Tessera

The stretch of the Mississippi River that runs through the Twin Cities is part of the only gorge on the entire river. Some environmental groups say removing locks and dams in the region would help restore the river's ecological health and create new recreational opportunities. But questions remain.

What would removing Twin Cities locks and dams mean for the Mississippi River?

Some environmental groups think removing the locks and dams would help restore the ecological health of the river and create new recreational opportunities, but many questions remain. Several studies ...

mprnews.org

Artist and activist Isavela Lopez became one of the first Minnesotans charged with anti-ICE actions, including assaulting and obstructing federal officers. Last week, she took a plea deal reducing her charges to a single misdemeanor.

After a year frozen in federal legal trouble, Isavela Lopez is finding her voice again

mprnews.org

Clay Masters @claymasters.bsky.social · last mo.

Hundreds packed a Hermantown open house Wednesday night as Google faced questions about its planned data center project. The company outlined energy, water use, noise and impacts, but many attendees raised concerns about transparency and effects on the community.

At packed Hermantown open house, Google tries to ease community concerns over data center

Google held the event to provide transparency around the contentious project and answer questions about energy and water use, noise and other issues.

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The exodus is evident on Main Street Lexington after the Tyson meat packing plant closed. “It even smells different without the plant running.” Great reporting from Molly Ashford on a town I spent time covering many years ago. nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news... @nebpublicmedia.bsky.social

Lexington workers are commuting for now, but the city is ‘more empty’ after Tyson closure

Lexington is still reeling from the closure of the Tyson Foods meatpacking plant. A bus transportation program aims to keep people in the city as they find jobs elsewhere.

nebraskapublicmedia.org

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday voted 50 to 48 in favor of a war powers resolution to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran. Sen. Tina Smith joined MPR News host @claymasters.bsky.social to discuss the importance of the vote.

Minnesota U.S. Sen. Smith on Senate's vote to end war with Iran

MPR News host Clay Masters spoke with Sen. Tina Smith, a Democrat, about the Tuesday vote and the importance of the war powers resolution.

mprnews.org

MPR News host @claymasters.bsky.social spoke with civil rights attorney and activist Nekima Levy Armstrong, who was present at the 12 defendants’ first appearance in court, about what she saw.

Levy Armstrong recounts first court appearance of ICE protesters

MPR News host Clay Masters spoke with civil rights attorney and activist Nekima Levy Armstrong, who was present at the 12 defendants’ first appearance in court, about what she saw.

mprnews.org

The small northern Minnesota city of Blackduck voted to close down its police department last week. Jim Mortenson with Law Enforcement Labor Services joined MPR News host @claymasters.bsky.social to talk about the larger trend.

Why are small-town police departments disbanding?

Jim Mortenson, the executive director of Law Enforcement Labor Services, explains the effect of a police department closing in a community.

mprnews.org

Elizabeth Shockman @eshockmanwrites.bsky.social · 2mo ago

A new grant program approved by state legislators last year is helping more Minnesota students get out of the classroom and into the wild. For one group from a St. Paul Spanish immersion school, the trip to the outdoors couldn’t have come at a better time after months of anxiety and uncertainty.

Outdoor School program gets kids out of classrooms and into the wild for learning, healing

A new grant program approved by state legislators last year is helping more Minnesota students get out of the classroom and into the wild to study science and nature up close and in person. For one gr...

mprnews.org

"The share of families with moms and dads who are both working full time was 31% in 1975. A half-century later, it's 52%, according to Pew's analysis of census data." www.npr.org/2026/06/16/n...

Survey confirms the struggle of working parents: 'No way to be two things at once'

A new Pew survey finds many working parents feel they cannot give 100% at either work or home. Benefits like paid sick leave and more affordable childcare could help.

npr.org

Clay Masters @claymasters.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Vance Boelter pleaded guilty Thursday to murder, stalking and firearms crimes in connection with the killings of former Minnesota DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, as well an attack on DFL state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, and their daughter, Hope, a year ago.

Boelter pleads guilty in lawmaker attacks, agrees to two life sentences

Boelter’s plea agreement calls for him to serve two consecutive life sentences plus 40 years in exchange for prosecutors’ pledge not to seek the death penalty.

mprnews.org

I was reporting stories like this every summer for the 12 years I reported in Iowa.

The Gazette@thegazette.com · 2mo ago

Water pollution puts dent in Iowa summer enjoyment

Elizabeth Shockman @eshockmanwrites.bsky.social · 3mo ago

The Minnesota Star Tribune announced Tuesday that it plans to cut about 15 percent of its staff through buyouts and layoffs. Publisher Steve Grove also said the Star Tribune is exploring a new ownership model.

Star Tribune planning job cuts, exploring new ownership model

mprnews.org

NPR @npr.org · 2mo ago

Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek will face Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson in the Senate race. For governor, Democrat state Auditor Rob Sand and Republican businessman Zach Lahn move on to November. n.pr/4ucct4O

Iowa voters pick their nominees for competitive general elections

n.pr

This legislation passed unanimously over the weekend in MN: www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...

‘Leave our kids alone’: Minnesota Senate backs anti-grooming bill

Senators on Friday voted unanimously to pass a bill to make grooming a felony. It heads back to the House, where lawmakers are expected to concur and send it to Gov. Tim Walz.

mprnews.org

Evacuation orders remained in place for parts of Crow Wing County on Monday as crews continued to battle the Flanders wildfire southeast of Crosslake. The fire started Saturday and had grown to more than 1,600 acres in size by Sunday night — but crews managed to reach 20 percent containment.

Evacuation order remains in place as crews battle Flanders Fire in Crow Wing County

The fire started Saturday and had grown to more than 1,600 acres in size by Sunday night — but crews managed to reach 20 percent containment. That means firefighters had created lines they believe wil...

mprnews.org

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office said ICE agent Christian Castro fired through the front door of a duplex, striking Julio Sosa-Celis in the leg while people, including children, were inside the home.

Minnesota prosecutors announce charges against ICE agent

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison have charged an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in the January shooting of a Venezuelan man in north Minne...

mprnews.org

As of Tuesday afternoon the fire was 62 percent contained, but state incident commander Mike Hill told Walz he expected that number to grow by tonight. Hill said he anticipates turning the fire’s management over to local officials “sometime midweek.”

Walz meets with fire responders as crews gain ground on North Shore blaze

Gov. Tim Walz received a briefing on the Stewart Trail Fire, which is more than 60 percent contained. Residents are getting their first look at their homes and cabins in the burn area.

mprnews.org