By LAURAN NEERGAARD, Associated Press

Our immune system has a dark side: It’s supposed to fight off invaders to keep us healthy. But sometimes it turns traitor and attacks our own cells and tissues.

What are called autoimmune diseases can affect just about every part of the body — and tens of millions of people. While most common in women, these diseases can strike anyone, adults or children, and they’re on the rise.

Dr. Roberto Caricchio, center, director of the Lupus Center at UMass Chan Medical School, speaks to a lupus support group, Feb. 12, 2025, in Worcester, Mass. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

New research is raising the prospect of treatments that might do more than tamp down symptoms. Dozens of clinical trials are testing ways to reprogram an immune system-gone-rogue, with some promising early successes against lupus, myositis and certain other illnesses. Other researchers are hunting ways to at least delay brewing autoimmune diseases, spurred by a drug that can buy some time before people show symptoms of Type 1 diabetes.

“This is probably the most exciting time that we’ve ever had to be in autoimmunity,” said Dr. Amit Saxena, a rheumatologist at NYU Langone Health.

Here are some things to know.

What are autoimmune diseases?

They’re chronic diseases that can range from mild to life-threatening, more than 100 with different names depending on how and where they do damage. Rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis attack joints. Sjögren’s disease is known for dry eyes and mouth. Myositis and myasthenia gravis weaken muscles in different ways, the latter by attacking how nerves signal them. Lupus has widely varied symptoms including a butterfly-shaped facial rash, joint and muscle pain, fevers and damage to the kidneys, lungs and heart.

They’re also capricious: Even patients faring well for long periods can suddenly have a “flare” for no apparent reason.

Why autoimmune diseases are so difficult to diagnose

Many start with vague symptoms that come and go or mimic other illnesses. Many also have overlapping symptoms — rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren’s also can harm major organs, for example.

Diagnosis can take multiple tests, including some blood tests to detect antibodies that mistakenly latch onto healthy tissue. It usually centers on symptoms and involves ruling out other causes. Depending on the disease it can take years and seeing multiple doctors before one puts the clues together. There are efforts to improve: The National MS Society is educating doctors about newly updated guidelines to streamline diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

How the immune system gets out of whack

The human immune system is a complex army with sentinels to detect threats like germs or cancer cells, a variety of soldiers to attack them, and peacemakers to calm things down once the danger is over. Key is that it can distinguish what’s foreign from what’s “you,” what scientists call tolerance.

Ruth Wilson, whose has lupus, takes her prescription medications and supplements before going to work on Jan. 13, 2025, in Littleton, Mass. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Sometimes confused immune cells or antibodies slip through, or the peacemakers can’t calm things down after a battle. If the system can’t spot and fix the problem, autoimmune diseases gradually develop.

Autoimmune diseases are often set off by a trigger

Most autoimmune diseases, especially in adults, aren’t caused by a specific gene defect. Instead, a variety of genes that affect immune functions can make people susceptible. Scientists say it then takes some “environmental” trigger, such as an infection, smoking or pollutants, to set the disease into motion. For example, the Epstein-Barr virus is linked to MS.

Scientists are zeroing in on the earliest molecular triggers. For example, white blood cells called neutrophils are first responders to signs of infection or injury — but abnormally overactive ones are suspected of playing a key role in lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases.

Women are at highest risk for autoimmune diseases

Women account for about 4 of 5 autoimmune patients, many of them young. Hormones are thought to play a role. But also, females have two X chromosomes while males have one X and one Y. Some research suggests an abnormality in how female cells switch off that extra X can increase women’s vulnerability.

Ruth Wilson, left, whose lupus took six years to diagnose, receives her monthly lupus-focused IV treatment at UMass Memorial Medical Center, Jan. 14, 2025, in Worcester, Mass. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

But men do suffer from autoimmune diseases. One especially severe one named VEXAS syndrome wasn’t discovered until 2020. It mainly affects men over 50 and in addition to typical autoimmune symptoms it can cause blood clots, shortness of breath and night sweats.

Certain populations also have higher risks. For example, lupus is more common in Black and Hispanic women. Northern Europeans have a higher risk of MS than other groups.

Treatment for autoimmune diseases is complicated

According to investment research company Morningstar, the global market for autoimmune disease treatments is $100 billion a year. That’s not counting doctor visits and such things as lost time at work. Treatment is lifelong and, while usually covered by insurance, can be pricey.

Ruth Wilson, who has lupus, unpacks a kit to prick her finger for a blood sample to share with her doctor whenever she experiences a flare up, Jan. 12, 2025, at her home in Littleton, Mass. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Not so long ago there was little to offer for many autoimmune diseases beyond high-dose steroids and broad immune-suppressing drugs, with side effects that include a risk of infections and cancer. Today some newer options target specific molecules, somewhat less immune dampening. But for many autoimmune diseases, treatment is trial and error, with little to guide patient decisions.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

As shoppers gear up for Small Business Saturday, a new business owner is hoping to make a name for herself along one of St. Paul’s historic shopping corridors.

