MPRdotOrg
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, Rep. Angie Craig face off in debate ahead of August primary election
- Title
- Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, Rep. Angie Craig face off in debate ahead of August primary election
- Runtime
- 58:55
- Date posted
- 2 days ago
- Description
- Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and U.S. Rep. Angie Craig will have their first televised debate Friday night, ahead of the primary election on Aug. 11.
Both DFL candidates are running for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Tina Smith.
Video source: Almanac, Twin Cities PBS
- Title
- Minneapolis woman among 15 facing federal charges of anti-ICE conspiracy speaks out
- Runtime
- 2:33
- Date posted
- 5 days ago
- Description
- Natasha Rakotz is one of 15 Minnesotans facing charges in connection to anti-ICE activism over the winter. Prosecutors say the 15 are members and associates of the protest group Direct Action Minnesota, which they describe as an antifa — or antifascist — affinity group.
Officials arrested most of the defendants June 16 “for conspiracy to impede or injure federal officers” and for efforts to allegedly “violently oppose immigration law enforcement.” They made their initial appearances in court as a large crowd protested outside in St. Paul.
Minneapolis resident Rakotz was one of two yet to be detained, who U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen called “fugitives at large." She turned herself in on June 17.
“I'm just one of many people trying to help our immigrant neighbors, and they're untrue. These charges are absolutely untrue," Rakotz said.
Story by Feven Gerezgiher
Video by Anne Guttridge
- Title
- Where to watch the World Cup in the Twin Cities this summer
- Runtime
- 0:34
- Date posted
- 6 days ago
- Description
- The 2026 FIFA World Cup began June 11 and will continue through the final match on July 19. This year, 48 countries are playing in the tournament over a total of 104 matches in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
The crowd featured in the video were at the Minnesota United-organized watch party for the U.S. vs. Paraguay match on June 12. Despite heavy rain, fans gathered outdoors in downtown Minneapolis between Brit’s Pub and the Minnesota Orchestra to watch the match on a giant video screen.
Story by Nicole Ki
Video captured by Kerem Yücel and edited by Anne Guttridge
- Title
- As opposition grows, Minnesota cities wrestle with hyperscale data center proposals
- Runtime
- 2:42
- Date posted
- 10 days ago
- Description
- Tech companies are eyeing Minnesota for data centers because of its relatively cool climate and available land, water and electricity.
Meta is already building a facility in Rosemount. More than a dozen other projects have been proposed around the state.
Supporters see those developments as economic opportunities that could generate property tax revenue, help pay for infrastructure improvements and create well-paying construction jobs.
Residents are concerned about their massive size, water and energy consumption as well as possible noise and light pollution.
Most of the projects proposed in Minnesota were also born in secrecy, with code names such as Project Bigfoot in Rosemount and Project Skyway in Pine Island. City officials and the developers often work behind the scenes under non-disclosure agreements. Pine Island residents only found out Google is behind the proposed data center there after months of speculation.
At the s...
- Title
- Watch: Vance Boelter pleads guilty in lawmaker attacks, agrees to two life sentences
- Runtime
- 18:12
- Date posted
- 10 days ago
- Description
- The man charged with killing former DFL Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court in Minneapolis.
Vance Boelter pleaded guilty 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 the attack on DFL state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, and their daughter Hope a year ago Sunday.
Read more here:
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/06/11/vance-boelter-plea-minnesota-lawmaker-attacks-hortman-hoffman
Video source: KARE 11
- Title
- Minneapolis City Hall celebrates Pride Month with drag breakfast
- Runtime
- 1:21
- Date posted
- 11 days ago
- Description
- Minneapolis community members and city employees celebrated Pride Month on Thursday with a morning of drag, ballroom and croissants at what organizers say was the first-ever drag show held at city hall.
Local drag queens and kings performed, and ballroom performers vogued. After the show, an honorary resolution was read at the council meeting to recognize June 2026 as two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual pride month.
Last week, several council members introduced a legislative package to support and protect the LGBTQ+ community including an ordinance that would allow adult bathhouses.
- Title
- Two panels from national AIDS Memorial Quilt on display in Minneapolis
- Runtime
- 2:39
- Date posted
- 11 days ago
- Description
- Through June 14, two panels of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt will be on display at Queermunity in Minneapolis, an LGTBQ+ community space in Uptown.
The entire quilt, which is housed at the National Aids Memorial in San Francisco, has roughly 50,000 panels dedicated to more than 110,000 people who died from AIDS-related complications. The idea was conceived in 1985 by activist Cleve Jones and first sewed in 1987. It is regarded as the largest folk art project in the world.
