");vwo_$('head').append(_vwo_sel);return vwo_$('head')[0] && vwo_$('head')[0].lastChild;})("HEAD")}}, R_940895_48_1_2_0:{ fn:function(log,nonce=''){return (function(x) { if(!vwo_$.fn.vwoRevertHtml){ return; }; var ctx=vwo_$(x),el; /*vwo_debug log("Revert","content",""); vwo_debug*/; el=vwo_$('[vwo-element-id="1742919897117"]'); el.revertContentOp().remove();})("HEAD")}}, C_940895_48_1_2_1:{ fn:function(log,nonce=''){return (function(x) {var el,ctx=vwo_$(x); /*vwo_debug log("editElement",".stylingblock-content-margin-cell > table:nth-of-type(1) > tbody:nth-of-type(1) > tr:nth-of-type(1) > td:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > h2:nth-of-type(1) > span:nth-of-type(1)"); vwo_debug*/(el=vwo_$(".stylingblock-content-margin-cell > table:nth-of-type(1) > tbody:nth-of-type(1) > tr:nth-of-type(1) > td:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > h2:nth-of-type(1) > span:nth-of-type(1)")).html("Hello! David Brancaccio here. Do you want instant access to the free online course - “Economics 101” - to understand basic economic concepts?");})(".stylingblock-content-margin-cell > table:nth-of-type(1) > tbody:nth-of-type(1) > tr:nth-of-type(1) > td:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > h2:nth-of-type(1) > span:nth-of-type(1)")}}, R_940895_48_1_2_1:{ fn:function(log,nonce=''){return (function(x) { if(!vwo_$.fn.vwoRevertHtml){ return; }; var el,ctx=vwo_$(x); /*vwo_debug log("Revert","editElement",".stylingblock-content-margin-cell > table:nth-of-type(1) > tbody:nth-of-type(1) > tr:nth-of-type(1) > td:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > h2:nth-of-type(1) > span:nth-of-type(1)"); vwo_debug*/(el=vwo_$(".stylingblock-content-margin-cell > table:nth-of-type(1) > tbody:nth-of-type(1) > tr:nth-of-type(1) > td:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > h2:nth-of-type(1) > span:nth-of-type(1)")).vwoRevertHtml();})(".stylingblock-content-margin-cell > table:nth-of-type(1) > tbody:nth-of-type(1) > tr:nth-of-type(1) > td:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > h2:nth-of-type(1) > span:nth-of-type(1)")}}},rules:[{"tags":[{"metricId":0,"data":{"type":"g","campaigns":[{"g":5,"c":16}]},"id":"metric"}],"triggers":["12639747"]},{"tags":[{"metricId":951905,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":2,"c":48}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":951905,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":4,"c":39}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":951905,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":5,"c":61}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":951905,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":5,"c":62}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":951905,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":5,"c":63}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":951905,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":5,"c":64}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":951905,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":1,"c":54}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":951905,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":1,"c":55}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":951905,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":1,"c":59}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":951905,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":2,"c":16}]},"id":"metric"}],"triggers":["8459768"]},{"tags":[{"id":"runCampaign","priority":4,"data":"campaigns.59"}],"triggers":["12629112"]},{"tags":[{"metricId":959033,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":3,"c":48}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":959033,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":2,"c":39}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":959033,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":2,"c":61}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":959033,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":1,"c":62}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":959033,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":2,"c":63}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":959033,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":2,"c":64}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":959033,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":3,"c":54}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":959033,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":2,"c":55}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":959033,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":5,"c":59}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":959033,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":3,"c":16}]},"id":"metric"}],"triggers":["8536415"]},{"tags":[{"metricId":0,"data":{"type":"g","campaigns":[{"g":7,"c":39}]},"id":"metric"}],"triggers":["12454062"]},{"tags":[{"metricId":0,"data":{"type":"g","campaigns":[{"g":5,"c":39}]},"id":"metric"}],"triggers":["12454056"]},{"tags":[{"metricId":0,"data":{"type":"g","campaigns":[{"g":6,"c":39}]},"id":"metric"}],"triggers":["12454059"]},{"tags":[{"id":"runCampaign","priority":4,"data":"campaigns.48"},{"priority":4,"data":"campaigns.61","id":"runCampaign"},{"priority":4,"data":"campaigns.62","id":"runCampaign