Depleted by injury, the Minnesota Timberwolves saw other players step up on Thursday to lift them to a first-round playoff series win over Denver. Now the battered Wolves face another tough test against San Antonio in the Western Conference semifinals starting Monday night.

Expect traffic delays on a busy central Minnesota highway over the next couple of months as a detour goes into effect starting Monday. That detour is along U.S. Highway 10 just east of Wadena. MnDOT says it's to allow crews to replace a culvert under the highway. It'll be a short detour to start, but that will be extended to a much longer route in early June as crews replace a second culvert. The detour will remain in place until early to mid-July.

The average price of gas in Minnesota has now climbed above $4 a gallon amid the ongoing war in Iran and uncertainty about the Strait of Hormuz.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Kelly Bleyer. Music by Gary Meister.

The judge presiding over the Feeding Our Future case is limiting convicted ringleader Aimee Bock’s access to confidential case documents after she allegedly directed her sons to send the files to reporters and elected officials.

As gas prices climb, drivers want to fill up at the gas station offering the cheapest gas. One south Minneapolis independent gas station with cheaper prices says it's seeing heavier traffic since the start of the war in Iran.

And Minnesota's unemployment rate stayed steady last month. The state added 800 jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis between February and March, but fewer people were looking for jobs.

Three members of a Prior Lake family are facing federal charges for allegedly attacking a conservative influencer outside the Whipple federal building earlier this month.

A bill to help the financially troubled HCMC hospital and fill gaps left by federal cuts in Medicaid and food assistance passed the state Senate Wednesday afternoon.

And a citizens group is suing the northeastern Minnesota city of Hermantown to block a proposed Google data center.

Go deeper with the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter.

From 2024: Adam Fravel sentenced to life in prison for murdering Madeline Kingsbury

Prior Lake family charged with assaulting conservative influencer at ICE protest

Citizens' group files lawsuit to block Google's proposed Hermantown data center

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And the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating after gunfire left one person dead and a police officer injured early this morning in Richfield.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Gov. Tim Walz delivered his final State of the State speech Tuesday. The two-term Democrat had plenty of support from members of his party as he listed off the changes his administration has ushered through.

A new health inequities analysis released Wednesday shows widespread racial and ethnic disparities persist in Minnesota.

Runoff from this week’s snowmelt and heavy rain continues to keep rivers running high in northeastern Minnesota. A flood warning goes into effect Thursday morning along the South Kawishiwi River near Ely.

The federal Department of Homeland Security says the warrants are part of an ongoing criminal investigation related to fraud. The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families confirmed the operation, saying it stems from information it shared with state and federal law enforcement.

That story and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

President Donald Trump signed legislation Monday that overturned a 20-year ban on mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. The Senate passed the bill by just one vote two weeks ago. It allows copper and nickel mines to now resume exploration and submit mine plans. It's a win for Twin Metals, which wants to open an underground mine near Ely.

And a bill to help businesses affected by this winter's federal immigration crackdown is headed for a Minnesota Senate floor vote.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Minnesota Senate Democrats passed their catch-all elections bill for the year on a party-line vote Thursday. The bill includes measures to shield home addresses of politicians for safety. It also makes voter intimidation and harassment of election officials a felony.

Minneapolis will add a commemorative street name on the city's north side to honor Birdell Beeks. The City Council voted Thursday to add her name to a street sign near the site of her death. Nearly 10 years ago Beeks was killed by a stray bullet while she sat in her minivan with her granddaughter.

A bill introduced at the Capitol Thursday would change how suspicious deaths tied to domestic violence are investigated. The bill is named for Allison Lussier, a 47-year-old Indigenous woman found dead in her Minneapolis apartment in February 2024. Her death was initially ruled suspicious; police later investigated it as a homicide. Lussier's family has accused Minneapolis police of ignoring signs of domestic violence.