Hilary Otey, one of the co-founders for Queermunity, said they are hoping residents sit with the quilt and learn more about local and national LGBTQ+ history.
Queermunity is open for those who want to view the quilt on Mondays and Tuesdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesdays through Fridays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Read the full story: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/06/02/national-aids-memorial-quilt-panels-visiting-queermunit...
- Title
- Thousands celebrate the 5th giant pencil sharpening on Lake of the Isles
- Runtime
- 1:01
- Date posted
- 15 days ago
- Description
- Minneapolis couple Amy and John Higgins hosted a celebration Saturday, June 6 around the sharpening of a giant pencil sculpture in their front yard.
This year, the Higgins spoke about the city’s resilience during federal immigration enforcement over the winter. They also dedicated another oak tree in their yard to the people of Minneapolis for "choosing love over fear," according to MPR News digital producer Sam Stroozas.
Video captured by @ timevansphoto. Edited by Feven Gerezgiher.
- Title
- Prince sing-along and block party takes over downtown Minneapolis on Saturday
- Runtime
- 0:22
- Date posted
- 15 days ago
- Description
- Fans joined a sing-along to Prince’s biggest hits at the First Avenue Prince Block Party on Saturday, June 6 — the day before what would have been his 68th birthday. April marked the 10th anniversary of his death.
Video by Feven Gerezgiher
- Title
- This Minneapolis-based Prince tribute band has been playing for almost 20 years
- Runtime
- 1:58
- Date posted
- 16 days ago
- Description
- “Chase & Ovation: A Salute to the Music of Prince” has been performing Prince’s music since August 2006. For the past 18 of those 20 years, Chase & Ovation have performed every month at Bunker’s Music Bar & Grill in Minneapolis.
Chase, the band’s frontman, says he still can't believe he's pulled it off, knowing how protective Prince is of his music. But, according to Chase, Prince showed up at their first performance at First Avenue and gave him a thumbs up, which Chase has since interpreted as approval of his tribute.
Beyond that, Chase says his history with Prince goes deeper, noting that Prince’s mother once babysat him, and he worked as an extra in Prince’s 1990 film, “Graffiti Bridge.”
The week Prince died, Chase says he thought about ending the tribute show, but people encouraged him to continue.
“I hope what we're able to offer is an opportunity to see something as close as we can possibly make it, in a fash...
- Title
- Saype debuts “Beyond Walls” mural in Minneapolis
- Runtime
- 0:36
- Date posted
- 16 days ago
- Description
- Over 100 people gathered at Boom Island Park in Minneapolis on Friday to witness the unveiling of mural artist Saype’s “Beyond Walls” project.
As a drone flew overhead, the crowd linked arms in a gesture of togetherness, a message Saype says he hopes will reach the rest of the world.
The Franco-Swiss artist, known for his giant outdoor frescoes, has painted the murals in 22 places since he started the project in 2019. Each one depicts detailed black-and-white hands clasping across a natural landscape. Saype picked Minneapolis for this project a few months ago during the federal immigration enforcement surge, after seeing stories of neighbors helping each other.
The city will host another community celebration 3-5 p.m. Saturday June 6, with a food truck, music and more drone photography capturing people linking around the art.
Video and thumbnail image captured by Tim Evans (@timevansphoto) and edited by Ben Hovland
- Title
- Thousands expected to attend 5th annual pencil sharpening in Minneapolis
- Runtime
- 1:07
- Date posted
- 17 days ago
- Description
- This Saturday is the fifth time Minnesotans will gather in Minneapolis's Lake of the Isles neighborhood to witness the sharpening of a giant pencil sculpture.
The celebration from 1 to 2:30 p.m. will include a performance from the University of Minnesota marching band and feature David Rees, an artisanal pencil sharper based in New York.
Video captured in 2025 by Anne Guttridge and in 2026 by Nicole Ki
Video edited by Nicole Ki
- Title
- 100-person choir will lead #Prince sing-along party in downtown Minneapolis
- Runtime
- 2:35
- Date posted
- 18 days ago
- Description
- You don't have to be rich to be my girl. And you certainly don't have to know all the lyrics to be part of what organizers hope will be the largest Prince sing-along of all time.
Led by acclaimed performer Sanford Moore of jazz ensemble Moore By Four, the 100-voice community choir will run down Prince's biggest hits and a few surprises as part of the First Avenue Prince Block Party on Saturday, June 6.
The event is part of several days of celebrations for what would have been Prince's 68th birthday. April marked the 10th anniversary of his death.
Ben Johnson, Arts & Cultural Affairs director for the City of Minneapolis, said he wants the event to "make the ground shake."
