Stories from August 19, 2025

Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed a lawsuit against the social media app TikTok, claiming it's harming children. West Nile Virus cases have been on the rise in the U.S., and neighboring states like North and South Dakota have seen a rise in the mosquito borne disease. And rivers are still rising across parts of southern Minnesota... in the wake of heavy rain in recent days.
Minnesota DNR stocks fish pond ahead of State Fair opening
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources stocked its popular State Fair fish pond Tuesday morning. There, fairgoers can see the rare paddlefish and prehistoric lake sturgeon, plus a few dozen more species.
Many North Dakotans are receiving smaller checks from oil companies pumping on their land
Across the border in North Dakota, companies pump oil on private land and send the owners a check. Recently, those checks have been coming in smaller amounts. A reporter explains what’s behind the shift.
WNBA postseason race heats up with teams jockeying for playoff position behind Minnesota
With less than a month left in the WNBA regular season, the Minnesota Lynx have a firm lock on the top seed in the playoffs. The rest of the postseason picture is still up in the air, with more than half the league jockeying for positioning. Minnesota has looked like the best team all season even with star forward Napheesa Collier sidelined with a right ankle sprain.
Talking Gen Z: How young people today use slang
Every generation has its slang. From “groovy” and “far out” to “lit” and “slay.” MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a linguist and a St. Paul poet and hip-hop artist to unpack the slang of 2025.
Minnesota service dog nonprofit establishes fund in honor of Melissa and Mark Hortman
The Hortman Heroes Fund — in honor of Minnesota House DFL leader Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark and their dog Gilbert — will be focused on programs that train service dogs for veterans and first responders with PTSD.
An AI divide is growing in schools. This camp wants to level the playing field
For years, research has shown a digital divide when it comes to schools teaching about new technologies. Educators worry that this could leave some students behind in an AI-powered economy.
A Minnesota blood center declared a blood emergency due to a shortage throughout the state. Memorial Blood Centers says the state’s blood supply has dropped below a two-day inventory. A seven-day supply is needed to meet the demands of hospitals and patients.
Gun violence hits Black communities hardest. Trump is rolling back prevention efforts
The suffering of America’s gun violence crisis is concentrated in Black neighborhoods damaged by decades of disinvestment and racial discrimination. Trump is unravelling efforts to solve the problem.
‘A patchwork of prohibition’: Cities, counties find ways to block cannabis businesses
Cities like Silver Bay have adopted ordinances that prohibit cannabis businesses, even though it’s against state law. But small business owners don’t have the money or time to take them to court.
Rochester considers delaying clean energy goal
Brian Ross from the Great Plains Institute said several changes by the Trump administration are creating an uncertain situation for cities like Rochester that are trying to move toward cleaner energy sources.