednesday, protestors met at the state capitol to call on the State Board of Investment to withdraw over $100 million in investments towards Israel. They echoed a wider movement known as BDS for “boycott, divest, sanctions.”
Russia's Supreme Court effectively outlaws LGBTQ+ activism in a landmark ruling
Addressing a lawsuit filed by the Justice Ministry, the court labeled the LGBTQ+ "movement" in Russia an extremist group and banned it. The case was classified, and the ministry disclosed no evidence.
Art Hounds: Fergus Falls wraps up a Year of Beck 
“Year of Beck” ends at Kaddatz, Fergus Falls with Charles Beck's exhibit. John Gorka plays in St. Cloud, and "Letters to Santa" shows in Minneapolis.
Click Here: A special five-part series about the people making and breaking our digital world
A special series called Click Here tells the stories about the people making and breaking our digital world. Reporter Dina Temple-Raston meets coders, hackers and would-be revolutionaries who use technology in surprising ways.
Nashwauk is considering losing ambulance services
During a medical emergency, you can count on an ambulance to likely be at your home within 10 minutes. Sometimes those minutes matter. But a city in the Iron Range is at risk of losing that critical service.
One dead in house explosion, fire in South St. Paul
Fire crews who responded to reports of an explosion found the home fully engulfed, with flames rising above the surrounding trees.
Shane MacGowan, frontman of The Pogues, dies at age 65
The singer-songwriter and frontman of The Pogues, best known for the Christmas ballad “Fairytale of New York,” had been hospitalized in Dublin for several months after being diagnosed with viral encephalitis in late 2022. He died Thursday.
Becoming more breezy Thursday and slightly cooler
A weak cold front is sweeping through southeast Minnesota, pulling in slightly cooler air today and increasing wind speeds. Temperatures will still be near or above normal into the weekend. 
North Dakota State extends new scholarship amid worries about Minnesota tuition program
North Dakota State University has extended its Tuition Award Program scholarship to a second year. The university announced the new scholarship earlier this month. It came about due to Minnesota’s North Star Promise tuition program.
Anti-war protesters gathered Wednesday for a meeting of the Minnesota State Board of Investment to call the board to pull state money invested in companies linked to Israel. Members of Minnesota’s Jewish community asked the board to block efforts to divest from Israel. And a pair of state lawmakers introduced a child care affordability proposal aimed at lowering the cost of child care in the state.
The Gaza cease-fire with Hamas is extended another day as Blinken arrives in Israel
The secretary of state said the U.S. is committed to seeing the release of all Hamas hostages. Meanwhile, gunmen killed three Israelis in an attack on the outskirts of West Jerusalem early Thursday.
Retro role-playing video games are all the rage — here's why
Franchises like Final Fantasy are moving away from old-school mechanics, but a indie developers are taking up the retro RPG mantle.
DFL lawmakers eye big boost in child care spending
Two DFL legislators on Thursday proposed expanding state child care and early education subsidies so that families would pay no more than 7 percent of their income for child care. 
Designer’s state seal entry could be last hope for loon-loving Minnesotans
Graphic designer Ross Bruggink spoke about his submissions for a new Minnesota state flag and seal, the latter of which includes a loon-forward entry universally praised by a state selection panel.
Gary Oldman had 'free rein' in spy thriller 'Slow Horses' — now back for Season 3
Oldman plays the slovenly leader of failed British spies in the Apple TV+ drama, based on Mick Herron's “Slough House” novels. Herron is more interested in the character's failures than his virtues.
Supreme Court conservatives seem likely to axe SEC enforcement powers
The Supreme Court's conservative justices seemed highly skeptical of how the Securities and Exchange Commission conducts in-house enforcement proceedings to ensure the integrity of securities markets.
Henry Kissinger, secretary of state under Presidents Nixon and Ford, dies at 100
Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, the diplomat with the thick glasses and gravelly voice who dominated foreign policy as the United States extricated itself from Vietnam and broke down barriers with China, died Wednesday, his consulting firm said. He was 100.