Story and video capture by Nicole Ki
Video edited by Payton Whaley
- Title
- Renowned Franco-Swiss artist Saype is painting a giant, temporary mural in a Minneapolis park
- Runtime
- 1:54
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- Mural artist Saype is bringing his “Beyond Walls” project to Boom Island Park in Minneapolis. The Franco-Swiss artist is known for his giant outdoor frescoes. His project depicts detailed black-and-white hands clasping across a natural landscape — usually sand or grass. Minneapolis is the mural’s first home in the U.S.
Saype uses a biodegradable paint mix he designed for the project, meant to fade naturally over a few weeks or months with wind and rain. He began painting on June 1.
Throughout the week the community is invited to visit Boom Island Park and take part in a photo booth to capture intertwined hands that will be used to inspire the next location’s mural. Free public events will take place at the completed mural 3-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Video by Anne Guttridge
- Title
- New Ulm needs $11.6 million to restore Hermann the German Monument
- Runtime
- 1:49
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- Hermann the German has been watching over the southern Minnesota city of New Ulm for 129 years. The copper statue stands on top of a 102-foot tall monument. For decades, local residents and visitors have climbed up to the observation deck, but now it’s closed to the public due to water damage.
The city estimated the repair cost to be a whopping $11.6 million.
Many New Ulm residents seem to support the effort to repair the Hermann Monument, though some note that the price tag is a lot.
This isn’t the first time Hermann needed major repair. The statue of Hermann the German himself was taken down in 2004 and refurbished. This time, the restoration project would be focused on the monument’s base, the dome and everything else that leads up to the statue.
City officials don't want to use local tax dollars, instead seeking other sources of funding.
However, that $11 million-plus cost estimate isn’t set in stone. The actu...
- Title
- As Sam Nordquist’s family seeks justice, they keep his memory alive
- Runtime
- 2:31
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- Sam Nordquist, then 24 years old, traveled from his home in Oakdale to upstate New York to meet the woman of his dreams. He never returned. In February 2025, five months after arriving to New York, his body was found in a farmer’s field.
Police said Nordquist, who was Black and transgender, was physically and sexually assaulted as well as psychologically abused before he was killed. Seven people, including the woman he flew out to meet, are facing criminal charges. All but one of the defendants has pled not guilty — on June 2, Emily Motyka pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and kidnapping. The first trial will be in September.
The case, which officials have called "deeply disturbing," has drawn attention from around the world. But at home, Nordquist's family is working to keep the more positive parts of his memory alive. In March, his mother Linda and his sister Kayla spoke to MPR News about Sam and what it’s like living without him.
Sto...
- Title
- Watch: Mayor Frey names Bill Peterson as interim Minneapolis police chief
- Runtime
- 19:20
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has named an interim police chief as the city looks to replace Brian O’Hara, who resigned last week.
Frey announced Tuesday that Bill Peterson, the current 1st Precinct inspector and a 30-plus-year veteran of the department, will fill that role.
Read more about Peterson here:
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/06/02/mayor-frey-names-bill-peterson-as-interim-minneapolis-police-chief
Video source: City of Minneapolis
- Title
- GOP governor candidate Lisa Demuth pushing forward with primary despite losing party's endorsement
- Runtime
- 8:48
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- In her first interview since filing for governor, Republican candidate Lisa Demuth said she's moving forward toward an August primary despite losing her party's endorsement at the convention in Duluth this weekend.
On Monday, Republican Party Chair Alex Plechash released Republican candidates for governor from prior pledges after the party experienced technical issues and hourslong delays with voting in the race. The party endorsed businessman Kendall Qualls on Saturday.
Demuth's entry into the primary creates more uncertainty for Republicans as they vie for an open governor’s office — one they haven’t held since early 2011. Qualls and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell are already on the primary ballot along with a few other lesser-known candidates.
Demuth made her announcement on the final day of candidate filing.
Follow our ongoing coverage of the 2026 election at mprnews.org.
Reporting by Dana Ferguson and Clay Masters
- Title
- Republican governor candidate Lisa Demuth on pushing forward with primary despite losing endorsement
- Runtime
- 1:22
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth announced Tuesday she will run in an August primary election for the Republican Party nomination for governor, reversing course from an earlier pledge to leave the race if not endorsed.
In her first interview since filing for candidacy, Demuth detailed her decision.
The announcement came days after GOP delegates endorsed businessman Kendall Qualls at the party’s convention in Duluth. On Monday, Republican Party Chair Alex Plechash released Republican candidates for governor from prior pledges after the party experienced technical issues and hourslong delays with voting in the race.
Her entry into the primary creates more uncertainty for Republicans as they vie for an open governor’s office — one they haven’t held since early 2011. Qualls and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell are already on the primary ballot along with a few other lesser-known candidates.
