Minnesota News

MPR News is your go-to source for Minnesota news and stories.

From local stories from your Minnesota neighbors to breaking news updates across the state, we have you covered.

Dog helps family escape fire at Duluth home
Fire officials in Duluth say the barking of a yellow Lab named Dudley woke up a 12-year-old girl — who in turn alerted her family and helped everyone to escape to safety after a fire at their home Wednesday night.
Winter Play: Ice fishing — learning family tradition hook, line and sinker
Our staff across the state set out to try a new-to-them winter pastime. MPR News’ southwest Minnesota reporter Hannah Yang spent her first day ice fishing with her father-in-law and husband in Faribault, Minn.
Watch out, Minneapolis: The tow truck cometh
Minneapolis has handed out more than 2,000 tickets in the last three days and towed more than 200 vehicles off of the even sides of non-snow emergency streets, as they pick up enforcement of a winter parking ban instituted last week. 
Auto racing: Allouez Bay racing event postponed to Feb. 18
NASCAR on Ice, an ice racing event featuring NASCAR drivers and retired cars, was postponed a second time on Wednesday due to ice conditions.
Beargrease sled race winner, runner-up talk dogs, cold, competition
Keith Aili crossed the finish line about eight minutes ahead of second-place musher and past champion Ryan Anderson. They spoke to MPR News host Cathy Wurzer Wednesday about dealing with 20-below race temps and coaching dogs that aren’t all that keen on people.
Avivo Village shines as solution for unsheltered homelessness in Minneapolis
In 2020, the nonprofit Avivo went tent to tent at the massive encampment in Powderhorn Park to learn what it would take for residents to come indoors. From that came Avivo Village, an indoor community of 100 small units in the North Loop designed specifically for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
Is providing a portable toilet an endorsement of a homeless encampment?
Minneapolis has stopped fulfilling requests for portable toilets at encampments on city property. Some city council members say they think it’s a way for the city to skirt responsibility for its encampments.
Minneapolis City Council too gridlocked to change homeless encampment approach
Long a liberal city, one might think agreement would be easier in Minneapolis than other cities. But efforts to change city code that affects homelessness or to pause encampment closures have failed due to political gridlock and confusion.
Winter Play: Ice climbing on the North Shore
As part of MPR News’ Winter Play series, reporter Dan Kraker tried ice climbing for the first time on a cliff north of Two Harbors, an experience he found challenging, rewarding and — when it was over, at least — fun.
Minneapolis made little progress on homeless encampments in 2022. Why?
Eager to improve the city’s response to encampments, new Minneapolis City Council members have been gridlocked, in part due to Mayor Jacob Frey’s recent expansion of power. Instead of creating a formal policy, the city is sending more police officers and establishing perimeters while closing camps.