Stories from January 7, 2025

In last address, St. Cloud’s long-serving mayor hails community support
Dave Kleis served nearly 20 years and oversaw major changes in the city, including new growth and changing demographics. He will step down next week when Mayor-elect Jake Anderson is sworn in.
Takeaways from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago press conference
In a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Trump would not rule out using military force to seize control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, citing national security interests.
A Becker County judge has agreed to allow Minnesota media to record the jury trial of a state senator charged with burglary. And a cookware advocacy group filed a lawsuit in federal court yesterday that seeks relief from a new Minnesota law banning the sale and distribution of cookware containing PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals."
What to know about Trump and his keen interest in Greenland
President-elect Donald Trump has said multiple times that the U.S. should buy Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. The sparsely populated island is geopolitically important and mineral-rich.
Curator talks archiving Walz’s bid for VP, preserving political legacies
While brief, Gov. Tim Walz’s bid for vice president will add another chapter to his legacy in politics, and the Minnesota Historical Society has gotten a jumpstart on preserving it.
Tenants in Minnesota have more legal protections under new laws in effect this month
Minnesota lawmakers passed several laws that strengthen tenant rights last session, including protections for survivors of domestic violence and residents who want to organize tenants rights associations.
‘More than just a haircut’: Twin Cities teacher celebrates Black barbershops in new book
Twin Cities English teacher Keenan Jones says he got the idea for “Saturday Morning at the ‘Shop” while talking with his own barber during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Peter Yarrow of folk-music trio Peter, Paul and Mary dies at 86
The singer-songwriter and social activist best known as one-third of the folk-music group Peter, Paul and Mary, died Tuesday at age 86 at his home in New York. He had longtime family ties to Minnesota.
How Trump’s plans for housing could impact shortage of homes in Minnesota
Minnesota, like the rest of the country, is grappling with a deepening housing shortage. A professor breaks down what’s driving this issue and how it could look under President-elect Donald Trump.
How mindfulness can reduce stress
MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a Twin Cities rapper and mindfulness instructor who says yoga saved his life.
Council member Chavez: No shelter capacity for 230 people displaced after encampment fires
Minneapolis Council member Jason Chavez represents the area where a series of fires have ignited in encampments recently. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about solutions for unhoused people in Minneapolis.
Judge grants media requests to record Minnesota senator’s burglary trial
Minnesota Sen. Nicole Mitchell is set to stand trial later this month on a burglary charge. A Becker County judge on Tuesday ruled that the proceedings can be recorded by media organizations with some limitations.
Wisconsin Republicans pushing to make voter ID a constitutional requirement
Other states have taken similar steps in recent years to put voter ID requirements in the constitution. Voters approved it in Mississippi in 2011 and North Carolina voters in 2018, while Minnesota voters rejected it in 2012.
Appeals court rejects Trump’s latest attempt to get Friday’s hush money sentencing called off
In a one-sentence ruling following an emergency hearing, Judge Ellen Gesmer denied Trump’s request for an immediate order that would spare him from being sentenced while he appeals Judge Juan M. Merchan’s decision last week to uphold the historic verdict.
The power of mentoring
January is national Mentoring Month. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about how a mentor can support, guide and open opportunities for people of all ages.
New rules will ban medical debt from your credit report
The move, which comes less than two weeks before President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office, represents a challenge to the new administration.
War has changed Ukraine's workforce, especially in heavy industry and mining. With men conscripted to fight the war against Russia, women have started working in traditionally male jobs.
Morning Announcements for Jan. 7
Here are the morning announcements for Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Meta replaces fact-checking with X-style community notes
Facebook and Instagram owner Meta says it’s scrapping its third-party fact-checking program and replacing it with a Community Notes program written by users similar to the model used by Elon Musk’s social media platform X.
North Dakota State wins 10th FCS title as Miller accounts for 4 TDs in 35-32 win over Montana State
Cam Miller ran for two touchdowns and threw for two more to lead North Dakota State to its record 10th Football Championship Subdivision title. The Bison beat top-seeded and previously undefeated Montana State 35-32 on Monday night.
The power struggle in the Minnesota House is growing more intense — just a week ahead of the next legislative session. And the interim director of the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management is stepping down and being replaced with another interim director.
Below-normal temperatures Tuesday and Wednesday before a warmup
We’re nearing the end of our latest cold snap. Temperatures will be back toward normal by Thursday, which is also our next chance at some light snow showers. 
McDonald’s says it is revising some of its diversity practices
McDonald's says it is changing some of its inclusion standards, becoming the latest large company to announce it is rolling back some of its diversity practices.
Biden creates 2 new national monuments, setting a conservation record
The White House says President Joe Biden has now protected a total of 674 million acres of lands and waters — a record for any administration. This includes two new national monuments in California.
Facing rising costs, a Minnesota home baker makes a career pivot
Maddie Gartmann, owner of Garty Goodies in the Twin Cities, decided to put baking on the back burner and focus on in-person classes and social media.
Strong earthquake kills dozens in region of Tibet near Mount Everest
A strong earthquake killed dozens of people in Tibet on Tuesday and left many others trapped as dozens of aftershocks shook the high-altitude region of western China and across the border in Nepal.
U.K. leader Starmer slams ‘lies and misinformation’ after attacks from Elon Musk
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday condemned "lies and misinformation" that he said are undermining U.K. democracy, in response to a barrage of attacks on his government from Elon Musk.
The National Zoo’s giant pandas make the most of DC’s snow
The two giant pandas were seen on camera playing around in the snowfall that blanketed much of the Midwest and mid-Atlantic on Monday.
First bird flu death reported in the U.S., according to the CDC
Health officials in Louisiana say a person there has died after catching bird flu. This marks the first reported death in the U.S. from the virus during the current outbreak.
Large fire destroys Minneapolis encampment
A large fire destroyed an encampment in south Minneapolis on Monday afternoon, causing propane tanks to explode and sending a plume of smoke above the city. There were no reports of injuries.