Frigid temperatures this weekend prompt cold weather advisories

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

CDC report reveals new info on frequency of sexual violence

About 22 percent of Minnesota women have been raped in their lifetime, and more than 48 percent of Minnesota women have experienced sexual violence other than rape, the CDC estimates (

Bixby Energy Systems Inc. has admitted that former officers and agents defrauded investors of as much as $7 million, the U.S. Attorney's Office said Wednesday.

"The Ramsey-based alternative energy company was charged by federal prosecutors with one count of securities fraud. The company agreed not to contest the allegation in what's known as a 'deferred prosecution agreement,' government lawyers said, 

 the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal.

Champlin man identified as victim in in Army helicopter crash

: "He was a husband, a father-to-be, and an Army officer. And now, his untimely death has prompted a military investigation. 32-year-old Chief Warrant Officer Lucas Sigfrid of Champlin was killed when his helicopter crashed during training. Three others died as well."

Hundreds pack hearing on NW Wis. mining bill

"Supporters of a bill that would scale back the state's rigorous permitting process to kick-start a northwestern Wisconsin iron mine pleaded with legislators during a hearing Wednesday to pass the measure, calling the mine an economic god-send that will save the depressed region." (

Synthetic pot used by 1 in 9 teens: Use not nearly as high in Winona, principal says

"One in nine high school seniors have used synthetic marijuana in the past year, according to a study released Wednesday by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. That doesn't, however, accurately reflect use of the drug by Winona's seniors, according to Winona Senior High School Principal Kelly Halvorsen," 

In N.D. town where sugar is king, lockout hits hard

Hillsboro, N.D. -- Stalled labor talks between American Crystal Sugar Co. and its factory workers are taking a toll in Hillsboro, N.D., a town of 1,600 between Fargo and Grand Forks where the sugar beet factory is the largest employer.

About 1,300 union workers at five sugar beet factories in the Red River Valley have been locked out since Aug. 1 when they rejected a contract offer (

"Walter Raschick, better known as DJ Walt Dizzo, was the assistant volunteer coordinator for Homegrown for the last two years and has also written band profiles for the festival's field guide," 

St. Louis County Board support for PolyMet copper mine stalls

Opponents of the PolyMet copper mine proposed near Hoyt Lakes won what may be a short-lived victory Tuesday when the St. Louis County Board failed to act on a resolution supporting the project," 

Archdiocese: Communion host turned blood-red due to fungus, not miracle

A fungus - not a miracle - caused a Communion host to turn red this summer at a South St. Paul church, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis said Wednesday," reports the 

: "2006: last year we had a 'brown Christmas', with less than 1" of snow on the ground in the Twin Cities. My hunch is that - this year - for the first time in 5 years, we will not have a white Christmas. Hope I'm wrong..."

Neil Johnson catalogues the 'Resorts of Minnesota'

A new book celebrates the history and heritage of Minnesota's many resorts. "Resorts of Minnesota" author Neil Johnson spent a year traveling around the state visiting family-run resorts and gathering their stories (

: "When the Mississippi River lock and dams close Dec. 5, as they always do come winter, the one at the Ford dam should stay closed after ice- out until the state and the federal governments adopt  some kind of prevention strategy to slow the spread of the odious Asian carp."

Construction boosts NewYork Mills economy

"Even construction of one building would be welcome news for New York Mills," 

. "But when there are two construction projects going on, it's an especially uplifting morale boost for economic development."

DEDA approves grant application for Duluth bayfront development

"If the grant application proves successful, the authority could be on the hook to match dollar for dollar any state funds awarded," 

"People say this is a two man race and I would agree. But the one man is Newt Romney and the other man is Michele Bachmann." -- 

Minnesota News

Statewide Blog

Michael Olson

Author

CDC report reveals new info on frequency of sexual violence; Bixby Energy Systems Inc. has admitted that former officers and agents defrauded investors of as much as $7 million; Champlin man identified as victim in in Army helicopter crash; Hundreds pack hearing on NW Wis. mining bill

New sexual violence stats, Bixby Energy fraud, brown Christmas?

Go Deeper.

Like this?