The Minneapolis City Council will decide Thursday morning whether to permanently appoint veteran officer Bill Peterson as head of the Minneapolis Police Department. University of St. Thomas School of Law Professor Rachel Moran said an internal candidate like Peterson could benefit from knowing how the department has been criticized in the past. But a new chief will also face a city government sharply divided between the mayor and city council.

Three conservation groups are suing the state in hopes of getting a more rigorous environmental review of a long-proposed copper mine in northeast Minnesota. The lawsuits argue the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources should have ordered a new environmental impact statement — an EIS — for NewRange Copper Nickel. The company, formerly known as PolyMet, wants to build an underground mine near Hoyt Lakes and Babbitt.

The state will be providing disaster assistance to four southern Minnesota counties that sustained damage in severe flooding back in September. Gov. Tim Walz authorized the disaster assistance on Wednesday for Fillmore, Houston, Steele and Waseca counties. Heavy rainfalls beginning Sept. 19 flooded roads and many homes and businesses, including almost the entire city of New Richland.

More headlines:

Despite threats, first Somali American legislator-elect from St. Cloud is eager to serve

Minnesota Republicans hope for a seat at the table with new DFL trifecta

And a western Minnesota detention center is now accepting Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees.

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

A St. Peter woman is suing the federal government over her treatment at the hands of immigration agents who arrested her last winter.

Jamie Martens says when immigration agents saw her recording enforcement activity on Jan. 29, they chased her, stopped her, and with guns drawn, “forcefully tore her out of her car and sat on her back,” according to her lawsuit. Now Martens is suing the government, alleging assault, battery, false arrest, negligence and emotional distress.

Suburban winners in last week’s election from the Twin Cities Metro area told MPR News that Operation Metro Surge convinced them to run.

And Minnesota’s annual Veterans Day ceremony will take place today in Duluth.

A man who Immigration and Customs Enforcement released and instantly re-arrested has been released and re-arrested a second time. ICE’s lawyers argued in federal court Monday that instantly re-arresting a Guatemalan man twice at the Whipple building didn’t violate a judge’s release orders. U.S. District Judge John Tunheim already ruled the first re-arrest violated his release order. He’ll rule on the second re-arrest soon.

Backers of a state ban on copper mining near the Boundary Waters are optimistic following last week’s election. DFL state Rep. Alex Falconer of Eden Prairie says he plans to reintroduce a bill to ban mining at the state level. But supporters say Democratic legislative majorities don’t guarantee its passage. Republican state Rep. Roger Skraba of Ely hopes Democrats will collaborate.

The Spring Lake Park mayor’s race that ended in a tie during last week’s election now has a winner. After 2,802 votes, the city’s mayoral election came down to a film canister pulled from a bag on Monday. Incumbent Robert Nelson defeated challenger Halyn Roth after his name was selected.

And the DFL and the Democratic Party won sweeping victories across the state and the nation in last week's midterm election. Farmer Jason Keck from Steele County isn't too happy about that.

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

Monday the Minneapolis City Council will resume a discussion of possible zoning regulations for data centers. City leaders agree regulation is needed, but disagree on how strict to be.

St. John’s University in central Minnesota is suing a New York university of the same name for using its trademark nickname. The complaint says the private Catholic college has been using the name “Johnnies” for its students and sports teams since at least 1900.

And Republican Congressman Brad Finstad says his campaign will pursue a recount in the election for his first district U.S. House seat. Unofficial results show Democratic challenger Jake Johnson leads the race by just over 320 votes.

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

Immigration activists are calling for the release of an investigation of a clash between protestors and St. Paul police almost a full year ago.

A Red Lake woman convicted of killing two of her children and setting fire to their home is expected to receive life in prison when she’s sentenced this Friday.

Retiring Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says he’ll leave it up to Governor-elect Amy Klobuchar to decide who should fill her U.S. Senate seat.

Democrat Jake Johnson is claiming victory in Minnesota's first congressional district, even though the race appears to be headed to a recount.

Hearings continue Thursday for people federally indicted in connection with the January anti-ICE protest at Cities Church in St. Paul. The 39 defendants are fighting for all charges to be dropped.

