Stories from June 13, 2025

Students interrupted a University of Minnesota Board of Regents meeting today — protesting a sale of university land to an aerospace company that works with the U.S. Department of Defense. And the homes of several members of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents were vandalized yesterday.
Minnesota exports dropped in first quarter of 2025; state officials point to trade uncertainty
State officials say exports of goods from Minnesota to other countries dropped 6 percent in the first quarter of this year, compared to the same period in 2024. They attribute that — at least in part — to the Trump administration’s tariff policies.
Politics Friday: Digging into the one-day special session
The Minnesota Legislature’s work is done for now. On this special podcast edition of Politics Friday, MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst and reporter Ellie Roth recap a less-than-24-hours special session.
Springboard for the Arts hosts rural artists in multi-state summit in Fergus Falls
Artists from across the Upper Midwest gathered in Fergus Falls for the Rural Futures Summit, a multi-day celebration hosted by Springboard for the Arts that highlights the work of rural creatives through workshops, performances, and community-building events.
'I just walked out': The sole survivor of the Air India crash shares his story
Viswashkumar Ramesh was on his way home to London when tragedy struck. In hospital interviews, he explains how he made his way out of seat 11A — which isn't typically the safest part of the plane.
Brief break in the rain, more showers expected this weekend
A slow-moving frontal boundary stalled over southern Minnesota has brought impressive rainfall totals across the region, soaking many areas with several inches of rain over the past 24 hours. A short-lived break in the rain is expected Friday afternoon with only isolated and spotty storm chances returning Friday night.
Thomas Mallon’s NYC diaries get to the ‘Very Heart’ of the AIDS crisis
Mallon has been keeping diaries for most of his life. “The Very Heart of It” collects entries from the years 1983 to 1994, when he had recently come out as gay and moved to New York City.
5 dark tales hit shelves this week
Sometimes all it takes to make your day a little brighter is to remind yourself just how dark life can get. Here are four dark novels and a true crime tale.
Burst of rain foreshadows month ahead
Expect more murky Minnesota skies, said climatologist and meteorologist Mark Seeley. While Canadian wildfire smoke has wafted south into Minnesota, we’re also going to see rain in the forecast.
U of M regents’ properties spray-painted amid concerns about land sale to aerospace company
Several members of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents said their properties were vandalized Thursday with spray-painted messages apparently protesting the sale of university land to an aerospace company.
Trump administration gives personal data of immigrant Medicaid enrollees to deportation officials
President Donald Trump's administration has released to deportation officials the personal data for millions of Medicaid enrollees, including their immigration status.
What to know about ‘No Kings’ protests against Trump’s policies
Opponents of President Donald Trump’s administration are set to rally in nearly 2,000 cities and towns this weekend. The No Kings Day of Defiance protests will happen during the military parade in Washington on Saturday for the Army’s 250th anniversary — which coincides with Trump’s birthday.
In the wake of U.S. aid cuts, Pastor Billy is reminded of his twin sister's death from AIDS. He doesn't want 9-year-old Diana, who's HIV-positive, to meet the same fate.
By the numbers: A look at the Army’s 250th anniversary parade on Trump’s birthday
In a few days, the nation's capital will host its largest military parade in more than three decades. We look at some numbers behind the celebration and the key historical moments leading up to it.
Minnesota women’s coach Dawn Plitzuweit gets 2-year contract extension with raise
Minnesota women’s basketball coach Dawn Plitzuweit has received a two-year contract extension that was approved by the university’s board of regents. Plitzuweit is 47-29 over two seasons at Minnesota with leading scorer Mara Braun missing much of them with foot injuries. 
Appeals court blocks earlier ruling, allows Trump to command California Guard for now
A federal judge had ruled that Trump violated the law and had to turn control of the California National Guard back to the state Friday. But an appeals court put that on hold until a hearing on an appeal can be held next week.
Minnesota could lose up to $500 million annually if proposed federal funding cuts to Medicaid take effect. I-94 will be closed to traffic in both directions this weekend between I-35W and Huron Boulevard for construction.
‘Loud, obnoxious, rude:’ Unruly parents and uneven playing fields for coaches cause some to quit
Schools and youth sports organizations say the unruly parent problem is getting worse, with some coaches saying they're increasingly being harassed and even threatened by parents, making it more difficult to keep and recruit coaches.
Changes to American Indian mascot rules may make exemptions easier for school districts, tribes
The change to state rules around American Indian mascots will allow public school districts to seek support from the nearest tribal nation when seeking an exemption. Under the previous bill, districts had to seek support from all 11 tribal nations in the state and the Tribal Nations Education Committee.
New rapid transit bus line connecting the Twin Cities is set to open Saturday
The Metro B Line essentially replaces Metro Transit’s slowest bus, Route 21. The 13-mile line is expected to run faster and stop less between Union Depot in St. Paul and Lake and France streets in Minneapolis
House votes to claw back $1.1 billion from public media
The U.S. House voted Thursday on a rescission bill to claw back money for foreign aid programs, along with the next two years of funding for the public media system. The measure now goes to the Senate.
Cannabis tax hike rolled into new Minnesota budget concerns business owner
Should Gov. Tim Walz sign the budget into law, Minnesota would have one of the highest tax rates on cannabis in the country — and that’s concerning business owners like Steven Brown.
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