MPR News Update

Good afternoon! It's been clear and sunny across most of Minnesota today. In honor of that, and the fact that it's Friday, here are some funny stories about baseball. First, one that shows that sometimes the rain delay is more entertaining than the game. And another proving it is tough to catch a ball with your eyes closed. | NewsCut | Forecast
Good afternoon! Many people believe that one cannot pursue one's passion and also make a living. But then we see a story like Keanon Kyles', who makes his living as an opera singer. Also as a janitor. | NewsCut | Forecast
Good afternoon! An international team of scientists reported today that they have, for the first time, figured out a way to successfully edit the DNA in human embryos -- without introducing the harmful mutations that were a problem in previous attempts elsewhere. The research has raised several ethical questions. Including one taken on by MPR News blogger Bob Collins: If we can eliminate disease, why shouldn't we? | NewsCut | Forecast
Good afternoon! NPR reporter David Folkenflik produced a story today examining how a Trump booster and a Fox News consultant conspired to create a phony story about the "murder" of a young aide for the Democratic National Committee. A report that is both "shocking and frightening," MPR News blogger Bob Collins writes. | NewsCut | Forecast
Good afternoon. Sam Shepard, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Oscar-nominated actor and celebrated author whose plays chronicled the explosive fault lines of family and masculinity in the American West, has died. He was 73. | Forecast
Good afternoon! If you think that you are seeing more Japanese beetles eating the plants in your garden this year, you're not mistaken. Entomologists at the University of Minnesota confirm that the destructive pests are thriving in Minnesota right now and the problem is only going to get worse. | Forecast
Good morning! Have you always wanted to have your own news blog? Well today is your lucky day. MPR News blogger Bob Collins is letting you write NewsCut. "The only guideline is whatever you contribute today, it can't leave us feeling hopeless, anxious, or angry," he writes. You can submit your post in the comments of the blog post or email your story to bcollins@mpr.org if you'd like to make it a separate post entry. "No pressure, but don't let us down. We're all counting on you." | Forecast
Good afternoon! Twin Cities native Emily Fridlund is among the contenders for this year's Man Booker Prize for fiction, one of the highest awards in literature. Literary critic Lola Young, chairwoman of the judging panel, said the list contained works of "huge energy, imagination and variety." | The Thread | Forecast
Good afternoon. In Fargo, N.D., a woman was recently videotaped telling three Somali women to "go home" and that she would kill them. The problem? They parked their car too close to hers. | NewsCut | Documenting hate | Forecast
Good morning! It was a busy night at the MPR News weather lab Tuesday, with a storm that came within a razor's edge of dropping a tornado in the southwest metro. More showers are possible this morning, but it should dry up later today. And now, a look back to July 12, 1984, the day a Minnesota politician made history. | Stories from MPR's archives | Forecast