Stories from April 4, 2024

Lyft attempts negotiation on Minneapolis drivers’ wage increase
Lyft’s chief policy officer Jeremy Bird said in a letter addressed to Council President Elliott Payne that the company is now willing to support an increase to .89 cents per mile and about .49 cents per minute, which is the rate recommended in a study released last month by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. 
Rideshare companies say lawmakers are getting closer to an agreement that would convince them to stay in Minnesota. And a nurse who tried the save the life of a Stillwater teenager stabbed while tubing on a western Wisconsin river testified today at the trial of the man charged with killing him.
Drought unchanged this week; warmer air ahead
The Twin Cities and most of central and southern Minnesota remain abnormally dry. Southeastern Minnesota picked up some moisture Tuesday into Wednesday, but it was after the Tuesday morning cutoff for this week’s update.
Biden warns Netanyahu that U.S. policy on Gaza hinges on improved conditions there
President Joe Biden spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after seven aid workers with World Central Kitchen were killed in Israeli strikes. He said a cease-fire is needed so aid can get in.
No Labels won’t run a third-party campaign after spending millions trying to recruit a candidate
The No Labels group says it won't field a presidential candidate in November after strategists for the bipartisan organization were unable to attract a candidate willing to seize on the widespread dissatisfaction with President Joe Biden and Donald Trump. 
Judge rejects Trump’s First Amendment challenge to indictment in Georgia election case
The judge overseeing the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump and others has rejected arguments by the former president that the indictment was seeking to criminalize political speech protected by the First Amendment.
A conversation with Twins broadcasting legend Dick Bremer
Thursday’s Minnesota Twins home opener will sound a little different this year. Longtime broadcaster Dick Bremer stepped down at the end of last season. He got behind an MPR News microphone on Thursday to talk baseball and his new role with the team.
‘Farmers are the largest gamblers ever’: Scientists and ag representatives plan for climate uncertainty
University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership Director Heidi Roop met with farming representatives in St. Cloud to talk about the research on future climate conditions in the state and what they mean for agriculture.
With the future of rideshare in Minneapolis in limbo, state lawmakers revise a bill vetoed last year
Minneapolis has until the end of the month to find a compromise in hopes of keeping Uber and Lyft in the city. At the same time, the state is looking at its own wage proposal.
A bit brighter and warmer Thursday. More precipitation arrives Sunday
We’ll still have some lingering clouds east on Thursday as that storm system is slow to move on. Temperatures will be a little warmer, especially Friday. More rain and possibly snow arrives Sunday. 
Edwards, Reid help Timberwolves rout Raptors 133-85 to move into tie for first in West
Anthony Edwards scored 28 points, Naz Reid added 23 and the Minnesota Timberwolves routed the short-handed Toronto Raptors 133-85 to move into a tie for first-place in the Western Conference. 
It's the Twins home opener Thursday in Minneapolis.  They play the Cleveland Guardians at Target Field just after 3 p.m. And U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was in Mankato Tuesday, talking about a new grant program. 
DOJ takes a stand against war crimes in Ukraine. In Gaza war, it's been nearly silent
The Justice Department has taken an active — and public — stand against alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine. But it's been nearly silent on possible war crimes in the Israel-Hamas war.
Minneapolis rideshare drivers navigate future as Uber, Lyft exit approaches 
Uber and Lyft are threatening to leave Minneapolis following the approval of a driver pay ordinance by the city council. Now, emerging rideshare apps are exploring ways to step in while drivers prepare for the potential changes ahead.
For many Minnesota women, postpartum depression’s grip is real but care can be elusive
Depression, anxiety and other mental health issues are the most common complications during and after pregnancy, affecting an estimated 1 in 5 women. Helping new mothers navigate depression is critical, though societal attitudes can be slow to shift.
Art Hounds: Remembering Denomie
In this week’s Art Hounds: The Bakken Ensemble; “The Last Flapper” on Zelda Fitzgerald; and work by Dougie Padilla about his friendship with the late Jim Denomie.
Powerball jackpot jumps to $1.23 billion after another drawing without a big winner
The jackpot, which now ranks as the eighth-largest in U.S. lottery history, has been growing for more than three months, reflecting the long odds of 1 in 292.2 million of winning the top prize.
Amazon is cutting hundreds of jobs in its cloud computing unit AWS
The AWS layoffs follow other layoffs that happened at Amazon and its subsidiaries this year, including at Prime Video, the MGM Studios unit and Twitch, the social media platform owned by Amazon.