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Stories from March 18, 2025

Blizzard warnings set for southern Minnesota; snow mostly south of Twin Cities

Blizzard warnings set for southern Minnesota; snow mostly south of Twin Cities

Heavy snow and high winds across northern Iowa, southeastern Minnesota and central Wisconsin Wednesday. Travel along Interstate 90, Interstate 35 or Interstate 94 south and east of the Twin Cities will be difficult to impossible at times.
by Paul Huttner

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Republicans want state senator to resign after alleged attempt to solicit a minor

Top legislative Republicans want a state senator to resign after an arrest on an alleged attempt to solicit a minor, and Minnesota law enforcement officials are hoping to get new drug screening kits to officers on the roads as drug-impaired driving reports rise.
by Emily Reese

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From bridges to water pipes, federal funding bill cuts hundreds of millions for projects across Minnesota

From bridges to water pipes, federal funding bill cuts hundreds of millions for projects across Minnesota

The continuing budget resolution signed by President Donald Trump Saturday ended the threat of a government shutdown; it also cut hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for local projects across Minnesota.
by Dan Kraker

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Difficult driving, schools closed as heavy snow falls in parts of southern Minnesota

Difficult driving, schools closed as heavy snow falls in parts of southern Minnesota

A spring storm is forecast to bring blizzard conditions to a swath of southern Minnesota on Wednesday — and ahead of that, some school districts are canceling classes or moving to online learning.
by Andrew Krueger, Phil Picardi and Lukas Levin

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Judge rules DOGE’s USAID dismantling likely violates the Constitution

Judge rules DOGE’s USAID dismantling likely violates the Constitution

A federal judge ruled Tuesday that the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development likely violated the Constitution and blocked Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency from further cuts to the agency.
by The Associated Press

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Law enforcement seeks funding for roadside drug screening

Law enforcement seeks funding for roadside drug screening

Minnesota law enforcement officials are asking the state Legislature to approve and fund new roadside drug-screening tools, as drug-related impaired driving reports rise. After a year-long pilot study, officials say the tests work.
by Estelle Timar-Wilcox

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Minnesota Vikings add Jeff Okudah, the third pick in the 2020 draft, for cornerback depth

Minnesota Vikings add Jeff Okudah, the third pick in the 2020 draft, for cornerback depth

The Minnesota Vikings have agreed to terms on a contract with cornerback Jeff Okudah to add the third overall pick from the 2020 draft for depth. Okudah's career has been sidetracked by injuries.
by The Associated Press

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2025 Great Lakes shipping season starts this week. Duluth will see ships soon

2025 Great Lakes shipping season starts this week. Duluth will see ships soon

The 2025 Great Lakes shipping season will open Friday when the Poe Lock in Michigan opens. Ships will soon be on the move to and from Lake Superior ports, including in Duluth, Superior, Two Harbors and Silver Bay.
by MPR News Staff

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Special education advocacy group reacts to U.S. Education Department cuts

Special education advocacy group reacts to U.S. Education Department cuts

The U.S. Department of Education is expected to shrink by half. One of the agency’s major roles is to make sure students with disabilities can get an education, and parent advocates are bracing for effects to their children with disabilities.
by Nina Moini and Alanna Elder

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GOP leaders call on Sen. Eichorn to resign after arrest for allegedly soliciting a minor

GOP leaders call on Sen. Eichorn to resign after arrest for allegedly soliciting a minor

Bloomington police say state Sen. Justin Eichorn, R-Grand Rapids, was arrested around 6 p.m. Monday for allegedly soliciting a minor for prostitution. House and Senate Republican leaders called for Eichorn to step down.
by Peter Cox and Clay Masters

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Report: Minnesota has the third highest average cost of infant child care in the country

Report: Minnesota has the third highest average cost of infant child care in the country

Minnesota has the third highest average cost of infant child care in the U.S. according to the Economic Policy Institute. Its average cost in the state in $22,000 per year.
by Nina Moini and Aleesa Kuznetsov

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What to know about the bird flu outbreak in wild birds and what it means for backyard bird feeders

What to know about the bird flu outbreak in wild birds and what it means for backyard bird feeders

While most wild birds are susceptible to the disease, some species like mallards are more likely to carry the virus without symptoms. Others like geese tend to die in large numbers. 
by The Associated Press

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Search for U.S. student in Dominican Republic intensifies

Search for U.S. student in Dominican Republic intensifies

A Minnesota college student has not been named as a suspect but has been detained by Dominican police and is believed to be the last person to see Konanki.
by The Associated Press

