Stories from October 3, 2025

Sean Combs sentenced to over four years in prison for prostitution-related charges
Combs had been convicted in July on two counts of transportation for prostitution. During his sentencing hearing he spoke at length for the first time in the trial, addressing the judge at length.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer spoke about what it will take to end the federal government shutdown. And a resident who witnessed an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in St. Paul's North End neighborhood says it only took about 15 minutes.
Trump tells Israel to stop bombing Gaza after Hamas agrees to release Israeli hostages
President Donald Trump said that if Hamas does not agree to the 20-point plan, as presented by Israel and the U.S., then "all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas."
Sunday's marathon is part of a path he started running in prison
A Duluth native, Andre Anderson’s first marathon was Grandma’s in 2009. His second will be this year’s Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon, for which he began training in 2021 while serving time in prison with help from nonprofit Mile in My Shoes.
State regulators approve sale of northern MN public utility to private investors
Minnesota utility regulators unanimously approved the controversial sale of Duluth-based Minnesota Power to a pair of private investment firms, one of which is owned by BlackRock, the world’s largest asset holder.
Smaller Minnesota towns adopting solar power to save money
MPR News meteorologist Paul Huttner talks to journalist Kristoffer Tigue about why smaller towns across the state are tapping into federal tax credits before they expire at the end of the year.
White Bear Lake school officials investigate enrollment process after adult poses as student
White Bear Lake Area Schools officials say they are reviewing their enrollment process, after a 22-year-old man reportedly used a false identity to enroll as a high school student.
Politics Friday: A Minnesota lawmaker with focus on fraud tries to weave through GOP governor field
MPR News host Brian Bakst speaks with Republican candidate for governor Kristin Robbins, a state representative from Maple Grove. Then, a conversation on the plan to close the Stillwater prison. 
Multiple temperature records in the 'hot seat' with latest heat wave
After historic October heat in recent years, Minnesota is once again facing a surge of record-breaking warmth. Temperatures running 20 to 25 degrees above seasonal averages are expected to break multiple records.
Talking Volumes: Patricia Lockwood's new novel is a COVID-induced fever dream
Patricia Lockwood’s new book, “Will There Ever Be Another You,” is a loosely sane account of a woman losing her mind, her body and herself after contracting COVID-19. She joined Kerri Miller in St. Paul on Sept. 25 for Talking Volumes.
Long-term closure of John Ireland Bridge over I-94 begins Monday
The John Ireland Boulevard bridge, which carries traffic over Interstate 94 and links the state Capitol and the Cathedral of St. Paul, will close for nearly a year starting Monday. MnDOT says it’ll be disassembled and rebuilt within the same footprint.
The CDC still hasn’t issued COVID vaccine guidelines, leaving access in limbo
Access to the COVID-19 vaccines remains difficult because of an unusual and unexplained delay by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in accepting recommendations from its advisers.
Supreme Court will consider overturning a strict Hawaii law regulating where people can carry guns
The Supreme Court says it will consider overturning a Hawaii law that imposes strict regulations on where people can carry guns. The Trump administration had urged the justices to take the case, arguing the law violates the court’s 2022 ruling that found people have a right to carry firearms in public under the Second Amendment. 
AI’s getting better at faking crowds. Here’s why that’s cause for concern
Odd fingers and faces in the crowd of a recent Will Smith concert video led to suspicions of AI. But AI is improving fast, and there are serious implications for how “fake” crowds might be coopted.
Trump administration cuts nearly $8B in clean energy projects in states that backed Harris
The Trump administration has announced the cancellation of $7.6 billion intended for clean energy projects across 16 states. Each of those are states where both senators voted against the Republican bill to keep the federal government open. The cuts likely will affect battery plants, hydrogen technology projects and more.
The Vikings and the Browns have brought ailing offenses with them to London
Two of the league’s least effective and most turnover-prone offenses through the first four weeks of this season will take the field at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when the Minnesota Vikings play the Cleveland Browns. 
A federal judge is allowing the state to move ahead with its lawsuit against Fleet Farm. Attorney General Keith Ellison alleges the retailer is negligent for selling guns that turned up at crime scenes, including a mass shooting.
Bemidji Symphony Orchestra premieres piece commemorating the 'Sky-Tinted Water' of Voyageurs National Park
Composer Marko Bajzer served as artist-in-residence at Voyageurs last fall and said he was inspired to write the piece by his month-long canoe trip through the park.
A Minnesota school's solution to student conflict: 'Stop everything' and talk it out
How do we prepare kids to live in a politically polarized world? At St. Paul’s Friends School of Minnesota, students are taught every day how to talk to people with whom they disagree.
MN Shortlist, Oct. 3-9: Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein' at Cine Latino and more
MN Shortlist is your weekly curated roundup of recommended arts events from MPR News, this week featuring a Bloody Mary festival, the art of Puerto Rico and its diaspora and more!
‘Echoes’ of Nordic art and tradition across the U.S. 
“Nordic Echoes — Tradition in Contemporary Art” is a major traveling exhibition showcasing how artists from the Upper Midwest are preserving and reimagining Nordic folk traditions, moving from New York’s Scandinavia House to museums across the Midwest through 2027.
Men's college hockey preview: How Minnesota’s D1 teams stack up
Men’s college hockey returns this weekend, with five of Minnesota’s six Division 1 programs hitting the ice. Here’s a look at roster changes, Minnesotans on each team, and where they’re projected to finish.