Matt Mikus

P.S. The photo on this story is amazing! Kudos to @akpix.bsky.social for the amazing picture!

Overnight storms leave damage, power outages across Minnesota Powerful storms swept across the state on Sunday night and early Monday morning, knocking out power to tens of thousands of people and causing downed trees, flooding and other damage.

Powerful storms swept across the state on Sunday night and early Monday morning, knocking out power to tens of thousands of people and causing downed trees, flooding and other damage.

Were you without power last night? Still in the dark?

Hey, Earth? Could you slow down a bit? I'm feeling rushed.

www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

Riot guns and revolution: How a bloody 1934 workers strike in Minneapolis catalyzed the nation A landmark 1934 Minneapolis strike made the city a union town and influenced national labor law. It was an outcome that seemed all but impossible in the first part of the decade.

A landmark 1934 Minneapolis strike made the city a union town and influenced national labor law. It was an outcome that seemed all but impossible in the first part of the decade.

A great piece from @gretchenbrown.bsky.social

She lost her government job, but gained a government dog named Party Pants A former Minnesota U.S. Forest Service employee who lost her job in a mass federal layoff by the Trump administration is learning to navigate life with her new adopted husky, a retired sled dog from D...

@birdchick.bsky.social lost her government job, but gained a government dog named Party Pants “who has given so much of her life to government service, and I just want to spoil her rotten in retirement.” Story from @cathywurzer.bsky.social on @mprnews.org www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

Couple admits submitting hundreds of fake voter registration forms A former Minnesota resident appeared in federal court this week and admitted filling out hundreds of fraudulent voter registration applications. 58-year-old Ronnie Williams and Lorraine Lee Combs —his...

A former Minnesota resident appeared in a St. Paul federal courtroom this week and admitted filling out hundreds of fraudulent voter registration applications. Routine checks prevented all of the fictitious people from making it onto Minnesota’s voter rolls. More from @msepic.bsky.social

Science Museum of Minnesota lays off 43 employees The museum’s reduction in staff comes months after the Trump administration announced that it would be cutting more than $1.3 million in grants from Minnesota museums and institutions.

The Science Museum of Minnesota will eliminate 43 full-time positions in response to declining attendance rates and decreased state and federal funding.

This news yesterday hurts. Brains On is incredible, and it deserves to go on.

Hundreds of sheep helping keep prairie plants in check at Xcel’s Sherco solar project Xcel Energy is managing vegetation at its Sherco Solar project by using sheep to graze beneath the solar panels. It’s an example of agrivoltaics, a growing practice of pairing renewable energy with ag...

At Xcel Energy’s Sherco Solar project, thousands of solar panels stretch across a field of native plants and flowers. If those plants grow too tall, they could block the sun. Xcel is getting help from hundreds of sheep, which graze beneath the solar panels and keep the vegetation tidy.

Thick smoke, haze blanket much of Minnesota; air quality alert remains in effect Much of Minnesota woke up Tuesday to a thick blanket of haze as the sight and smell of smoke from Canadian wildfires continued spreading across the state.

I rode my bike home yesterday and I do think the smoke irritated my throat and chest. It feels like I’m getting sick. Anyone else feeling the effects of this smoke? www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

A Texas showerhead salesman wanted to know how much more customers would pay to buy a product that's made in the USA. The answer could pour cold water on President Trump's plan to encourage more companies to open factories in the U.S.

As data center concerns heat up, Rochester company develops solutions to keep them cool The power demands of data centers for cooling have raised concerns about whether utilities and the electric grid will be able to keep up. LiquidCool offers a different solution: covering computer comp...

A new report from Kirsti Marohn for our Getting to Green series looks at a company developing ways to help keep electronics cool, and help reduce power demands for data centers.

Minnesota Capitol comes to a slowdown as lawmakers await budget outline Top legislative leaders and the governor have been meeting for more than two weeks to hammer out a budget framework. While they say talks are advancing, their prolonged negotiations could force a spec...

Getting real close to that deadline. Tthe adjournment date May 19 creeps nearer.

Efforts to finalize and pass state budget bills are hitting a sticking point as legislative leaders and the governor struggle to bring negotiations about a budget framework to a close.

Firefighters battling at least three major, out-of-control wildfires in northeastern Minnesota are bracing for more hot, dry, windy weather on Wednesday, making it difficult to contain the blazes.

Dan Kraker has been following the latest.

www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

Minnesota libraries warn federal cuts may hurt services The Minnesota Library Association says some $3 million a year in federal library funding is in jeopardy and could threaten vital library programs across the state.

"Most public library funding in Minnesota comes from state, county and city governments, and the state has a history of embracing libraries. That’s helped buoy library supporters here as they wait to see how the federal cuts play out in court." www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

St. Paul, Wild scale back pitch to renovate Xcel Energy Center The new $488 million proposal focuses solely on the arena and includes a reduced request for $50 million from the state.