And after two years of tight margins at Minnesota’s Capitol, voters yesterday put the DFL firmly back in control of the Legislature.

The size of the DFL majorities will come down to likely recounts in some races. But unofficial results have Democrats potentially reaching 75 seats in the House and as many as 39 in the Senate.

Democrat Peggy Flanagan is the first Native American woman to be elected to the United States Senate. Flanagan defeated Republican Michele Tafoya with about 54 percent of the vote.

And U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar has won a fifth term in congress — amid a federal criminal investigation.

Many voters at polling sites are telling MPR News that dissatisfaction with the Trump administration's policies is motivating them to vote.

But Melanie Carruth, a 66-year-old semi-retired registered nurse from Spring Valley, says the election is not about the president.

Find more voter voices and election news here.

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

Another person faces charges in the killing of a transgender man from Minnesota in upstate New York last year. Shirley Morales faces kidnapping and conspiracy charges in connection with the death of Sam Nordquist. Morales pleaded not guilty during her arraignment.

The Secretary of State's Office published data that covers activity through Sunday. With one more day of in-person early voting and ballots coming in by mail; that tally will continue to rise. It's already a record for a Minnesota midterm election.

Regular polling places around Minnesota open at 7 a.m. tomorrow, and any eligible voter in line by 8 p.m. will be allowed to cast a ballot.

Minnesota's ballot is brimming with key races from U.S. Senate and governor to Congress and the Legislature.

More in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Olmsted County is launching a new mental health program that could supplement clinical treatment approaches in the Rochester area.

A new report from the University of Minnesota warns generative artificial intelligence could have severe impacts on student learning.

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

The city of Pine Island will conduct a more thorough environmental review of Google's controversial data center proposal in the town northwest of Rochester.

Health officials say vaccine hesitancy is behind a cluster of 20 measles cases in one rural Minnesota county.

Sanford Health announced Wednesday plans to stop inpatient labor and delivery services, as well as newborn care, at its Luverne, Minne., medical center and clinic in April 2027.

And a judge today sentenced a former owner of a Minneapolis restaurant to 30 years in federal prison for his role in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme.

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

Alex Pretti’s parents, Susan and Michael Pretti, are calling on federal officials to share evidence with state and local agencies. Federal officials have said in court filings that they’re not obligated to share evidence with state officials at this time.

About 650 emergency medical technicians and paramedics at North Memorial Health in Minnesota and western Wisconsin are campaigning for union representation.

And a meeting on a controversial data center proposal in the northeast Minnesota city of Hermantown has been put off again. Dan Kraker reports it was first postponed last night.

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

Left wing-streamer Hasan Piker and Minnesota Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar joined DFL state Sen. Omar Fateh on Monday for an event some Democrats criticized as divisive.

Tensions were high Monday night as the Detroit Lakes school board wrestled again over the board’s attempts to ban rainbow stickers, which some teachers display in schools to signal support for LGBTQ+ students.

Google has made a few changes to the proposal in advance of the vote. The tech giant is dropping a plan for up to $80 million in property tax breaks. It also scaled down the size of the development.

And former President Barack Obama endorsed Democratic Senate nominee Peggy Flanagan's campaign this morning.

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

The University of Minnesota and CentraCare are launching a new medical school fellowship aimed at getting more doctors into rural areas who can deliver babies and handle complicated births.

The Delta Air Lines CEO says he doesn’t want employees to fear artificial intelligence will take their jobs. The airline says more than 7,000 employees are based in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is asking the public for input on state wildlife and aquatic management areas.

And Minnesota officials say the federal government has stopped sharing evidence related to the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis.

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

After pressuring authorities for more than two and a half years, the family of a Minneapolis Indigenous woman finally feel justice was served. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced Thursday that 36-year old Charles Foss is charged with two counts, including second-degree murder, in the death of Allison Lussier in February of 2024.

The Department of Justice has notified the state of Minnesota that it plans to send federal election observers to polls around the state. The Justice Department routinely monitors elections. But the presence of federal election observers at polling places during the primaries, including at 40 sites in Minnesota, sparked concern earlier this year.

And it's another week with no change reported in long-standing drought conditions across most of Minnesota. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor update continues to list about 63 percent of the state in some level of drought. Just over a quarter of Minnesota is in severe or extreme drought.

