Stories from October 25, 2024

The ‘Black Insurrectionist’ was actually white. The deception did not stop there
“Black Insurrectionist,” the anonymous social media persona behind some of the most widely circulated conspiracy theories about Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz, can be traced to a white man from upstate New York. 
Phil Lesh, founding member of Grateful Dead and influential bassist, dies at 84
Grateful Dead founding member Phil Lesh has died at age 84. Lesh was a classically trained violinist and jazz trumpeter who found his true calling reinventing the role of rock music's bass guitarist. 
Politics Friday: The race to lead the Minnesota Legislature
Minnesota’s Capitol could have a far different feel next January, or the cast of state leaders could be much the same. MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst talks with DFL and Republican lawmakers about what’s on the line for the state Legislature in the Nov. 5 election.  
President Joe Biden apologized today for abuses suffered by children at Native American boarding schools. And a St. Paul man has been charged with criminal vehicular homicide for allegedly causing a chain-reaction crash that left one person dead and 10 injured on Wednesday night.
North Dakota Supreme Court asked to keep overturned abortion ban in place during state's appeal
Attorneys for the state of North Dakota have asked the state Supreme Court to let North Dakota's overturned abortion ban remain in effect during the state's appeal of the judge's ruling that found the law unconstitutional.
Celebrity chef Justin Sutherland arrested in St. Paul for allegedly violating no-contact order
Twin Cities celebrity chef Justin Sutherland was arrested in St. Paul on Thursday for allegedly violating a no-contact order with a woman he threatened to shoot earlier this year.
Unsung Americans with Minnesota‘s own Sharon McMahon
Sharon McMahon went viral in 2020 when the former government teacher took to Instagram to battle misinformation. Now the Minnesotan is out with a book that combines her passion for history with her belief that everyday people can influence democracy in “The Small and the Mighty.”
Rain welcome after a long dry period in Minnesota
Many Minnesotans went to bed on Thursday with the sound of rain hitting their roof. With virtually no precipitation since August, it was welcome. And more is on the way, said meteorologist and climatologist Mark Seeley.
Biden offers apology for ‘horrific era’ of U.S. Native American boarding schools
Biden visits Arizona on Friday to apologize for the horrors of the federal Indian boarding schools that ran for over 150 years, and also trumpet the administration’s policies to help Native American communities.
King Charles tells summit the past can’t be changed as leaders ask Britain to reckon with slavery
King Charles III has told a summit of Commonwealth countries in Samoa that the past could not be changed as he indirectly acknowledged calls from some of Britain’s former colonies for a reckoning over its role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The British royal understood “the most painful aspects of our past continue to resonate,” he told leaders in Apia. But Charles stopped short of mentioning financial reparations that some leaders at the event have urged.
Darnold, O‘Connell not blaming missed face mask call as reason why Vikings lost to Rams
Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold didn’t blame the officials for a missed face mask call when he was sacked for a safety late in the fourth quarter of the Vikings’ 30-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Instead, Darnold lamented the situation that pinned Minnesota deep in the first place. 
Edwards hits late free throws to lift the Timberwolves past the Kings, 117-115
Anthony Edwards hit a pair of free throws with 2.4 seconds remaining and the Timberwolves spoiled Sacramento’s opener by beating the Kings 117-115. Edwards got fouled by Domantas Sabonis on a drive with the game tied and calmly hit the free throws to give him 32 points to help Minnesota get the win.
Harris will enlist Beyoncé as Trump sits with Joe Rogan for a Texas-sized final push
Texas isn’t a swing state, but both campaigns will visit on Friday. Beyoncé will perform at a Harris rally focused on abortion rights, while popular podcaster Joe Rogan interviews Trump.
UConn star Paige Bueckers arrives at her final season, eager to chase that elusive national title
UConn star Paige Bueckers is entering her final season with the second-ranked Huskies in pursuit of an elusive national championship. UConn hasn't won a title since 2016, though it was the national runner-up in 2022.
Minnesota hosts Maryland for homecoming. Both teams beat fading USC this month to get back on track
Minnesota hosts Maryland this week for homecoming with both teams trying to stay on track for bowl eligibility ahead of a tough final month of the schedule. The Gophers are 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the Big Ten. The Terrapins are 4-3 and 1-3. Minnesota is favored by 4½ points according to BetMGM odds.
Police investigating the death of a 3-year-old boy in Minneapolis this week say the child apparently shot himself. And Minnesota Republicans want more eyes on absentee ballots cast in the state after GOP officials raised concerns about ballot security following an incident in Edina last week.
DOJ lawyers slam ’glaring gap’ in failure to investigate potential Israeli crimes
The four-page letter addressed to Attorney General Merrick Garland calls on the department to investigate potential crimes committed by Israeli soldiers and civilians and is a rare instance of public disagreement inside the department.
2 years in, Trump surrogate Elon Musk has remade X as a conservative megaphone
It's been nearly two years since Elon Musk bought Twitter and turned it into X. He has turned the platform into a megaphone for himself and, increasingly, for former President Donald Trump.
Indigenous voters in Minnesota should feel confident using their tribal ID for Election Day registration
Native people who are citizens of one of 11 federally recognized tribal nations in Minnesota can use their tribal ID, which is issued by their tribal government, to register to vote in-person. 
Congressional rematch tests strength of rightward political shift in northeastern Minnesota
Two years after first facing off, Republican U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber and DFLer Jen Schultz are in another 8th Congressional District race. This time, the presidential election should drive turnout higher than in their first contest.