Stories from February 12, 2025

Feeding Our Future by the numbers: 4.4M documents, 90M meal claims and 1,200 subpoenas
FBI agent Jared Kary testified that the search of the nonprofit’s headquarters, Aimee Bock’s home, and 25 other Twin Cities locations in January 2022 was the single largest law enforcement operation in Minnesota history and required the help of federal agents from around the country.
Hennepin County authorities investigating after drug-laced paperwork found in jail
Law enforcement officials are investigating after an inmate at the Hennepin County Jail was allegedly caught with legal paperwork laced with drugs. A search warrant targets an attorney who met with the inmate.
‘My life was destroyed’: Marvin Haynes sues city of Minneapolis for wrongful incarceration
Marvin Haynes — a man who spent nearly 20 years in prison before a judge vacated his conviction — has filed a wrongful incarceration lawsuit against the city of Minneapolis and five police officers. 
A man who spent nearly 20 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of murder is suing the city of Minneapolis. And Fairview Health Services says it is not interested in a merger with the University of Minnesota and Essentia Health.
Merger with the U and Essentia? Fairview says ‘no’
Fairview Health Services says it is not interested in a merger with the University of Minnesota and Essentia Health. The U and Essentia back a plan that would create a nonprofit entity and had invited Fairview to be part of the discussion.
Feds to probe Minnesota State High School League over transgender athlete policy
The Trump administration on Wednesday said it will investigate the league’s intention to follow state law and allow students in the state to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity, despite the president’s recent executive order.
How this Minneapolis street grew from immigrant neighborhood to culinary hotspot
13th Avenue in northeast Minneapolis is a culinary hot spot, home to some of the best restaurants in the country. This part of the city has roots as an immigrant neighborhood, a history it has not completely lost touch with even as it gains culinary fame and fancy.
Out to Lunch: Minneapolis musician Laamar doesn’t want to be pigeonholed
Geoffrey Lamar Wilson’s project Laamar quickly rose to fame in the Twin Cities music scene after writing songs about racial and social justice. His first full-length album, coming out in 2025, will be an expansion in both content and music.
Are kids not reading like they used to? A Minnesota English teacher weighs in
In many English classrooms across the U.S., assignments to read full-length novels are becoming less common — a result of the perception that students have a shorter attention span and less interest in reading the assigned novels.
Trump upends U.S. policy on Ukraine and says he and Putin have agreed to begin talks on ending the war
President Donald Trump upended three years of U.S. policy toward Ukraine on Wednesday, saying that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to begin negotiations on ending the war following a dramatic prisoner swap.
Anthony Sledwards, Plowabunga! among winners in MnDOT's Name a Snowplow contest
While Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards drives the lane against NBA opponents this season, “Anthony Sledwards” will soon be clearing driving lanes for Minnesota motorists. It’s one of the eight winning snowplow names in MnDOT’s annual contest.
Morning Announcements for Feb. 12
Here are the morning announcements for Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025.
Wellness Wednesday mental health highlights
Talking about mental health can be difficult but it can help us understand some of the challenges and possible treatments. MPR News host Angela Davis shares some of her memorable conversations about mental health.
U.S. inflation worsened last month as the cost of groceries and gasoline head higher
U.S. inflation accelerated last month as the cost of groceries, gas and used cars rose. It’s a disappointment for families and businesses struggling with higher costs and likely underscoring the Federal Reserve's resolve to delay any further interest rate cuts.
Kremlin says unidentified Russian freed in U.S. in exchange for Moscow's release of Marc Fogel
A Kremlin spokesman told reporters that the unidentified individual would return to Russia “in the coming days,” and his name would be revealed when he returns home — unlike during past prisoner exchanges.
Minneapolis police are investigating links between six separate violent incidents that resulted in two people being shot and wounded early Tuesday on the city's south side. And a Twin Cities man listed as Feeding Our Future's board president testified yesterday he had no knowledge of the nonprofit and was surprised to see his signature on its documents.
More light snow Wednesday for southern Minnesota
More light snow for southern Minnesota Wednesday followed by more cold air. Another chance at snow develops Friday into Saturday. 
Trump official targeting Jan. 6 investigators worked on those cases himself
The disconnect between Bove's aggressive stance at the time to hold rioters accountable — and his current hostility towards the Jan. 6 probe — has troubled some former colleagues.
Elon Musk's DOGE takes aim at agency that had plans of regulating X
Musk and other Silicon Valley executives have long railed against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for its work overseeing the tech industry. Now, Musk hopes to eliminate the agency.
How ‘virtual’ power plants could help Minnesota charge toward a clean energy future
As it gets more expensive and costly to build traditional power plants and electric distribution systems, so-called “virtual power plants” could play an increasingly important role in meeting Minnesota’s clean energy goals.
Monty the giant schnauzer wins Westminster dog show
Monty's competition included a bichon frisé called Neal, a Skye terrier named Archer, a whippet and repeat runner-up known as Bourbon and a shih tzu called Comet who's been a finalist before.
‘I serve drinks’ testifies bartender falsely named as Feeding Our Future board president
A Twin Cities man once listed as Feeding Our Future’s board president testified in federal court on Tuesday that he had no knowledge of the organization and was surprised to see his name on its organizational chart.
White House blocks AP from event for using 'Gulf of Mexico'
The Associated Press says the White House blocked it from covering an official event on Tuesday because it did not refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.