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Stories from December 22, 2023

Former officer alleges MPD chief defamed, wrongfully fired him

A former Minneapolis police officer alleges in a lawsuit against the city that Chief Brian O'Hara defamed and wrongfully fired him because of an incident at his previous job. That story and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Nancy Lebens. Music by Gary Meister.
by Nancy Lebens

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Wisconsin Supreme Court orders new legislative maps in redistricting case brought by Democrats

Wisconsin Supreme Court orders new legislative maps in redistricting case brought by Democrats

The liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned Republican-drawn legislative maps on Friday and ordered that new district boundary lines be drawn as Democrats had urged in a redistricting case they hope will weaken GOP majorities.
by The Associated Press

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A 27-year-old woman who called 911 for help was fatally shot by an LA deputy

A 27-year-old woman who called 911 for help was fatally shot by an LA deputy

A Los Angeles deputy shot Niani Finlayson who police said had been threatening her boyfriend for allegedly harming her daughter. A lawyer for her family says Finlayson was a domestic violence victim.
by Emma Bowman

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Periods of rain Sat. evening into Sunday; Christmas rain, with snow or mix to the north and west

Periods of rain Sat. evening into Sunday; Christmas rain, with snow or mix to the north and west

We’ll have a foggy start on Saturday, then rain arrives later in the day and lingers into Sunday. Parts of western and northern Minnesota could see some snow Sunday into Monday. We have an update on your holiday weekend weather.
by Ron Trenda

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Biden expands pardons for marijuana possession and grants clemency to 11

Biden expands pardons for marijuana possession and grants clemency to 11

President Biden commuted the sentences for 11 individuals serving time for nonviolent drug offenses. He also expanded pardons for the offense of simple marijuana possession and use under federal law.
by Deepa Shivaram

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Last call for lefse! Homemade — like grandma's — sold at a deer stand in Evansville

Last call for lefse! Homemade — like grandma's — sold at a deer stand in Evansville

For a few hours on Saturdays in November and December, the Englund family’s homemade lefse is available for $6 at a deer stand in Evansville. And the Norwegian delicacy that will grace countless Minnesota dinner tables on Christmas sells out quickly.
by Cathy Wurzer and Gracie Stockton

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Can a 5,000-mile journey help a mother and son survive their differences?

Can a 5,000-mile journey help a mother and son survive their differences?

Jedidiah Jenkins and his mom diverge wildly on their ideological views. She is a Trump-supporting conservative evangelical from Tennessee. He is a gay, progressive man who lives in California. But they love each other. Can they find common ground on a cross-country road trip? That’s the story of his new memoir, “Mother, Nature.”
by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

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Grocery workers in Brainerd Lakes area on strike

Grocery workers in Brainerd Lakes area on strike

The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 663 union says employees are seeking better wages, workplace protections and benefits. It’s accused the stores of engaging in unfair labor practices, which the store owners deny.
by Kirsti Marohn

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Minnesota is on track for warmest December in state history

As has been the theme this season, warmer trends and less-than-average precipitation have taken hold, meaning Minnesota's warmest December in state history is likely on the horizon. If warm trends continue over the next weeks, Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth could see their warmest December since 1877.
by Cathy Wurzer and Lukas Levin

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Climate change impact on our record temperatures. Rain and snow for Sunday into Tuesday

Climate change impact on our record temperatures. Rain and snow for Sunday into Tuesday

Much of Minnesota has morning fog Friday with areas of drizzle and a few scattered light showers. Record warmth will develop this weekend with rain and snow Sunday into Tuesday. 
by Sven Sundgaard

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Biden pardons thousands convicted of marijuana charges on federal lands and in Washington

Biden pardons thousands convicted of marijuana charges on federal lands and in Washington

President Joe Biden is pardoning thousands of people who were convicted of use and simple possession of marijuana on federal lands and in the District of Columbia. The White House says his action Friday is his latest round of executive clemencies meant to rectify racial disparities in the justice system. 
by The Associated Press

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Vikings stadium gets approval for new turf that league deems less of an injury risk

Vikings stadium gets approval for new turf that league deems less of an injury risk

The slit film turf that was installed in 2019 will be torn up early next year and replaced by a monofilament surface that league and union data have determined to be safer and the most like natural grass.
by The Associated Press

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Money for local public safety upgrades will start arriving in Minnesota communities next week

Gov. Tim Walz says hundreds of millions of dollars in aid for local public safety upgrades will start arriving in communities next week. And as the end of the year approaches, Minneapolis is seeing a small reduction in the number of homicides in the city.
by Phil Picardi

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Biden believes U.S. Steel sale to Japanese company warrants 'serious scrutiny'

Biden believes U.S. Steel sale to Japanese company warrants 'serious scrutiny'

Under the terms of the approximately $14.1 billion all-cash deal announced Monday, U.S. Steel will keep its name and its headquarters in Pittsburgh, where it was founded in 1901 by J.P. Morgan and Andrew Carnegie. It will become a subsidiary of Nippon.
by The Associated Press

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10-year-old Minnesota singer Mira Babal tells it like it is in ‘Mad for No Reason’

10-year-old Minnesota singer Mira Babal tells it like it is in ‘Mad for No Reason’

You haven’t heard 10-year-old Mira Babal's latest track on the Billboard Hot 100 — at least not yet. But “Mad for No Reason” is catchy, upbeat — and a callout to the adults in Mira’s life. She wants them to stop arguing all the time. 
by Catharine Richert

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DNR plans changes to protect native rough fish

DNR plans changes to protect native rough fish

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources plans expanded research and regulatory changes to better protect native fish species long overlooked by the agency. The recommendations are part of a new report to the state Legislature on native rough fish conservation.
by Dan Gunderson

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The games we play: MPR News staff share their favorite video games of 2023

The games we play: MPR News staff share their favorite video games of 2023

This year was a monumental occasion for video games, with highly-anticipated titles released like Baldur’s Gate 3 and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. MPR News staff across the newsroom shared some of their favorite games from 2023 (and one title from 2022) and what they loved about the experience.
by MPR News Staff and Matt Mikus

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It's not just you: Christmas lights look different now and can give you headaches

It's not just you: Christmas lights look different now and can give you headaches

LED light bulbs are the future. They're better for the environment and the pocket book. But for some people, certain LEDs lights — particularly holiday lights — are a problem. They flicker in a way that causes headaches, nausea and other discomfort.
by Aaron Scott, Berly McCoy and Rebecca Ramirez

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Prominent addiction counselor and pioneer Peter Hayden retires

Prominent addiction counselor and pioneer Peter Hayden retires

Peter Hayden, a prominent addiction counselor and the founder of Turning Point in Minneapolis, is retiring. He reflected on his career and shared what’s next ahead of his transition at the end of this year.
by Tom Crann and Ngoc Bui

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Gaza health officials say Israel's offensive has now killed more than 20,000 people

Gaza health officials say Israel's offensive has now killed more than 20,000 people

Just more than 10 weeks into the conflict, the number of people killed in Gaza is nearing 1 percent of the territory's pre-war population. The rising death toll has fueled calls for Israel to shift strategy.
by Frank Langfitt and Scott Neuman

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