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Stories from April 17, 2026

Chef Sean Sherman: Mining near Boundary Waters an environmental threat

Chef Sean Sherman: Mining near Boundary Waters an environmental threat

Renowned Minnesota chef Sean Sherman is on the board of the environmental group Friends of the Boundary Waters. He spoke with MPR News host Clay Masters about the impacts he’s anticipating the rollback will have on native plants and wildlife.
by Clay Masters and Gretchen Brown

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Tornadoes touch down in Rochester area

Severe thunderstorms have produced tornadoes Friday afternoon in southeast Minnesota. The National Weather Service reported multiple sightings of tornadoes south and east of Rochester between 2 and 3 p.m. including a report from the Rochester Airport tower. Federal prosecutors are inching closer to a decision on whether to seek the death penalty for the man accused of killing former DFL Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark.
by Emily Reese

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Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz, but Trump says blockade on Iranian ships and ports will stay in force

Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz, but Trump says blockade on Iranian ships and ports will stay in force

Iran says the Strait of Hormuz is fully open to commercial vessels. But President Donald Trump says the American blockade on Iranian ships and ports will stay in force until Tehran reaches a deal with the U.S., including on its nuclear program.
by The Associated Press

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Minnesota bestseller Abby Jimenez on the sweet and spicy genre of romance

Minnesota bestseller Abby Jimenez on the sweet and spicy genre of romance

Prolific romance writer Abby Jimenez joins Kerri Miller on Big Book and Bold Ideas for the very first time to talk about how romance is evolving, why it’s a vital part of reading culture and which one cupcake the Nadia Cakes creator would serve to a table of famous writers.
by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

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Morning Announcements for April 16-17

Morning Announcements for April 16-17

These are the Morning Announcements for Thursday, April 16, and Friday, April 17. Tell us what you’re celebrating!
by MPR News Staff

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Deaths of migrants in ICE custody hit record high under Trump

Deaths of migrants in ICE custody hit record high under Trump

Twenty-nine people have died in ICE custody since October, the start of the federal government's fiscal year, already surpassing 2004's toll of 28, the previous record, according to government data.
by Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, Ximena Bustillo and Jasmine Garsd

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Oil tumbles 10% as Wall Street rallies to another record after Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz

Oil tumbles 10% as Wall Street rallies to another record after Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz

Oil prices are falling by more than 10 percent, and Wall Street is rallying toward another record after Iran said the Strait of Hormuz is fully open, which would allow oil tankers to exit the Persian Gulf again and carry crude to customers worldwide.
by The Associated Press

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ICE went on a hiring spree. Sterling credentials were not required, AP investigation finds

ICE went on a hiring spree. Sterling credentials were not required, AP investigation finds

Some new U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers started working before passing background checks and had problems in their past. ICE announced in January that it completed an unprecedented hiring spree, adding 12,000 officers and agents to double its force.
by The Associated Press

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Strong to severe storms possible Friday before a cold snap

Strong storms are possible with even a couple of isolated severe storms ahead of a big cold front. The Storm Prediction Center says there is an enhanced risk (level 3 out of 5) for the southeastern corner of Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin. Meanwhile, Minnesota Sen. John Hoffman and his family have filed a civil lawsuit against the man charged with shooting them last June.
by Phineas Pope

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Tornado watch issued for southeast Minnesota

Tornado watch issued for southeast Minnesota

A cold front will touch off showers, storms and even snow up north Friday. Some storms could be severe in southeastern Minnesota. A chilly weekend is on the way with warmer air again Monday.
by Sven Sundgaard

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ICE acting director Todd Lyons will resign at end of May, DHS says

ICE acting director Todd Lyons will resign at end of May, DHS says

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting director Todd Lyons, a key executor of President Donald Trump’s mass deportations agenda, will resign at the end of May, federal officials announced Thursday.
by The Associated Press

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Lynx re-sign 5-time All-Star forward Napheesa Collier

Lynx re-sign 5-time All-Star forward Napheesa Collier

The Minnesota Lynx have re-signed five-time All-Star forward Napheesa Collier. The team announced the move Thursday night but didn't provide contract details.
by The Associated Press

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Minnesota earns its 1st NCAA finals appearance in women's gymnastics, joins Oklahoma, Florida, LSU

Minnesota earns its 1st NCAA finals appearance in women's gymnastics, joins Oklahoma, Florida, LSU

Minnesota clinched the program’s first NCAA finals appearance in women’s gymnastics, joining top three seeds Oklahoma, Florida and LSU to battle for the national title. No. 13-seed Minnesota became the lowest seed to reach the final since the NCAA began seeding in 2014.
by The Associated Press

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Minnesota up against the clock on Medicaid changes

Minnesota up against the clock on Medicaid changes

Democrats and Republicans in the Minnesota Legislature say they need to either pass legislation or update existing rules soon to ensure that state programs comply with new requirements from the federal government.
by Erica Zurek

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How resilience hubs are giving climate aid before, during, and after a crisis

How resilience hubs are giving climate aid before, during, and after a crisis

Dr. Kent Boyd, a Climate Adaptation, Resilience, and Public Health Extension Educator at the University of Minnesota spoke with MPR News about what actions the public health industry is taking to adapt to climate change.
by Paul Huttner and Ben Revier

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