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

The Justice Department is seeking to disqualify two Minnesota federal judges from a pair of immigration-related cases after they made public comments about the Trump administration’s wintertime immigration enforcement operation.

The St. Paul City Council presented a plan Wednesday for how it wants the city and county to respond to the needs of unsheltered residents. It comes two and a half months after the city shut down a large encampment, causing a wave of residents to relocate to another camp in the woods.

Nearly four years after a man was fatally shot in the Nordstrom store at the Mall of America, the victim’s mother is suing the mall and the retailer.

The jarring turn followed a story in the Wall Street Journal earlier in the day that said Flanagan did not qualify to be a member of Phi Beta Kappa when she graduated from college. The society contacted Flanagan’s campaign to provide proof of her membership since 2002, the year she graduated from the University of Minnesota.

A Minneapolis police officer was fired in April after the department determined she warned her brother that police were looking for him in connection to a recent shooting.

The MPD found Chanica Hall had committed violations of department policy including disclosing confidential information, neglecting duty and intentionally omitting information about her brother during a background check when she was hired.

Stellis Health, a healthcare organization based in Wright County, plans to merge with CentraCare, the central Minnesota region’s largest healthcare provider.

Stellis is an independent, doctor-owned medical group that has provided care for patients in Buffalo, Monticello and surrounding communities for 75 years. It has more than 60 primary and specialty physicians, physician associates and nurse practitioners at clinics in Buffalo and Monticello.

And the race to replace Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty pits a Democratic state lawmaker against a veteran former federal prosecutor.

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

Starting this week, Minneapolis voters can take advantage of expanded early voting hours and special one-day pop-up locations around the city.

The Minneapolis VA Health Care System is offering walk-in flu shot events for enrolled veterans over the next three Thursday afternoons. Walk-in flu shot clinics are scheduled for Oct. 22 and 29, and Nov. 5, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center and all 13 community-based outpatient clinics across the state.

More than 40 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies announced a partnership to address what they describe as gang and group violence. Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans says the bureau, along with the FBI and ATF, will spearhead the partnership through the Crime Gun Intelligence Center.

In a written statement released Monday, Red Lake Nation Chairman Darrell Seki Sr. said he will not step down from his elected position.

And the Minneapolis City Council has asked the city attorney to look into whether council can subpoena the mayor and other officials. Progressive council members have accused Mayor Jacob Fry's administration of lacking transparency — especially after the police department admitted mismanagement and overspending.

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

Xcel Energy is proposing to freeze its electricity rates for two years until 2028. In exchange, Xcel wants permission from state regulators to use federal tax credits from planned battery storage projects sooner than expected.

The St. Paul City Council will propose a plan for how they think the city and its partners ought to respond to the needs at a large encampment. Council president Rebecca Noecker says the mayor's office is clear they want to shut it down before the year ends, but hasn't provided a timeline.

Campaign ads are everywhere and some of them are adding to a wave of negative comments about Somali Minnesotans. Somali leaders have criticized that, and said that causes fear in the community.

More than 200,000 Minnesotans have already voted in this year’s election. The Secretary of State’s office says most of those ballots were returned by mail, while more than 80,000 people have voted in person. Four years ago, about 673,000 Minnesotans cast ballots before Election Day.

The offices of U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon were sent suspicious mail. A threatening letter and white powder addressed to Simon’s office was intercepted before it arrived, and suspicious mail was also intercepted before reaching Klobuchar’s Minnesota office. The FBI is investigating suspicious mailings sent to senators and election offices in multiple states.

Authorities have identified all six people who died in a plane crash in Wisconsin earlier this week. All six were from western Wisconsin. The victims included members of a family returning home from a high school volleyball game in southeastern Wisconsin. Federal aviation officials say the pilot reported ice on the plane’s wings as it passed through a thunderstorm before crashing near Wisconsin Dells.

Three competitive St. Cloud-area races could help determine control of the Minnesota Legislature. Many legislative districts in Minnesota are solidly Republican or Democrat. But the St. Cloud area is politically divided.