"},{"priority":4,"data":"campaigns.63","id":"runCampaign"},{"priority":4,"data":"campaigns.64","id":"runCampaign"},{"priority":4,"data":"campaigns.54","id":"runCampaign"},{"priority":4,"data":"campaigns.55","id":"runCampaign"},{"priority":4,"data":"campaigns.16","id":"runCampaign"}],"triggers":["10589191"]},{"tags":[{"metricId":951908,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":1,"c":48}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":951908,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":1,"c":61}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":951908,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":4,"c":62}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":951908,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":1,"c":63}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":951908,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":1,"c":64}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":951908,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":5,"c":54}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":951908,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":5,"c":55}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":951908,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":3,"c":59}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":951908,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":6,"c":16}]},"id":"metric"}],"triggers":["8639604"]},{"tags":[{"metricId":959027,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":5,"c":48}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":959027,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":3,"c":39}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":959027,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":4,"c":61}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":959027,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":3,"c":62}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":959027,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":4,"c":63}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":959027,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":4,"c":64}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":959027,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":4,"c":54}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":959027,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":4,"c":55}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":959027,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":2,"c":59}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":959027,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":1,"c":16}]},"id":"metric"}],"triggers":["8536409"]},{"tags":[{"id":"runCampaign","priority":4,"data":"campaigns.39"}],"triggers":["12454053"]},{"tags":[{"metricId":959030,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":4,"c":48}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":959030,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":1,"c":39}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":959030,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":3,"c":61}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":959030,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":2,"c":62}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":959030,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":3,"c":63}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":959030,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":3,"c":64}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":959030,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":2,"c":54}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":959030,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":3,"c":55}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":959030,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":4,"c":59}]},"id":"metric"},{"metricId":959030,"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"g":4,"c":16}]},"id":"metric"}],"triggers":["8536412"]},{"tags":[{"id":"checkEnvironment"}],"triggers":["5"]},{"tags":[{"priority":2,"id":"groupCampaigns"},{"priority":3,"id":"prePostMutation"}],"triggers":["8"]},{"tags":[{"priority":2,"id":"visibilityService"}],"triggers":["9"]},{"tags":[{"id":"runTestCampaign"}],"triggers":["2"]},{"tags":[{"id":"urlChange"}],"triggers":["75"]}],pages:{"pc":[{"141375":{"inc":["o",["url","urlReg","(?i)^https?\\:\\\/\\\/(w{3}\\.)?mprnews\\.org\\\/story.*"],["url","urlReg","(?i)^https?\\:\\\/\\\/(w{3}\\.)?mprnews\\.org\\\/episode.*"]]}}],"ec":[{"1625289":{"inc":["o",["url","urlReg","(?i).