Stories from May 21, 2025

Judge orders U of M student's release from ICE custody
A U.S. District Court judge ordered the immediate release of the University of Minnesota student who was detained by immigration officials in March, ruling that the detention violates his procedural due process rights under the Fifth Amendment.
Mayor Frey: Even without federal support, Minneapolis plans to move forward with police reforms
Mayor Frey’s decision comes despite the Department of Justice’s motion to dismiss the agreement with the city and its police department. The agreement stemmed from the police murder of George Floyd five years ago and laid out sweeping reforms.
Author of George Floyd biography says momentum has 'dried up'
Toluse Olorunnipa, co-author of “His Name is George Floyd,” sees parallels between this moment and the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s when there was also backlash to major social and political changes.
A Jan. 6 rioter convicted of assaulting police scored a visit to the White House
Two pardoned Jan. 6 rioters posted photos and videos of themselves visiting the White House. One of them was convicted of assaulting police and texted after the riot, "I have murder in my heart."
Police reform advocates in Minneapolis are denouncing the Trump administration's attempt to drop the federal consent decree. And a working group on the human services budget bill at the Minnesota Legislature is meeting privately to iron out differences. As they do, advocates for disabled people in the state held a rally this morning to push against possible cuts for disability waivers.
Appetites: Ditch the bun for your brat and serve your sausages charcuterie-board style instead
A brat board is a Midwestern cousin to the classic French charcuterie board. It takes the idea of using various meats and toppings to create a sampler but with grilled local sausages. Madeline Summers of Mississippi Market Co-Op said it’s great for getting to try everything at a barbecue.
Out to Lunch: Billy Sushi chef is unapologetically 'crazy' for Minnesota
Chef Enkhbileg “Billy” Tserenbat is the owner of the wildly popular Minneapolis North Loop restaurant, Billy Sushi. He reflected on starting his business during the pandemic, growing up in Mongolia and why he’s Minnesota’s biggest hype man.
Kody Clemens hits walk-off double to give Twins 6-5 win over Guardians in Game 1 of doubleheader
Kody Clemens doubled home the game-winning run with two out in the ninth inning as the Minnesota Twins beat the Cleveland Guardians 6-5 in the resumption of a suspended game.
'There's reason to be hopeful': AG Ellison on five years after George Floyd
Sunday marks five years since Minneapolis police officers killed George Floyd at the corner of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue. Reflecting on the years that have passed, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said “there’s reason to be hopeful” even as the country saw the highest number of police killings in a decade in 2024.
Historian traces police brutality in Minneapolis back to 1800s
The death of George Floyd wasn’t an anomaly. Long before Floyd, there was Ophelia Rice, a Black woman violently assaulted by a white police officer named Thomas Britt in Minneapolis in 1899.
Lynx beat Wings 85-81 for 2nd time in 5 days, spoiling homecoming for Bueckers
Napheesa Collier had 28 points and eight rebounds to lead the Minnesota Lynx to their second victory over the Dallas Wings in five days, an 85-81 decision that spoiled the homecoming for first overall draft pick Paige Bueckers.
Stillwater mayor on impacts of planned prison closure
MCF-Stillwater is one of the state's oldest prisons and has been plagued by safety spending and staffing concerns, yet it employs more than 400 people in the area. Stillwater Mayor Ted Kozlowski joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer on Morning Edition Tuesday to talk about the plan and its impacts.
Minneapolis, St. Paul drop in rankings, but stay in top 5 list of park systems for U.S. cities
The Trust for Public Land ranks the 100 most populous U.S. cities’ park systems using five categories: acreage, access, equity, investment and amenities. The Twin Cities are in the top 5 for 2025, but they ranked lower than last year.
Gerry Connolly, a Democratic congressman and fixture of Virginia politics, dies at 75
U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly has died at age 75. His family says he died at home Wednesday morning, surrounded by family members. He is best known as an outspoken Democrat who sought key reforms in the federal government while bringing transformational development to his populous Virginia district.
Minneapolis will follow police reform consent decree, despite DOJ dismissal
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a motion to dismiss its case against the city of Minneapolis that could have resulted in a federal consent decree and mandated reforms for the Minneapolis Police Department. 
These 7 executive actions show how Trump wants to reshape American history
President Trump wants to reframe how the country’s stories are told. But historians are pushing back, saying the administration’s actions amount to an attack on core institutions — and on history itself.
The Timberwolves lost to Oklahoma City Tuesday night 114-88 in the NBA’s Western Conference championship series. The state legislature’s working groups went in and out of meetings Tuesday with legislative leaders to finish up bills after the session adjourned on Monday. 
Emily Clark’s OT goal lifts Charge over Frost 2-1 in final series opener
Emily Clark scored at 2:47 of overtime on Tuesday night to lead the Ottawa Charge to a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Frost. With the win, the Charge take a 1-0 lead in the Professional Women’s Hockey League best-of-five championship series for the Walter Cup.
Rested Timberwolves look listless in 114-88 loss to Thunder in Game 1 of Western Conference finals
Minnesota hadn’t played in nearly a week and Oklahoma City had just played in a Game 7 two days earlier. It was the Timberwolves who looked lifeless while the energetic Thunder rolled to a 114-88 victory in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.
How a caterpillar native to Minnesota made its forests fuel for wildfires
A native insect called the spruce budworm has killed trees across more than 2,000 square miles of northern Minnesota forests, creating dry tinder fuel in the areas burned by the Camp House and Jenkins Creek wildfires. 
Red tape, rising costs slow efforts to rebuild businesses burned after Floyd’s murder
Five years after George Floyd’s killing set off nights of destruction, vacant lots and broken buildings remain along Lake Street and other Minneapolis business districts. Some business owners say money woes and city zoning rules have made it hard to rebuild.
The country’s first Hmong male news anchor is making sure he’s not the last
Chenue Her made history in 2021 when he became the first Hmong male news anchor in Des Moines, Iowa. He has since come back home to Minnesota, joining the FOX 9 Morning Show in 2024 as an anchor.