Stories from August 7, 2025

Duluth man thrown from boat in Lake Superior shares details of his swim to safety
The man who was thrown from a boat in Lake Superior last week and swam to safety is sharing his story, and how he swam in the darkness to an island before flagging down a boat to rescue him.
How people are fighting climate change on multiple fronts, amid climate skepticism
MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner continues his conversation with author Alan Weisman about the many ways people are combating climate change across the globe.
The man charged with killing the top Democrat in the Minnesota House and her husband, and wounding a state senator and his wife, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in federal court Thursday. An MPR News investigation has found that several Minneapolis police trainers were accused of using excessive force in civil lawsuits the city settled before they received their current assignments.
Two die when helicopter crashes into a barge in the Mississippi River near Illinois
Two people working on powerlines near the Mississippi River died Thursday when their helicopter hit the lines, crashed into a barge and sparked a fire that belched plumes of black smoke, officials said.
Months after shooting in south Minneapolis, community shows up for National Night Out
Residents of one apartment building in south Minneapolis gathered Tuesday on National Night Out to eat and play games. Organizers of the event say it was an important opportunity for residents to connect with one another after their neighborhood had been rocked by violence this past April.
What to know as Trump's immigration crackdown strips tuition breaks from thousands of students
Tens of thousands of U.S. college students without legal residency are losing access to in-state tuition as part of the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration. The Justice Department has been suing states to end these tuition breaks.
Help me cook with seasonal produce
Summer in Minnesota is the perfect time to take advantage of local produce and neighborhood farmers’ markets. How do you make sure all that produce doesn’t go to waste?
As youth sports grow more intense, some coaches and officials struggle with parent behavior
MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with two youth sports coaches about how they set expectations for parents, players, and fellow coaches — and what it takes to cool down when behavior off the field gets too heated. 
Ultra-processed food consumption is down a bit, but still more than 50 percent of U.S. diet
Americans get about 55 percent of our calories from tasty, cheap — and unhealthy — manufactured foods, the latest data from CDC says. For kids, the percentage is even higher.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty will not run for reelection in 2026. In a statement, Moriarty said she is choosing to focus on reforms and wants to spend the next 17 months "running the office, rather than running for office."
Trump calls for U.S. census to exclude for the first time people with no legal status
Trump is calling for a "new" census that excludes people in the U.S. without legal status. The 14th Amendment requires the "whole number of persons in each state" in a key set of census results.
What to know as Trump’s immigration crackdown strips tuition breaks from thousands of students
Tens of thousands of U.S. college students without legal residency are losing access to in-state tuition as part of the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration. The Justice Department has been suing states to end these tuition breaks. 
Minnesota author takes readers on scenic journey of North Shore in new book
Retired professor Arnold Alanen has researched and written an extensive history of the buildings along Highway 61 and the stories of the people who shaped the North Shore. He joined Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer to give a glimpse into his new book, “The Scenic Route.”
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty won’t run for a second term
In a statement, Moriarty said that rather than running for reelection next year, she is instead “choosing to focus on creating enduring change in the system” over the remaining 17 months of her term.
Steamy with some storm chances, especially Friday night into Saturday
Dew points will be in the humid 70s Thursday and Friday. Heat indices could reach the triple digits Friday. Isolated to spotty storms are possible with the best chances Friday night into Saturday. 
Man charged with shooting Minnesota lawmakers pleads not guilty
The man charged with killing the top Democrat in the Minnesota House and her husband, and wounding a state senator and his wife, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in federal court on Thursday.
Four Minneapolis officers were accused of excessive force — and now train other police
The Minneapolis police officer who fatally shot Amir Locke and until recently led MPD’s use-of-force training is not the only trainer whose record has raised concerns over the department’s commitment to changing its culture.
'We did not want to take this guy’: Abuse rates higher at nursing homes with more mental illness
Nursing homes are designed to care for patients with physical infirmities. But nationwide, 1 in 5 residents has been diagnosed with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia or psychosis — conditions few of the facilities are equipped to handle. A new data analysis from APM Research Lab shows that can lead to higher levels of abuse, putting both residents and staff at risk.
‘They are remembered’: Hundreds gather to honor Ojibwe who died 175 years ago
175 years have passed since what is now known as the Sandy Lake Tragedy, an event that unfolded during the 1850 removal of Lake Superior Ojibwe tribes by the U.S. government. For the last two decades, descendants and allies have gathered at Big Sandy Lake near McGregor in remembrance. 
The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy filed lawsuits against two Minnesota cities Tuesday, claiming the cities did not adequately study the environmental impact of what it claims are large-scale data centers.