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Stories from December 17, 2025

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino says he plans to resign next month as bureau's No 2 official

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino says he plans to resign next month as bureau's No 2 official

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino says he’ll resign from the bureau next month, ending a brief tenure in which he clashed with the Justice Department over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and was forced to reconcile the realities of his law enforcement job with provocative claims he made in his prior role as a popular podcast host.
by The Associated Press

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Judge orders release of Somali man detained during ICE enforcement surge

In an order issued Wednesday, a judge said the man who is under a final deportation order, is not likely to be sent back to Somalia or any other country and should be released from custody
by MPR News Staff

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Lawsuit alleges ICE is violating rights of people observing immigration operations in Minnesota

Lawsuit alleges ICE is violating rights of people observing immigration operations in Minnesota

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is facing a lawsuit, alleging its agents have violated the rights of Minnesotans who’ve been observing recent immigration operations in the state.
by Estelle Timar-Wilcox

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4 Republicans defy Speaker Johnson to force House vote on extending ACA subsidies

4 Republicans defy Speaker Johnson to force House vote on extending ACA subsidies

Four centrist Republicans have broken with their party's leadership over health care. They've signed onto a Democratic-led petition that will force a House vote on extending for three years an enhanced pandemic-era subsidy that lowers health insurance costs for millions of Americans. 
by The Associated Press

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Israel fires mortar into Gaza residential area, wounding at least 10

Israel fires mortar into Gaza residential area, wounding at least 10

Israel’s military says troops fired a mortar shell into a Palestinian residential area in the Gaza Strip, in the latest incident to rock the tenuous ceasefire with Hamas. Health officials on Wednesday said at least 10 people were wounded, and the army said it was investigating.
by The Associated Press

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Twin Cities musician Adam Bohanan is creating 'a very funky' soundtrack for Hanukkah

Twin Cities musician Adam Bohanan is creating 'a very funky' soundtrack for Hanukkah

Adam Bohanan is putting on a show called “A Very Funky Hanukkah Show,” Thursday night at The Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis where he will share some new original Hanukkah tunes.
by Nina Moini and Aleesa Kuznetsov

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Inside the Trump administration’s man-made hunger crisis

Inside the Trump administration’s man-made hunger crisis

“Brutal and traumatizing”: Interviews and a trove of internal documents show government officials and aid workers desperately tried to warn Trump advisers about impending disaster and death.

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'People seek our food to feel close to home': Minneapolis chef says ICE fears hurt business

'People seek our food to feel close to home': Minneapolis chef says ICE fears hurt business

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents have detained hundreds of people in the Twin Cities in recent weeks. The increased activity has put the restaurant industry on edge.
by Nina Moini and Aleesa Kuznetsov

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Lumbee Tribe's federal recognition another step closer as Senate passes defense bill

Lumbee Tribe's federal recognition another step closer as Senate passes defense bill

The Senate's passage of the National Defense Authorization Act on Wednesday has also secured the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina's federal recognition as a tribal nation. The state recognized tribe, whose historic and genealogical claims have been a subject of controversy for decades, has been seeking federal recognition for generations.
by The Associated Press

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Blizzard warning for NW Minnesota; winter storm warnings north

Blizzard warning for NW Minnesota; winter storm warnings north

A fierce winter storm will bring blizzard conditions to northwestern Minnesota Thursday. Rain will change to snow in the south overnight into Thursday. Thursday will be windy and much colder with temperatures falling through the day.
by Paul Huttner

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The Oscars will move to YouTube in 2029, leaving longtime home of ABC

The Oscars will move to YouTube in 2029, leaving longtime home of ABC

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced a major change for the Oscars. Starting in 2029, the awards ceremony will stream on YouTube. ABC will continue broadcasting the event until 2028, which will mark the 100th Oscars. 
by The Associated Press

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AI's role in holiday shopping is mostly under the hood, for now, researcher says

AI's role in holiday shopping is mostly under the hood, for now, researcher says

Dayton Steele, an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management, joined Cathy Wurzer on Morning Edition to share how AI informs and aids the holiday shopping season.
by Cathy Wurzer and Gracie Stockton

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Minnesota Twins announce additions to team's ownership group

Minnesota Twins announce additions to team's ownership group

Four months after abandoning plans to sell the team, the longtime owners of the Minnesota Twins announced Wednesday that several new “limited partners” have secured stakes in the franchise. The new limited partners include Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold.
by MPR News Staff and Sarah Thamer

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In 2023, Hennepin County vowed to end chronic homelessness by now. What happened?