And the Minneapolis City Council is expected to vote on whether to extend the city's eviction notice period from 30 days to 45.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Those include the case of Allison Lussier, an Indigenous woman who was found dead in her apartment in 2024 after reporting domestic violence to the police. Lussier's death remains unsolved. As well as the case of Davis Moturi, a Black man who was shot by his white neighbor after Moturi reported escalating harassment for more than a year.

Fargo’s five mayoral candidates sparred over homelessness and the city’s budget problems at their first debate Tuesday. Fargo’s mayoral election is in June.

And the Nobles County Board voted this morning to deny a zoning change that would've allowed data centers to be built on farmland in the southwestern Minnesota County.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Businesses are beginning to file refund requests for tariffs that were struck down by the Supreme Court.

This is an MPR News Evening update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music is by Gary Meister.

Experts who study child abuse say Minnesota’s attempts to outlaw grooming are a step in the right direction, but more changes are needed. Minnesota lawmakers are considering a bill to make grooming a felony, ban teachers from being alone with students on field trips and require grooming prevention training.

Federal prosecutors are inching closer to a decision on whether to seek the death penalty for the man accused of killing former DFL Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark.

This is an MPR News Evening update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music is by Gary Meister.

Supporters of Thursday’s U.S. Senate vote to overturn a 20-year mining ban near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness are emphasizing that environmental safeguards remain in place. The move reopens the door for projects like Twin Metals’ proposed underground copper-nickel mine near Ely. Opponents of Thursday’s vote say they’ll continue to challenge proposed mines near the BWCA whether at the state level, or through the courts.

Minnesota Sen. John Hoffman and his family filed a civil lawsuit Thursday against the man charged with shooting them last June.

Minnesota lost jobs in February, and state officials are linking the decline to federal immigration enforcement.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

And Gov. Tim Walz and local school officials are pushing to make early childhood education more affordable for additional families. At an early childhood education site in Rochester, Walz detailed a plan he wants the Legislature to pass before the end of session.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Wednesday is the deadline to file your taxes — but if you haven't finished filing, you have options.

The judge presiding over the Feeding Our Future case continues to hand down sentences. The latest defendant to appear in court got 18 months in prison. Since late 2022, 58 people have pleaded guilty and another 7 were convicted at trial in a $300 million scheme that prosecutors say was the nation's largest COVID fraud.

Thunderstorms, hail and at least one tornado scoured southern Minnesota last night.

This is an MPR News Evening update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music is by Gary Meister.

A Burnsville woman could die if she's not freed from immigration detention soon, her lawyer says. Andrea Pedro-Francisco is a 23-year old Guatemalan woman who was arrested in February in the south metro suburb where she and her family live.

Immigration agents sent her to a detention center in Texas. Pedro-Francisco was about to have surgery to remove a large ovarian cyst. Her lawyer, Asra Syed, says she needs immediate medical care.

Friends and family of a Wisconsin man who was shot and killed last week by a Superior police officer are speaking out against the death. Autumn Khalar was with 42-year-old David Menton on April 7 when he was killed. Khalar says Menton was not a threat to the officer and the shooting wasn't justified.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice is investigating. The Superior Police Department says its officers responded to a, quote, "rapidly evolving dangerous situation. They are now navigating not only the weight of that moment, but also the scrutiny that follows."

Go deeper with the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter.

Severe storms drop baseball-sized hail, tornadoes in southern Minnesota

Burnsville woman in ICE detention can’t access lifesaving surgery, lawyer says

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Financial relief for small businesses affected by the federal immigration enforcement surge remains in the mix at the Legislature.

This is an MPR News Evening update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music is by Gary Meister.

And the Minneapolis City Council voted yesterday against reappointing Todd Barnette as the city's community safety commissioner. Mayor Jacob Frey says he'll veto that and keep Barnette in that role.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update form MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

HCMC, the state’s busiest trauma center, is struggling financially. A bipartisan bill that would use revenue from a ballpark tax to help fund it got its first hearing in the legislature Thursday.

