The Washington Post and Los Angeles Times among other newspaper outlets are facing mounting backlash after both recently declined to endorse a presidential candidate. The decisions have led to the resignations of multiple editorial writers from both publications and the editorial editor from the LA Times. More than two hundred thousand readers have quit their Washington Post subscriptions in protest. They are not the only publications that are changing it up editorially this election...

A 54-year-old Minneapolis man is expected to appear in court this afternoon on attempted murder, stalking and harassment charges after allegedly shooting his next door neighbor last week. New legislation was supposed to prevent dangerous individuals from access to guns. Could the shooting have been prevented by red flag laws? Local and national newspapers, including The Minnesota Star Tribune, have announced they will not endorse presidential candidates this year. Listen for more on the...

Whether you’re eight or in your eighties, you’re likely familiar with the best-selling children’s book author Marguerite Henry. Her book “Misty of Chincoteague” is one of the most popular children’s books of all time. It's about a pony named Misty, and any horse loving kid will tell you they read that book cover to cover, multiple times, and probably have the Misty Breyer horse model somewhere still in their possession. Marguerite Henry was born in Milwaukee in 1902 and died in California...

We’re nearing the end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Here’s the good news: breast cancer deaths are declining. A new report from the American Cancer Society finds half a million lives have been saved since 1989. At the same time, breast cancer diagnoses are becoming more common. They’re rising fastest in women younger than 50 years old. Amanda Thiesen knows that personally. She got a phone call in 2021 when she was just 39 years old and was told she had stage 4 metastatic breast cancer....

Since January, Minnesota has allowed family members, county attorney or a chief law enforcement officer to request what’s called an Extreme Risk Protection Order, which prohibits someone from buying or having a gun if they pose a significant risk. DFL State Senator Ron Latz authored the red flag law and joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about it.

A group of city councilmembers say the mayor and police department should have done more to prevent a recent shooting in South Minneapolis. A man was shot by his neighbor after he had reported threats of violence for several months. Student groups at the University of Minnesota are asking the administration to lift the suspensions of 11 students who were arrested last week. We talk to university President Rebecca Cunningham about this — plus, the upcoming legislative session. It's been...

The Vikings are not blaming referees for their recent loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Fans were outraged when the refs did not call a facemask penalty, and the Rams secured their lead. Los Angeles ended up winning 30 to 20. But quarterback Sam Darnold and coach Kevin O'Connell said the Vikings had other problems in that game. Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk Vikings and other Minnesota sports news.

A report out Monday from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University finds that 127 newspapers around the country closed in the last year. It’s part of a worsening trend, with communities losing the outlets that cover their local news. But the report also finds an uptick in online news sources funded by philanthropy. Prior Lake is an example of both these trends. Back in April, the Prior Lake American shut down along with five other newspapers that served the southwest metro....

The University of Minnesota has been under a microscope in the last week, with 11 students arrested on the Twin Cities campus after occupying Morrill Hall, which holds the office of the president. Student groups say all 11 students got an interim suspension and are asking people to call the president to demand that those suspensions be lifted. This all comes at a busy time for the University as it gears up for the legislative session, in hopes of getting the funding request the board of...

Minneapolis police arrested a Minneapolis man early this morning after he allegedly shot his neighbor on Wednesday. That was after the shooting victim reported threats of physical violence from his neighbor at least 19 separate times since April. City leaders put pressure on MPD who said not enough was done to prevent the shooting that resulted in serious injuries to the victim. MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with Council Member Emily Koski about the incident.

Katelyn Stalboerger and Isaac Nelson met when they were teenagers and kept in touch on and off for years. When Stalboerger was away from her home state Minnesota for grad school in Alabama, she and Nelson started dating and decided to get married this year. When they started planning their wedding the first thing they did was book a venue that would hold 200 guests in Minnesota. That venue was Circle B Wedding and Events in Isanti booked for May 4. On April 24, Circle B announced they were...

At the end of an emotional meeting Tuesday night, the Osseo Public School Board voted 4-2 to revise its policy on how books in school libraries are chosen and challenged. The revised policy lists procedures under which residents of the school district — as well as students, parents or guardians — can raise concerns about library materials. Opponents call the measure a pathway to banning books — one that goes around a new state law widely referred to as a “ban on book bans.” Earlier this...

Recreational cannabis will be available to people ages 21 and over to buy legally around the state next year, if regulators stay on schedule. As more and more states have legalized cannabis, a wide variety of products have entered the market — some with high levels of THC. Some public health experts are raising concerns about the potential risks of heavy cannabis use — that includes addiction as well as other mental and physical health issues. A summit dedicated to this very topic is...

