What's happening in Minnesota today
A look at what's going on around the state from MPR News, other trusted news sources and you. Tag your local stories on Twitter with #mntoday and check on this stream for your daily dose of news that affects you.
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Photos, video: Frigid temps bring gorgeous sea smoke to Duluth
The frigid temperatures had an upside in Duluth this week, bringing spectacular waves of sea smoke to the harbor. -
Minn. educator wants your Legos to teach kids about watersheds
A member of Minnesota GreenCorps is collecting Legos to help educate kids and families about how a watershed works by building a model. -
Ruling pushes decision on Line 3 pipeline into summer
State regulators had planned to make a final decision on Enbridge Energy's proposed oil pipeline project by April 2018. A judge's new ruling could push that decision to June 2018, if not later. -
Happy New Year! Now take a hike
All that rest has been fun but now the DNR wants you to get off the couch. It's offering 14 First Day hikes at more than a dozen state parks on New Year's Day as part of a nationwide effort to start 2018 with physical activity. -
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Days of bitter cold ahead for Midwest, Northeast
Wind chill advisories or warnings are in effect for all of North Dakota and Wisconsin, as well as swaths of South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan and Indiana. -
At rural MN hospitals, deaf people struggle for interpreters
Hospitals are required to provide effective communication for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, including the family members and companions of patients. But many say that doesn't always happen in Minnesota, especially in rural parts of the state. -
Swanson joins suit over repeal of 'net neutrality' rule
Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson, a Democrat, said repealing so-called net neutrality rules would have a detrimental effect on consumer protection and may influence how internet users access political content. -
Hennepin Co. extends hours as more Minnesotans prepay property taxes
Hennepin County reported an increased interest in prepayment of taxes following President Trump's signing of the new federal tax law — a move that has potential impacts on property taxes. -
Retired Hibbing fire captain died in fire trying to rescue grandkids
Steven Gillitzer and his wife Patricia Gillitzer died Tuesday as they attempted to get their grandchildren out of the house in an early morning fire Tuesday in 20-below temperatures. -
2017 may be worst in years for Minnesota fire deaths
Five deaths at three fires over the past few days could make this one of the worst fire death years in Minnesota since the turn of the millennium. -
No special session over lieutenant governor swap
Capitol ViewThe upcoming shuffle that will put a Republican in the soon-vacant lieutenant governor's spot could knot up the Senate. An attempt to find a workaround fell flat. -
Tax overhaul breeds uncertainty for clean energy business
While key tax credits for clean energy were preserved under the new tax law, it's unknown how the industry will fare after the massive overhaul. -
Judge rejects archdiocese bankruptcy plans, orders return to mediation
A federal judge has rejected competing reorganization plans for the the bankrupt Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and ordered the church and its creditors back into mediation. -
Photographer says Twins star Sano sexually assaulted her
A local sports photographer says in 2015 Minnesota Twins third baseman Miguel Sano grabbed her by the wrist until it hurt, wouldn't let go and forcibly tried to kiss her. Sano told TMZ Sports he denies it. -
Will prepaying your property taxes really maximize deductions?
The Internal Revenue Service's advice on prepaying next year's property taxes has been cryptic and confusing. And the Minnesota Department of Revenue suggests taxpayers consult tax professionals. -
Freeman: Probe of Ruszczyk shooting by Mpls. cop continues into 2018
Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said Thursday he has not yet decided whether he'll file charges against Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor, that he's continuing to seek evidence in the case and the investigation will roll into next year. -
Inmate dies in Fillmore County jail; investigation underway
Sheriff Tom Kaase says staff and emergency responders treated the inmate at about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday but lifesaving efforts "were unfortunately unsuccessful." -
Hope arrives for transitional housing program that serves Native women
Kateri Residence, which offers shelter to Indian women and their children, had been slated to close next summer. -
Bachmann on Senate run: ‘Should it be me?’
