Stories from January 7, 2026

'Partisan fireworks' persist on Capitol Hill as Minnesota fraud hearing convenes
Live from Washington, D.C., KARE-11 investigative reporter A.J. Lagoe joined Cathy Wurzer on Morning Edition to set the scene for the Republican-led U.S. House Oversight Committee hearing on Wednesday.
What Walz's dropout means for Lt. Gov. Flanagan
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan spoke about Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz ending his reelection campaign and her run for U.S. Senate.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is calling for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to vacate the city after an agent shot and killed a woman this morning. At a press conference today, Frey angrily condemned the shooting and the ICE operation.
Thaw today! Rain snow mix south late Thursday
Temperatures hit 50 degrees Wednesday afternoon in southwest Minnesota. Thursday brings a rain to snow mix in the south.
U.S. seizes Russian-flagged oil tanker with ties to Venezuela
U.S. forces have seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the north Atlantic after a two week chase. This is part of the larger U.S. campaign aimed at tankers going to and from Venezuela.
Greg Bovino’s the star of Trump’s deportation show. We trace his roots.
Watching the Hollywood movie “The Border" as a boy set the course for Bovino's life. He couldn’t believe the Border Patrol agents in the movie were the bad guys. Now that he’s in charge of deportation efforts causing turmoil in Chicago and elsewhere, he sees himself as the good guy. Not everyone agrees.
Morning Announcements for Jan. 6 and Jan. 7
These are the Morning Announcements for Tuesday, Jan. 6 and Wednesday, Jan. 7. Tell us what you’re celebrating!
Understanding the health insurance hike after tax subsidies expire
Health insurance is about to become more expensive for tens of thousands of Minnesotans. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks about about the expiration of some of the Affordable Care Act tax credits subsidies.
Trump administration says it’s withholding social safety net money from 5 states over fraud concerns
President Donald Trump’s administration is withholding funding to help needy families with children in five states governed by Democrats. Officials cited fraud concerns as a reason for the action targeting California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York.
Warmer Wednesday followed by a rain-snow mix Thursday
Wednesday begins with areas of freezing fog and icy patches, then temperatures rise above freezing across the region with breaks of sunshine. Thursday brings a rain-snow mix with minimal accumulation expected.
Two Minnesota speed skaters qualify for Winter Olympics
Speed skaters Giorgia Birkeland of White Bear Lake and Greta Myers of Lino Lakes earned spots on Team USA with their performance at the Olympic Team Trials that wrapped up Monday in Milwaukee.
'You'll never eliminate fraud totally': Expert says Minnesota isn't an outlier in pandemic fraud
Despite fresh — and so far unfounded — allegations of fraud in Minnesota, the scandal that has dogged Gov. Tim Walz for years and ultimately led him to end his bid for reelection this week got its start during the pandemic. A fraud researcher says fraud and pandemics go hand in hand, and that very few if any governments got out of the COVID-19 crisis unscathed.
Americans drank more milk in 2024, reversing a decade-long decline
Industry experts say interest in protein consumption among consumers is likely driving growth in whole milk sales. But the trend may be a blip in the ongoing decline in U.S. milk consumption.
Accusations fly in GOP-led congressional hearing into Minnesota fraud cases
Minnesota’s reckoning with social services program fraud landed in a congressional hearing Wednesday. Republicans accused DFL Gov. Tim Walz of being complicit or unresponsive. Democrats called it a political exercise that ignores President Donald Trump’s pardons of convicted fraudsters.
Brimson Strong: How a plucky chicken named Reba inspired hope after a devastating fire
In the spring of 2025, the Camp House Fire burned more than 12,000 acres of northern Minnesota forest, destroying about 200 homes, cabins and other buildings in and around the small town of Brimson. But amid the destruction, Reba the chicken survived, and her story is helping rebuild the community.
Audit finds weak oversight, fraud risk in DHS grants
The findings in a new report by the Office of the Legislative Auditor say the Behavioral Health Administration within the Department of Human Services is failing to provide adequate oversight to disburse grant funding.