Nearly 390,000 Minnesotans received notices this month that their Medicare Advantage plans would be discontinued next year as insurers withdraw from parts of Minnesota’s Medicare Advantage market.

State health officials say measles cases are climbing across the state. The Minnesota Department of Health says two unrelated measles outbreaks have infected 25 people since mid-September.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s veto of regulations on autonomous rideshare vehicles in the city survived an override vote by the City Council today. The council needed nine votes to override Frey’s veto — but only seven council members supported the attempt.

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

The Minneapolis City Council may try to override a veto of a controversial autonomous vehicle proposal Thursday. The proposal would have required human safety monitors inside autonomous rideshare vehicles. Progressive council members argue the requirement is needed to protect thousands of rideshare jobs.

Minnesota’s corn harvest is 25 percent complete; typically, the harvest would be 33 percent done by now, according to recent U.S. Department of Agriculture data. Soybeans are behind schedule, too. A hot, dry summer led many to expect an early harvest.

The Wall Street Journal reported last month that a nonpartisan congressional office had cleared Omar of any wrongdoing stemming from amendments she made to her financial disclosures. But Jeanine Pirro told Fox News her office is looking into it.

Some progressive members of the Minneapolis City Council want to eliminate the Office of Community Safety. That office oversees the city's emergency services like police and fire. It was created after George Floyd's murder.

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

An ICE agent charged in an alleged road rage incident in the Twin Cities says he feared for his safety during an encounter with another driver. Defense attorneys argue that the case belongs in federal court because Agent Gregory D. Morgan Jr. was acting in his capacity as an ICE agent. Judge Nancy Brasel has yet to rule on Morgan's bid to move the case to federal court.

Officials with the system of colleges and universities known as “Minnesota State” will vote Wednesday on a controversial funding proposal. The proposal aims to help two institutions that are struggling financially, St. Cloud State University and Bemidji State University. It would do so by transferring money away from other institutions in the Minnesota State system — mostly from two-year colleges.

Instead, she's pitching herself as an independent voice. Tafoya, a former sports broadcaster, has been trying to create space between herself and the president, saying in a recent ad that she'd stand up to Trump if she disagrees with him.

At least five men in immigration detention in Minnesota have been immediately re-arrested by ICE after they were freed by federal judges.

In these cases, judges ruled the original arrests were done illegally. ICE had the men sign release paperwork, handed them their belongings, and then immediately re-arrested them.

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

President Donald Trump came off the sidelines in Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race Monday. The president told an Ohio rally that voters in Minnesota should cast ballots for Republican nominee Michele Tafoya. It came as he accused Minnesota’s Somali community of being looters and perpetrators of violence.

Supporters of Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar gathered at Powderhorn Park in Minneapolis on Monday, hours after federal agents searched her Washington, D.C., home. Elected officials and community organizers who spoke to the crowd called the search an extension of the federal government’s attacks on Minnesota’s immigrant community, and specifically an attack on Somali Americans.

Trump administration officials previously have accused Omar of immigration fraud, which she has denied. Omar posted a statement online saying the search of her home is part of a campaign of intimidation.

Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension isn't planning to create a metro gang task force right now. BCA Superintendent Drew Evans says more than 40 local law enforcement agencies are working together to address violence among Somali youth. Evans says agencies instead need to coordinate and utilize resources across those entities.

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

The two candidates for Congress in Minnesota's 2nd District debated on MPR News on Friday. They sharply disagreed on a number of issues, including the war in Iran.

Google's proposed data center in Pine Island, about an hour south of the Twin Cities, is opposed by many, including local residents, political candidates, and environmentalists. But the local business community says the massive data center is just what the region needs. The Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce endorsed the big project.

Republican Eric Pratt and Democrat Matt Little disagreed on Social Security, healthcare, data center construction and oversight of the Trump administration.

The 2nd District seat is the only open Minnesota congressional seat on the ballot this year.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is nominating a 30-year-veteran to take over the city’s police department. Bill Peterson, interim chief since June, is the former inspector of the city’s 1st Precinct, covering downtown and surrounding neighborhoods, and has led the city’s response to disasters like the Interstate 35W bridge collapse.

Several City Council members, including the council president, issued a statement urging Mayor Frey to "ensure that the next police chief is an external candidate."