For many immigrants in Minnesota, the final step to becoming a U.S. citizen is taking longer than expected. Oath ceremonies have dropped from about four a month to just one, according to the U.S. District Court of Minnesota.

A federal judge today dissolved a temporary injunction barring federal agents from retaliating against people observing ICE activities.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

A man who operated a banquet hall that was a key part of the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme is heading to prison for more than three years. Abdullahe Jesow used a fake nonprofit called Academy for Youth Excellence to siphon $4.3 million from taxpayer funded child nutrition programs by falsely claiming to have served millions of meals to kids during COVID.

And Minnesota mayors were at the state Capitol today asking for money to help businesses recover from the immigration agent surge.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Minnesota's electrical grid is in the midst of a massive expansion. Renewable energy advocates and utilities say new transmission lines are needed to make the grid more reliable. Xcel says that the proposal will face a lengthy environmental review, and they likely won't break ground until 2030.

And state lawmakers return for the last leg of their session today after a holiday break.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

The first defendant in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme to admit his involvement is avoiding prison because of his cooperation with investigators. After the FBI raided Feeding Our Future's offices and two dozen other locations in early 2022, Bekam Merdassa was the first conspirator to come forward. He pleaded guilty later that year.

Many farmers across Minnesota will soon start planting their crops. While some ordered the fertilizer and fuel they’ll need ahead of time, those who didn’t now face huge price increases due to the war in Iran.

Minnesota's top judge is retiring in September. Chief Justice Natalie Hudson's planned departure gives Gov. Tim Walz one more major appointment to the Supreme Court.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

A federal judge in Minneapolis is deciding whether the government may use military attorneys to prosecute civilians. The Justice Department has sent Army lawyers to Minnesota after an exodus of federal prosecutors.

The Trump administration is closing a globally recognized forest research center in Grand Rapids. The Forest Service is moving its headquarters from Washington D.C. to Salt Lake City. It's also shuttering more than 50 research facilities around the country, including an office in Grand Rapids.

And St. Paul officials say an investigation into police actions during a November immigration operation is still underway.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Elena See. Music by Gary Meister.

And for the first time since May of 2007, Minnesota's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate ticked up higher than the nation's.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Elena See. Music by Gary Meister.

And the city of Minneapolis will hold two open houses later this month, to provide an update on construction projects slated to begin in June at George Floyd Square.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR news. Hosted by Elena See. Music by Gary Meister.

Thousands of Minnesotans are expected to lose their SNAP benefits starting as soon as Wednesday due to stricter work and eligibility requirements. Now, all able-bodied adults under the age of 65 must work at least 80 hours a month in order to continue receiving their monthly SNAP food aid benefits. Until today, the work requirement had applied to those under age 55.

A new bill would exempt families from a rule stripping subsidized child care funding after 25 absent days. Child care programs do not receive payment after a child misses 25 days. Parents fearing immigration enforcement kept kids home and are approaching this limit.

And the City of Fargo has appointed an interim police chief to replace retiring Chief Dave Zibolski.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Elena See. Music by Gary Meister.

Federal officials said in public statements during the surge that they were targeting the “worst of the worst.” The new data shows that fewer than a quarter of those arrested had a criminal conviction on their record. The vast majority were arrested for civil immigration violations.

The U.S. Department of Justice sued Minnesota Monday over policies that allow transgender athletes to play on teams consistent with their gender. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Monday called the lawsuit a, “sad attempt to get attention over something that’s already been in litigation for months.”

And the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office came in close to $15.5 million dollars over budget in 2025.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture canceled most funding for a $300 million program designed to help underserved farmers access land nationwide. That affected three projects active in Minnesota.

The MSP Airport Foundation says it helped distribute about $30,000 in donation money to TSA workers who have gone weeks without pay during the government shutdown.

