Stories from February 15, 2025

Hong Kong residents compete to name twin panda cubs who just turned 6 months old
Panda craze has once again gripped Hong Kong as residents compete to name the territory’s first locally-born giant panda cubs who just turned six months old. The competition launched Saturday following a celebratory ceremony at Ocean Park which houses the twins, their parents and two other giant pandas.
Eastern U.S. braces for flooding while snow will hit Northeast. The Plains will be frigid
 Much of the eastern U.S. is bracing for a renewed round of harsh, soggy weather, while snowstorms were predicted in the Northeast. Heavy winds are bringing the threat of tornadoes to the Mississippi Valley. Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia and Arkansas were under flood warnings.
Daytona after Dark: The good times never stop, even when the NASCAR racing does
When the sun goes down at Daytona International Speedway, the green flag drops on the infield bash that annually celebrates the over-the-top campy nature of Daytona 500 race week. Wheel out the wheelbarrows. One Minnesotan, JR Richards, and his camping setup double as the hot spot for karaoke night, and everyone is invited.
Valentine’s Day snowstorm contributes to hundreds of traffic crashes, moderate snowfall in north
A Valentine’s Day snowstorm made Minnesota lakes as beautiful as a love letter, but it also made roadways hazardous. The Minnesota State Patrol reported 385 crashes on statewide roads on Friday, including 25 with injuries.
Renata Fast scores in OT as Sceptres come back to beat Frost 3-2 in Natalie Spooner’s return
Renata Fast scored late in overtime to give the Toronto Sceptres a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Frost on Tuesday night in reigning MVP Natalie Spooner’s return from knee surgery. Fast beat Minnesota goalie Maddie Rooney on a breakaway with 3.7 seconds left in 3-on-3 OT, ending a game in which Spooner had a point in her season debut.
Light snow chances followed by arctic chill
A slight disturbance will bring light snow chances, primarily to areas near and east of the metro area, on Saturday night, with only minor accumulations expected. High pressure will then settle in, ushering in a harsh arctic air mass that will dominate the week, bringing extremely cold temperatures.
German chancellor slams Vance's call for Europe to be inclusive of far-right parties
Olaf Scholz rebuked U.S. Vice President JD Vance for suggesting that far-right parties should not be shut out of government. Germany's other political parties have refused to work with the far-right AfD.
AP reporter and photographer barred from Air Force One over 'Gulf of Mexico' terminology dispute
The Trump administration has blocked The Associated Press from traveling with President Trump on Air Force One and also from covering an Oval Office event. It's part of an ongoing terminology dispute over the Gulf of Mexico. The administration criticized AP's “commitment to misinformation” in not adopting Trump's name change to “Gulf of America” in all of its copy.
Woman drops suit accusing Sean 'Diddy' Combs and Jay-Z of raping her when she was 13
The suit was initially filed in October, claiming that the woman was lured by a limousine driver outside the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards and assaulted by the two rappers at an after-party.
The latest: Federal workers face mass layoffs
Federal workers all over the country have responded with anger and confusion Friday toward President Donald Trump’s aggressive effort to shrink the size of the federal workforce. And second federal judge on Friday paused Trump’s executive order halting federal support for gender-affirming care for transgender youth under 19. This comes after a U.S. District Court Judge granted a temporary restraining order after the Democratic attorneys general of Washington state, Oregon and Minnesota sued the Trump administration last week.
New York police say Minnesota trans man was tortured for a month, then killed
New York State Police have charged five people with murder in the killing of a missing Minnesota man who authorities said died following repeated acts of violence and torture for more than a month by multiple individuals who later discarded his body in a field.
A day of remembrance honors, spotlights missing and murdered Indigenous relatives
Hundreds of people wearing red or black shirts and holding large posterboard signs reflecting messages of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives movement filled the Minneapolis American Indian Center’s gym on Friday. Events marking the Feb. 14 day of remembrance took place around the state.
Hamas frees 3 hostages, Israel releases hundreds of prisoners as fragile ceasefire holds
Hamas-led militants have released three male Israeli hostages, and Israeli forces began releasing hundreds of prisoners in return, in the latest indication that the fragile ceasefire deal that has paused fighting in the Gaza Strip but that had teetered in recent days, is holding.
Pope spends quiet first night in hospital, continues drug therapy and reads papers, Vatican says
The Vatican says Pope Francis slept well during a quiet first night in the hospital after being admitted with a respiratory tract infection. Francis, 88, ate breakfast Saturday morning and read the newspapers while continuing his drug therapy. Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Friday after a weeklong bout of bronchitis worsened.
Napheesa Collier takes home $200K and Unrivaled 1-on-1 crown, beating Aaliyah Edwards in final
Napheesa Collier of the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx took home $200,000 after she beat Washington Mystics forward Aaliyah Edwards in the final of Unrivaled’s 1-on-1 tournament. Unrivaled commissioner Micky Lawler says the winner’s check was the largest one-day prize in women’s basketball history.
Trump officials signal potential changes at NOAA, the weather and climate agency
Federal workers at the home agency for the National Weather Service are concerned about a potential overhaul by Trump officials focused on cutting government costs.
Timberwolves dancer who became Minneapolis ‘Love Is Blind’ contestant takes us inside the pods
Imagine dating and even getting engaged to someone — without ever seeing what they look like. That’s the “experiment” 32 singles from Minnesota signed on for in the new season of “Love Is Blind.”
Stolen F. Scott Fitzgerald statue recovered in pieces in St. Paul; suspect charged
St. Paul police on Friday announced the arrest of a man in connection with the theft of a statue of the author F. Scott Fitzgerald. The man is accused of cutting the statue into pieces, and trying to sell it to a metal recycler.
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