State data shows a rise in police use of drones without a warrant since 2020

You may recognize them by sound, or maybe you have seen them flying above. Drones are becoming an increasingly common sight in the sky, and a common tool of Minnesota police. According to state data, there's been a steady rise in the use of drones by law enforcement agencies without a warrant between 2020 and 2025. Nikki Davidson is a Duluth-based independent data journalist who looked into this. She joined MPR News guest host Kelly Gordon to share what she found.