Stories from November 18, 2024

Pope calls for investigation into whether Israel's actions constitute genocide
Pope Francis has called for an investigation to determine if Israel's military attacks on Gaza constitute genocide. It's the first time he's publicly suggested that Israel may be engaged in genocide.
Biden asks Congress for about $100 billion in disaster relief funding
The largest chunk of funding — about $40 billion — would be for FEMA's disaster relief fund, so that it has enough money to last through the coming year. But there are requests for 16 agencies.
New Minnesota clinic for asylum seekers is first of its kind in state
Clinicians will work specifically with people in the metro who are going through the process of proving to the United States government that their home country is no longer safe for them to stay. MPR News host Nina Moini found out more.
Wisconsin Republican Eric Hovde concedes defeat to Democrat Tammy Baldwin in US Senate race
Wisconsin Republican U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde has conceded defeat in the race narrowly won by Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin, saying he will not pursue a recount.
’We were already struggling’: Several Somali mothers say they were duped into paying for poor tutoring services
Eighteen local Somali mothers say they were unknowingly signed up to pay for thousands of dollars in tutoring services through their state tax refunds.
Winter is coming: 5 ways to prep for cold weather hazards
This is Winter Hazard Awareness Week in Minnesota and Wisconsin. It serves as an important reminder to stay informed about the potential hazards of winter weather so we can be better prepared to face whatever challenges Mother Nature may bring during the colder months.
PWHL releases neutral-site schedule with games ranging from North Carolina to the Pacific Northwest
The PWHL is taking women’s pro hockey to places from Raleigh, North Carolina, to the Pacific Northwest in releasing its nine-date schedule of neutral site games.
Teenage Buddhist lama celebrates last birthday in the U.S. before joining monastery in the Himalayas
A U.S.-born Buddhist lama celebrated his 18th birthday with an elaborate enthronement ceremony. Hundreds attended the event at the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota. It’s the last big party for Jalue Dorje before he joins a monastery in the Himalayan foothills — thousands of miles from his home in suburban Minneapolis.
WNBA corporate sponsorship deals are growing. But not every athlete is getting their due
The WNBA has wrapped up a historic season that notched all-time viewership and attendance records while racking up brand deals and corporate sponsorships for its players along the way. But for all those enjoying their newfound riches, there are still some players who are being left out, specifically Black LGBTQ+ women who express their gender in a more masculine way. 
E. coli outbreak linked to organic carrots sickens people in 18 states
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Sunday that cases emerged between Sept. 6 and Oct. 28 across 18 states, with Washington, Minnesota and New York reporting the highest number of cases.
Jury selection is set to begin Monday in Fergus Falls for two men facing human smuggling charges. And real estate sales in Minnesota last month were up considerably from the year before.
Randle hits 3 at the buzzer to lift Timberwolves over Booker, Suns with 120-117 win
As soon as it left his hands, Julius Randle knew his winning 3-pointer was going in. Randle got the ball with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns tied at 117 and 2.1 seconds to play. Randle’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer to cap his 35-point night lifted the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 120-117 win over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday afternoon.
Countries agreed to try to hold global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Is that still possible?
In the 2015 Paris Agreement, most countries agreed to try hard to limit global warming to below 1.5 degrees Celsius. Delay and inaction mean that goal is becoming harder to achieve by the day.
Accused of violating worker rights, SpaceX and Amazon go after labor board
SpaceX and Amazon are asking the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to find the National Labor Relations Board unconstitutional. The federal agency is tasked with enforcing workers' right to organize.
Innovative Iron Range landfill project tackles climate change, ‘forever chemicals’
A new project at a small landfill on Minnesota’s Iron Range is simultaneously helping to tackle two of society’s most vexing environmental problems — climate change and the treatment of so-called “forever chemicals.”
In Wabasha, a collector puts his passion for all things eagles on full display
Preston Cook spent decades collecting tens of thousands of items bearing bald eagle imagery. The longtime California real estate developer donated the collection to the National Eagle Center in Wabasha and then moved to town.
2 killed and 10 wounded in shootings near New Orleans parade route
Two people were killed and 10 others were wounded in two separate shootings along a New Orleans parade route and celebration attended by thousands on Sunday, authorities said. There were no immediate arrests.