Stories from November 12, 2024

‘Orbital’ by Samantha Harvey wins 2024 Booker Prize
Samantha Harvey has won the 2024 Booker Prize for her science fiction novel “Orbital.” The novel follows six international astronauts as they orbit the Earth for one day of their nine-month space mission.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison says he'll sue if President-elect Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress try to circumvent Minnesota law. And St. Paul officials will erase the medical debt of 32,000 people.
While bombarded with notifications, distraction and comparison, teens work to define digital well-being
On Monday in Minneapolis a group of health researchers, educators and youth leaders gathered to discuss how screen time affects students’ lives and brainstorm how to have better digital health. Katherine Myers, the executive director of LiveMore ScreenLess, and a student who attended the summit, Two Rivers High School Junior Evangeline Fuentes, both joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about their work.
Minnesota Twins initiate front office transition with Falvey to president, Zoll to GM, St. Peter to adviser
The Minnesota Twins will promote Derek Falvey to president of baseball and business operations and Jeremy Zoll to general manager as part of a front office succession plan initiated by current club president Dave St. Peter’s move into a strategic adviser role. 
Hennepin County will pay $3.4 million to family of man who died in jail
Lucas Bellamy had been in jail for three days in July 2022 when he died of an infection after suffering a perforated intestine. A lawsuit filed in January said jail staff were deliberately indifferent to his son's obviously-worsening symptoms.
Federal judge blocks Louisiana law that requires classrooms to display Ten Commandments
The new Louisiana requirement that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public classroom by Jan. 1 was temporarily blocked Tuesday. The judge said the law is "unconstitutional on its face."
Show us how you Rock Your Mocs!
The annual Rock Your Mocs social media event invites Indigenous people worldwide to show off their moccasins during Native American Heritage month. Minnesota, we want your pics for our online album. 
The Minneapolis City Council will listen to public input Tuesday afternoon about the shooting of Davis Moturi. And President-elect Donald Trump's victory last week could help ease the path for copper-nickel mines near the Boundary Waters.
A pair of Trump officials have defended family separation and ramped-up deportations
President-elect Donald Trump named Stephen Miller his deputy chief of staff and Tom Homan as his “border czar,” appointing a battle-tested duo to design and direct immigration policy from the White House.
Why Trump’s immigration rhetoric appeals to one first-time Latino voter in Minnesota
President-elect Donald Trump made notable inroads with Latino voters this year, particularly among young men. One voter’s family history provides a window into Trump’s appeal.
Trump election could reopen path for mining near Boundary Waters
President-elect Donald Trump has promised to reverse the Biden administration’s actions blocking copper-nickel mining near the Boundary Waters. But there is a lot that would need to happen before any mine could open.
Minnesota Lynx GM, associate head coach leave the WNBA team
General Manager Clare Duwelius is headed to Unrivaled, the new women’s three-on-three basketball league started by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. And associate head coach Katie Smith is headed to Ohio State, where she’ll be the assistant coach for the women’s basketball team.
Fire crews on both U.S. coasts battle wildfires
Fire crews are battling small wildfires across the Northeast U.S. A blaze in New York and New Jersey killed a parks employee over the weekend and postponed Veterans Day plans. A quarter-inch of rain fell overnight from Sunday into Monday, giving a slight respite to firefighters. 
Trump plans to revoke many Biden policies. Where does that leave marijuana?
The president-elect recently affirmed that he supports legalizing marijuana for recreational use. His stance means cannabis could be a rare issue on which Trump carries a Biden policy forward.