Stories from May 15, 2026

Bill addressing social media accounts for minors passes Minnesota Senate
The bill would require parental consent for children under the age of 16 to create social media accounts, and would limit data mining, targeted advertising and addictive features on those accounts. It passed the Senate unanimously Friday.
An oil analyst says refining issues in the nearby Great Lakes region has contributed to a gas price spike in Minnesota. The platform GasBuddy says the average price in the state as of today is about $4.45 a gallon, up nearly 30 cents from earlier this week. Minnesota Democratic lawmakers held a sit-in overnight at the Capitol.... demanding that Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth let a gun violence prevention bill face a House vote.
Man shot by officer in Virginia, Minn., had history of severe mental illness
Court records show that a man fatally shot by police in Virginia, Minn., on May 1 suffered from mental illnesses including schizophrenia and severe methamphetamine use disorder. Police released video of the incident on Friday.
Minnesota lawmakers deal as 2026 session nears end
MPR News host Clay Masters and the politics team recap a week in state politics and the remaining days of the legislative session.
Wildfires prompt evacuations, highway closures in northeast Minnesota
Fire crews were working from the ground and the air late Friday to contain a wildfire that prompted evacuations and the closure of a stretch of Highway 61 along the North Shore, northeast of Two Harbors.
Fire weather danger ceases as wetter weather pattern takes hold
After a stretch of warm and sunny weather, changes are on the way as the atmosphere becomes more active. Attention then turns to a stalled frontal boundary that could spark thunderstorms across parts of southeastern Minnesota Friday night.
Journey of a lifetime: A Minnesota teen Buddhist lama is now a monk studying in the Himalayan foothills
A teenage Buddhist lama recently blessed thousands at a monastery in the Himalayan foothills. Just six months earlier and thousands of miles away, he was pulling all-nighters to play Madden NFL on his Xbox at his home in a Minneapolis suburb.
Minneapolis schools set to offer free meals to kids this summer
More than 60 schools, parks, recreation centers, libraries and community sites will provide food, which must be eaten on site. Nonprofits across the Twin Cities and Minnesota will also offer summer meal opportunities.
Morning Announcements for May 15
These are the Morning Announcements for Friday, May 15. Tell us what you’re celebrating!
Minnesota budget deal offers $205 million lifeline to HCMC
Lawmakers are finalizing the details of the agreement, but they plan to direct $205 million from the state's general fund to stabilize HCMC's funding for this year.
Sit-in, sharp words over gun bill feed tumult in legislative session’s final days
Minnesota House Democrats staged a sit-in protest Friday in an effort to force a vote on gun restrictions and school safety measures. About a dozen DFLers remained in the chamber overnight following a failed effort to bring the bill up on Thursday night.
Natasha Howard and Courtney Williams lead Lynx to 90-86 win over Wings
Natasha Howard scored 26 points as the Minnesota Lynx defeat the Dallas Wings 90-86. Howard's tiebreaking layup with 51 seconds left, assisted by rookie Olivia Miles, helped seal the win.
Call to Mind: The Fifth Branch
In partnership with the “Tradeoffs” podcast, how Durham, North Carolina, reimagined its mental health crisis-response system.
A stretch of Interstate 94 in Minneapolis and St. Paul will be closed all weekend — starting Friday at 10 p.m. Westbound 94 closes between I-35-E and Dale Street in St. Paul, starting at 10 p.m. Eastbound 94 closes between I-35-W and I-35-E starting at 11 p.m.
Very warm and windy with red flag warnings Friday
Very warm, dry and windy weather is leading to elevated fire weather conditions Friday. Temperatures will soar into the 80s. A stormy setup develops for Sunday and Monday.
Who gives a honk? As Rochester works to curb geese population, some residents push back
Rochester has a goose problem: There are way too many of them. The city is working to reduce the goose population, but the effort is getting some pushback, as many in Rochester see the waterfowl as a core part of the city’s identity.
MN Shortlist May 15-21: Art-A-Whirl, myths in Winona and immersive theater in a mansion
Here are our recommendations for what to see at one of the biggest Minneapolis art events of the year, as well as a look at theater, music, art exhibits and other events throughout the state.