Here's the latest news from across the state to start your day. ☕
WEATHER
🥶 Wednesday morning brings another subzero chill to Minnesota. We'll see single-digit subzero temperatures in the south with minus 20s in the north.
🌨️ A significant storm rolling through Iowa and southern Wisconsin will graze southern Minnesota Wednesday. A few flakes may reach the Twin Cities Wednesday, but the bulk of accumulating snow will fall across southeastern Minnesota.
As it gets more expensive and costly to build traditional power plants and electric distribution systems, so-called "virtual power plants" could play an increasingly important role in meeting Minnesota's clean energy goals.
Need a last-minute Valentine's Day gift for a friend or a foe? The Minnesota Zoo Foundation has you covered. You can make a $15 donation to the zoo and in return get to name a bug that will be fed to an animal.
This week is the MPR Winter Member Drive and we have an ambitious goal to raise $600,000 in just five days. We're counting on your participation to help us strengthen this public service and keep Minnesotans connected to the news and to each other.
🏛️ 'I serve drinks' testifies bartender falsely named as Feeding Our Future board president. A Twin Cities man once listed as Feeding Our Future's board president testified in federal court on Tuesday that he had no knowledge of the nonprofit and was surprised to see his name on its organizational chart.
🏫 With federal money at risk, state's public colleges stress high stakes of state budget debate. Leaders of Minnesota's two main college systems routinely approach lawmakers with financial requests. This year, they're coming to the Capitol with added urgency as they brace for potential federal pullbacks.
📺 'GOOD Hair' and Afro-nostalgia in a living room at Augsburg University. Nia-Symonn Gayle says the art installation is a love letter to her mother and to Black people and Black culture. It's a reminder, she says, that all hair is good hair.
🔎 St. Paul police investigating possible theft of well-known F. Scott Fitzgerald statue. The statue had stood outside the former St. Paul Academy for nearly 20 years. Investigators are looking for the public's assistance in the case which is short on leads.
🕯️ A legacy of joy: Chanhassen Dinner Theatres artistic director Michael Brindisi dies. A fixture in the Twin Cities theater community, friends and collaborators describe Brindisi as having infectious enthusiasm, a deep love for actors and an unwavering commitment to the art of storytelling.
🚨 MPD: Half a dozen acts of early morning violence likely carried out by same men. Minneapolis police are investigating links between six separate violent incidents which resulted in two people being shot and wounded early Tuesday morning. Police believe at least three suspects were involved
MUST LISTEN
🎧What's next for Jake Sullivan, a Minnesotan and Biden's former National Security Advisor. Jake Sullivan was a champion debater, student council president and most likely to succeed at Southwest High School in Minneapolis. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about his tenure at the White House.
