Stories from December 6, 2024

Minneapolis City Council’s budget committee reduces proposed property tax levy for 2025
Council members, citing concerns about elevated costs for constituents, approved a series of amendments to the mayor’s proposed budget which would reduce the levy hike by 1.4 percent.
Founder of proposed cannabis facility in Le Sueur waits for next steps in stalled licensing lottery
Minnesota Valley Cannabis Company wants to open a cannabis-growing facility in a former Green Giant research facility in Le Sueur. The company is planning to renovate the 48,000-square-foot building to grow and package cannabis products, but a delay in the state’s licensing lottery means the project is at a standstill.
Trump’s cabinet picks could reshape U.S. climate policy
Kiley Price with Inside Climate News spoke to MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner about what three Donald Trump cabinet picks could mean for the future of climate policy and renewable energy progress.
Allegations of relentless bullying at Wabasha-Kellogg schools lead to lawsuit
The suit, brought by the family of the student targeted with harassment, accuses the district of sexual harassment that violates both Title IX and the Minnesota Human Rights Act, negligence and denial of equal protection and due process.
Weekend warmup ahead with 40s in the forecast
Temperatures will warm as we head into the weekend, with light snow showers possible near the border and North Shore. Another round of precipitation is expected early next week, with northern Minnesota likely to experience the heaviest impacts.
A court upholds the U.S. ban on TikTok
The appeals court agreed that the viral video app must be sold off by its China-based parent company, rejecting TikTok's claim that the crackdown violates the free speech rights of millions of Americans.
Elon Musk funded a super PAC comparing Trump’s position on abortion to Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s
Elon Musk was the sole funder of a super PAC that focused on advertising likening Donald Trump’s stance on abortion to that of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
How measles, whooping cough and worse could roar back on RFK Jr.’s watch
With anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in charge of the nation’s biggest health agency, it wouldn’t take much tampering to enable vaccine-preventable diseases to make a comeback.
Funeral services will be held Saturday for a Red Lake police officer who died in the line of duty last month. And Minnesota's top federal law enforcement official says he'll step down before Inauguration Day.
Police believe gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO has left New York City
As the investigation into a masked gunman who stalked and killed the head of one of the largest U.S. health insurers moves into its third day, possible leads have emerged about his travel before the shooting and a message scrawled on ammunition.
Big weekend warmup with light snow north
Warmer air is already moving in Friday and making for a mild weekend. Light snow showers move through northern Minnesota Friday and Saturday. We’re also monitoring a storm system for Monday. 
Minnesota U.S. Attorney Andy Luger to step down ahead of Trump transition
U.S. Attorney Andy Luger is stepping down soon as the top federal law enforcement official in Minnesota. As is custom for political appointees, he’s resigning to make way for a yet-to-be-announced successor chosen by incoming President Donald Trump.
As Minnesota school absences climb, lawmakers focus on possible policy fixes
Legislators spent months quizzing students, advocates and school leaders on Minnesota’s high rates of absenteeism. They’re eyeing systemic changes to get students back into classrooms. 
Minneapolis poet laureate Heid E. Erdrich presents official poem to the city
Heid E. Erdrich was honored at the Minneapolis American Indian Center on Thursday for her time as poet laureate. She presented her community-inspired poem, “Poem for Minneapolis/Bde Óta Othúŋwe/Gakaabikaang,” to the city at the event. 
Stretches of Interstates 94, 494 to close this weekend in Twin Cities
Drivers traveling on Twin Cities freeways this weekend may encounter detours. Interstate 94 will be closed east of downtown St. Paul so crews can remove a bridge, and sections of Interstate 494 will be closed in Bloomington and Richfield.
Minneapolis City Council fails to override veto on labor standards board
The board would have been made up of equal numbers of representatives for employers, employees and community members and would have advised the council on labor policies. The council’s initial vote on the board had been by a 9 to 3 vote, but it could not get the eight votes needed to override the veto on Thursday.