*"]]}},{"2121531":{"inc":["o",["pg","eq","141375"]]}}]},pagesEval:{"pc":[141375],"ec":[1625289,2121531]},stags:{}}})(); ;;var commonWrapper=function(argument){if(!argument){argument={valuesGetter:function(){return{}},valuesSetter:function(){},verifyData:function(){return{}}}}const getVisitorUuid=function(){if(window._vwo_acc_id>=1037725){return window.VWO&&window.VWO.get("visitor.id")}else{return window.VWO._&&window.VWO._.cookies&&window.VWO._.cookies.get("_vwo_uuid")}};var pollInterval=100;var timeout=6e4;return function(){var accountIntegrationSettings={};var _interval=null;function waitForAnalyticsVariables(){try{accountIntegrationSettings=argument.valuesGetter();accountIntegrationSettings.visitorUuid=getVisitorUuid()}catch(error){accountIntegrationSettings=undefined}if(accountIntegrationSettings&&argument.verifyData(accountIntegrationSettings)){argument.valuesSetter(accountIntegrationSettings);return 1}return 0}var currentTime=0;_interval=setInterval((function(){currentTime=currentTime||performance.now();var result=waitForAnalyticsVariables();if(result||performance.now()-currentTime>=timeout){clearInterval(_interval)}}),pollInterval)}}; var pushBasedCommonWrapper=function(argument){var firedCamp={};if(!argument){argument={integrationName:"",getExperimentList:function(){},accountSettings:function(){},pushData:function(){}}}return function(){window.VWO=window.VWO||[];const getVisitorUuid=function(){if(window._vwo_acc_id>=1037725){return window.VWO&&window.VWO.get("visitor.id")}else{return window.VWO._&&window.VWO._.cookies&&window.VWO._.cookies.get("_vwo_uuid")}};var sendDebugLogsOld=function(expId,variationId,errorType,user_type,data){try{var errorPayload={f:argument["integrationName"]||"",a:window._vwo_acc_id,url:window.location.href,exp:expId,v:variationId,vwo_uuid:getVisitorUuid(),user_type:user_type};if(errorType=="initIntegrationCallback"){errorPayload["log_type"]="initIntegrationCallback";errorPayload["data"]=JSON.stringify(data||"")}else if(errorType=="timeout"){errorPayload["timeout"]=true}if(window.VWO._.customError){window.VWO._.customError({msg:"integration debug",url:window.location.href,lineno:"",colno:"",source:JSON.stringify(errorPayload)})}}catch(e){window.VWO._.customError&&window.VWO._.customError({msg:"integration debug failed",url:"",lineno:"",colno:"",source:""})}};var sendDebugLogs=function(expId,variationId,errorType,user_type){var eventName="vwo_debugLogs";var eventPayload={};try{eventPayload={intName:argument["integrationName"]||"",varId:variationId,expId:expId,type:errorType,vwo_uuid:getVisitorUuid(),user_type:user_type};if(window.VWO._.event){window.VWO._.event(eventName,eventPayload,{enableLogs:1})}}catch(e){eventPayload={msg:"integration event log failed",url:window.location.href};window.VWO._.event&&window.VWO._.event(eventName,eventPayload)}};const callbackFn=function(data){if(!data)return;var expId=data[1],variationId=data[2],repeated=data[0],singleCall=0,debug=0;var experimentList=argument.getExperimentList();var integrationName=argument["integrationName"]||"vwo";if(typeof argument.accountSettings==="function"){var accountSettings=argument.accountSettings();if(accountSettings){singleCall=accountSettings["singleCall"];debug=accountSettings["debug"]}}if(debug){sendDebugLogs(expId,variationId,"intCallTriggered",repeated)}if(singleCall&&(repeated==="vS"||repeated==="vSS")||firedCamp[expId]){return}window.expList=window.expList||{};var expList=window.expList[integrationName]=window.expList[integrationName]||[];if(expId&&variationId&&["VISUAL_AB","VISUAL","SPLIT_URL"].indexOf(_vwo_exp[expId].type)>-1){if(experimentList.indexOf(+expId)!==-1){firedCamp[expId]=variationId;var visitorUuid=getVisitorUuid();var pollInterval=100;var currentTime=0;var timeout=6e4;var user_type=_vwo_exp[expId].exec?"vwo-retry":"vwo-new";var interval=setInterval((function(){if(expList.indexOf(expId)!==-1){clearInterval(interval);return}currentTime=currentTime||performance.now();var toClearInterval=argument.pushData(expId,variationId,visitorUuid);if(debug&&toClearInterval){sendDebugLogsOld(expId,variationId,"",user_type);sendDebugLogs(expId,variationId,"intDataPushed",user_type)}var isTimeout=performance.now()-currentTime>=timeout;if(isTimeout&&debug){sendDebugLogsOld(expId,variationId,"timeout",user_type);sendDebugLogs(expId,variationId,"intTimeout",user_type)}if(toClearInterval||isTimeout){clearInterval(interval)}if(toClearInterval){window.expList[integrationName].push(expId)}}),pollInterval||100)}}};window.VWO.push(["onVariationApplied",callbackFn]);window.VWO.push(["onVariationShownSent",callbackFn])}}; var surveyDataCommonWrapper=function(argument){if(!argument){argument={getCampaignList:function(){return[]},surveyStatusChange:function(){},answerSubmitted:function(){}}}return function(){window.VWO=window.VWO||[];function getValuesFromAnswers(answers){var values=[];for(var i=0;i=timeout;if(toClearInterval||isTimeout){clearInterval(interval)}}),pollInterval)}}window.VWO.push(["onSurveyShown",function(data){commonSurveyCallback(data,argument.surveyStatusChange,"surveyShown")}]);window.VWO.push(["onSurveyCompleted",function(data){commonSurveyCallback(data,argument.surveyStatusChange,"surveyCompleted")}]);window.VWO.push(["onSurveyAnswerSubmitted",function(data){commonSurveyCallback(data,argument.answerSubmitted,"surveySubmitted")}])}}; (function(){var VWOOmniTemp={};window.VWOOmni=window.VWOOmni||{};for(var key in VWOOmniTemp)Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(VWOOmniTemp,key)&&(window.VWOOmni[key]=VWOOmniTemp[key]);;})();(function(){window.VWO=window.VWO||[];var pollInterval=100;var _vis_data={};var intervalObj={};var analyticsTimerObj={};var experimentListObj={};window.VWO.push(["onVariationApplied",function(data){if(!data){return}var expId=data[1],variationId=data[2];if(expId&&variationId&&["VISUAL_AB","VISUAL","SPLIT_URL"].indexOf(window._vwo_exp[expId].type)>-1){}}])})();; ;var vD=VWO.data||{};VWO.data={content:{"fns":{"list":{"vn":1,"args":{"1":{}}}}},as:"r4.