Demuth made her announcement on the final da...
- Title
- Twin Cities residents receive JFK Profile in Courage Award for actions during ICE surge
- Runtime
- 1:08
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- The residents of the Twin Cities were honored Sunday with a John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award, for demonstrating “compassion and unwavering commitment to the ideals that sustain our democracy” during the federal immigration enforcement surge.
Kennedy’s only surviving child, Caroline Kennedy, presented the award to four Twin Cities community members at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library overlooking Boston Harbor.
The four people selected to accept the award on behalf of the Twin Cities were: Imam Yusuf Abdulle, co-founder of the Somali American Leadership Table, Natalie Ehret, founder of Haven Watch, Carolina Ortiz, associate executive director of COPAL and Zena Stenvik, superintendent of Columbia Heights Public Schools.
Video edited by Anne Guttridge
- Title
- Singles are ditching apps for PowerPoints in Rochester
- Runtime
- 2:11
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- In Bleu Duck Kitchen in Rochester, people recently gathered for Pitch-A-Friend, an event where one friend makes a slide deck to pitch another friend in hopes of getting them a date. It's a trend taking over cities across the country.
Dating is hard in this transient city largely defined by Mayo Clinic.
“So they come here for a limited time. And when they are here, they never feel like they can make that connection," said Sheila Iteghete, the organizer for Pitch-A-Friend in Rochester.
When Iteghete moved to the city for Mayo Clinic five years ago, she was disappointed by the dating apps and started trying to meet people in person. When she learned about Pitch-A-Friend in the Twin Cities, she decided to bring it to Rochester.
Iteghete hopes the event could help people spark conversations and meet in a more natural and organic way than swiping left or right on the apps. She said she is still trying to prove the event to the Rochester c...
- Title
- Peregrine falcons have stayed on the roof of Mayo Clinic for almost 40 years
- Runtime
- 1:30
- Date posted
- 23 days ago
- Description
- For almost four decades, Mayo Clinic has raised peregrine falcons, and they have became a part of the Mayo offering. There's a 24-hour live web cam set up to watch falcons. TVs projecting the falcon cam have become quite popular in patients rooms and waiting areas, drawing viewers across Mayo's campus. And one video clip of the falcons yelling at each other has nearly 1 million views on Facebook.
About 60 years ago, Peregrine falcons were nearly decimated due to the widespread use of the pesticide DDT, and the bird was designated an endangered species. In 1987, Mayo Clinic agreed to partner with the Midwest Peregrine Society and released 32 young, captive-raised falcons from the hospital’s roof. Mayo then built a nesting box and adult pairs have been returning ever since. Similar efforts across the country were successful too.
Every year, Mayo hosts a banding ceremony where they will inspect the newborn chicks, name them and put tracking tags on them.
...
- Title
- You can now rent a hot tub on the Mississippi River in Minneapolis
- Runtime
- 1:15
- Date posted
- 23 days ago
- Description
- New to Minnesota waters this summer: floating hot tubs. The small, 16-foot boats will coast along the Mississippi River from Nicollet Island railway bridge up to the Broadway Street Bridge. The business operates out of Boom Island Park and allows customers to rent the floating hot tub boats for 90-minute sessions.
The boats have trackers as well as a geofence which alerts people when they’ve gone beyond the boundary of the set route.
Minnesota Hot Tub Boats founder Matt Witt said he thinks this will be successful in Minnesota because it will be a new way for people to get outside and enjoy the water.
Video captured by Nicole Ki and edited by Anne Guttridge
- Title
- Watch: Minneapolis City Council leaders speak after O'Hara resigns as police chief
- Runtime
- 19:36
- Date posted
- 25 days ago
- Description
- Minneapolis City Council President Elliott Payne and council members Robin Wonsley and Jason Chavez plan to speak about former Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara's sudden resignation on Tuesday evening.
Minneapolis city leaders are starting a search for a new police chief, after now-former chief Brian O’Hara resigned after allegedly interfering with an internal investigation into his conduct. Mayor Jacob Frey announced on Tuesday he had accepted O’Hara’s resignation after informing the chief he would face discipline up to and including firing.
Find more coverage here:
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/05/27/minneapolis-police-chief-brian-ohara-resigns-katie-blackwell-taking-over-as-acting-chief
Video source: KARE 11
- Title
- Rochester is trying to curb its geese population by taking geese eggs
- Runtime
- 2:10
- Date posted
- 26 days ago
- Description
- Rochester has a geese problem. Paul Widman, Rochester’s Director of Parks and Recreation, explained that the habitat in local parks can’t support the huge number of geese that are here.