St. Paul city officials and the Minnesota Wild are scaling back plans to renovate the Xcel Energy Center complex with a new pitch for $50 million from the state, a fraction of their original request.

Tornado watch until 8 p.m. includes southwest and central Minnesota A tornado watch is in effect until 8 p.m. for most of southwest Minnesota.

It's that time! Tornado watch issued for southwestern MN until 8pm. Another tornado watch may come later to include the Twin Cities.

www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

Moderate risk of severe weather Monday for Minnesota Monday brings a moderate risk of severe weather with a significant threat of tornadoes, large hail, damaging winds and heavy rain. Expect multiple rounds of storms as warm temperatures in the 70s and ...

A round of storms is moving into the metro this hour, with some small, penny-sized hail reported. The more intense second round is expected to begin later this afternoon. Stay tuned to the forecast and stay alert today.

www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

Our Canada Connections: How some Canadians are responding to Trump's tariffs Coming up at 9 a.m. Tuesday, join MPR News hosts Angela Davis and Chris Farrell for their special, “Our Canada Connections.” Find out how some Canadians are talking about Americans since President Tru...

Join us Tuesday morning at 9 on MPR News as we share what Canadians told us when we traveled to Thunder Bay, Ontario. Then at 10, we’ll take your phone calls live on the air. www.mprnews.org/episode/2025...

okay if u listen to mpr i'm curious.... what do u wish we had.... what do u think is missing? do u crave a podcast, or a type of content from us locally here in minnesota (don't talk to me about national i have never met ari shapiro)

Lawmakers discuss state oversight of rental housing following MPR News investigation MPR News found problems tied to inspections and local political pressures that leave low-income renters in potential danger across greater Minnesota. Now, some state lawmakers and lobbyists say change...

Some lawmakers and lobbyists in Minnesota say state intervention is needed after an MPR News investigation found inspection processes and local political pressures leave low income renters vulnerable in Greater Minnesota.

5 things Minnesota got right since Earth Day 1970 Minnesota has multiple success stories that produced a cleaner environment since the original Earth Day in 1970.

I've been around long enough to remember the first Earth Day in 1970. 🌎
It's amazing how much progress Minnesota and the nation have made.
Here's 5 things Minnesota got right since that first Earth Day in 1970.
#mnwx
www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

5 things Minnesota got right since Earth Day 1970 Minnesota has multiple success stories that produced a cleaner environment since the original Earth Day in 1970.

Since the first Earth Day in 1970, Minnesota has set an example for working towards a cleaner environment. The state continues to strive for cleaner water and air, recycling, renewable energy and increasing climate change awareness.

BirdCast’s three day forecast showing moderate to high bird migration across much of the central and eastern parts of the states, plus’s along the west coast over the next three nights.

Several nights of higher migration are queuing up, starting tonight. Tell friends, family, coworkers, etc about this amazing phenomenon and how they can help these birds with a simple flip of a switch!

www.audubon.org/news/bird-sa...

#LightsOutForBirds
#birds #spring #migration

This year, the meteors are expected to last through April 25.

Humanity has been observing the Lyrids' sky show for thousands of years, with the first recorded sighting in 687 B.C.

Could it be the end of the line for Northstar Commuter Rail service? The future of the Northstar Commuter Rail line is uncertain as the Minnesota Legislature looks to the possibility of ending the service. Cities along the route are looking at their stations and trying...

It could be the end of the line for the Northstar Commuter Rail. Legislation in the state House would start the process of ending the service.

The legislation, if passed, would request federal approval to end service.

Trump policies top the talking points at Minnesota lawmaker town halls Lawmakers from both parties fielded questions and comments from constituents in person. President Donald Trump’s policies on immigration, health care and budget cuts generated the most heat.

Many Minnesota lawmakers used this week to reconnect with constituents who filled in-person town halls to express displeasure and some support for their representatives in contentious times.

Our reporters Dana Ferguson, Dan Kraker and Hannah Yang went out to attend the town hall meetings.

I'm in!

In Pelican Rapids, teens learn the skill of civil discourse In a deeply polarized country, a new program in Minnesota is teaching middle and high schoolers how to find common ground in their communities. Program leaders say it’s an effort to inspire young peop...

A new program in Minnesota is teaching middle and high schoolers how to find common ground in their communities in a country that is deeply polarized country. Program leaders say it’s an effort to inspire young people to become engaged politically and in their towns.

Explainer: How the U of M system endowment, mining industry benefit from seized Indigenous land The state holds land in trust for the University of Minnesota, generating revenue for the Permanent University Fund. The U.S. government gave the land to the state in the mid-1800s after taking it fro...

There’s been increased attention in recent years to the parcels of land used to create and fund the University of Minnesota. The U.S. government gave the land to the state in the mid-1800s after taking it from tribal nations through treaties often signed under the threat of violence.