MPR NewsMPR News
A view of the aurora borealis.

Tips to improve your chances of seeing the northern lights

Chances to spot the northern lights are strong Thursday night and early Friday morning. Here are a few tips on how to monitor conditions, and how to catch the extraterrestrial show.
A man speaks into a mic, an Israeli flag is held in the background

Several DFL senators rebuke party colleague over remarks about Palestinian youth

Tensions within the DFL Party over the war in Israel and Gaza are flaring in public, as colleagues criticized Sen. Ron Latz over his comments about Palestinian youth. 
A seal design with a loon

Designer’s state seal entry could be last hope for loon-loving Minnesotans

Graphic designer Ross Bruggink spoke about his submissions for a new Minnesota state flag and seal, the latter of which includes a loon-forward entry universally praised by a state selection panel.
Minnesota PWHL jerseys

Minnesota’s Professional Women's Hockey League announces 2024 season at Xcel

Minnesota’s first game will be at home at the Xcel Energy Center on Jan. 6 against Montreal. Tickets will go on sale in the coming weeks.
Police vehicles outside of a mall

Standoff with armed man outside Rochester shopping complex ends in self-inflicted gunshot

A standoff with an armed man outside a shopping center in Rochester on Thursday afternoon ended with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
A gym with a sign in support of ukraine

Minneapolis is the first stop on 'Whistlestops for Ukraine' support initiative

Minneapolis is the first stop on the “Whistlestops for Ukraine” initiative, an effort led by philanthropist Howard Buffett and the think tank the German Marshall Fund.
A house destroyed by a bomb

Minneapolis teachers union backs off Israel-Hamas statement

In a vote late Wednesday, the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers walked back a resolution on the Israel-Hamas war after acknowledging that the statement was harmful to Jewish members and students.
crews work at the scene

One dead in house explosion, fire in South St. Paul

Fire crews who responded to reports of an explosion found the home fully engulfed, with flames rising above the surrounding trees.
Leslie McIntire, 69, is part of the baby boomer generation that is entering older age amid a historic affordable housing shortage and rising wealth inequality in the U.S.

Millions of seniors struggle to afford housing — and it's about to get a lot worse

Baby boomers are entering older age amid a historic affordable-housing shortage and widening inequality. A new study warns many won't be able to access the kind of housing or caregiving they need.
Gay rights activists carry rainbow flags as they march during a May Day rally in 2013 in St. Petersburg, Russia. Russia's Supreme Court on Thursday effectively outlawed LGBTQ+ activism, in the most drastic step against advocates of gay, lesbian and transgender rights in the increasingly conservative country.

Russia's Supreme Court effectively outlaws LGBTQ+ activism in a landmark ruling

Addressing a lawsuit filed by the Justice Ministry, the court labeled the LGBTQ+ "movement" in Russia an extremist group and banned it. The case was classified, and the ministry disclosed no evidence.
Meta, the social media company that owns Facebook and Instagram, said Thursday that this year it has taken down five networks of fake accounts originating in China that aimed to influence politics in other countries.

Meta warns that China is stepping up its online social media influence operations

China has become the third most common source of foreign influence operations, behind Russia and Iran, according to the owner of Facebook and Instagram.
Art piece

Art Hounds: Fergus Falls wraps up a Year of Beck 

“Year of Beck” ends at Kaddatz, Fergus Falls with Charles Beck's exhibit. John Gorka plays in St. Cloud, and "Letters to Santa" shows in Minneapolis.
Former President Donald Trump exits the courtroom after testifying at his civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court on November 06, 2023 in New York City.

New York judge brings back gag order on Donald Trump in civil fraud trial

The former president has already violated the gag order twice.
Shane MacGowan

Shane MacGowan, frontman of The Pogues, dies at age 65

The singer-songwriter and frontman of The Pogues, best known for the Christmas ballad “Fairytale of New York,” had been hospitalized in Dublin for several months after being diagnosed with viral encephalitis in late 2022. He died Thursday.
A clock tower building on a campus.

North Dakota State extends new scholarship amid worries about Minnesota tuition program

North Dakota State University has extended its Tuition Award Program scholarship to a second year. The university announced the new scholarship earlier this month. It came about due to Minnesota’s North Star Promise tuition program.
Doctors and researchers question the efficacy of many common over-the-counter treatments for colds and flus.

What works for treating the common cold? Many doctors say 'not much'

One common decongestant, phenylephrine, was found ineffective this fall. Doctors are skeptical about the rest of the over-the-counter cold cures lineup.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, and Israel's President Isaac Herzog hold a meeting in Tel Aviv on Thursday following the announcement of an extension of the truce between Israel and Hamas just before it was due to expire.

The Gaza cease-fire with Hamas is extended another day as Blinken arrives in Israel

The secretary of state said the U.S. is committed to seeing the release of all Hamas hostages. Meanwhile, gunmen killed three Israelis in an attack on the outskirts of West Jerusalem early Thursday.
Chained Echoes, Sea of Stars, Cassette Beasts

Retro role-playing video games are all the rage — here's why

Franchises like Final Fantasy are moving away from old-school mechanics, but a indie developers are taking up the retro RPG mantle.
An adult woman plays with a toddler on a colorful rug at preschool

DFL lawmakers eye big boost in child care spending

Two DFL legislators on Thursday proposed expanding state child care and early education subsidies so that families would pay no more than 7 percent of their income for child care. 
Minneapolis City Hall

Minneapolis City Council members offer dozens of changes to $1.8 billion budget

Many of the council members’ proposed amendments to the $1.8 billion budget face opposition from Mayor Jacob Frey and members of his administration.  
Legislature 2023Right
WildfiresRight
Arts & CultureRight
Race Right
Providing Support for MPR.
Learn More
Program ScheduleStation Directory