The city has been steadily trying to bring down the population count for years using a method called “egg addling” to prevent goose eggs from hatching, and it seems to be working.
While some residents have pushed the city take more aggressive efforts, others have expressed concerns over “egg addling.”
For a long time, the city embraced the bird, and it had food dispensers for them. The local baseball team is even named the Rochester Honkers.
Widman says most Rochester residents seem to be coming around to accept the city’s approach. He emphasized that just because the city is looking to control the population, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t love the geese and value their presence.
Story by Molly Castle Work
Video b...
- Title
- Valleyfair amusement park celebrates 50 years of fun
- Runtime
- 1:45
- Date posted
- 30 days ago
- Description
- Valleyfair is celebrating its 50th anniversary on May 25.
MPR News arts reporters Alex V. Cipolle and Jacob Aloi visited the amusement park in Shakopee to learn more about the history and nostalgia it has brought Minnesotans for half a century.
Story by Alex V. Cipolle and Jacob Aloi
Video by Nicole Ki
- Title
- Governor Tim Walz weighs in on federal fraud investigation in Minnesota
- Runtime
- 24:01
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- After two terms in office, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will be exiting his role at the end of the year. He spoke with MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst about the latest developments in the federal fraud investigation in Minnesota as well as the high and lows over his eight years in office.
Hear the rest of the Politics Friday episode: https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2026/05/22/politics-friday-walz-weighs-in-on-the-work-left-to-do-for-the-remainder-of-his-term
Video by Anne Guttridge
- Title
- Gov. Walz weighs in on federal fraud investigation in Minnesota
- Runtime
- 1:08
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- After two terms in office, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will be exiting his role at the end of the year. He spoke with MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst about the latest developments in the federal fraud investigation in Minnesota as well as the high and lows over his eight years in office.
Hear more of the conversation: https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2026/05/22/politics-friday-walz-weighs-in-on-the-work-left-to-do-for-the-remainder-of-his-term
Video by Anne Guttridge
- Title
- In a town of less than 3,000, more than 100 teenagers volunteer in ‘Day of Caring’
- Runtime
- 1:22
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- In Barnesville, a city with less than 3,000 residents, over 100 high school volunteers helped 80 senior citizens with outdoor chores like cleaning gutters and raking leaves on May 6. This is the 4th annual Barnesville Day of Caring.
The event is hosted by the Barnesville Area Community Fund and coordinated by Barnesville Area HELPERS. Their goal is to improve senior citizens' lives and keep them safely in their homes as long as possible.
“It allows seniors to kind of not worry about some of those things that they're not physically able to do anymore, and it gives the kids a fun day off of regular classes,” says Stacy Lindbom, a member of the the Barnesville Area Community Fund Advisory Board.
Story and video by Noah Bloch
Video edited by Tony Xiao
- Title
- Ahead of adoption, beagles rescued from Wisconsin research facility learn what love is
- Runtime
- 2:58
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Since they were rescued from a biomedical research breeding facility in Wisconsin, 33 beagles have been receiving care and rehabilitation at Animal Humane Society in Golden Valley, Minnesota.
According to Liv Hagen, the director of animal welfare at Animal Humane Society, the dogs didn’t have a normal life. They essentially lived in confinement and didn’t get to go outside or have much human contact. After arriving at the humane society the dogs had a couple days of decompression before doing medical examinations and working on their behavior. Hagen says the team works to build the beagles’ trust and “offer them yummy treats that maybe they’ve never experienced before.”
Hagen cautioned that while families adopting the beagles may find the pups to be timid at first, she’s already seeing them grow more comfortable and confident.
The beagles will be available for adoption on a first-come, first-served basis and will likely be available ...
- Title
- Watch: Trump administration officials announce 'major' action involving fraud in Minnesota
- Runtime
- 47:24
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Top Trump administration officials including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen are set to be in Minneapolis on Thursday for a news conference announcing “major law enforcement action involving fraud in Minnesota.”
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz is also among the officials slated to appear.
That news conference comes a day after federal prosecutors filed a fresh batch of social service program fraud charges. And it will happen soon after the sentencing of Feeding Our Future founder Aimee Bock, 45, who was convicted last year of leading a scheme to steal hundreds of millions of dollars from taxpayer-funded child nutrition programs. Prosecutors are seeking a 50-year prison term for Bock.
Find more coverage here:
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/05/21/trump-administration-announce-major-action-fraud-minnesota
Video source: KARE 11
- Title
- ‘American Idol’ Top 5 finalist Chris Tungseth returns to Fergus Falls
- Runtime
- 1:19
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Chris Tungseth, a construction worker from Fergus Falls, is the first Minnesotan to make it to the semifinals on “American Idol.” Although he did not make it to the champion round, he performed during the reality series’ season finale a week later.
