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Stories from December 4, 2025

Owner of Lutsen Lodge charged with arson in fire that destroyed iconic resort

The owner of the iconic Lutsen Resort Lodge along the North Shore of Lake Superior has been arrested and charged in connection with the fire that destroyed the lodge in early 2024. Bryce Campbell was charged with three counts of first-degree arson and one count of insurance fraud. Gov. Walz criticizes Trump's 'vile' remarks about Somali immigrants.
by Emily Reese

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Chilly start, warmer finish; snow chances ahead

Chilly start, warmer finish; snow chances ahead

After a brisk start Thursday, milder air arrives tonight ahead of light snow from a fast-moving Friday clipper that could drop several inches across central Minnesota.
by Mandy Thalhuber

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Owner of Lutsen Lodge charged with arson in fire that destroyed iconic resort

Owner of Lutsen Lodge charged with arson in fire that destroyed iconic resort

Bryce Campbell, the owner of the Lutsen Resort Lodge on Lake Superior’s North Shore, has been arrested on charges of arson and insurance fraud for his alleged role in the fire that destroyed the lodge in early 2024.
by Dan Kraker

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Mountain lion spotted in Duluth has been wandering across Minnesota for 3 months

Mountain lion spotted in Duluth has been wandering across Minnesota for 3 months

DNR officials say they’ve been tracking the mountain lion’s journey across the state. It is originally from Nebraska, but was first spotted in Fergus Falls, Minn. in September.
by Dan Kraker and Aleesa Kuznetsov

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Lawmakers react to Trump comments about Somali immigrants, ICE confirms arrests

Lawmakers react to Trump comments about Somali immigrants, ICE confirms arrests

Gov. Tim Walz on Thursday sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s recent disparaging statements about Somali immigrants, calling the remarks “vile, racist lies and slander towards our fellow Minnesotans.”
by MPR News Staff

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Former Republican political hopeful denounces party's attacks on his Somali community

Former Republican political hopeful denounces party's attacks on his Somali community

Salman Fiqy, who is Somali and has been active with the Republican party, says he can no longer support the party after President Donald Trump’s recent xenophobic comments.
by Nina Moini, Kirsti Marohn and Alanna Elder

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St. Paul City Council approves budget, property tax increase

St. Paul City Council approves budget, property tax increase

The St. Paul City Council has approved an $883 million budget for 2026. It includes a 5.3 percent property tax increase, money for development in cultural corridors and downtown, and funding for immigration legal defense.
by Estelle Timar-Wilcox

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‘Creating fear and chaos’: ICE officials target Somali neighborhoods, scoop up U.S. citizens in sweep

‘Creating fear and chaos’: ICE officials target Somali neighborhoods, scoop up U.S. citizens in sweep

Local activists reported a series of arrests across the Twin Cities, including outside Somali housing areas, malls and at a Latino day labor spot, after a contingent of ICE agents descended on the Twin Cities.

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Morning Announcements for Dec. 4

Morning Announcements for Dec. 4

These are the Morning Announcements for Thursday, Dec. 4. Tell us what you’re celebrating!
by MPR News Staff

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FBI arrests suspect in investigation into pipe bombs planted near DNC, RNC before Jan. 6 attack

FBI arrests suspect in investigation into pipe bombs planted near DNC, RNC before Jan. 6 attack

The FBI has spent years searching for the person who put bombs near the Democratic and Republican committee headquarters, hours before the assault on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
by Carrie Johnson

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Kitchens of Hope: The recipes and stories that immigrants bring to Minnesota

Kitchens of Hope: The recipes and stories that immigrants bring to Minnesota

Family recipes connect us to our roots. MPR News guest host Kelly Gordon talks with a cookbook author and a chef from Mexico about the recipes and stories immigrants carry with them to Minnesota.  
by Kelly Gordon and Maja Beckstrom

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How Minnesota became a hub for Somali immigrants in the U.S.

How Minnesota became a hub for Somali immigrants in the U.S.

