Stories from November 14, 2025

Jury awards $12.5M to woman abused as child by skating coach
A Hennepin County jury has awarded $12.5 million to a woman sexually abused as a child by her figure skating coach, who is serving a 24-year sentence.
Record warmth gives way to a cooler weekend
The mildest air mass on record so late in November blew into Minnesota Friday.
Scientists pull ancient RNA from a woolly mammoth's body
Scientists have extracted the oldest RNA molecules out of a woolly mammoth, gaining a snapshot into the processes at work in the extinct mammal's body just before it died.
A DFL state lawmaker is running for Congress in an attempt to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach in a district representing a wide swath of western Minnesota. And Minneapolis climate advocates face a Monday deadline to complete the purchase of a site for an urban farm project... and they're short several million dollars.
Put your rake down! Fallen leaves are healthy for soil and wildlife
Scientists say leaving autumn leaves on the ground can add important nutrients to the soil and create needed habitat for insects.
Indigenous activist John Trudell remembered through music, art
The late John Trudell was an advocate for Native American rights; he was also an author, actor and musician. Trudell's memory will be celebrated on Saturday in Minneapolis.
Fall glitches as record-high temperatures soar Friday
A burst of unseasonable warmth is sweeping across the region Friday, sending mid-November temperatures soaring far above normal and potentially breaking daily records.
Weekend closure planned for Interstate 494 in Bloomington
The Minnesota Department of Transportation said the closure will affect a long stretch of Interstate 494 in Bloomington — first the westbound lanes and eventually in both directions.
Morning Announcements for Nov. 14
These are the Morning Announcements for Friday, Nov. 14. Tell us what you’re celebrating!
Bodies of 15 Palestinians returned by Israel, health officials in Gaza say
Israel has returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians to Gaza, according to officials at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis. The move is part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement and follows the return of the body of an Israeli hostage, Meny Godard, by militants.
The developer of a controversial proposed data center in the northeastern Minnesota city of Hermantown has paused the project to gather more community input.
Late season warmth Friday followed by a cold front this weekend
Anomalous warmth will peak Friday with highs well into the 60s across southern Minnesota. Some spots in southwestern Minnesota could reach nearly 70 degrees. A cold front moves through early Saturday. 
Some Minnesota farmers could feel the government shutdown well after it ends
The government shutdown halted payments to farmers who participated in conservation programs. Even though the government has reopened, farmers may still face delays in receiving their funds.
Environmental advocates face final deadline to buy Roof Depot site in Minneapolis
A yearslong effort to create an urban farm in south Minneapolis could soon come to a halt. A neighborhood group faces a Monday deadline to buy the Roof Depot site from the city — but they’re millions of dollars short after promised state funding fell through.
10 years after Jamar Clark's killing, former Minneapolis police inspector still has questions
Saturday marks 10 years since the shooting of Jamar Clark by two Minneapolis police officers. Massive protests erupted in the aftermath, as and the community occupied the Fourth Precinct Police Station for 18 days.
MN Shortlist: From vinyl to verse — seven picks for Nov. 14–20
From Tom Waits’s 35mm fever dream to a queer book fair, dance theater and open studios, this week’s MN Shortlist rounds up the art, sounds and stories worth stepping out into the chill for.
Itasca County looks toward a coal-free economy
Minnesota’s carbon-free electricity goal will have significant impacts on parts of the state where coal is a major player in the economy. Itasca County Commissioner John Johnson spoke to Paul Huttner about how his corner of northern Minnesota is planning for that transition.
Minnesota hemp-THC producers say they’re ready to fight federal hemp ban
Minnesota’s hemp-derived THC industry is ready to defend itself from a federal ban that was passed on Wednesday. The ban caps hemp products like beverages and edibles to 0.4 milligrams of THC per container.