Stories from April 21, 2026

What it takes to make elections secure and accessible
Coming up at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, MPR News host Angela Davis talks with Minnesota’s Secretary of State and an election security expert about how our election systems can balance security with access.
A bill that enhances penalties for coercion passed the House unanimously Monday. The bill is called Carter's Law, after Carter Bremseth. He was a 16-year-old from Olivia, Minnesota. Carter died by suicide after a scammer pressured him to send nude photos and then extorted him. Meanwhile, nursing home workers at five metro-area homes launched a three-day unfair labor practices strike Monday.
Even warmer today and tomorrow; storms possible Thursday
The warm up continues as 70s return to most of southern Minnesota today. Tomorrow will be windy and even warmer with widespread 80s. Storms are possible again Thursday.
Johnston and Stars beat Wild 4-2 in Game 2 to even their first-round playoff series
Wyatt Johnston had two goals and Matt Duchene scored a tiebreaking power-play goal as the Dallas Stars beat the Minnesota Wild 4-2 in Game 2 to even their Western Conference first-round playoff series at a game apiece.
‘Houses are just gone’: Stewartville, Marion Township clean up after Friday’s tornadoes
Clean up efforts are underway in parts of Rochester, Stewartville and other communities in SE Minnesota after tornados swept through the region Friday afternoon. Olmsted County’s sheriff says at least 60 to 70 homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed.
 Nobles County board to vote on whether to allow massive data centers on farm land
The Nobles County board is expected to vote Tuesday on zoning change that would allow for data centers to be built on farmland in the southwestern Minnesota county. The county's planning commission rejected the measure earlier this month as hundreds of people voiced opposition.