Sara Holst has high hopes for her women’s boutique, mor, that sells clothing, perfume, candles and accessories on Grand Avenue.

“In July, I honestly was having a midlife existential crisis,” said Holst, a mother of two in her late 30s. “Come to find out after some research, midlife for women is 39, 40, 41 – that’s where I’m at.”

Holst, who works by day as a business consultant for aesthetic clinics, said she began pondering some of life’s bigger questions, like “What is my legacy going to be?” when she pulled up in front of a “for lease” sign on Grand Avenue.

“When I pulled up that day, I felt this call,” she said. “I’m going to sign a commercial lease and I am going to open a store.”

Mor officially opened its doors last month at 844 Grand Ave., just a stone’s throw from Café Latte, one of the avenue’s most popular destinations.

The store’s name, which comes from the Norwegian word for mother, “is an homage to my Scandinavian heritage,” said Holst, whose grandfather is from Norway and grandmother from Sweden. “Mother is the term I cherish most in my life.”

Small Business Saturday

To celebrate its first Small Business Saturday, mor will offer shoppers a 20% discount on clothing through the weekend.

Founded in 2010 by American Express, Small Business Saturday has slowly become a staple for small business owners, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration, which started co-sponsoring the event in 2011.

Minnesota is home to over 547,000 small businesses, which employ roughly half of the state’s workforce, according to a 2024 report from the SBA.

“Small businesses are the heartbeat of Minnesota’s economy,” said Brian McDonald, Minnesota district director for the SBA. “Retail stores, restaurants, e-commerce businesses and other mom-and-pop shops along Main Streets across the state strengthen local communities and create jobs.”

American Express estimates that the total spending in the U.S. by those who shopped at small businesses on Small Business Saturday was around $22 billion in 2024 and it has generated more $223 billion since the event was founded, Forbes reports.

More about mor

Sara Holst has high hopes for her women’s boutique, mor, that sells clothing, perfume, candles and accessories on Grand Avenue in St. Paul, seen Nov. 26, 2025. (Claudia Staut / Pioneer Press)

When entering the shop, patrons will be met with a table full of skin care products, rows of dresses, blouses and jeans, jewelry displays and stacks of candles.

The chic storefront leans into the minimalist aesthetic with neutral earth tones, warm lighting and seasonal garland adorning the doorframes.

“Shopping in stores is an experience,” said Holst, who loathes online shopping.

“This is not fast fashion. It’s for people who want to curate a wardrobe.” Holst said of the store’s clothing inventory. “Our prices are more on the contemporary women’s clothing side,” she said, with clothing items ranging from $75 to $500.

Northeast Minneapolis resident Alayna Bombard said she has shopped at mor twice since its grand opening last month.

Bombard, who heard about the store through word-of-mouth, said she specifically comes to Grand Avenue to “shop local,” and appreciates mor’s rotating selection.

If you’re looking to spend less, mor also offers products like greeting cards, hand soaps, nail polish and candles for less than $50.

As the buyer for the store, Holst said, “I am my target market.” As a result, she focuses on small makers and sustainability. Such was the case for Roen, a Los-Angeles-based candlemaker.

Created by Brit Roennigke after she left her career in the fashion industry, Roen makes small batch scents that are vegan, cruelty-free and packaged in fully recyclable materials.

Roen’s candle scents, like 29 Palms, which is mor’s most popular with notes of sage, cedar and eucalyptus, are influenced by Roennigke’s experience in fashion, styling and product development, according to her website.

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“I loved this woman’s story,” Holst said, adding that Roennigke pours the candles in a bungalow in her backyard.

“Resonating with small makers was important to me,” Holst said. “Being a small business, I want to support other small businesses.”

Before it was a women’s boutique, the 900-square-foot storefront was home to Nothing But Canna dispensary, Zero Proof, a non-alcoholic bottle shop, and most recently, Wonderland Mushroom, Minnesota’s first mushroom dispensary.

The fourplex building, which is also home to Specs Appeal and Preferred Management Services Inc., is owned by an entity called “844 Grand Ave. LLC,” according to Ramsey County property records. The building was last sold in 2004 for $895,000.

“We signed a 12-month lease, but we plan to be there as long as we possibly can,” Holst said.

‘Financially savvy’

Sara Holst and Matt Holst talk behind the counter inside mor in St. Paul on Nov. 26, 2025. (Claudia Staut / Pioneer Press)

Some first-time business owners turn to federal loans while others rely on the generosity of family members to get their businesses up and running.

That was not the case for Sara Holst and her husband, Matt Holst, who own a Minneapolis duplex that they rent out.

