Stories from October 18, 2024

Record highs in the 80s likely Sunday
Another late summerlike weekend on the way.
Former Minnesota DFL Congressman Rick Nolan has died. He was known for his progressive politics and fiery speeches. Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein is in Minnesota today promoting her White House bid and raising campaign money.
Cuba plunged into an island-wide blackout as power grid fails
Cuban government declares an "energy emergency" after the failure of one of its few power plants plunges it into an island wide blackout.
Twin Cities nearing peak fall colors
A beautiful weekend is in the forecast, with sunshine and above-average temperatures creating ideal conditions for viewing fall colors.
Politics Friday: The 2024 election will determine who presides in Minnesota courtrooms, remember there are judges on your ballot
There are about 100 races on Minnesota’s election ballots that won’t get that much attention, and they’re all about judgeships. MPR News politics editor and his guests talk about judicial elections and why they’re different here than in other states. 
Minnesota Department of Health: Statewide whooping cough cases at 8-year high
Cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, are at an eight-year high in the state. The Minnesota Department of Health reports there are currently 1,019 cases compared to 61 this time last year.
Minneapolis, St. Paul birders drop 'Audubon' from chapter names
The St. Paul and Minneapolis Audubon chapters have dropped the contentious naturalist’s namesake from their titles, rebranding their organizations as the St. Paul Bird Alliance and Land of Lakes Bird Alliance, respectively.
Former Minnesota Congressman Rick Nolan dies at age 80
Former U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan, who represented two of Minnesota’s congressional districts in Washington more than 30 years apart, has died at the age of 80.
American democracy requires that we ’be architects, not arsonists’
Eboo Patel believes learning to value and tolerate diversity is the engine that drives just and equitable societies. Can America learn to do it before the social fabric is irrevocably torn? That’s the discussion on this week’s Big Books and Bold Ideas, part of our Americans and Democracy series.
Morning Announcements for Oct. 18
Here are the morning announcements for Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.
Helene’s damage to North Carolina’s Green River affects businesses that depend on it
In western North Carolina, tubing, rafting and kayaking shops are assessing whether the rivers will be safe enough to open by next Summer following the devastating damage from the remnants of Hurricane Helene.
Midwest chicken farmers struggle to feed flocks after sudden closure of processor
Dozens of farmers in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin are scrambling to feed their flocks after a struggling organic broiler chicken producer abruptly closed a year after getting a $39 million federal loan. Pure Prairie Poultry shuttered its Charles City, Iowa, processing plant after filing for bankruptcy in September.
How Republicans mainstreamed the baseless idea of noncitizen voting in 2024
Donald Trump and his allies have zeroed in on the baseless claim that Democrats are encouraging newly arrived migrants to vote for them in the 2024 election. There is no evidence of a plot like this.
Very warm and breezy Friday with near record-high temperatures Sunday
It’ll be another very warm and windy day Friday. We’ll see temperatures averaging 15-25 degrees above normal through Monday. Northern Minnesota will see some light rain Friday.  
The Minneapolis City Council has passed measures intended to boost transparency of off-duty police work. And the Minnesota Lynx face off Friday night for a must-win finals game against the New York Liberty.
As campaign nears finish, Walz adds dashes of digs to his portions of joy
The Democratic vice presidential candidate entered the race emphasizing positivity in politics. In the final stretch to Election Day, he’s trying to thread the needle between needling Donald Trump and JD Vance while still keeping an optimistic message.
Minnesota Lynx fans hope Game 4 ends in a win — and a traditional team ‘Electric Slide’ dance
The Minnesota Lynx have celebrated wins by dancing together for years. With the team in the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2017, the tradition has an even bigger meaning.
Connecting young people to their purpose
MPR News host Angela Davis talks with the leader and founder of Project Success — a Minnesota nonprofit that’s been connecting students to their purpose for 30 years.
At Wisconsin stops, Harris campaign features less talk of joy and more attacks on Trump
In La Crosse on Thursday, Harris told a rally crowd that Trump “will stop at nothing to claim unchecked power for himself.” It’s a shift from the “joy” that swirled around her elevation to the top of the Democratic ticket this summer.