In 2023, Hennepin County vowed to end chronic homelessness by now. What happened?

While the goal wasn’t met, agencies and advocates press on. What they’re up against: data-gathering problems, funding shortages, and the need to win the trust of the population they serve.

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Morning Announcements for Dec. 17

Morning Announcements for Dec. 17

These are the Morning Announcements for Wednesday, Dec. 17. Tell us what you’re celebrating!
by MPR News Staff

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What does it really mean to be happy?

What does it really mean to be happy?

MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with a philosopher who says we should stop chasing happy feelings and focus instead on what it means to flourish.  
by Catharine Richert and Cari Dwyer

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Mayor Frey asks on Twin Cities residents to shop at Latino and Somali-owned businesses

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is calling on Twin Cities residents to shop at Latino and Somali-owned businesses as the Federal Department of Homeland Security has increased its presence in the Twin Cities.
by Emily Bright

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Still mild Wednesday but wintry weather is returning

Still mild Wednesday but wintry weather is returning

Clouds increase Wednesday as the next system brings rain and snow to the region Wednesday night into Thursday. Temperatures will fall Thursday into Friday for the weekend. 
by Sven Sundgaard

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Susie Wiles, White House chief of staff, criticizes Bondi and opines on Trump in Vanity Fair

Susie Wiles, White House chief of staff, criticizes Bondi and opines on Trump in Vanity Fair

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles is criticizing Attorney General Pam Bondi’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case and broadly defending Donald Trump's second presidency in a series of interviews published Tuesday.
by The Associated Press

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Kaprizov, Tarasenko, Gustavsson help Wild stay hot with 5-0 victory over Capitals

Kaprizov, Tarasenko, Gustavsson help Wild stay hot with 5-0 victory over Capitals

 Vladimir Tarasenko had two goals and an assist, Filip Gustavsson made 25 saves, and Kirill Kaprizov became Minnesota’s career leader in power-play goals in the Wild’s 5-0 win over the Washington Capitals.
by The Associated Press

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Judge frees couple charged with 'kidnapping' immigration agent as defense challenges government's account

Judge frees couple charged with 'kidnapping' immigration agent as defense challenges government's account

Attorneys for a couple charged with driving to a police station with an HSI agent in their car dispute the government’s account of the incident. A judge released both from jail pending trial.
by Matt Sepic

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Hair salon economics: Less spending on cuts, colors, nails and massages indicative of slowdown

Hair salon economics: Less spending on cuts, colors, nails and massages indicative of slowdown

If you want to get a last minute hair cut and color in time for the holidays, you still might be able to get an appointment. That’s because hair stylists, who are usually booked well in advance during the holidays, are seeing their business slow.
by Hannah Yang

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Downtown Minneapolis is struggling. Would a new Wolves and Lynx arena help?

Downtown Minneapolis is struggling. Would a new Wolves and Lynx arena help?

Downtown Minneapolis continues to struggle since the pandemic. More than a third of offices are still vacant. Would a new arena for the Timberwolves and Lynx really bring life back to downtown?
by Gretchen Brown

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Trump orders blockade of 'sanctioned oil tankers' into Venezuela, ramping up pressure on Maduro

Trump orders blockade of 'sanctioned oil tankers' into Venezuela, ramping up pressure on Maduro

President Donald Trump says he is ordering a blockade of all “sanctioned oil tankers” into Venezuela, ramping up pressure on the country’s authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro.
by The Associated Press

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State pauses new adult day care licenses amid fraud concerns

Minnesota will pause new adult day care licenses through 2028 amid fraud concerns, citing rapid growth and low demand.
by Matt Sepic

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