“We’d been saving for another rental property to buy,” Holst said. But after some discussion, the husband-and-wife team decided to “put that dream on hold” and use that savings to launch mor.

“We’re pretty financially savvy,” said Sara Holst, adding, “I am a little bit of a doomsday prepper.”

To set up the shop, the Holsts turned to Facebook Marketplace where they found discounted retail racks, furniture, plants and a bar that the couple repurposed to serve as the store’s checkout counter.

When it came to building out the space, Matt Holst got to work, assembling dressing rooms and doing electrical work.

Earlier this year, Matt Holst was working in the steel industry, his wife said. Now that the store is open, he runs the shop Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, with Sara Holst taking over on Saturdays.

“He’s the most amazing person and he’s my biggest fan,” she said of her husband.

“I am so proud of her,” Matt Holst said, adding that he has struck “a great work/life balance” between running the shop and caring for the couple’s 3-year-old child.

Tariff troubles?

“I thought (the Trump administration’s tariffs) were going to affect me more,” Sara Holst said. “Most of the brands I’m working with are either made in the U.S. or they ship from the U.S.”

With that being said, mor is not entirely unscathed by the tariffs.

Sara Holst said she has seen wholesale prices increase from one brand that ships from Florida. And she was recently made to part ways with a Canadian beauty company as a result of the tariffs.

Based in Montreal, BKIND creates nail polish, body scrubs and hair care products, to name a few, with vegan, eco-friendly ingredients.

Founded in 2014 by Marilyne Bouchard, BKind recently announced that it would no longer ship to the U.S., Sara Holst said.

“She’s really bummed, she’d love to continue working with the U.S., but unfortunately the cost associated with doing so and the shipping and tariffs is too high,” Sara Holst said. The dozen or so BKIND nail polishes in stock at mor will unfortunately be the last, she said.

Looking ahead

An exterior view of mor in St. Paul on Nov. 26, 2025. (Claudia Staut / Pioneer Press)

“I was blown away with how well we did the first two or three weeks being open,” Sara Holst said, adding that the store made enough money to cover a couple months of rent.

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Despite the shop’s early success, the Holsts are not counting their chickens before they hatch. “I am fully aware that most businesses don’t take home a profit for two years. We are ready to hunker down,” she said.

“We want a life-first business,” Sara Holst said. “We want mor to be a blessing to our family, not a curse.”

In keeping with this goal, the store is only open four days a week for eight hours at a time, which Holst said is intentional. “We want something we love doing, not something we feel obligated to do.”

If all goes according to plan, Holst said down the line she hopes to expand the store to offer men’s and children’s clothing and host events like once-a-month galleries for artists.

“I want to give back to the community all that we are bringing in,” she said.

mor

When: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays

Where: 844 Grand Ave., St. Paul

Holiday sale: Clothing 20% off through Dec. 1

Seattle sports the NFL’s fifth-best defense this season by yardage allowed (301 per game) and seventh by points (19.7).

Minnesota is set to roll into Seattle with a struggling offense that has eclipsed the 20-point plateau and thrown for north of 150 yards one time in its last five games.

Now the Vikings are forced to hand the keys over to an undrafted rookie quarterback for his first career start. All signs point to disaster.

So why does it feel like this may just work?

Perhaps it’s the Vikings’ recent history of offensive success. Wins haven’t always followed, but this passing game has delivered high volumes of production largely regardless of who’s been under center up until this season.

The combination of Kevin O’Connell, Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson is a lethal one.

Or maybe this is about Max Brosmer.

An undrafted quarterback who spent the bulk of his collegiate career at the FCS level doesn’t scream instant NFL success.

But this is the same guy who re-introduced the forward pass to P.J. Fleck’s Gophers football program. Who nearly beat a Penn State team that reached last year’s CFP semifinals with little help from his pass protection. Who scored 21 fourth-quarter points against a Michigan defense that concluded its 2024 campaign by dominating Ohio State and Alabama.

The guy who, by season’s end, was routinely posting some of Pro Football Focus’ best passing grades of any college quarterback in the country.

Max Brosmer #12 of the Minnesota Vikings throws a pass in the second half during the NFL Preseason 2025 while under pressure from Curtis Jacobs #57 of the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on Aug. 22, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Vikings 23-13. Brosmer will make his first career regular season start Sunday in Seattle. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

The guy who went into the Vikings’ preseason finale against Tennessee’s starters in August and, surrounded by a bunch of reserves, led a functioning offense, consistently ripping on-time, on-target passes in the face of perilous pressure.

Brosmer went 15 for 23 for 161 yards and a score that evening.

Watch the tape of Brosmer from last year against the Nittany Lions, or this fall against Tennessee, and the number of times he throws his receivers open via his anticipation starts to pile up.

