Stories from September 4, 2025

Takeaways from RFK Jr.’s contentious hearing before Senate lawmakers
Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. faced bipartisan questioning over recent changes to health agencies, vaccine approvals and other priorities at a contentious three-hour Senate hearing.
‘Kids need connection:’ Annunciation principal says planning underway to return to classes
School leaders say they may return to the school with a “soft launch” before resuming full-time instruction following a shooting that killed two students and left 21 people injured. The timeline has yet to be determined.
Bomb threats close Rochester’s Catholic schools; may be part of a national ‘swatting’ trend
All five Catholic schools in Rochester dismissed students Thursday morning, and one school was evacuated, after the school system's main office and Holy Spirit elementary school received bomb threats.
Man imprisoned for 27 years released after Georgia woman admits to Minneapolis murder
Bryan Hooper Sr. was released late Thursday morning on the order of a Hennepin County judge, who vacated his first-degree murder conviction for the 1998 killing of Ann Prazniak in Minneapolis after a woman serving a prison sentence in Georgia in an unrelated case confessed to the crime and falsely implicating Hooper.
Clipper rolls in with rain, thunder and a fall-like chill
A clipper system will bring widespread showers and a few rumbles of thunder across the state, ushering in cooler air to close out the week. The weekend will stay cool but brighter, with more sunshine in the forecast.
'An outpouring of love': Reflections from a caretaker of the memorial outside Annunciation
Annique London is one of many community members and other volunteers who have helped tend to the growing memorial outside Annunciation Church and School following last week’s shooting.
Politics Friday: Hunt for 2026 ballot spots is on with governor, U.S. Senate as marquee races
MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst talks with two Minnesota candidates looking to clinch their party’s backing in races for governor and U.S. Senate.
The FBI says Annunciation mass shooting was a hate crime. An expert breaks down what that means
Some local and national leaders have used the terms "hate crime" and "domestic terrorism" to describe the shooter's attack on students and other churchgoers at Annunciation last week.
Annunciation victim's family asks for study of mass shooters. Researcher says funding has been cut
Leah and Harry Kaiser, the parents of a student injured in the Annunciation mass shooting, asked Vance to study the causes of mass shootings in the U.S. and work to find bipartisan solutions.
Facing high health insurance costs, some patients turn to a new model of care
A growing number of patients and doctors are turning to a subscription-based health care plan, bypassing traditional health insurance. Direct primary care allows patients more access to their doctors for a monthly fee.
Surgeons share what it took to save Annunciation mass shooting victims
To get a glimpse into what it took to turn the Annunciation shooting victims into survivors, MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke with two surgeons at Hennepin Healthcare: Trauma Medical Director Dr. Chad Richardson and Vice Chair of Trauma Research Dr. Derek Lumbard.
Portugal observes national day of mourning as Lisbon streetcar death toll rises to 17
The streetcar’s crumpled wreckage was still on the downtown road where it crashed Thursday. Officials declined to speculate on whether a faulty brake or a snapped cable may have caused the accident.
Preventing gun violence: A pediatrician and researcher on possible solutions
Firearm injuries are the leading cause of death in children and teens in the U.S. MPR News guest host Catherine Richert talks with a pediatrician and a researcher about possible strategies to prevent gun violence. 
Fashion designer Giorgio Armani dead at 91
Giorgio Armani, the iconic Italian designer, has died at 91, his fashion house confirmed. Armani, known for his understated elegance, missed Milan Fashion Week in June 2025 due to an undisclosed condition.
Taylor hits 2-run double in ninth to lead White Sox to 4-3 comeback win over Twins
Brooks Baldwin had an RBI single and Michael A. Taylor followed with a go-ahead two-run double as the Chicago White Sox rallied to beat the Minnesota Twins 4-3 on Wednesday night for their fourth straight win.
Fox bosses privately called U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro ‘reckless maniac’ and more
Her colleagues made those remarks after the 2020 presidential election, when Pirro used her platform to amplify baseless claims of election fraud. She is now the U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C.
A funeral is scheduled for Sunday for Fletcher Merkel, an 8-year-old killed in last week’s mass shooting at Annunication Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis. He was killed along with 10-year-old Harper Moyski.
Cool Thursday with more rain developing
After a chilly start, clouds will increase Thursday morning with rain developing later in the afternoon into tonight. Friday will be chilly before sun returns this weekend. 
Minnesota is losing more child care providers amid rising costs and sticky red tape
More in-home child care providers in Minnesota are calling it quits, and day care centers are closing, leaving parents scrambling to find places for their children to stay while they work or attend classes.
‘It speaks to the land of my ancestors’: Minnesota artist’s geometric tapestries head to New York
Minneapolis fiber artist Tia Keobounpheng, whose work explores geometry, memory and her Finnish-Sámi heritage, will debut her new series “muitit” at her first New York solo presentation in the prestigious Armory Show, Sept. 4-7.