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

The St. Paul City Council has OK’d spending more money on outside law firms stemming from the lawsuit that Police Chief Axel Henry filed against the city and Mayor Kaohly Her. Last week the city council grudgingly approved hiring the law firm Fisher Phillips at a rate of up to $500 per hour to defend the city and the mayor in the lawsuit.

Republican Congressman Brad Finstad faced off against DFLer Jake Johnson in a debate Thursday night over who will represent southern Minnesota in Congress. The candidates found some common ground during the North Mankato debate, but differed sharply on President Donald Trump's trade policy.

A Twin Cities teenager suspected of planning a mass shooting at Mall of America made his first appearance in federal court Wednesday. Sheckdoon Mohamud told a judge he understood the terrorism charge against him and was assigned a public defender. Federal authorities allege Mohamud pledged allegiance to ISIS and planned a domestic attack. The FBI arrested him Tuesday in Richfield when he allegedly tried to buy a rifle from an undercover agent.

This week’s U.S. Drought Monitor shows little change in Minnesota’s long-running dry conditions. About 63 percent of the state is classified in some level of drought, down from 64 percent last week. The deepest drought is in parts of the Red River Valley and in Pine and Carlton counties. Little if any rain is expected until next week.

Hundreds of students walked out of Roseville High School Thursday morning to protest the way education and government officials have handled a sexual assault case at Cornell University. Students gave speeches and carried signs during the protest. District leaders say about 700 students, nearly a third of the school, took part.

Students at Roseville High School are planning a walkout on Thursday morning to protest the way education and government officials have handled the sexual assault case of a student at Cornell University.

A Hennepin County judge has lifted a temporary gag order on all parties involved in the state's murder case against Vance Boelter — including Boelter himself.

An 11-year-old boy was reported in critical condition late Wednesday after a vehicle struck him while he was riding an electric scooter in Washington County on Wednesday morning.

And Minnesota State Community and Technical College says it’s moving forward with plans to close its campus in Detroit Lakes. M State President Carrie Brimhall says the closure would happen no sooner than June of 2028.

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

Law enforcement leaders from Bloomington, Edina, Eden Prairie and Hennepin County say the state has a gang violence issue. They’ve called for a task force after recent shootings in the Twin Cities metro area that they say were all gang-related.

All 46 member musicians of the Minnesota Opera Orchestra have voted to authorize a strike.

And Minneapolis is marking its third annual Latino business week with professional events for business owners, and events inviting the community to shop at local Latino-owned businesses.

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

National Republicans are weighing how much they can boost Minnesota U.S. Senate nominee Michele Tafoya in the closing month of the campaign. Senate Majority Leader John Thune of neighboring South Dakota made a stop in Minnesota.

A prescribed burn on Duluth's Minnesota Point is set for this week. The burn window is Tuesday through Thursday, weather permitting. The 17-acre site is at the end of Minnesota Point. The on-site walking trail will close temporarily.

The former private prison in Appleton, Minn., being revamped to house a privately-run ICE detention facility has brought protesters out to a park weekly. DFL U.S. Senate nominee Peggy Flanagan visited those protesters Sunday.

Classes resume Monday morning at Eden Prairie High School, days after a shooting outside their homecoming football game on Friday. Police have not announced any arrests and have not released any information about suspects.

A Minnesota man was the 81st person to be indicted in the sprawling Feeding our Future fraud scheme. Shaakir Mohamud Ibrahim, 54, is accused of using funds that two nonprofits he worked with received to serve meals to children for personal purchases.

And more than 63,000 Minnesota voters have already cast absentee ballots. That's according to the latest stats posted today.

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

And the city of St. Paul today released the full report from an outside investigation into misconduct allegations against Mayor Kaohly Her.

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

The Minneapolis City Council is poised to approve an ordinance to require human safety monitors in driverless rideshare vehicles. But if they do, Mayor Jacob Frey could veto it.

More than 5,000 immigrants in Minnesota will lose access to federally funded Medicaid health coverage Thursday.

Authorities have released the names of two of the three people who died in a crash between a car and a semi in Minneapolis early Tuesday.

