The COVID-19 situation this week remains relatively unchanged from what we have seen over the last month. Some of this week’s COVID-19 data, including case rates and general hospital admissions, is relatively positive, insofar as trends remain steady. Other data, including metro wastewater and intensive care unit admissions, gives us pause and may mean those who are more vulnerable should take extra precautions.  

Sen. Aric Putnam isn’t a farmer and hasn’t worked in agriculture, but starting next month, he’ll chair the Senate Agriculture Committee. Before lawmakers head back to St. Paul, Putnam said he hopes to immerse himself in Minnesota agriculture.

The reductions in the MPD’s 2023 budget are a small portion of the $195 million proposed by mayor Jacob Frey. The proposed 2023 budget is still larger than the $187 million allocated to the department in 2022.

MPR News asked libraries across the state what their most popular adult and children’s books were, and the answers may surprise you. While some Minnesotans are focused on the practical, checking out driver’s manuals or dog training guides, Duluthians are reading about themselves.

An environmental group fighting the proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine in northeastern Minnesota has proposed an alternative vision for the site that reimagines it as a clean energy and manufacturing hub.

Jennifer Carnahan, who resigned as chair of the Republican Party of Minnesota in 2021, has filed a lawsuit against the party that claims her former colleagues have made disparaging remarks about her. The party responded by filing its own legal action against her.

Democrats voted Friday to remove Iowa as the leadoff state on the presidential nominating calendar and replace it with South Carolina starting in 2024, a dramatic shakeup championed by President Joe Biden to better reflect the party’s deeply diverse electorate.

Patrick Xavier Clark has been charged with murder in connection with Takeoff’s death. Takeoff was killed last month outside a bowling alley in Houston.

Election recounts for two extremely close state House races in northeastern Minnesota — that were decided by just 35 and 15 votes — are scheduled to begin Monday morning. History suggests the results are likely to stand.

Circus Juventas has been selected by Cirque du Soleil as part of their NexGen talent development program.

A gay men's choir in Colorado Springs is among a group of organizations working locally to foster solidarity and healing after a gruesome shooting at a gay night club devastated Colorado Springs' LGBTQ community.

Highs will be 40 in southeast Minnesota while temperatures will be only in the teens in the northwest. A winter weather advisory goes into effect midday into Friday night in northern Minnesota as snow and wind develop. It’ll be windy and colder for everyone Friday night into Saturday.

President Joe Biden says Democrats should give up "restrictive" caucuses and move to champion diversity in the order of their presidential primary calendar. His recommendation deals a major blow to Iowa's decades-long status as the state that leads off the process.

The B-21 Raider, America's newest nuclear stealth bomber, is making its public debut after years of secret development. Almost every aspect of the B-21 Raider program is classified.

Parents, teachers, school staff and students who were on scene the day of the shooting are demanding redress for "the indelible and forever-lasting trauma" caused by the failures of law enforcement.

Qatar warned about clothing restrictions for this year's World Cup, and fans are finding out that officials weren't bluffing — but some controversial outfits have slipped into stadiums.

The House Select Jan. 6 panel will wrap up its investigation on Dec. 31. It's now in a race to issue its final recommendations and findings in the coming weeks.

Minnesota authorities say they’re seeing more young, unsupervised riders operating machines too big for them to control, with disaster just one mistake away.