🌊 50 years ago today, the Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior. The freighter was carrying a load of iron ore from the Twin Ports of Duluth-Superior to Detroit when it went down in a ferocious storm. All 29 crew members on board died. In the half century since, the 'Fitz' has become one of the most famous shipwrecks in the world.
🚢 The sinking of the Fitzgerald remains one of the most haunting and mysterious maritime disasters in American history. Coming up at 9 a.m., MPR News guest host Dan Kraker talks with a Great Lakes historian about the ship's final, fateful voyage and
why the tragedy holds meaning for many Minnesotans.
📞 What questions do you have about the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald? Why do you think the shipwreck still resonates with many of us after 50 years? Call us during the 9 a.m. hour at 651-227-6000 or 800-242-2828.
WEATHER
🥶 It’s another cold start Monday morning with temperatures starting out in the 20s and even the teens for some. It’ll be another day where we do not reach 40 degrees for highs across most of Minnesota.
🌨️ There could be a slushy coating of snowfall in some areas of northeast Minnesota late Monday night into early Tuesday morning. Most forecast models range from a dusting to as much as a couple inches potentially.
Cities along the Northstar commuter rail invested heavily in stations and surrounding infrastructure to support suburban-to-downtown travel. With service set to be suspended in January, those communities are now unsure what will happen next.
NEWS ROUNDUP
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Senators take first step toward reopening the government after historic shutdown. A bipartisan group of Senate Democrats and Republicans reached a deal to reopen the government after the longest shutdown in U.S. history, voting on the first procedural step on the measure.
🥪 Trump administration demands states 'undo' full SNAP payouts. The demand came as more than two dozen states warned of “
catastrophic operational disruptions” if the administration does not reimburse them for the benefits they authorized before the Supreme Court's stay.
🍎 SNAP by the numbers: What to know about food aid’s impact on Minnesotans. Nearly 42 million people nationwide — including over 440,000 Minnesotans
— rely on the food assistance program in limbo as the federal government shutdown stretches on.
🏥 With federal subsidy set to expire, some Minnesotans face eye-popping health premium increases. A federal tax credit meant to drive down the cost of health insurance premiums for people buying their own coverage is about to expire. For some Minnesotans, the change is coming with a dramatic price tag.
🐄 Not just cattle. Argentine beef imports could hurt MN dairy, too.
With dairy prices low, producers are looking everywhere to make an extra buck. And the Trump Administration's plan to import Argentine beef could upend the one edge dairy farmers had.
🎒 Minneapolis educators, school district announce tentative contract deal, averting strike. The union representing educators in Minneapolis Public Schools has reached a tentative contract agreement with the district,
averting a strike that had been scheduled to begin Tuesday. 🦌 Minnesota’s firearms deer season opener brings awareness of economic benefits and CWD precautions. The opener also brings with it the need for awareness over chronic wasting disease. Last year
the disease was detected in two deer permit areas for the first time – in Clay and Hennepin counties.
🛫 U.S. airlines' daily cancellations top 2,000 for first time since shutdown cuts began. The slowdown at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports is beginning to cause more widespread disruptions
. That includes more than 7,000 additional delays Sunday alone.
🗳️ Here's a breakdown of how Minneapolis and St. Paul residents voted in the mayor's race. Minneapolis voters gave Mayor Jacob Frey a third term in office and it took an instant runoff election to determine who would become the next mayor of St. Paul. Here's a look at how Minneapolis and
St. Paul voted.
🎨 In Fargo, a long-overdue spotlight on women artists across 400 years. An exhibition at the Plains Art Museum brings together 400 years of women’s artwork, highlighting both celebrated and overlooked creators while confronting how the art world has historically excluded them.
🐰 Hundreds line up for Labubu maker's Mall of America grand opening. Pop Mart, the Chinese toymaker behind the trendy Labubu dolls, had been open for a week at the mall but reserved its most coveted items for the grand opening at 8 a.m. Saturday.
⚽ Goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair scores winner in PK shootout as Loons eliminate Sounders.
The game at Allianz Field in St. Paul — the rubber match of the best-of-three first-round series — was tied 3-3 after regulation. Minnesota United won the 10-round shootout, 7 to 6.
MUST LISTEN
🎧 New documentary follows divers down to wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald. “Gales of November: Diving the Edmund Fitzgerald” premiered on Nov. 5. Executive producer Joe Augustine joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer on Morning Edition Thursday to talk about making the short film and the divers’ theories behind the Fitzgerald’s fate.
🎧 With Election 2025 in rearview mirror, eyes are now on 2026.
As the dust settles from the the 2025 election, momentum for the 2026 midterms is picking up. Minnesota will see an election as big as they come as voters will elect a governor, a new U.S. senator, key positions from the attorney general to the secretary of state, eight members of the U.S. House and the entire state Legislature.