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com",dacdnUrl:"https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com",accountJSInfo:{"rp":30,"noSS":false,"pc":{"a":0,"t":0},"ts":1743385108}};for(var k in vD){VWO.data[k]=vD[k]};;var gcpfb=function(a,loadFunc,status,err,success){function vwoErr() {_vwo_err({message:"Google_Cdn failing for " + a + ". Trying Fallback..",code:"cloudcdnerr",status:status});} if(a.indexOf("/cdn/")!==-1){loadFunc(a.replace("cdn/",""),err,success); vwoErr(); return true;} else if(a.indexOf("/dcdn/")!==-1&&a.indexOf("evad.js") !== -1){loadFunc(a.replace("dcdn/",""),err,success); vwoErr(); return true;}};window.VWO=window.VWO || [];window.VWO._= window.VWO._ || {};window.VWO._.gcpfb=gcpfb;;var d={cookie:document.cookie,URL:document.URL,referrer:document.referrer};var w={VWO:{_:{}},location:{href:window.location.href,search:window.location.search},_vwoCc:window._vwoCc};;window._vwo_cdn="https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/cdn/";window._vwo_apm_debug_cdn="https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/cdn/";window.VWO._.useCdn=true;window.vwo_eT="br";window._VWO=window._VWO||{};window._VWO.fSeg={};window._VWO.dcdnUrl="/dcdn/settings.js";window.VWO.sTs=1743195125;window._VWO._vis_nc_lib=window._vwo_cdn+"edrv/nc-027330777ece73059cc92c6141e45cb3br.js";var loadWorker=function(url){_vwo_code.load(url, { dSC: true, onloadCb: function(xhr,a){window._vwo_wt_l=true;if(xhr.status===200 ||xhr.status===304){var code="var window="+JSON.stringify(w)+",document="+JSON.stringify(d)+";window.document=document;"+xhr.responseText;var blob=new Blob([code||"throw new Error('code not found!');"],{type:"application/javascript"}),url=URL.createObjectURL(blob);window.mainThread={webWorker:new Worker(url)};window.vwoChannelFW=new MessageChannel();window.vwoChannelToW=new MessageChannel();window.mainThread.webWorker.postMessage({vwoChannelToW:vwoChannelToW.port1,vwoChannelFW:vwoChannelFW.port2},[vwoChannelToW.port1, vwoChannelFW.port2]);if(!window._vwo_mt_f)return window._vwo_wt_f=true;_vwo_code.addScript({text:window._vwo_mt_f});delete window._vwo_mt_f}else{if(gcpfb(a,loadWorker,xhr.status)){return;}_vwo_code.finish("&e=loading_failure:"+a)}}, onerrorCb: function(a){if(gcpfb(a,loadWorker)){return;}window._vwo_wt_l=true;_vwo_code.finish("&e=loading_failure:"+a);}})};loadWorker("https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/cdn/edrv/worker-1135852b6bc11a94eb64017a8d120ad8br.js");;var _vis_opt_file;var _vis_opt_lib;if(window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.previewExtraSettings!=undefined&&window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.previewExtraSettings.isSurveyPreviewMode){var surveyHash=window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.plugins.LIBINFO.SURVEY_DEBUG_EVENTS.HASH;var param1="evad.js?va=";var param2="&d=debugger_new";var param3="&sp=1&a=940895&sh="+surveyHash;_vis_opt_file=vwoCode.use_existing_jquery&&typeof vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()!=="undefined"?vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()?param1+"vanj"+param2:param1+"va_gq"+param2:param1+"edrv/va_gq-3adf809ea7b0629d1cfde6b0f4969635br.js"+param2;_vis_opt_file=_vis_opt_file+param3;_vis_opt_lib="https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/dcdn/"+_vis_opt_file}else if(window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.mode!=undefined&&window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.mode=="PREVIEW"){ var path1 = 'edrv/pd_'; var path2 = window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.plugins.LIBINFO.EVAD.HASH + ".js"; ;_vis_opt_file=vwoCode.use_existing_jquery&&typeof vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()!=="undefined"?vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()?path1+"vanj"+path2:path1+"va_gq"+path2:path1+"edrv/va_gq-3adf809ea7b0629d1cfde6b0f4969635br.js"+path2;_vis_opt_lib="https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/cdn/"+_vis_opt_file}else{_vis_opt_file=vwoCode.use_existing_jquery&&typeof vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()!=="undefined"?vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()?"edrv/vanj-7340efabe014aa7ac36a54293558de41br.js":"edrv/va_gq-3adf809ea7b0629d1cfde6b0f4969635br.js":"edrv/va_gq-3adf809ea7b0629d1cfde6b0f4969635br.js"}window._vwo_library_timer=setTimeout((function(){vwoCode.removeLoaderAndOverlay&&vwoCode.removeLoaderAndOverlay();vwoCode.finish()}),vwoCode.library_tolerance&&typeof vwoCode.library_tolerance()!=="undefined"?vwoCode.library_tolerance():2500),_vis_opt_lib=typeof _vis_opt_lib=="undefined"?window._vwo_cdn+_vis_opt_file:_vis_opt_lib;var loadLib=function(url){_vwo_code.load(url, { dSC: true, onloadCb:function(xhr,a){window._vwo_mt_l=true;if(xhr.status===200 || xhr.status===304){if(!window._vwo_wt_f)return window._vwo_mt_f=xhr.responseText;_vwo_code.addScript({text:xhr.responseText});delete window._vwo_wt_f;}else{if(gcpfb(a,loadLib,xhr.status)){return;}_vwo_code.finish("&e=loading_failure:"+a);}}, onerrorCb: function(a){if(gcpfb(a,loadLib)){return;}window._vwo_mt_l=true;_vwo_code.finish("&e=loading_failure:"+a);}})};loadLib(_vis_opt_lib);VWO.load_co=function(u,opts){return window._vwo_code.load(u,opts);};;;}}catch(e){_vwo_code.finish();_vwo_code.removeLoaderAndOverlay&&_vwo_code.removeLoaderAndOverlay();_vwo_err(e);window.VWO.caE=1}})();
Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Jon Collins