A proposed new training center for Minneapolis police and emergency personnel is now delayed after the city council voted Thursday to postpone a decision on funding.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

A federal judge in Minneapolis has extended an order that requires immigration authorities to ensure detainees held at the Whipple Federal Building have access to attorneys.

The Minneapolis City Council delayed a vote on funding a new emergency responder training center. The council was set to vote Thursday on whether or not to reallocate more than $5 million from animal control and traffic safety budgets to the training center project.

And a federal appeals court has sided with the Trump administration in a closely watched Minnesota immigration case.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

A new lawsuit is challenging the Trump Administration’s move to fast-track deportations of Somalis. The Advocates for Human Rights — a Minneapolis nonprofit — is suing the Justice Department over its effort to speed up deportations of non-citizens from Somalia. The government had already targeted many for removal, but the plaintiffs allege that the administration is fast-tracking court hearings for Somalis after President Donald Trump called them "garbage."

A man who served as an election judge in northern Minnesota faces sentencing in May after pleading guilty to allowing unregistered voters to cast ballots.

Minnesota lawmakers in a House committee hearing Tuesday were split on legislation that would ban AI practices that pay out lower wages to gig workers. Supporters of the bill argue it's needed to make sure workers and consumers are treated fairly. But Jonathan Cotter of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce says the bill oversteps into workplaces.

And a Minnesota House committee is considering a proposal to include kickbacks to the state definition of fraud.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison yesterday joined his counterparts from 19 other Democratic-led states plus the District of Columbia in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The states are challenging Trump Administration threats to cut funding.

Safety concerns along a highway in the southern Twin Cities metro area are prompting transportation officials to hold a series of meetings. MnDOT says it’s studying a 12-mile stretch of State Highway 3 — also known as Robert Trail — through Inver Grove Heights, Eagan and Rosemount. The goal is to identify safety improvements for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. MnDOT says it’s looking at intersection and roadway designs to reduce the number of crashes and improve traffic flow in a growing part of the metro area.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

And in other news, federal prosecutors last week dropped charges against a woman they mistakenly identified as being part of a January church protest in St. Paul. Now lawyers representing other defendants are demanding the government immediately turn over evidence they suspect could clear others.

And State Senator John Hoffman recently authored two bills that increase criminal penalties for people who impersonate a police officer and also require any former law enforcement vehicle sold to be stripped of all law enforcement insignias.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese.

And Democratic secretaries of state are urging Congress to block an elections bill they say could prevent millions of eligible voters from casting a ballot.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

And a bill to ban non-disclosure agreements around proposed data centers passed a state senate committee yesterday with bipartisan support.

Those stories and more in the evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

A health system in Northern California plans to acquire Minnesota-based Allina Health. Sutter Health and Allina Health announced Tuesday that they signed a nonbinding letter of intent to combine into a $26 billion nonprofit system.

Residents of mobile home parks were at the Minnesota Capitol Tuesday asking legislators to keep their parks affordable. Residents say as private equity firms buy up mobile home parks, rent and evictions have increased dramatically.

And Gov. Tim Walz is asking lawmakers to approve a new tax on social media companies as part of his supplemental budget plan.

Those stories and more in the evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

A Minnesota Senate Committee Friday approved a bill that bans assault weapons.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Minnesota’s leaders of the national Target boycott say the economic blackout of the retail giant continues. Local activist Nekima Levy Armstrong says the main demand — for Target to reinstate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, has not been met and so the boycott can not end.

A federal judge in St. Paul heard arguments Thursday from the state of Minnesota and the Trump administration over a halt of $259 million in Medicaid payments to the state.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Minnesota’s leaders of the national Target boycott say the economic blackout of the retail giant continues. Local activist Nekima Levy Armstrong says the main demand — for Target to reinstate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, has not been met and so the boycott can not end.