Bachmann would be an instant force in the race given her broad name recognition and a nearly $1.7 million campaign balance she still has control of from her days in Congress. -
Al Franken officially resigns Senate seat
A top Franken staffer said the senator submitted his resignation letter to Gov. Mark Dayton Tuesday morning. -
Super Bowl street closures begin in Minneapolis
The road closures around U.S. Bank stadium come more than a month before the big game. -
7 Minnesotans make U.S. women's Olympic hockey team
Three Wisconsin natives and two North Dakotans were also named to the team. They'll be coached by Minnesotan Robb Stauber. -
Rep. Ilhan Omar won't let social media attacks derail her
Minnesota's first Somali-American state lawmaker says her high-profile status has made her a target of hate for some social media trolls. -
Influential tech analyst predicts Amazon will buy Target
Gene Munster, a respected former stock analyst based in the Twin Cities, says Target's stores and business model would be a good acquisition this year for Amazon. -
Minnesota aims for jump-start on 2020 census
Two years before the once-a-decade count, Minnesota officials and civic groups are well into planning. -
Hundreds take plunge into frigid Lake Minnetonka on New Year's Day
Bitter-cold weather wasn't enough to stop hundreds of people from taking a plunge into Lake Minnetonka on New Year's Day. -
'Testify' exhibit showcases personal art collection and a mission for Alan Page
A prominent Minnesotan and his family are sharing their personal collection of slavery artifacts and African-American art in hopes of reframing the conversation on race in America today. -
Police: Snow thwarts shoplifter in North Dakota
Police say a 22-year-old man filled up a cart with about $4,000 in products at a Hobby Lobby store in Minot on Wednesday. After the cart got stuck in the snow in the parking lot and tipped over, the man allegedly ran off. -
Smith's Senate odyssey begins with sprint toward November
Just days after being sworn into the U.S. Senate, Tina Smith is on a crash course to find her way in the chamber and find time for a 10-month campaign sprint toward a special election to keep her new job. -
Osmek drops bid for Minnesota governor
Sen. Dave Osmek says his campaign for governor wasn't gaining traction, so he's leaving the crowded race. -
Shingle Creek's cautionary tale for Minnesota's water
Road salt is likely responsible for impairing 50 bodies of water in Minnesota. Looking at the first stream on that list shows how tough it is to reverse pollution from chloride. -
U of M office recommends expulsion for Lynch after another sex assault allegation
In less than a week, Reggie Lynch is facing yet another report that alleges sexual assault. But this one carries a recommendation of a tougher penalty. -
Blaine company makes bid for troubled school tech group
Blaine-based Infinite Campus says it could save metro school districts millions of dollars by taking over TIES, a troubled technology collaborative. -
What you need to know about Minnesota's flu season so far
Flu season is full swing in Minnesota. Between October and December, more than a thousand Minnesotans were hospitalized with the flu. -
Mpls. mayor Frey pledged to increase job opportunities. He's not the first
Mayor Jacob Frey has said it's time for city leaders to stop talking about creating more jobs for people of color and to take action. However, some say just by using his bully pulpit Mayor Frey can get results. -
Maggie Nichols' mother on sex abuse: Gymnastic, Olympic institutions 'didn't do their job'
Maggie Nichols, a Minnesota native and former Olympic hopeful, said she is among the more than 100 women and girls who say they are victims of sexual abuse by a now-imprisoned Michigan sports doctor. -
Minneapolis Fed proposes motivating big banks to split up
The risk of another 2008-like banking crisis could be dramatically reduced if large banks were required to keep much more loss-absorbing capital, Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari says. -
School desegregation case goes to state Supreme Court
A case claiming persistent school segregation effectively denies Minnesota children an adequate education went before the state Supreme Court Tuesday. Here's what you need to know. -
'A lot of pain': Somalis allege abuse by immigration detention guards
Immigration lawyers have filed a complaint against a Florida detention center, alleging guards pepper-sprayed, shackled and used excessive force on Somali detainees and called them racial slurs, including the N-word. -
Gopher's football star Nick Connelly says fifth concussion forced retirement
"There's a lot more to life than football," Connelly told host Tom Weber. But he'd still play if he could. He's not advising people to stop playing football, either. He said if his future children want they can play.Your Thoughts: Would/do you let your kids play football? -
Salvadoran immigrants in Minnesota face wrenching decisions as special protections end
Salvadorans were first granted Temporary Protected Status in 2001, after two destructive earthquakes in their country. -
Semi crashes into school, injuring 2 students in southeast Minn.
A semitrailer truck veered off a highway in southern Minnesota and crashed through the wall of an elementary school, injuring two children in a classroom.