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Stories from December 8, 2023

Man dies a day after shootout with St. Paul police

Man dies a day after shootout with St. Paul police

A Maplewood man has died a day after engaging in a shootout with St. Paul police. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension identified the man as Brandon Daleshaun Keys, 24, who died of a gunshot wound to the head.
by Matt Sepic

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Minnesota's U.S. senators unsatisfied by USPS response to concerns of rural mail workers

Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith issued a joint statement Friday saying U.S. Postal Service management is minimizing complaints from postal workers about which deliveries are being prioritized. That story and more in Friday’s evening update from MPR News.
by Jacob Aloi

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Trump gag order is partially upheld in Jan. 6 case

Trump gag order is partially upheld in Jan. 6 case

The appeals court ruling would allow Trump to make public statements about the special counsel in the case, Jack Smith, but not other prosecutors, court staffers or their family members.
by Carrie Johnson

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Wisconsin university system reaches deal with Republicans that would scale back diversity positions

Wisconsin university system reaches deal with Republicans that would scale back diversity positions

The Universities of Wisconsin and Assembly Republican Speaker Robin Vos have reached a sweeping deal that would freeze hiring for diversity positions across the system in exchange for lawmakers approving employee pay raises and funding for a new engineering building at the flagship campus. 
by The Associated Press

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Deaths linked tainted cantaloupe increase to 3 in U.S., 5 in Canada

Deaths linked tainted cantaloupe increase to 3 in U.S., 5 in Canada

A salmonella outbreak tied to tainted cantaloupe has now killed eight people — three in the U.S. and five in Canada, health officials reported Thursday. Minnesota has the most confirmed cases of any state.
by The Associated Press

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FDA approves first gene-editing treatment for human illness

FDA approves first gene-editing treatment for human illness

The Food and Drug Administration approved two genetic treatments for sickle cell disease, including one that uses gene-editing. The approvals offer hope for patients and signal a new medical era.
by Rob Stein

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'Unbelievably warm' December continues upward temperature trend

'Unbelievably warm' December continues upward temperature trend

A lack of snow on the ground for much of Minnesota has been just one indication of warming temperatures during the winter months. Minnesotans aren’t just seeing low precipitation, they’re feeling it, too. MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke with retired climatologist and meteorologist Mark Seeley about the upward trends in their weekly weather chat.
by Cathy Wurzer and Lukas Levin

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Rethinking roads

Rethinking roads

In his new book “Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of Our Planet,” environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb illustrates how roads that are helpful for humans can be disastrous for wildlife. How can we design transportation that’s good for all?
by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

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Why your brain finds Spotify Wrapped so irresistible

Why your brain finds Spotify Wrapped so irresistible

Spotify Wrapped endures despite privacy concerns surrounding the data it collects from users. But experts say our continued excitement around the year-end aggregation is in our human nature.
by Claire Murashima

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Continued mild Friday but wintry weather arrives Friday night into Saturday

Continued mild Friday but wintry weather arrives Friday night into Saturday

We’ll squeeze out one more very mild day in southern Minnesota but a clipper system is bringing cold air and rain and snow showers late in the day. That wintry precipitation will spread statewide into Saturday. 
by Sven Sundgaard

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Unique ways Americans celebrate the holidays, from skiing Santas to Festivus feats

Unique ways Americans celebrate the holidays, from skiing Santas to Festivus feats

Here's how communities across the U.S. put their own spin on Christmas, Hanukkah and even Festivus celebrations — from Santas who ski and surf, to trees made of tumbleweed, sand and lobster traps.
by Rachel Treisman

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Hanukkah celebrations inspire Jewish joy despite war and increasing antisemitism

Hanukkah celebrations inspire Jewish joy despite war and increasing antisemitism

The war between Israel and Hamas, as well as a rise in antisemitism, has many Jews unsure how to celebrate Hanukkah this year. Some say they're focusing on hope and hospitality in dark times.
by Jason DeRose

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Minnesotans celebrate Hanukkah. U of M seeks more state funding

