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Stories from December 29, 2023

Crow Wing commissioners protest the new state flag

Crow Wing Commissioner Paul Koering said he's heard a lot of displeasure from his constituents about the flag redesign. The commission plans to send a resolution to state officials. This is the Friday afternoon MPR News update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music by Gary Meister.

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Q&A: Documentary looks at 2013 Hopkins High School walkout

Q&A: Documentary looks at 2013 Hopkins High School walkout

Independent journalist Ralph L. Crowder III has directed a documentary, “Before Black Lives Mattered, the Kids Marched for Education.” He aims to highlight the influence the 2013 walkout had in a larger conversation about equality in education, as well as correct the narrative from media coverage at the time.
by Jacob Aloi

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Crow Wing County commissioners plan to object to new state flag

Crow Wing County commissioners plan to object to new state flag

Crow Wing County Commissioner Paul Koering said he’s heard a lot of displeasure from his constituents about the flag redesign. The county board plans to vote on a resolution at its next meeting on Jan. 2, which it will send to Gov. Tim Walz and legislative leaders.
by Kirsti Marohn

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Minnesota's COVID-19 hospitalizations, deaths in 2023 less than half those in 2022

Minnesota's COVID-19 hospitalizations, deaths in 2023 less than half those in 2022

2023 was the fourth year where thousands of Minnesotans ended up hospitalized and hundreds died due to COVID-19. As tragic as those numbers are, it is worth noting that both hospitalizations and deaths are down by more than 55 percent from the year prior.
by Craig Helmstetter

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UW-La Crosse chancellor fired for making porn. Will his free speech argument stand?

UW-La Crosse chancellor fired for making porn. Will his free speech argument stand?

Joe Gow was fired for making and starring in online pornography with his wife. Now, he’s arguing his termination is a violation of his right to free speech. A University of Minnesota media law and First Amendment expert told MPR News that “it’s a ‘two things can be true’ kind of argument.”
by Cathy Wurzer and Gracie Stockton

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Public libraries reveal their most borrowed books of 2023

Public libraries reveal their most borrowed books of 2023

Not all libraries track checkouts, and there isn't one definitive national list. But this year lots of people checked out “Lessons in Chemistry,” Prince Harry's memoir “Spare,” and Colleen Hoover's books.
by Neda Ulaby

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How a pastor's faith survived 'Beautiful and Terrible Things'

How a pastor's faith survived 'Beautiful and Terrible Things'

Pastor Amy Butler was the first woman pastor to lead New York’s historic Riverside Church. But despite that — and partly because of it — her faith had to learn to survive the brutal realities of this world. Her new book, “Beautiful and Terrible Things,” is her journey of learning to live without fear in the messy middle.
by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

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Russia fires 122 missiles, 36 drones in what Ukraine calls the biggest aerial barrage of the war

Russia fires 122 missiles, 36 drones in what Ukraine calls the biggest aerial barrage of the war

Officials say Russia has launched 122 missiles and dozens of drones against Ukrainian targets, killing at least 24 civilians in what an air force official says was the biggest aerial barrage of the war.
by The Associated Press

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Dangerous ice conditions in Minnesota. Domestic violence-related deaths increased in 2023

The Minnesota DNR and law enforcement officials are warning of dangerous ice conditions on lakes across the state. Anyone venturing onto the ice should wear a personal flotation device. And 2023 is on pace to have the highest recorded number of domestic violence-related deaths in Minnesota with at least 35 homicides related to domestic violence.
by Phil Picardi

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The world's population was up 75 million this year, will stand at 8 billion on Jan. 1

The world's population was up 75 million this year, will stand at 8 billion on Jan. 1

The growth rate for the U.S. in the past year was 0.53 percent, about half the worldwide rate. The U.S. added 1.7 million people and will have a population on New Year's Day of 335.8 million people.
by The Associated Press

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Maine bars Trump from ballot as U.S. Supreme Court weighs state authority to block former president

Maine bars Trump from ballot as U.S. Supreme Court weighs state authority to block former president

Maine’s Democratic secretary of state on Thursday removed former President Donald Trump from the state’s presidential primary ballot under the Constitution’s insurrection clause, becoming the first election official to take action unilaterally as the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to decide whether Trump remains eligible to continue his campaign.
by The Associated Press

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