💧 We'll find out later this morning what effect all the rain we've seen the past week had on long-running drought conditions across the region. Parts of southern Minnesota saw too much rain all at once last weekend, which led to flash flooding. Other areas of the state saw a slow, steady rainfall that may help ease the drought. As of last week, about 71 percent of Minnesota was classified in some level of drought.
📻 Coming up at 9 a.m.: Tune in for Rural Voice, a series of town hall discussions designed to illuminate the rewards and challenges of making a home in rural Minnesota.To kick off the 2026 season, Rural Voice returned to St. Joseph to talk about belonging. MPR News host and Rural Voice moderator Kerri Miller led a discussion at Krewe Restaurant on Sept. 14. Community members shared personal stories about what it means to belong — especially when you enter a small town as a newcomer.
The 73-page civil complaint, filed Wednesday morning in Ramsey County District Court by Henry’s attorney Chris Madel, includes allegations of unwanted touching, sexual comments and repeated attempts by Her to develop a closer personal relationship with Henry.
In Rochester, new biomedical companies are growing out of Mayo Clinic. And local leaders want those companies to stay and grow in the community. But finding the right workers with the right skills is a bigger challenge.
🥬 Minnesota teens are using less cannabis. Some groups are still at higher risk. Minnesota high schoolers are using cannabis at lower rates than a decade ago, but researchers say disparities remain for marginalized groups. Experts point to changing social norms and prevention efforts that may be driving the decline.
🧑🏻🔧 Minnesota auto shops raise prices as oil costs increase. Price increases and supply issues in the auto shop industry are tied in part to disruptions in global oil markets, since the U.S. war with Iran began in February. Roughly 20 percent of the world’s petroleum supply passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
🚕 Minneapolis residents weigh in on driverless taxi regulations. The council is considering an ordinance that would require autonomous vehicle companies to pay a “human monitor” — a licensed driver — to sit in the driver’s seat of their vehicles. Companies would also need to get a license to operate from the city.
🪩 Gay 90s and a 651 number: Bob the Drag Queen recalls youth in South St. Paul. When he was a teen, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” winner Bob the Drag Queen spent nine months in the Twin Cities. Bob will perform Friday at the Fitzgerald Theater for his “Now Clap!” national tour.
🚨 Minneapolis plans new provider for behavioral crisis response program. Minneapolis plans to change providers and expand its behavioral crisis response program,
raising questions about the transition and compliance with court-ordered reforms.
📸 Plymouth is latest Minnesota city to ditch Flock cameras. Flock cameras have been at the center of a swirling national debate about whether artificial intelligence and surveillance technology are more helpful or harmful to public safety.
📝 Handwritten Bob Dylan lyrics from 'Blood on the Tracks' hit auction block. A lot of items from Bob Dylan’s time writing “Blood on the Tracks”
went up for auction this week. The auction house hopes it will garner as much as $250,000.
MUST LISTEN
🎧 St. Paul Downtown Airport to celebrate 100 years of aviation history. Bruce Kitt, archive manager of the Northwest Airlines History Center, joined MPR News host Nina Moini for a history tour of the St. Paul airport, which commemorates 100 years of service.
🎧 A Duluth priest may become Minnesota’s first saint. The Diocese of Duluth has marked the official start of a review process to canonize the late Monsignor Joseph Francis Buh. MPR News host Clay Masters spoke with Dean Lavato, the director of evangelizing communications and marketing at the diocese, about the process.
🎧 Private equity tapping into popular autism therapy, report finds. Journalists with the education news site The 74 found private equity is playing a growing role in Applied Behavioral Analysis, which has become the most common form of autism therapy. Critics say the treatment can be ineffective and harmful.
🎧 Art Hounds: ‘Wife of a Salesman,’ art and healing in Duluth and jazz at Crooners.Art Hounds recommend a new take on "Death of a Salesman" in St. Paul, a community art exhibit in Duluth and a night of jazz in Minneapolis.