And the Saint Paul City Council passed a resolution to pay for Mayor Kaohly Her and the city's defense in a lawsuit filed against her by Police Chief Axel Henry.

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

The Minnesota Attorney General’s office has charged nine people with Medicaid fraud totaling $3 million. Of that money allegedly stolen from Minnesota’s Medicaid programs, $2 million is connected to Peter Meilahn. He’s a Duluth resident who provided psychotherapy and mental health services through his own practice and worked as an independent contracted therapist for Franklin Family Services.

Starting Thursday, thousands of immigrants in Minnesota will lose access to Medicaid benefits. Refugees and asylees used to have those benefits while they awaited a green card, but a new federal law taking effect Thursday makes them ineligible.

A Roosevelt High School teacher in Minneapolis who was violently detained by federal agents outside the school in January has filed a claim against the government.

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system has been warning state officials it may have to close campuses around the state if its budget isn't shored up.

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

The Detroit Lakes school board voted Monday night to alter the language of a resolution banning rainbow stickers from schools. They rescinded the ban and are now considering a new policy that does not specifically mention rainbow stickers. But the board members would not state whether the intention was still to ban them.

The parents of Harper Moyski, a 10-year-old killed in the Annunciation Catholic Church and School mass shooting last year, were among advocates for gun violence prevention who joined a canvass last weekend in a competitive legislative district.

And teams of state and federal officials will begin assessing the damage in New Richland later this week after the southern Minnesota community was hit by heavy flooding more than a week ago.

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

And the man convicted in federal court of murdering former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark is now preparing for a state trial.

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

Minnesota is considering changes to its annual K-12 academic testing procedures. Students and teachers spend time each spring on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments, which measure how schools are helping students progress in reading, math and science.

New Richland city officials say 10 to 12 homes in the small southern Minnesota community are expected to be total losses from last weekend's flooding.

And gas and diesel prices in Minnesota have been flat or slightly falling over the past couple days.

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

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension set new guidelines Wednesday to help law enforcement agencies take a more victim-centered and consistent approach to investigating sexual assault cases. Breanna Heisterkamp, a forensic nurse manager at Hennepin Healthcare, says the guidelines will help investigators better understand victims.

Some rideshare drivers in Minneapolis are asking the city council to limit how autonomous vehicles can operate in the city. The company Waymo is currently testing its driverless taxis in the city. The council is considering a requirement for Waymo and similar companies to pay a licensed driver to monitor the car.

And downtown St. Paul has a grocery store again with the Aldi now open at the intersection of Robert and 10th streets. The grand opening ribbon-cutting is Thursday at 8:30 a.m.

This is the evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

And the Minneapolis Mobile Medical Unit has treated more than 4,000 community members in its first year of operation.

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

Bipartisan negotiations continue on a federal proposal to establish guardrails for artificial intelligence.

Official estimates suggest nationwide corn yields will decline this year. Some experts say actual yields could be even lower because of drought conditions.

The Minneapolis City Council will hear public input Tuesday on a proposal that would require driverless taxis to have a person sitting in the driver’s seat. The ordinance would regulate autonomous vehicle companies including Waymo, which is testing vehicles in Minneapolis. Council member Robin Wonsley says the proposal is intended to protect rideshare jobs and address safety concerns. Waymo says the restrictions would limit its ability to operate in the city.

Detroit Lakes Public Schools is revisiting a ban on displaying rainbows on campus. The School Board approved the measure this summer, targeting stickers used by some teachers to identify classrooms as safe spaces for LGBTQ+ students, but later paused enforcement while attorneys revised the language. Board members will discuss a new version Tuesday that does not specifically mention rainbows. The policy could be approved as soon as next month.

St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her has amended her proposed 2027 budget, reversing an earlier proposal to close the Dayton’s Bluff Library. Her says higher-than-expected revenue projections, including additional money from a franchise agreement with Xcel Energy, allow the city to restore funding for the library and Highwood Hills Recreation Center. The updated proposal also restores morning hours at city recreation centers.

Early and absentee voting for November's midterm election starts Friday in Minnesota, just days after the Supreme Court blocked efforts by the Trump administration to curtail mail-in voting.

