Stories from March 26, 2026

Trump says he'll sign order to pay TSA agents as Congress struggles to reach funding deal
The shutdown of funding for DHS, now in its 41st day, has resulted in travel delays, missed paychecks and even warnings of airport closures. TSA workers are coming up on their second missed paycheck Friday, with thousands refusing to show up for work.
 Brooklyn Park group home proposal sees opposition
MPR News host Clay Masters spoke with state Rep. Brion Curran, DFL-White Bear Lake, who opposes a bill at the Legislature that would curb new group home licensing.
Wintry feeling Friday; spring returns by Sunday
A wintry air mass linger through Friday into early Saturday. Temperatures warm considerably by Sunday afternoon.
As Gophers' Amaya Battle heads to the Sweet 16, her Hopkins coach is cheering her on
With a game-winning shot, Minnesota senior guard Amaya Battle helped get the Gophers women’s basketball team to the Sweet 16 for the first time in decades. Her former coach, Tara Starks, told MPR News she deserved that moment more than anyone.
Minneapolis police are still searching for the suspect in a hit-and-run that killed a University of St. Thomas senior last weekend. And a federal appeals court has sided with the Trump administration in a closely watched Minnesota immigration case.
El Niño could affect Minnesota's weather this year
Andrew Freedman, CNN’s senior reporter for climate and weather, spoke with MPR News about forecasts predicting an El Niño event later this year and what it could mean.
Minneapolis police seek help in locating car that struck, killed college student
Minneapolis police are asking the public for help in locating the suspect vehicle in a hit-and-run crash that killed a University of St. Thomas senior last weekend. Seham Hassen was set to graduate this spring with a degree in public health.
Transgender women athletes banned from Olympics by new IOC policy on female eligibility
Transgender women athletes are now excluded from the Olympics after the IOC agreed to a new eligibility policy It aligns with U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order on women's sports ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Survey: Federal surge had immediate and wide-ranging negative effects on Twin Cities
One of the first surveys on the impacts of the surge of federal immigration agents shows there were broad negative economic, health, education and public safety effects on the Twin Cities. The U.S. Immigration Policy Center at the University of California San Diego is behind the research.
State and local police prepare for third No Kings rally expected to draw tens of thousands
State and local law enforcement are creating security plans for what could be the largest No King rally since President Donald Trump took office. It’s estimated tens of thousands of people from across Minnesota and across the country will be participating on Saturday.
Rep. Morrison compares El Paso ICE detention facility to livestock building
Minnesota’s Democratic U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison joined Cathy Wurzer on Morning Edition to describe the conditions she saw during an unannounced oversight visit to the Camp East Montana immigration detention facility in El Paso, Texas.
Cold front brings chilly end to the workweek; weekend warmup ahead
A cold front is sweeping through Minnesota Thursday, bringing falling temperatures and setting up a much chillier end to the work week. The chill won’t last long, but the weekend warmup may come with an increased risk for fire weather conditions.
Morning Announcements for March 26
These are the Morning Announcements for Thursday, March 26. Tell us what you’re celebrating!
Timberwolves post NBA's largest overtime comeback on record from 13 points down to stun the Rockets
The Minnesota Timberwolves were missing five of their top seven players for most of their record-setting overtime rally to beat the Houston Rockets. They chose focus over frustration with a game-closing 15-0 run.
What's behind the financial crisis at HCMC, and will other hospitals be next?
Hennepin Healthcare’s flagship hospital faces a financial crisis, and county leaders hope to save it with a sales tax. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about the financial crisis at HCMC and how hospitals are struggling in the face of rising costs and Medicaid cuts.
It’s Equal Pay Day. Women have lost ground for the second year in a row
The annual observance marks how far into the new year women must work to make what men earned in the previous year. This year, it's March 26, a day later than it was in 2025.
The Mille Lacs Health System is at risk of closing its hospital and rural health clinics that serve multiple Minnesota counties. That’s because the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has withheld about $2.5 million dollars in Medicare payments since January.
Some spring showers followed by a brief blast of cooler air
A disturbance is producing some rain showers that will mix with snow in portions of northern Minnesota Thursday morning. Briefly colder air moves in with it.
ICE surge in Willmar created unexpected bonds between neighbors
Willmar stands out for its large immigrant population. When ICE agents showed up in town, many longtime residents stepped up to help their immigrant neighbors, possibly creating lasting connections.
Elvera 'Peps' Neuman is a Minnesota basketball icon. You may know her as the ‘blanket lady’
The Minnesota Gophers face off against UCLA Friday in the Sweet 16 matchup. You can bet one of the Gophers biggest fans will be there in the Sacramento stands: the Blanket Lady.
Art Hounds: Magic, memory and the mysteries of the sky
Art Hounds recommend “The Girl Who Drank the Moon,” “Vienna, Vienna, Vienna” and “Silent Sky.”
New video game engages Ojibwe language learners beyond the classroom
Reclaim! Azhe-giiwewining, a new Ojibwe‑language point‑and‑click adventure game, engages learners of all ages through story, culture and informal language use. Developed by Grassroots Indigenous Multimedia and partners, the game offers a unique experience that language learners can access outside the classroom.
Aviation security amid federal funding standoff
MPR News host Catharine Richert and her guest talk about how the standoff over federal funding for the Department of Homeland Security is affecting aviation security.