Mother charged in drowning death of child

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

A young mother told police that she drowned her 6-year-old daughter in the bathtub "to save her from the world." The girl died on Tuesday in St. Paul.

The Ramsey County Attorney's Office charged Kayla Marie Jones, 25, with second-degree murder Wednesday in the death of Azaria Nicole Jones.

The St. Paul Police Department received a report at 8 a.m. Tuesday that a young girl had drowned in a bathtub in a residence on the 1300 block of East Maynard Drive and wasn't breathing, according to the criminal complaint. Azaria Nicole Jones was later pronounced dead at Children's St. Paul Pediatric Hospital.

Kayla Marie Jones was standing outside with wet clothes when officers arrived. The investigating officer said Jones put her hands in the air as if surrendering.

Jones told police that she woke up crying on Tuesday and hadn't slept for days, according to the complaint. Jones said she had been molested as a child, and that she was afraid that her daughter was a victim of molestation as well. She said she was watching the news, when she heard: "'Save the child, don't send [her] to the monster.'"

The complaint said that Jones told officers that she didn't remember exactly what happened afterwards, but admitted that she held her fully-clothed daughter face down in the bathtub for one to two minutes while the girl's legs and arms thrashed. She let go when the girl stopped moving.

A provisional autopsy from the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office found that the girl had scratch marks on her neck and possible bruising to her thighs, as well as other injuries associated with fresh water drownings.

When an officer asked whether Jones felt bad, she responded that she still couldn't believe that she'd done that to her own daughter.

"I just can't even feel anything right now," she said, according to the complaint.

When police arrived, Jones' boyfriend was at the scene crying and screaming. Police said he was saying, "Things aren't that bad. How could she do this to her daughter?"

Ramsey County Attorney John Choi said in a statement that the act was both chilling and tragic.

"This is one of the things where we have to deal with the aftermath of all this, and part of our job will be to ensure justice as part of the court process," Choi said. "But, overall, especially on Christmas Eve, what a sad and heartbreaking case."

Ramsey County District Court Judge Shawn Bartsh Wednesday afternoon ordered Jones undergo a mental health evaluation and set her bail at $2 million. Jones' next court date is January 7.