A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for spraying vinegar on DFL Congresswoman Ilhan Omar earlier this year.

After two seasons of much anticipation, Minnesota fans will get a visit from the 3-on-3 women’s basketball league Unrivaled in 2027. The league will make a tour stop in Minneapolis next year.

An outside investigation into St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her found she engaged in “offensive and inappropriate behavior” with city employees, but did not substantiate allegations that she sexually harassed or retaliated against employees. The findings were released Friday and outline steps for Her to take, including workplace conduct training. Her says she will comply. The investigation followed a complaint filed by Police Chief Axel Henry.

Early voting for the midterm elections begins Friday in Minnesota. Community leaders are encouraging people to make a plan to vote and are organizing efforts to help people get to the polls and understand their voting rights. Mail-in voting procedures in Minnesota have not changed from past years. Residents can vote in person starting Friday, and voting information and locations are available through the Secretary of State’s office.

Early and absentee voting for November's midterm election starts Friday in Minnesota, just days after the Supreme Court blocked efforts by the Trump administration to curtail mail-in voting.

A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for spraying vinegar on DFL Congresswoman Ilhan Omar earlier this year.

After two seasons of much anticipation, Minnesota fans will get a visit from the 3-on-3 women’s basketball league Unrivaled in 2027. The league will make a tour stop in Minneapolis next year.

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor shows the extent of drought in Minnesota largely unchanged over the past week, although conditions have improved in some areas. Much of northeastern Minnesota moved from severe to moderate drought after recent rainfall. About 71 percent of the state remains in some level of drought, with especially dry conditions in the Twin Cities, Red River Valley and east-central Minnesota.

Minneapolis police have released body camera footage showing officers’ encounter with the gunman during a mass shooting at an apartment complex earlier this month. The September 2 shooting left two residents dead and several people wounded, including two officers. The gunman, Carlton Johnson II, was fatally shot by police. The footage shows four officers’ perspectives on an exchange of gunfire in a ninth-floor hallway.

Several first-time candidates are running for local office in Pine Island and other Minnesota communities this fall, driven by concerns about new hyperscale data centers. Pine Island’s City Council approved Google’s plan for an 88-acre facility that could eventually expand to more than 400 acres. City Council candidate Tosca Wohl says she was prompted to run by concerns about transparency. Data centers have become an issue in races around the state, with some candidates supporting moratoriums or additional regulations.

St. Paul City Council President Rebecca Noecker said in an interview this week that more permanent supportive housing is what's needed to solve the unhoused issue in the city.

U.S. Senator Tina Smith says she's working to help free a Somali man arrested in Minnesota and sent to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Federal agents arrested Adam Abdullah in December. The 31-year-old asylum seeker told MPR News last week that he's one of eight Somalis there and is limited to one 10-minute phone call a day.

Summit Brewing Company could lose its St. Paul brewery to foreclosure after its lender sued over more than $8 million in unpaid debt. A first court hearing on that lawsuit is set for Friday.

Two judges at the Fort Snelling immigration court have stepped down. Their departures last month mean there are just four full-time judges to handle tens of thousands of cases. The immigration court — part of the Executive Branch — decides deportation and asylum cases.

The city of Fargo and a police detective are being sued by a woman who says she was falsely arrested after police relied on artificial intelligence. Angela Lipps was arrested in Tennessee last year and held in jail for six months in connection with a case of bank fraud in Fargo.

And Carleton College has announced it will eliminate loans from its financial aid packages beginning next fall.

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

The Olmsted County Board will consider competing plans Tuesday for the long-vacant Seneca Foods site.

Fire officials in Duluth say a worker was injured when a large fuel tank exploded at a fuel transfer facility.

Local officials and cycling advocates are celebrating the completion of the state's longest paved biking trail Tuesday in Tower, Minn.

And those high diesel prices are throttling the benefits of the highest corn prices in three years. Part of the rally in corn prices is due to U.S. expectations of a tighter crop supply, making it more valuable. Jordan Goblish farms corn, soybeans and black beans in Redwood County. He says the price bump is nice, but it's not enough to fully offset increasing costs.

Two office buildings in downtown St. Paul have a new owner. 375 Jackson Street and 135 5th Street were recently purchased by Florida real estate investor Jamie Rand through his Downtown Revival Trust.