Fergus Falls erected a new sign near his high school alma mater of Hillcrest Lutheran Academy. Along with the city’s name and population it reads: “Home of American Idol’s Chris Tungseth.”
On May 16, the city commemorated his achievement with a celebration in his honor. “He has put us in the limelight,” said Fergus Falls Mayor Anthony Hicks. “He’s brought the people of Fergus Falls together as residents, as a city, as politicians. Locally everybody has backed this guy.”
Tungseth said being an “American Idol” contestant has taught him to chase his dream. He plans to continue his music career and is considering moving to Nashville.
Story and video by Mathew Holding...
- Title
- What to know about Aimee Bock, the leader of the biggest COVID-era fraud scheme in the U.S.
- Runtime
- 11:22
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- At more than $243 million collected, prosecutors have called Feeding Our Future the country's largest COVID-era fraud scheme. And on May 21, its founder, Aimee Bock, faces up to 50 years in prison.
How did the organization bring in so much money? What factors set the stage for it to happen? And what's next for the co-conspirators? MPR News correspondent Matt Sepic explains.
For the latest on fraud in Minnesota, make sure you're subscribed to MPR News on YouTube and following MPR News on social media.
Story by Matt Sepic and Annie Russell
Video edited by Payton Whaley
---
0:00 Intro
0:25 Who is Aimee Bock?
0:46 What is Feeding Our Future?
2:30 How did Feeding Our Future go on so long?
4:33 Bock's response
5:16 It had to be sophisticated, right?
7:29 What's been the fallout in Minnesota?
9:21 Is Bock's sentencing the end of it?
10:23 Did the government recover any stolen money?
...
- Title
- Stewart Trail Fire burned feet from iconic Betty’s Pies
- Runtime
- 2:05
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Betty’s Pies owner Carl Ehlenz said the iconic bake shop was full last Friday when he discovered flames surrounding his family’s private residence just a few hundred yards up the hill.
He quickly called 911, and within minutes, firefighters were battling the flames — some as close as 15 feet from his home.
Luckily, the house and Betty’s Pies escaped damage from the Stewart Trail Fire, which was declared 100 percent contained by Tuesday afternoon. However, Lake County officials reported that at least eight primary structures had been destroyed by the fire that had burned over 350 acres over the past four days.
Reporting by Dan Kraker
Video by Ben Hovland
- Title
- North Star Journey Live: Erasing Minnesota History
- Runtime
- 1:01:31
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- In 2025, the Trump administration issued an executive order that mandated a shift in how American history is portrayed in federal institutions. The goal was to move away from “divisive or anti-American” ideology and promote a more “patriotic” narrative. How are Minnesota historians and museum directors responding to that pressure?
- Title
- Watch: Attorney General Ellison and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty to speak
- Runtime
- 23:05
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison are announcing charges against an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent accused of shooting and wounding a Venezuelan man during Operation Metro Surge.
Find more coverage here:
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/05/18/watch-minnesota-prosecutors-announce-charges-against-ice-agent
- Title
- Despite high-profile shootings, Minnesota lawmakers didn’t pass any major law on guns
- Runtime
- 1:53
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- After a series of harrowing shootings in Minnesota, including the 2025 mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis that killed two children, many Minnesotans called on their lawmakers to find a way to prevent gun violence. Still, efforts to restrict firearms failed.
Video by Anne Guttridge
- Title
- Crews battle wildfires on the North Shore and in Crow Wing County
- Runtime
- 1:18
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Two wildfires were burning in Minnesota as of Monday evening.
The Stewart Trail Fire erupted Friday afternoon and quickly spread northeast along the highway. Officials announced Monday the fire was started by a downed power line. It has burned eight primary structures, such as homes and cabins, as well as 26 outbuildings.
An evacuation order remained in place northeast of Two Harbors on Monday morning, and State Highway 61 remained closed between the Stewart River and Silver Creek Tunnel. Gov. Tim Walz visited the area Monday and met with local officials, firefighters and other first responders.
The Flanders Fire in Crow Wing County started Saturday and had grown to more than 1,600 acres. As of Monday, authorities say the fire is 20 percent contained. The cause of the Flanders Fire is still under investigation.
No one has died or been injured because of the fires as of Monday evening.
Story by Dan Kraker, Kirsti Marohn an...