Minnesota boasts the largest population of Somalis in the U.S. — a community that’s recently faced attacks from President Trump. Here’s a brief history of how they came to settle there.
by Joe Hernandez

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‘We are here’: In St. Cloud, Somali community pushes back against Trump’s ‘garbage’ comments

‘We are here’: In St. Cloud, Somali community pushes back against Trump’s ‘garbage’ comments

More than 100 people gathered in St. Cloud on Wednesday for an event aimed at showing unity and solidarity. Somali residents and other community members said they felt compelled to speak out against what they call the president’s unfair and divisive rhetoric.
by Kirsti Marohn

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Temperatures rise through Friday with light snow

Temperatures rise through Friday with light snow

After a chilly start Thursday, temperatures will slowly rise throughout the day with highs set near midnight. Light snow could be just enough for slippery roads Friday morning.
by Brandon Weatherz

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‘New York Times’ sues Pentagon over media restrictions

‘New York Times’ sues Pentagon over media restrictions

The Times accuses Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth of violating its constitutional rights with a press policy that, the paper says, deprives the public of access to critical national security information.
by David Folkenflik

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Minneapolis executive order prohibits using city-owned spaces for ICE operations

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey says President Donald Trump is acting in “flat-out, un-American” fashion by targeting Somali Americans and referring to them as “garbage.” Frey has signed an executive order prohibiting federal, state and local agencies from using city-owned parking lots, ramps, garages or vacant lots to stage civil immigration enforcement operations.
by Phil Picardi

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Four years after being dropped by the U of M, men’s gymnastics team has a home

Four years after being dropped by the U of M, men’s gymnastics team has a home

In 2021, U of M Men’s Gymnastics was one of several athletic programs the University cut. With no NCAA affiliation or monetary support from the school, the program had to sustain itself. Now, for the first time as an independent club program, the team has its own 14,000-square- foot facility in St. Paul to call home.
by Nina Moini and Aleesa Kuznetsov

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Batteries need manganese but talk of mining the mineral roils northern Minnesota’s lake country

Batteries need manganese but talk of mining the mineral roils northern Minnesota’s lake country

There’s a renewed effort in northern Minnesota’s Brainerd Lakes area to develop an underground mine for manganese, which is coveted to make batteries. Many local residents are uneasy.
by Dan Kraker

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Beltrami County Board approves cuts to libraries and other community services

Beltrami County Board approves cuts to libraries and other community services

The Beltrami County Board of Commissioners finalized next year's county budget earlier this week. As a result, funding for the county museum, public transit and both Blackduck and Bemidji libraries will be cut by about forty percent.
by Mathew Holding Eagle III

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State economic forecast shows near-term surplus, long-term deficit that is smaller than before

State economic forecast shows near-term surplus, long-term deficit that is smaller than before

State finance officials say lawmakers will have about $2.5 billion at their disposal next year but also have to guard against a $3 billion shortfall years into the future.
by Dana Ferguson and Peter Cox

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Fargo chef on her perfect bagel, meshing Nordic-Jewish fare and her new cookbook

Fargo chef on her perfect bagel, meshing Nordic-Jewish fare and her new cookbook

When Andrea Baumgardner opened BernBaum’s in downtown Fargo in 2016, she was inspired by classic lunch counter delis, like B&H Dairy in New York City. A new cookbook memorializes her recipes.
by Clay Masters and Gretchen Brown

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CEO of U.S. Bancorp weighs in on the economy, tariffs and AI

CEO of U.S. Bancorp weighs in on the economy, tariffs and AI

Chris Farrell, senior economics contributor for MPR News, speaks with the CEO of U.S. Bancorp, Gunjan Kedia. The conversation was part of the Minnesota Carlson First Tuesday Speaker Series at the University of Minnesota.
by Chris Farrell

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Big cat on the prowl: Mountain lion spotted in Duluth

Big cat on the prowl: Mountain lion spotted in Duluth

Duluth police have confirmed that a mountain lion was spotted in the city on Tuesday afternoon. Students were brought inside two nearby schools for a short time.
by Dan Kraker

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