The average tenures of Minnesota school board members are shrinking. School board members are serving about half as long as they once did.

And hundreds of people in St. Paul gathered to pack meals for food shelves today to commemorate 25 years since 9/11.

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

A man convicted in the 1970 ambush killing of a St. Paul police officer is expected back before the state parole board Friday.

The Republican nominee for Minnesota governor doesn’t support President Donald Trump’s plan to issue five thousand dollar dividends to all adult citizens if Republicans keep congressional control.

The city of Crystal is the latest municipality in Minnesota to stop using Flock cameras.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs executed a search warrant at a tribal building on the Red Lake Reservation Thursday.

And a Hennepin County judge today found a Minneapolis man not guilty by reason of mental illness in the 2023 killing of a Loring Park grocery store clerk.

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

And a congressional watchdog has cleared U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar of allegations of 'false reporting of her assets.’

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

Two of the defendants charged in the brutal killing of a transgender man from Minnesota in upstate New York last year were sentenced Tuesday to life in prison without parole.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said police should have filed an extreme risk protection order against the suspect in last week’s mass shooting in downtown Minneapolis.

And classes are back in session today for many Minnesota school children. Some districts got state approval to start the school year before Labor Day, but now that the holiday is behind us, most schools are now open.

Back-to-school season means back to riding the big yellow bus. But as Minnesota sees record high diesel prices, school bus operations are juggling more costs to get students to the classroom.

North Dakota is banning some forms of kratom and is regulating others. People use the drug recreationally and to help with pain.

GoFundMe pages have been created to support at least two people who were critically injured last week in a mass shooting at a downtown Minneapolis apartment building. Investigators say three were killed in the shooting, including the shooter. Several people were injured, including Minneapolis police officers.

And Minnesota officials can fine technology companies that enable creation of AI-generated nude images of real people, after a federal judge declined to put a new state law on hold as a lawsuit proceeds.

And authorities continue to investigate yesterday’s mass shooting at a downtown Minneapolis apartment building that left three people dead, including the suspected gunman.

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

Minnesota’s first congressional district race is gaining national attention as a political newcomer attempts to unseat GOP incumbent Rep. Brad Finstad.

Minnesota senators successfully pushed to postpone a ban on hemp products.

A Hennepin County judge set a Nov. 2 trial date for the man who killed DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark. Vance Boelter is serving two consecutive life sentences plus 40 years after pleading guilty in June to federal charges. But at a hearing Wednesday he pleaded not guilty to similar state charges.

The first imports of discounted, foreign beef are expected to enter the U.S. this month. President Donald Trump announced the imports last week, requiring this new beef to be sold at 25 percent below the market price.

A judge in Minneapolis Tuesday handed lengthy prison sentences to the two men convicted in a mass shooting last year. Hennepin County Judge Juan Hoyos sentenced Arlonzo Williams Jr.

Members of Minnesota's Nepali community and supporters gathered outside the state Capitol Tuesday to honor the victims of flash floods and landslides in Nepal and Tibet.

And Minnesota's Supreme Court heard arguments today in a discrimination case weighing whether a Catholic school illegally fired a transgender employee.

The Democratic candidate running against Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer says Congress has been weakened under President Donald Trump. Election policy expert Doug Chapin is running against Emmer in Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District. Emmer is part of Republican House leadership and has won his six previous races easily. Chapin says Emmer has allowed executive power to grow on his watch, but says the changing district and an anti-incumbent mood could work in his favor.

A months-long strike in Chisago County is officially over after the county board approved contract agreements for striking workers. About 125 county workers had been on strike since May. That was about a third of the county’s staff, including health and human services workers and other government center employees. The union says the three-year deal includes pay raises and better health care plans.

Thousands of dead fish have washed up on the shores of Lake Mille Lacs in recent weeks. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says it is common for some fish to die every summer, but hotter-than-normal weather has increased lake temperatures. That can be hard on cold-water fish such as tullibee, also known as cisco. Cisco populations are under pressure in some Minnesota lakes that are warming due to climate change.

And the planned merger of North Memorial Health and Sanford Health is moving forward.

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