Gov. Tim Walz is getting mixed reactions to his plan to overhaul the way the state administers Medicaid services.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

A bill that would allow Minnesota voters to decide whether to limit the governor and lieutenant governor to two terms in office has cleared a state House committee. If the constitutional amendment were passed by voters, the change would go into effect in 2030.

Townships across Minnesota will hold elections and annual meetings Tuesday. Township residents have a say in local affairs like taxes, new buildings and development, road upkeep and Tuesday — electing people to serve in town offices.

A public meeting of the Minneapolis Community Commission on Police Oversight yesterday drew comments from several people -- who said police should have done more to protect residents during the federal immigration surge.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update. Hosted by Todd Melby. Music by Gary Meister.

A bill that would allow Minnesota voters to decide whether to limit the governor and lieutenant governor to two terms in office has cleared a state House committee. If the constitutional amendment were passed by voters, the change would go into effect in 2030.

Townships across Minnesota will hold elections and annual meetings Tuesday. Township residents have a say in local affairs like taxes, new buildings and development, road upkeep and Tuesday — electing people to serve in town offices.

Anglers on Mille Lacs Lake in central Minnesota will be able to keep three walleye this summer.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update. Hosted by Jacob Aloi. Music by Gary Meister.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota House will vote this week on renaming a state community solar garden program in honor of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman, who was assassinated last year. Hortman advocated strongly for the program and got it passed.

Travel by air and road are also getting more expensive in part because of war in the middle east. AAA reports the average gallon of regular gas will cost Minnesotans $3.25 Monday morning. That's up from $2.83 just a week ago. In the Twin Cities metro, prices are about 10 cents higher. The national average is about $3.48 a gallon.

Flags were at half-staff across Minnesota Friday in honor of Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor of White Bear Lake, who was killed in an airstrike in Kuwait.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Elena See. Music by Gary Meister.

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Another federal judge is threatening to hold government officials in contempt of court for failing to return critical items including work permits and driver’s licenses to former immigration detainees. For the second time this week, Minnesota U.S. Attorney Dan Rosen promised a judge that ICE would replace missing personal items or pay compensation.

The standing of a key state agency commissioner has become another political flashpoint in the Minnesota Senate.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

And there were moments of constructive dialogue during an otherwise rancorous congressional hearing today on fraud in Minnesota.

Those stories and more in this evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

And a federal judge heard arguments today on a federal demand for Minnesota to turn over voter registration data.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Minnesota is suing the Trump Administration in an attempt to stop it from withholding $243 million of that Medicaid spending. The lawsuit filed Monday asks a U.S. court in Minneapolis to issue a temporary restraining order to block the withholding.

And Hennepin County prosecutors are investigating 17 alleged incidents of excessive force by federal agents during immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

And tenant organizers could hold a vote tomorrow to authorize a Twin Cities-wide rent strike.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota estimate that rent debt across the state has surged by an additional 30 to 50 million dollars since December.

Gov. Tim Walz says the announced halt in Medicaid funding continues a campaign of retribution from the Trump administration.

That story and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota estimate that rent debt across the state has surged by an additional 30 to 50 million dollars since December.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota estimate that rent debt across the state has surged by an additional 30 to 50 million dollars since December.

And Pine Island says Google is behind a massive data center project, and the big tech company is promising to bring in new jobs and tax revenue.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota estimate that rent debt across the state has surged by an additional 30 to 50 million dollars since December.

A group of Minnesota religious leaders has sued the Department of Homeland Security for blocking them from visiting immigration detainees at the Whipple Federal Building.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

And Minnesota Democratic U.S. Senator Tina Smith says negotiations with Republicans over funding for the Department of Homeland Security don't appear to be making much progress.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

To the south, rain will change over to snow Wednesday. The Twin Cities may get an inch or two by Thursday, with 2 to 4 inches for Willmar and St. Cloud.

And at the state level, Minnesota legislators are discussing the potential economic impact of the recent immigration enforcement surge.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.