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Employee fatally stabbed at Kwik Trip store in Mankato

Employee fatally stabbed at Kwik Trip store in Mankato

Authorities in Mankato say an employee at a Kwik Trip store was fatally stabbed early Tuesday. A suspect is in custody.
by MPR News Staff

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This is why Canada has plenty of eggs — and the U.S. doesn’t

This is why Canada has plenty of eggs — and the U.S. doesn’t

While the U.S. grapples with an egg shortage caused by avian flu, eggs remain plentiful and affordable in Canada. There are reasons for that, including that egg farms there tend to be smaller.
by Scott Horsley

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Morning Announcements for March 18

Morning Announcements for March 18

These are the Morning Announcements for Tuesday, March 18. Tell us what you’re celebrating!
by MPR News Staff

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Texas midwife accused by state’s attorney general of providing illegal abortions

Texas midwife accused by state’s attorney general of providing illegal abortions

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has announced that a Houston-area midwife has been arrested and accused of providing illegal abortions, marking the first time authorities have filed criminal charges under the state’s near-total abortion ban.
by The Associated Press

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Investing in women and girls to ensure their safety, health and success

Investing in women and girls to ensure their safety, health and success

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with the president and CEO of the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota about investing in women and girls to ensure their safety, health and economic success.
by Angela Davis and Cari Dwyer

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Last of the classified JFK assassination files to be released Tuesday

Last of the classified JFK assassination files to be released Tuesday

About 80,000 documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy are expected to be released, but presidential historians don't expect any bombshell revelations.
by Scott Neuman

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Early voting in Wisconsin Supreme Court race tests enthusiasm on both sides, with key cases likely

Early voting in Wisconsin Supreme Court race tests enthusiasm on both sides, with key cases likely

Wisconsin voters are casting the first ballots in a pivotal state Supreme Court race that will determine whether liberal or conservative justices control the highest court in the crucial presidential battleground.
by The Associated Press

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Feeding Our Future closing arguments could come Tuesday morning

After 19 days of testimony over more than five weeks, closing arguments could come Tuesday morning in the Feeding Our Future trial. And Minnesota’s first rapid transit bus line that mostly runs in its own lane opens on Saturday.
by Phil Picardi

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Pacers stop Wolves’ streak at 8 with a 132-130 win

Pacers stop Wolves’ streak at 8 with a 132-130 win

Obi Toppin’s fourth 3-pointer of overtime came with 3.5 seconds left to lift the short-handed Indiana Pacers over Minnesota 132-130 and end the Timberwolves’ eight-game winning streak.
by The Associated Press

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Hundreds killed as Israel launches a series of airstrikes on Gaza

Hundreds killed as Israel launches a series of airstrikes on Gaza

Israel said the Tuesday attacks were launched after Hamas refused to release more hostages held in Gaza. The strikes raise the prospect of a full resumption of war after a nearly two-month ceasefire.
by Anas Baba, Daniel Estrin and Kat Lonsdorf

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Winter storm Wednesday takes aim at southern Minnesota

Winter storm Wednesday takes aim at southern Minnesota

Our active March weather continues. Enjoy a quiet day Tuesday, though it’ll be cooler. Wintry weather with heavy snow develops for Wednesday south and southeast.
by Sven Sundgaard

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Planters, growers stuck rooted to ever-changing landscape amid tariff war

Planters, growers stuck rooted to ever-changing landscape amid tariff war

The Trump administration’s recent tariffs on Mexican and Canadian products leave many in the agricultural and horticultural industries anxious and worried about unfulfilled contracts or trying to figure out how they’re going to take on the financial losses as the growing expenses are mounting on their bottom line. 
by Hannah Yang

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Minnesota’s first rapid transit line mostly on a bus-only lane opens Saturday

Minnesota’s first rapid transit line mostly on a bus-only lane opens Saturday

If you’ve ever been stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Interstate 94, you may have wished you were speeding down a car-free lane beside the highway. That lane soon will be a reality for the Gold Line, Metro Transit’s sixth rapid transit route opening Saturday.
by Alex Haddon

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The VA will deny gender dysphoria treatment to new patients

The VA will deny gender dysphoria treatment to new patients

While the VA never offered gender-affirming surgery, it did offer treatments like hormone therapy. The agency says less than than 0.1 percent of the 9 million veterans it provides care for identify as trans.
by Huo Jingnan

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