- Title
- Bison release at Belwin Conservancy draws big crowds
- Runtime
- 0:14
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- The bison are back. Thirty female bison arrived at the Belwin Conservancy in Afton, Minn., on Saturday afternoon from NorthStar ranch in Rice Lake, Wis. Hundreds gathered for the annual Bison Festival to celebrate the herd's release.
Lynette Anderson, an interpretive naturalist and a restoration specialist at Belwin, said the conservancy has brought bison herds to help restore prairielands since 2008 as they are critical to that work.
“There's just this great sense of completion, because now we have returned this iconic animal back to its rightful homeland,” she said.
📹 Video by Feven Gerezgiher, editing by Sam Stroozas
- Title
- For just $20 you can buy a piece of northeast art history at Art-A-Whirl
- Runtime
- 2:14
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- This is the third year that Aldo Moroni Studios, a sculpture space at the California Building in northeast Minneapolis, is hosting a free all-ages community sculpture build for Art-A-Whirl.
According to the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association, Art-A-Whirl, happening May 15 through 17, is the largest open artist studio tour in the country, with thousands of artists participating at more than 100 locations.
Aldo Moroni, the studio’s namesake, was a legendary Minneapolis artist known for his ceramic “tiny houses” and for creating “narrative sculptures” – vast miniature cities and civilizations out of clay and wax. He was even coined the “Mayor of Minneaturapolis.” Moroni died in 2020 from pancreatic cancer.
Moroni’s daughter Maxi Moroni says the community sculpture is very much in the spirit of her father, who helped start Art-A-Whirl more than 30 years ago.
For those who’d like to own a piece of northeast Minneapo...
- Title
- Forty nine rescued beagles from Wisconsin breeder arrive to humane society in Minnesota
- Runtime
- 1:01
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Animal rescues in Minnesota are welcoming dozens of beagles into their care this week from a biomedical research breeding facility in Wisconsin.
Many of the dogs are now on the road to adoption thanks in part to the Beagle Freedom Project, which is coordinating the rescue of 500 of the 1,500 dogs. The Twin Cities-based Animal Humane Society picked up 49 dogs on Thursday, May 14. Fifteen will be made adoptable through the Tri-County Humane Society in St. Cloud and Ruff Start Rescue in Princeton, Minn. The Bond Between in Minnetonka took in 30 beagles earlier this month.
These are dogs that have never been outside, seen grass or had extensive human contact, Liv Hagen, welfare director for the Animal Humane Society, told the MPR News Morning Edition show host Cathy Wurzer. “These dogs essentially don’t know how to dog,” said Hagen. “They don’t know what it means to be loved by a human. To be a member of the family.”
To hear more from Hage...
- Title
- Watch: Gov. Tim Walz to make remarks on legislative session deal
- Runtime
- 28:16
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Minnesota lawmakers have an overarching deal on key session items as they barrel toward a Sunday midnight deadline.
The pact between Gov. Tim Walz and top lawmakers will still need some massaging before bills are ready for final votes. Those must come by midnight on Sunday.
Gov. Walz plans to speak to media at 11:30 a.m. regarding the agreement.
Video source: KARE 11
Read more here:
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/05/14/tab-fee-cuts-property-tax-aid-hcmc-fix-are-part-of-deal-to-finish-legislative-session
- Title
- Advocates deliver petition pressuring Minnesota lawmakers to vote on gun restrictions
- Runtime
- 1:04
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- A gun measure package passed in the Senate without Republican support, but so far Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, hasn’t allowed the bill to come to a floor vote.
Advocates, including members of Students Demand Action and Moms Demand Action, delivered a foot-high stack of petitions signed by thousands demanding Demuth permit a floor vote.
Timberlyn Mazeikis, a Minnesotan who survived the 2023 Michigan State University shooting, delivered the petition.
The bill includes funding for school safety initiatives and mental health programs. It also would require owners of certain high-capacity, military-style guns to register them with the state and it restricts the sale of those guns.
Story and video by Cait Kelley
Edited by Tony Xiao
- Title
- 'Zombie fish' are appearing in Lake Superior. Researchers don't know why
- Runtime
- 1:26
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- In the deepest part of Lake Superior, a quarter mile below the surface, researchers are discovering a growing number of extraordinarily thin lake trout that weigh about half their typical, healthy body weight. Scientists have dubbed them "zombie fish."
The condition is occurring in one of four sub-species of lake trout known as siscowets that live in the deepest part of the lake. They have adapted to have very high body fat content, but instead, some fish they’ve surveyed have only about a third of the fat content of healthy fish of the same age and length.
Researchers are first trying to determine what’s causing the severely underweight fish, what the long-term implications might be, and then if necessary, trying to develop preventive measures.