Osseo Public Schools changed its policy to allow community members to challenge books in school libraries. We'll talk about what opponents are calling a "book ban." And as Minnesota wrestles with its policy on marijuana, public health experts are raising concerns about addiction. Some voters in small towns are keeping their political opinions to themselves to keep the peace with their neighbors. We'll hear from the brave few speaking out in Grand Rapids. A bride is sharing her story about...

Several viral videos targeting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz are Russian disinformation, according to the Office of the U.S. Director of National Intelligence in a briefing to the press. The videos included claims that Walz “groomed” a former student. Multiple news sources have determined the man in that video was not who he claimed to be. U.S. intelligence officials warned us several times this year already that Russia would attempt to interfere in the election. For more, MPR News host Cathy...

Local journalism is in trouble. We have talked about that many times on this program. But here’s some good news: eight local journalism outlets across Minnesota have each won $100,000 to further their work. The grant comes from Press Forward, a national organization aiming to close local coverage gaps. And the money was competitive, with more than 900 applications. The winners from Minnesota were BLCK Press, WTIP North Shore Community Radio in Grand Marais, ICTV in Grand Rapids, the Pine...

We have the latest on a shooting spree that started in Minneapolis and ended two hours west in Willmar. Plus, intelligence officials say Russia was behind a viral post with disinformation about Gov. Tim Walz. We talk to an expert about foreign influence in this election. A new grant is helping fund small local news outlets. We find out what one recipient in central Minnesota plans to do with the grant money. This time last year it was snowing across Minnesota. Chief meteorologist Paul...

The weather has felt warm for late October. This very week last year, parts of the state got more than half a foot of snow. This year temperatures reached 80 degrees in the Twin Cities. They are dropping off quickly, but may bounce back to the 70s next week. MPR chief meteorologist Paul Huttner joins MPR News host Cathy Wurzer for an update.

Cuba is suffering a nationwide blackout after the collapse of its electrical grid on Friday, days before Tropical Storm Oscar hit the island as a Category 1 hurricane on Sunday. The first night of the blackout, a handful of Minnesotans — along with other American and Cuban classical musicians and teachers — were set to play a concert celebrating a diplomatic exchange between young Cuban and American performers. Let’s just say the concert did not exactly go as planned. MPR News host Cathy...

More details may emerge Wednesday about a violent rampage that police say began with a domestic assault in south Minneapolis and ended in Willmar hours later with one person dead, another wounded, and the suspect in custody. MPR News correspondent Matt Sepic has been following the story and joins MPR News host Cathy Wurzer with what is known.

A Minnesota charter school is on the brink of closing. Monday night at a board meeting for STEP Academy, KARE 11 reported that two board members resigned and the finance director admitted the school is bleeding cash. At the beginning of the school year, its deficit was $800,000. It is now $2.1 million. If STEP Academy closes, the Star Tribune reports it would be the largest charter school failure in history. How did STEP get to this point? The Minnesota Star Tribune reporter Jeffrey...

Early voting starts Tuesday in Wisconsin. And just over the Minnesota border, a consequential congressional race is underway. Wisconsin’s third district makes up most of western Wisconsin, including Menomonie, La Crosse, Eau Claire and even Stevens Point. The region has historically been a swing district the elected Barack Obama and later Donald Trump. On the ballot this year, voters will choose between incumbent Republican Congressman Derrick Van Orden and Democrat Rebecca Cooke. The race...

There are exactly two weeks left for voters to cast their ballots in national and local elections. No matter who the next president turns out to be, what happens in Washington will also depend on the results of a few close races for Congress. One of those is in Montana, where 18-year Democratic Senator Jon Tester is defending a challenge from a native Minnesotan. Tim Sheehy is a former Navy Seal and businessman who moved to Montana ten years ago to start an aerial firefighting company. He’s...

A Minnesota charter school is millions of dollars in debt and on the brink of closure. How did it get to this point, and how can we prevent something like this again in the future? We heard from a reporter on the story and a state lawmaker. With two weeks until election day, listen for the story of a race in Montana with Minnesota ties, plus a Wisconsin race whose results could be consequential for the state and nation. It doesn’t quite feel like winter yet... but colder weather is coming....

Have you heard of the ‘Minnesota Tip’? It’s a method for getting roses ready for winter. On Oct. 26 volunteers will gather in Duluth for the annual routine. It’s one of the many flower stories longtime KARE 11 anchor turned flower photographer Diana Pierce has been following for her newsletter, Blooming. She joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to chat about rose tipping and Day of the Dead marigolds.