Stories from March 24, 2025

‘Kite Runner’ author speaks about his book being banned in Minnesota school
Khaled Hosseini, author of the 2003 novel “The Kite Runner” speaks out as the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota and Education Minnesota file lawsuits against St. Francis Area Schools over a new book ban policy.
Federal prosecutors have accused former Minnesota State Senator Justin Eichorn of trying to obstruct their investigation related to charges of soliciting a minor. And the Democratic-controlled Minnesota Senate is staged to vote on a resolution condemning President Donald Trump's pardons of those found guilty of crimes on January 6, 2021.
Trump officials texted war plans to a group chat in a secure app that included a journalist
Top national security officials for President Donald Trump, including his defense secretary, texted war plans for upcoming military strikes in Yemen to a group chat in a secure messaging app that included the editor-in-chief for The Atlantic.
ACLU of Minnesota, Education Minnesota file suits against St. Francis schools book policy
St. Francis Area Schools adopted a policy in the fall requiring all new school library materials purchased by the district be filtered through Book Looks, a website backed by conservative groups. The suit claims the policy has led to at least 46 books to being challenged.
American Legion’s national leader visits Minnesota in veteran suicide prevention efforts
American Legion National Commander James LaCoursiere Jr. visited multiple local posts to raise awareness for the “Be the One” suicide prevention effort. Suicide rates are consistently higher for those who have served in the military, compared to non-veterans.
Stearns County dairy herd tests positive for avian flu
The H5N1 virus appeared in raw milk samples collected from a Stearns County herd. Health officials say there's no concern for public safety, because milk sold in stores is pasteurized to kill bacteria and viruses.
BCA: Nearly 1,000 percent increase in child sexual abuse, exploitation tips since 2016
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension worked with Bloomington police in the sting that led to the arrest of former state senator Justin Eichorn and 13 others. In light of the high profile case, BCA superintendent Drew Evans shared how the agency is trying to prevent these crimes.
U.S. airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels kill at least 1 person, group says
U.S. airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels have pounded sites across the country. The rebels say the one attack Sunday in the capital killed at least one person and wounded more than a dozen others. 
‘Build on it’: A new exhibition at the U looks at the legacy of women architects in Minnesota
A new exhibit at the University of Minnesota highlights the overlooked contributions of women architects in Minnesota from the 1920s to today, featuring drawings, models and stories that reveal both their creative achievements and the systemic barriers they faced.
Niko Medved leaves Colorado State for his native Minnesota after an NCAA tournament run by the Rams
Minnesota hired Colorado State’s Niko Medved on Monday, agreeing to a six-year contract with the Twin Cities-area native and former student manager for the Gophers who had the Rams within one basket of the Sweet 16.
Xcel Energy wants to store more spent fuel at Prairie Island nuclear plant. Public hearings are this week
Xcel wants to continue operating the plant into the 2050s. It’s requesting to store an additional 34 casks of spent fuel at the site. But spent fuel storage has a history of controversy at the plant near Red Wing, which is just 700 yards from the Prairie Island Indian Community.
Burning restrictions in place in 15 Minnesota counties, including in the Twin Cities
Starting today, burning restrictions are in place across more than a dozen Minnesota counties, including several in the Twin Cities metro. Among the counties affected by the restrictions are Hennepin, Ramsey, Chisago, Mille Lacs, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd and Washington counties.
Bernie Sanders is drawing record crowds as he pushes Democrats to 'fight oligarchy'
The populist message of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ “Fighting Oligarchy” tour has resonated with voters frustrated by President Trump’s agenda — and the Democratic Party’s muddled response.
Eichorn tried to obstruct investigation and lied about having a gun, prosecutors say
Prosecutors are asking a judge to keep former Minnesota senator Justin Eichorn in jail, alleging he tried to keep them from accessing a computer and cell phone in his St. Paul apartment. They also alleged he lied about having a gun in the apartment.
Venezuela says it will start accepting repatriation flights from the U.S. again
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has called for the return of the Venezuelan migrants sent by the U.S. to El Salvador, where President Nayib Bukele said they were transferred to a mega-prison.
A man who admitted killing one person and wounding six others in a mass shooting at a 2023 Minneapolis punk show faces sentencing this afternoon. State agriculture officials say the invasive emerald ash borer has spread to another Minnesota county.
South Korean court reinstates impeached PM Han Duck-soo as acting leader
Many observers said Monday’s ruling on Han Duck-soo doesn’t signal much on the upcoming verdict on President Yoon Suk Yeol, as Han wasn’t a key figure in Yoon’s martial law imposition.
After ‘incredibly unusual’ start, Minnesota lawmakers just want to get back to normal
The 70 days since the legislative session started have seen a variety of twists and turns that have left three seats open at various points in time. Now, leaders hope for a boring phase ahead.
Fascinated by fossils, Minnesota man builds a small-town science museum bone by bone
Jim Pollard has loved fossil collecting since he was a kid. Now 70, he’s opened a natural history museum in a Blue Earth storefront to share his passion for paleontology and to make science more accessible to rural kids.