There’s a throw against Penn State where, on third and 10, eventual No. 2 overall draft pick Abdul Carter is in Brosmer’s grill within 2 ticks of the ball being snapped. Brosmer proceeded to fire a dart off his back foot to an empty dot of space between four Penn State defenders. Daniel Jackson arrived at the same time as the ball for a 22-yard gain.

Every time Brosmer has taken snaps, those watching walk away thinking, “That guy knows how to play quarterback.” He just gets it.

The Vikings clearly held the same belief. Which is why they chose to roster Brosmer coming out of the preseason rather than dangling him out on the practice squad, where he could be snatched up by any team with an admiring eye.

Brosmer noted Friday that he prides himself on being “the most prepared guy on the field at all times.” Gophers offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh has detailed the preparation in advance of last fall’s Penn State game, in which he and Brosmer spent all night noting the opposing blitz packages and how to identify and counteract them.

Back in the spring, O’Connell said Brosmer is “as smart as any young player that I’ve been around.”

Brosmer takes pride in that, noting it “caters to my strengths.”

“I was never the most athletic guy, never the strongest guy. But I felt like I could do it better with my mind on the field,” Brosmer said. “That’s playing NFL quarterback, in my opinion.”

Getting your team into the right play calls and checks with tempo is probably 80% of the battle. Then it’s simply down to execution: Can you trust it, grip it and rip it? Nothing we’ve seen from Brosmer suggests otherwise.

He has routinely shown the ability to make whatever play is necessary to compensate for deficiencies around him and keep the offense moving in a positive direction.

That’s how you play the position.

Generally, when O’Connell has been armed with someone like that, fireworks have ensued. Will that take place Sunday? History involving similar circumstances suggests, “No.”

But everything our eyes have told us over the past 14 months says this might be different. With Max Brosmer, it always has been.

 

Following a recent rash of break-ins, thefts and vandalism, the Department of Natural Resources’ Region 3 headquarters in St. Paul has locked its visitor entrance and increased other security measures.

A DNR spokesperson said the increase in incidents at the 1200 Warner Road office coincides with the growth of an encampment nearby at Pig’s Eye Park. A person who described himself as homeless was charged recently in connection with one DNR burglary.

With the closure of a nearby encampment in the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary in January, the population at Pig’s Eye Park increased from about 14 people to 40, according to Casey Rodriguez, a communications manager for the Department of Safety and Inspections. The department estimates the encampment currently has 90 residents, though exact numbers are hard to pin down because people come and go every day, Rodriguez said.

The department was first made aware of the Pig’s Eye encampment in September 2023. The Homeless Assistance Response Team works with the St. Paul Fire Department and Community Alternative Response Emergency Services to conduct fire safety assessments, assist with cleaning and connect interested residents at encampments with support services. There are no current plans to clear the encampment at Pig’s Eye Park, said Rodriguez.

The Homeless Assistance Response Team gives people at the encampment hot meals and clothes and helps them find housing.

“HART is focused on helping people in the encampments,” Sydney Kamps, an employee at HART, said. “Housing is a really big issue right now.”

Burglary charge

A sign for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Central Regional Headquarters in St. Paul. (Claudia Staut / Pioneer Press)

A 30-year-old man was charged Oct. 29 with burglary in connection with one DNR incident, according to Ramsey County Court records. A DNR employee found him in one of the garages on Aug. 18 with a DNR coat on that did not belong to him. A backpack from the garage also was taken. St. Paul police arrested the man on Oct. 27, where they found him on a stolen ATV. He admitted to entering the garage, according to the criminal complaint.

He told investigators he’s homeless and sleeps in a tent, according the court records. He said he did not have the backpack or coat with him and that people steal things from his tent.

The headquarters has documented 10 recent break-ins in fenced areas and storage buildings, according to Margaret Snyder, media specialist for the DNR. They estimate costs of $62,780 in stolen items and $30,000 in damage. The most expensive items stolen were fishery research equipment ranging in value from $3,000 to $15,000.

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Stolen items include hand tools and a boat motor. Research equipment, vehicles, fences and garage doors have been vandalized and damaged.

Alyssa Arcand, public information officer for the St. Paul Police Department, said they are working on finding those responsible for the damage, vandalism and thefts. There were 10 incident reports filed from Aug. 12, 2025 to Sept. 8, 2025. There were nine reported incidents in all of 2023 at the headquarters and 27 in 2024, according to the police department. There have been 50 reported incidents in 2025 so far.

The headquarters installed more cameras and increased security patrols between July and October. Since then, they have experienced fewer break-ins, thefts and vandalism.

Visitors need to contact the headquarters to get into the office. They have no specific timeline for revisiting how the visitor entrance will operate in the future.

The headquarters manages fisheries, hatchery operations, wildlife and forests. They also maintain state trails and public water access.