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Traffic congestion hits a record high, spreading to more hours of the week
If it seems like traffic is getting worse where you live, that’s because it probably is. After dropping during the COVID-19 pandemic, congestion climbed to record levels in 2024, researchers say.
A couple more rounds of snow and cold Friday into the weekend
The active and cold pattern continues. Friday will be briefly warmer and near 30 degrees ahead of another round of snow showers. More snow showers are possible Saturday followed by cold. 
NPR battles Trump executive order in court
NPR was in court for a pivotal hearing arguing that the Trump administration had broken the law with its treatment of public media.
The World Cup draw is here. Here’s why it matters — and how it will work
FIFA is about to determine which teams all 48 participating countries in the FIFA World Cup 2026 will face in the group phase of the tournament, which the U.S., Canada and Mexico are co-hosting.
Minnesota Wild lose 4-1 to the Calgary Flames
Dustin Wolf made 26 saves, Jonathan Huberdeau ended a scoring drought and the Calgary Flames beat the surging Minnesota Wild 4-1 on Thursday night. The Flames handed the Wild their first regulation loss since Nov. 6. Minnesota was 10-0-2 during the run.
How a Carleton College alum went from Northfield to ‘Saturday Night Live’
Claire McFadden, a Carleton College graduate, talked with MPR News about how she got started in comedy, her decision to pursue it as a career, and how her time in Minnesota prepared her for this highly coveted opportunity.
MN Shortlist: Winter stories, warmer rooms — 6 picks for Dec. 5–Dec. 11
December arrives like a season that knows it’s putting on a show. The city fills with borrowed memories, holiday oddities, local stories and a little frost for dramatic effect. This week’s picks slip right into that cast, where familiar traditions get re-staged and the past refuses to stay backstage.