Former Minnesota House Rep. Mary Murphy dies. New youth shelter to open in Duluth

It is Thursday, December 26. I'm Phil Picardy with Minnesota today. The longest serving member of the Minnesota House died yesterday. Mary Murphy was 85 years old. You and care reports. First elected in 1976, Murphy, a DFL, represented Herman Tan. She finally lost the seat by just 33 votes in 2022.

Murphy suffered a stroke last week and was reported to be entering hospice care. House Speaker Melissa Hartman confirmed Murphy's death on Facebook Wednesday and said she would share service information as soon as it was available. This word of Murphy's death spread, tributes on Facebook, celebrated her career in public service and her leadership in the legislature. I'm you and care.

Today is expected to be the busiest travel day of the holiday season at the Twin Cities Airport. MSP expects nearly 50,000 people to pass through security checkpoints. Overall passenger numbers this season are expected to increase 6% compared to last year for the holidays.

The man accused of killing two people and injuring nine others in a drunk driving crash in St. Louis Park is expected to face a trial in May. Matt Sepik has more. Stephen Frame Bailey faces 13 counts, including third-degree murder and criminal vehicular homicide. Investigators say the 56-year-old had a blood alcohol level of .325 more than four times the legal limit.

when he drove into the patio at Park Tavern on September 1. Christina Fulkertz, a server there, and Gabe Harvey, the health unit coordinator at nearby Methodist Hospital, were killed in the crash, both were 30 years old. Bailey has a long record of drunk driving convictions,

He's out of jail on a half million dollars bond. Judge Juan Hoyos ordered Bailey to await his trial in a sober living facility. Jury selection is scheduled to start May 12th. I'm Matt Sepig, Minneapolis. The new year is less than a week away and Minnesota health insurance plans must provide coverage for abortions and abortion related services starting in 2025. Eric Azurek reports.

Earlier this year, the Minnesota Legislature passed into law new requirements for the state's health insurers. All health plans will cover abortions, pre-screenings, and follow-up services without additional co-insurance, co-payment, or deductible costs for patients. Health insurers also cannot restrict coverage due to prior authorization, referral requirements, or delays. Eligible organizations are exempt from covering some or all benefits for abortion and abortion-related services due to religious objections.

Mandated coverage begins on January 1st. I'm Eric Hazurek. A new $1.6 million shelter that can serve a dozen 18 to 24-year-olds is set to open in Duluth next month. Currently, there are only two to four beds for young adults in Duluth, but there are more than 100 young adults experiencing homelessness. The new shelter is located at Peace United Church of Christ and will be operated by Lutheran Social Services.

About half of Minnesotans say they feel lonely at least some of the time. That's according to an APM research lab survey which found 13% of respondents saying they often lack companionship and another 35% saying they lack companionship some of the time.

Carrie Henning-Smith is an associate professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. She says social isolation and loneliness can have negative impacts on people's health, but she says solitude can also be good for people who feel drained by maintaining lots of relationships either on social media or in person.

We think that more people are better, more relationships, more friends are better. I don't think that that's true. I think it's about quality of relationships rather than quantity. The survey of nearly 3,400 participants also found that boomers or people in their 60s and 70s tend to be less lonely than Gen Ziers who are between the ages of 18 and 27.

In sports, the timber wolves beat the Dallas Mavericks yesterday, 105 to 99. Anthony Edwards scored 26 points. With the wind, the wolves ended a losing streak at three games. They tip off against the Rockets tomorrow night in Houston.

The wild play the stars tomorrow night in Dallas. In the Boxing Day, weather, forecast, cloudy skies, areas of dense fog and freezing fog. With a chance of drizzle or freezing drizzle, high temperatures in the mid 30s. Tonight, cloudy skies, patchy fog, a chance of rain, low temperatures in the mid 30s. And then for Friday, cloudy skies, patchy fog in the morning, rain likely tomorrow, high temperatures mid 30s to low 40s.

That is the early NPR Newscast podcast Minnesota Today. We will have a Thursday afternoon update right back here.