Story by Dan Kraker
Video by Tony Xiao
- Title
- Minneapolis mayor set to make announcement regarding city's police chief
- Runtime
- 29:21
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is holding a news conference Thursday morning “to make an announcement regarding Minneapolis police Chief Brian O’Hara.”
The mayor’s office did not elaborate on what that announcement will be. It’s set to take place at 8:30 a.m.
O’Hara is nearing the end of his term leading the city’s police department. To serve a second term, he would need to be renominated by Frey and then confirmed by the city council.
Read more here:
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/05/07/minneapolis-police-chief-news-conference-with-mayor-jacob-frey
- Title
- Rochester embraces the 'corniness' with '507 Day'
- Runtime
- 1:44
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- “507 Day” isn't exactly a thing, or at least not yet. But some in Rochester are trying to make May 7 — 5/07, the same as Rochester’s area code — into an unofficial holiday.
A corn tower cake is on display at a Hy-Vee, and Forager Brewery offered a special menu with taquitos and beer made from flaked corn and rice.
Abe Sauer at Old Abe Coffee made corn donuts to celebrate the day. He said although the tech industry is taking hold in Rochester, corn still represents its rich history of agriculture that carries on today.
Becky Montpetit, owner of a local lifestyle website, has been promoting the day on her social media. She’s hoping to get the day recognized next year, and light up the city hall with green and yellow.
“We just need a day to be 'corny' and not in its pejorative sense, but in the best sense, where it's just warm and wonderful and unpretentious and silly,” Montpetit said.
Story and video by Tony...
- Title
- Duluth's day of remembrance provides solidarity, support for missing, murdered Indigenous people
- Runtime
- 0:49
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- May 5 is widely marked as a day to remember missing and murdered Indigenous people. in Duluth, families stood in front of a large staircase in Duluth City Hall to share stories of their loved ones who have gone missing or have been murdered.
The Twin Ports Sixth Annual National Day of Awareness Honoring Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives was held in collaboration between Duluth and Superior, Wis. The event was organized by Native Lives Matter Coalition, the Duluth Indigenous Commission and Mending Sacred Hoop among other community partners.
According to the state's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, nearly 9 percent of missing people in Minnesota in 2025 were Native American or Alaska Native — far higher than their overall percentage population, which is less than 3 percent.
Story by Leah Lemm
Video captured by Leah Lemm and edited by Anne Guttridge
- Title
- The Millennial Farmer has been sharing the highs and lows of agriculture online for 10 years
- Runtime
- 2:31
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- For ten years, sixth-generation Minnesota farmer Zach Johnson has opened up his farm to the world by posting daily videos about life on the land. It’s a simple but successful formula that’s made his YouTube Channel, Millennial Farmer, arguably the biggest farming channel on the platform.
Johnson says part of the success comes from the fact that his videos aren’t highly produced. They’re just raw recordings of the daily life of the people and machinery that are at his farm. His wife Becky Johnson edits the videos. That’s on top of being a stay-at-home mom of three kids.
Since then, that partnership has led the channel to gain over a million subscribers, and their revenue from social media has surpassed what they make from their farm.
With rising gas and fertilizer prices, Johnson said he’s in a fortunate position compared to many other farmers, but he does feel the stress.
“For my entire life, for my father's entire life,...
- Title
- Inside the puppet show helping south Minneapolis process the ICE surge
- Runtime
- 2:59
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Thousands of people gathered in south Minneapolis for the Mayday parade, ceremony and festival on Sunday, May 3. The annual spring celebration was marked by themes of resilience, grief and anti-ICE sentiments.
The hillside of Powderhorn Park was packed with crowds to watch the Tree of Life Ceremony. The performance is a central part of the annual event and is put on by hundreds of volunteers who create large puppets. Each year’s performance invites the community to celebrate joy and resilience.
This year’s show depicted a family being separated by federal agents and highlighted the different ways community members came together throughout the recent immigration enforcement operation. South Minneapolis is where federal agents fatally shot Renee Good and Alex Pretti in January.
Video by Anne Guttridge
- Title
- Trail cameras capture cougar kittens in Minnesota for the first time in more than a century
- Runtime
- 0:37
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- For the first time in more than a century, there's been documentation of a reproducing cougar population in Minnesota.
Trail cameras near Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota captured footage of a female cougar and three large kittens in late March. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources officials estimate the kittens to be 7 - 9 months old based on traits observed in the video. The only other confirmed kittens in Minnesota were captive escapees who hung around a homeowners’s porch in 2001.
DNR officials called the sighting of kittens “an important starting point for potential population establishment in Minnesota” but cautioned that it’s difficult to predict what will happen to the family.
Story by Dan Kraker
Video edited by Tony Xiao
