Stories from January 24, 2025

St. Paul City Council President Mitra Jalali announces resignation, citing health concerns
After nearly seven years with the city, St. Paul council member and president Mitra Jalali has decided to step down. She says she is focusing on prioritizing her mental and physical health.
The Minnesota Supreme Court has weighed in on the standoff in the state House. Justices say 68 members are needed to conduct business — one more than Republicans have on their own. But the court declined to order a specific action beyond that, saying they assume the parties can work it out on their own with the quorum matter clarified. And a Republican candidate who narrowly lost a race for the Minnesota House won't ask the Supreme Court to step in.
Advocates remember 25 Minnesotans killed in connection with domestic violence
Family, friends and advocates gathered in St. Paul Friday to remember 25 people killed in connection with domestic violence last year. Violence Free Minnesota, a coalition of groups working to end domestic violence, puts on the event every year to commemorate Minnesotans killed the year before.
Target is ending its diversity goals as a strong DEI opponent occupies the White House
The Minneapolis-based retailer says it’s joining rival Walmart and a number of other prominent American brands in scaling back corporate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
University of Minnesota and Essentia announce new health care alliance
The University of Minnesota and Essentia Health are proposing a new nonprofit for academic medicine in Minnesota. The university currently operates under a collaborative agreement with Fairview Health Services. That agreement ends next year. 
Trump says he wants to overhaul FEMA as he travels to North Carolina and California
President Trump is taking the first trip of his term on Friday to North Carolina and California, visiting communities grappling with recovery from natural disasters.
Parting Thoughts: Remembering Paul Richard, who loved planes and died at 97 in St. Paul
Paul Richard was born in California, made a life in Evanston, Ill., and died on Jan. 14 in St. Paul, where his daughter Diane Richard lives. She spoke with Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer about his life and legacy for “Parting Thoughts.”
Review: ’Boney Manilli’ at the Walker Art Center
The Walker Art Center’s Out There series balances seriousness and silliness, exemplified by Edgar Arceneaux’s “Boney Manilli,” a chaotic yet poignant play blending puppetry, pop nostalgia and family tragedy into a unified exploration of voice identity and loss.
Experts warn about the ’crumbling infrastructure’ of federal government data
Unstable federal funding puts at risk the government statistics used to track the U.S. economy and population, officials and data users warn. That’s before any cuts by President Trump and Congress.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship. Minnesota was one of several states filing suit to block the order. The Minneapolis VA is expected to resume hiring soon, after it rescinded over 80 job offers this week.
Vejmelka makes 26 saves, Hayton scores twice in Utah’s 4-0 victory over the Wild
Karel Vejmelka made 26 saves for his first shutout of the season, Barrett Hayton scored twice and Utah beat the Minnesota Wild 4-0 on Thursday night for its third straight victory. 
Wild bring back Kaprizov and Spurgeon from injuries for game against Utah
The Minnesota Wild activated star Kirill Kaprizov and captain Jared Spurgeon from injured reserve to put two integral players back in the lineup. Kaprizov missed 12 games with a lower-body injury that lingered longer than the Wild initially believed it would.
Minnesota justices tell lawmakers to work out control of ‘dysfunctional’ House
The Minnesota Supreme Court on Friday agreed with DFLers that it takes 68 votes to conduct House business, but the opinion didn’t come with a road map on how the House should proceed from here.
In Duluth, free water safety classes pay off for preschoolers and parents
Water is important to Minnesota’s identity, but for some in the land of 10,000 lakes it can bring more dread than joy. An effort in the Duluth Public Schools to teach preschoolers to swim is helping ease water fears and even coaxing some parents into the pool.
Minnesota sees decline in flu and COVID-19 hospitalizations, RSV cases climb
Statewide data released Thursday by the Minnesota Department of Health indicates that hospitalizations for influenza and COVID-19 have slightly declined for the first time in over a month.  
St. Paul arts organization builds virtual Winter Carnival ice castles in Minecraft
Community arts organization 825 Arts in St. Paul will host an ice castle contest online through the video game Minecraft on Saturday, partnering with a local historian to share history and creativity of ice sculptures at the Winter Carnival.
Celebration and criticism follow Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier’s prison sentence commutation
The 11th hour clemency of Leonard Peltier has touched off a wave of joy, but it also brings pain to those who believe he should remain in prison for murder.
Trump orders release of JFK, RFK and MLK assassination records
President Donald Trump has ordered the release of thousands of classified governmental documents about the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, which has fueled conspiracy theories for decades.
Walz proposes $887 million bonding bill for infrastructure projects, not worried about Capitol impasse
Using the breached Rapidan Dam as a backdrop Gov. Tim Walz pitched his $887 million bonding bill. As well as funding for infrastructure, Walz wants to fund a new state patrol headquarters, and address housing and environmental needs.
Proposed high-voltage powerline gets state regulators’ approval
Minnesota Power and Great River Energy jointly plan to build the 180-mile project, which could cost upwards of $1 billion. The utilities say the new high-voltage line is needed to help maintain a reliable power grid, as they transition away from fossil fuel plants to renewable energy such as solar and wind.