Stories from November 20, 2024

Study: Walleye in lakes with zebra mussels have higher mercury levels
Researchers found adult walleye in lakes infested with zebra mussels had 72 percent higher mercury concentrations than in lakes without the invaders. Smaller walleye also were more likely to exceed mercury thresholds meant to protect human health.
Listen: New York Times reporter Reid Epstein on Ken Martin’s bid for DNC chair
Reid Epstein, a reporter with The New York Times, spoke with Martin, who argued Democrats’ downfall was their message failing to land with voters ahead of the 2024 election.
In a new book, Minnesota author spotlights unsung hero from the HIV/AIDS crisis
“When the Band Played On” by Michael G. Lee tells the story of Randy Shilts, a pioneering journalist who worked to change the narratives and reporting around the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1980s.
Suspects arrested after reported break-in at West St. Paul city water reservoir
Police in West St. Paul arrested several juveniles and young adults after reports of a break-in at a city water reservoir on Tuesday night. The covered reservoir is temporarily offline until the water can be tested.
On Trans Day of Remembrance, Duluth organization gathers to honor those lost, celebrate resilience
The new organization called Trans Northland is holding events in both Duluth and Superior to remember lost peers and have important conversations about resilience.
Veteran news editor expects Trump ‘to go after the press in every conceivable way’
Former Washington Post executive editor Marty Baron says he thinks Trump is “salivating for the opportunity to prosecute and imprison journalists.” New Yorker editor David Remnick agrees.
Minnesota regulator to hold lottery for first cannabis businesses after rejecting two-thirds of applicants
The Office of Cannabis Management is facing pushback this week after it rejected more than 1,100 applicants it deemed ineligible for the first round of business licenses.
Performance Today host Fred Child on taking the ‘stuffiness’ out of classical music
Fred Child is the host of the most-listened-to classical music program in the country, Performance Today. Coming up at 9 a.m. on Thursday, he talks with MPR News host Chris Farrell about stepping down after 25 years.  
Hennepin County commissioners delay vote on proposal to reduce jail population
The state’s Department of Corrections ordered Hennepin County to reduce the number of inmates at some of its jails by Dec. 5. However, the county board balked at the $8 million proposal to board inmates at jails in other counties, saying it needs more time to get staff input and seek less costly alternatives.
House Ethics Committee is deadlocked on whether to release Gaetz report
The U.S. House Committee on Ethics is deadlocked on whether to release its report into former Rep. Matt Gaetz, whose nomination to serve as Trump’s attorney general has been plagued by controversy.
Gaetz meets with Senate Republicans as House ethics panel considers releasing report
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, Trump's nominee to serve as Attorney General, faces an uphill battle as the House ethics panel considers releasing report on allegations involving sex with a minor.
Snow showers, gusty winds create difficult driving conditions across Minnesota
The State Patrol said its troopers were busy responding to crashes and spinouts Wednesday morning, especially in western Minnesota where the snow was heaviest.
At an MPR News Talking Sense event in Duluth on Thursday, Nov. 14th, 2024, Braver Angels co-founder Bill Doherty discusses how we can manage our emotions and relate to others in victory or defeat following the presidential election.
What makes a job worth doing?
MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a business ethicist who says instead of asking, “What is the meaning of life?” we should ask, “What is the meaning of work?”
U.S. Border Agents told a federal court the harrowing story of when they learned a family had frozen to death trying to enter the United States. Two men faces charges linked to the deaths. And police in Eagan say a recent report of a sexual assault at Lebanon Hills Park was false.
Target struggles in the third quarter and offers tempered outlook for the holidays
Target etched out a slim sales increase in the third quarter but profits slumped as inflation-weary customers pulled back on spending and costs related to a dockworker strike in October dragged on results.
Cannabis regulator faces heat after rejecting over 1,000 initial applicants
Minnesota cannabis regulators say they’ll hold a lottery in the coming weeks to determine who will operate the state’s first legal marijuana businesses. But the Office of Cannabis Management is facing pushback this week after it rejected around two-thirds of the applicants it deemed ineligible.
Turning pages through time: St. Paul’s Red Balloon Bookshop celebrates its 40th year
The Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul celebrates 40 years as a beloved community hub for children’s books, storytimes and local literary events, weathering challenges like eBooks, Amazon and the pandemic.
The glamour unravels: ‘Cabaret’s’ haunting echoes of denial and hope
The University of Minnesota’s production of “Cabaret” blends dazzling performances with a chilling exploration of denial, humanity and political upheaval, reflecting the timeless relevance of its themes.
Thrills on the wing: Sandhill cranes fill the skies at a Minnesota wildlife refuge
For the past few weeks, there has been a distinctive rattling rising from the wetland around the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, about an hour’s drive north of the Twin Cities metro. It’s the sound of thousands of sandhill cranes gathering to rest and feed before migrating south for the winter.
Trump picks business executive Linda McMahon to lead the Education Department
McMahon is a professional wrestling business magnate and co-chair of President-elect Donald Trump's transition team. She has limited experience working with K-12 public schools.
Border agents lay out a day of horror leading to the discovery of a frozen family
Tuesday in the Federal Courthouse in Fergus Falls prosecutors began laying out their case against two men accused of human smuggling which resulted in the death of an entire family.