Hanukkah started at sundown Thursday, and this year, it comes with a backdrop of war and a rise in anti-Semitism. And in other news, the University of Minnesota is looking for additional state funding to improve its academic health programs.
by Elena See

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High-profile attacks on Derek Chauvin and Larry Nassar put spotlight on violence in federal prisons

High-profile attacks on Derek Chauvin and Larry Nassar put spotlight on violence in federal prisons

Recent assaults on two notorious, high-profile federal prisoners have renewed concerns about whether the federal Bureau of Prisons is capable of keeping people in its custody safe.
by The Associated Press

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Clipper system bringing colder air, snow showers to Minnesota Friday

Clipper system bringing colder air, snow showers to Minnesota Friday

A clipper system will bring colder air and snow showers to northwest Minnesota. It will still be mild southeast Friday, but colder air and snow showers will develop statewide into Saturday. 
by Sven Sundgaard

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Minnesota Varsity League launches scholastic middle school esports program

Minnesota Varsity League launches scholastic middle school esports program

Earlier this week, the Minnesota Varsity League announced the start of a scholastic esports program specifically geared toward grades 5-8. It’s part of the league’s mission to expand academic experiences for students and provide competitive gaming and educational enrichment through play. 
by Hannah Yang

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Bison herd helps restore Prairie Island community 

Bison herd helps restore Prairie Island community 

An established bison farm will give thousands of pounds of meat this winter to members of the community as tribal nations look for ways to control the production of Indigenous foods. 
by Melissa Olson

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DOJ alleges city of Anoka discriminated against tenants with mental health disabilities 

DOJ alleges city of Anoka discriminated against tenants with mental health disabilities 

The U.S. Department of Justice alleges the city of Anoka notified landlords of potential nuisance calls and encouraged landlords to evict tenants who were the subject of the calls. Sometimes those communications included personal details about tenants’ mental illnesses.
by Sarah Thamer

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North Dakota researchers find cost-effective way to extract rare-earth elements from coal

North Dakota researchers find cost-effective way to extract rare-earth elements from coal

The U.S. is trying to reduce its dependence on China for the critical minerals and rare-earth elements needed to build everything from batteries for electric vehicles to military weapons systems. Part of the solution might come from a new extraction process developed in North Dakota.
by Dan Gunderson

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House votes to censure Rep. Jamaal Bowman for pulling fire alarm

House votes to censure Rep. Jamaal Bowman for pulling fire alarm

Since January, the chamber has seen the removal of a member from a committee, the first ouster of a speaker in history and the expulsion of a lawmaker for only the third time since the Civil War.
by The Associated Press

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Hunter Biden is indicted on federal tax charges

Hunter Biden is indicted on federal tax charges

A federal grand jury in the Central District of California returned the indictment charging the president's son with three felony tax offenses and six misdemeanor tax offenses.
by Washington Desk

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DFL, GOP leaders weigh in on 2024 budget forecast, bonding bill and spending cuts

DFL, GOP leaders weigh in on 2024 budget forecast, bonding bill and spending cuts

Minnesota is projected to have a $2.4 billion budget surplus in 2024, but that’s far less hefty than the one lawmakers had to work with last year. House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, and Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks, spoke with Cathy Wurzer about it.
by Cathy Wurzer and Gracie Stockton

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Deer hunters in northern Minnesota lash out against wolves, DNR

Deer hunters in northern Minnesota lash out against wolves, DNR

Deer hunters are gathering in northern Minnesota this week to vent their frustrations about a lackluster hunting season and direct their ire at the animals they believe are to blame for a demise in their beloved tradition — the state’s thriving population of grey wolves.
by Dan Kraker

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Warmth lingers on Friday; colder Saturday, with some periods of snow

Warmth lingers on Friday; colder Saturday, with some periods of snow

We’ll be unusually warm again on Friday, then it’s back to more typical December temps this weekend. Many of us will see some flakes on Saturday.
by Ron Trenda

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