Stories from December 26, 2024

Two St. Paul parents were arrested in connection with their toddler's death Wednesday. The federal government is proposing to designate some rivers as critical habitat for endangered mussels. A one million dollar Minnesota Lottery prize has gone unclaimed all year. If it’s not claimed by December 31, the money will go back to the state.
Power Pair: Brothers David Treuer and Anton Treuer on writing and Ojibwe culture
MPR News host Angela Davis revisits a conversation with brothers Anton Treuer and David Treuer about their latest books, reclaiming Ojibwe culture and growing up together on the Leech Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota.
House cat died after eating pet food that tested positive for bird flu
Northwest Naturals, a pet food company based in Portland, Ore., had voluntarily recalled one batch of its two-pound Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food after it tested positive for the virus. The product was sold through distributors in Minnesota, Wisconsin and other states.
AI is a game changer for students with disabilities. Schools are still learning to harness it
Artificial intelligence holds the promise of helping countless other students with a range of visual, speech, language and hearing impairments to execute tasks that come easily to others. Schools everywhere have been wrestling with how and where to incorporate AI but many are fast-tracking applications for students with disabilities.
Very mild weather continues with rain developing for most of Minnesota
The thaw continues with temperatures above freezing for most of the state Thursday. A few light rain showers will be possible later in the day with a better chance for rain Friday into Saturday. 
Israeli strike kills 5 Palestinian journalists in Gaza, officials say
An Israeli strike killed five Palestinian journalists outside a hospital in the Gaza Strip overnight, according to the Health Ministry. The Israeli military said it had targeted a group of militants.
100-plus cities in the U.S. banned homeless camping this year. But will it work?
The burst of new laws follows a landmark Supreme Court ruling, and reflects public frustration with record-high homelessness. But advocates say fines and jail time will only make the problem worse.
Minnesota Democratic party chair says his wins could help nationally after loss to Trump
Ken Martin helped turn around the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party's finances and secure a streak of statewide wins for the party over 18 years. Now, he wants to do the same thing for the Democratic National Committee.
‘Livers of the river’: Feds propose designating rivers as critical habitat for freshwater mussels
Freshwater mussels were once abundant throughout Minnesota’s waterways. But their populations have declined due to habitat loss, pollution, dam construction and competition from invasive species.
Survey on isolation: Nearly half of Minnesotans report feeling left out at times
About 48 percent of Minnesotans feel left out some of the time or often, according to the “Minds of Minnesotans” survey conducted by APM Research Lab. Gen Z Minnesotans are the most lonely.
The bald eagle is officially America’s national bird, thanks to a Minnesotan
After learning the U.S. doesn’t officially recognize the bald eagle as its national bird, a Minnesota man swooped in and wrote a bill for Congress. This week, Biden signed it into law.