Stories from October 9, 2024

Facing Hurricane Milton: Floridians and Minnesotans share stories of escape and resilience
As Hurricane Milton targets Florida, Minnesotans step up with relief efforts while others face the challenges of evacuation and honestly assessing home safety.
Mayor Frey vetoes carbon emission fee adopted by city council
In his veto letter Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he agrees with the aims of the fee on polluters, but he said the council’s action amounts to an “unauthorized tax.”
Two new wildfires are burning in the Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota. And two affordable housing developers announced today their commitment to sign on to a program designed to protect workers in the Twin Cities non-union construction industry from exploitation.
Advocacy group hails housing developers‘ commitments to worker protections
Two affordable housing developers announced Wednesday that they will sign on to a program designed to protect workers in the Twin Cities non-union construction industry from exploitation.
A rare comet brightens the night skies in October
A rare, bright comet will be visible in October, clear skies permitting. The comet will make its closest approach to Earth on Saturday.
Brown says no to pro-Palestinian students' demands for divestment
Supporters of divestment ended their encampment last spring in exchange for a promise that their proposal for divestment would get a vote from the board this fall.
The disconnect between economic data and voters' concerns
Are you worried about money? Concerned about the economy? MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about the financial issues affecting how people plan to vote.   
Why are we seeing so many northern lights this year? Another show possible Thursday night
It’s not your imagination. Northern lights are unusually frequent above Minnesota this year. This solar cycle has been very good at producing auroras visible over Minnesota, and our dry weather pattern has produced many clear sky nights so we can see the shows.
Minnesotan who road-tripped to Florida takes shelter as Hurricane Milton approaches
Here in Minnesota, there is special attention on the storm because so many Minnesotans now live in Florida or have a second home there. St. Paul resident Tim Dykstal drove there for vacation.
Wellness Wednesday health highlights
MPR News host Angela Davis revisits health and wellness advice on how to build strong bones, from your teen years to old age. Plus, the new ways young people are getting hooked on nicotine.
Morning Announcements for Oct. 9
Here are the morning announcements for Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024.
The Minnesota Lynx have advanced to the WNBA championship series. They beat the Connecticut Sun Tuesday night in the fifth and deciding game of a semifinal playoff series 88-77.  And Minnesota business groups are pushing back on a comment Gov. Tim Walz — the Democratic candidate for vice president — made Monday on "60 Minutes."
Summerlike warmth Wednesday and Thursday, colder air this weekend
Temperatures will warm up a bit more Wednesday and especially Thursday with highs in the 80s across southern Minnesota. More typical October chilly air arrives this weekend. 
‘Look for safer shelter,’ Biden warns as Hurricane Milton barrels toward Florida coast
In spite of the very real threat to their homes, belongings and livelihoods, many Floridians in Milton’s potential path remained in good spirits hours before its expected landfall.
In battleground states, it's not just about winning — but also losing by less
In a state where every vote matters, both Democratic and Republican campaigns are not only trying to win in counties where they’re strongest, they’re also trying to lose by less.
Latest Catan board game adds new challenge: produce power without over-polluting
As players build settlements, they can choose renewable energy or fossil fuels. The company behind Catan: New Energies hopes the abstract game can spark real conversations about energy use.
Climate change made Helene more dangerous. It also makes similar storms more likely
Researchers found that Hurricane Helene was stronger, rainier, and significantly more likely because of climate change. The U.S. can expect more such storms in the future as warming continues.
Lynx return to finals with 88-77 win over Sun behind Collier's 27 points, 11 rebounds
Napheesa Collier had 27 points and 11 rebounds and Courtney Williams contributed 24 points and both-ends-of-the-court energy to lead the Minnesota Lynx past the Connecticut Sun 88-77 and into the WNBA Finals for the first time in seven years.
Climate scientist and mom addresses work-life balance in new book
Climate scientist Anna Farro Henderson talks about balancing a career in politics, climate science with motherhood, a subject she explores in her new book “Core Samples: A Climate Scientist’s Experiments in Politics and Motherhood.”
FBI arrests Afghan man who officials say planned Election Day attack in the U.S.
Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, of Oklahoma City told investigators after his arrest Monday that he had planned his attack to coincide with Election Day next month and that he and a co-conspirator expected to die as martyrs, according to charging documents.
Jury convicts three members of Minneapolis Bloods gang at racketeering trial
A federal jury on Tuesday convicted three members of the Minneapolis Bloods gang in connection with the murder of two rivals. The case is notable because jurors found one of the defendants guilty of racketeering.