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.

Minnesotan designed a smartwatch app to help stop his dad's PTSD-related nightmares
Patrick Skluzacek suffered from PTSD-related nightmares, which were ruining his life. His son, Tyler, created a smartwatch application to disrupt them. The app recently won FDA approval.
Dec. 6 update on COVID-19 in MN: Death toll nears 4,000
Minnesota health officials reported another 64 COVID-19 deaths on Sunday, bringing the overall pandemic death toll in the state close to 4,000. The state also recorded another 5,588 COVID cases, pushing the total number past 350,000.
St. Cloud sidewalk chalk artist spreads joy with masked paintings
An artist in St. Cloud is spreading a little cheer during the COVID-19 pandemic through sidewalk chalk murals of classic paintings — with their famous subjects wearing masks.
New map lets Crow Wing County residents track snowplow progress
The web-based mapping tool, called "Where's My Snowplow,” uses GPS technology to track the county's 15 snowplows in real time and show their current locations. During a snow event, the map updates every five minutes.
A 19-year-old man is dead after being shot by sheriff's deputies on Saturday on northern Minnesota's Iron Range.
Dec. 5 update on COVID-19 in MN: Officials report 75 more deaths
Minnesota health officials reported another 75 COVID-19 deaths on Saturday. That brings the number of deaths reported in the first five days of December to 327, atop more than 1,100 deaths recorded in November
Spruce top thieves: How demand for a north woods cash crop is sparking an illicit trade
A lot of the raw material that’s used to make holiday decorations — from Christmas wreaths and garlands to potted evergreen arrangements — comes from Minnesota’s north woods, where there's a thriving cottage industry of harvesters and distributors. But as the market has grown, so has the opportunity for spruce thieves looking to make a quick buck.