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.

And for the Twin Cities, that band of snow that swept into the metro Wednesday afternoon and evening stuck around all night. There’s more than a half-foot of snow in parts of the south metro.

A federal judge is considering whether to temporarily restrict immigration enforcement practices in Minnesota after a lawsuit accused federal agents of racial profiling and unlawful arrests during the enforcement surge.

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 winter storm warnings are posted across northern Minnesota — with blizzard warnings along the North Shore.

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

The time off has been marked by the assassination of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, a deadly school shooting and the shooting deaths of two Minnesotans by federal agents during a large-scale immigration operation.

The son of the late Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman says her memory will inspire lawmakers to act more kindly toward each other.

And a federal judge is ordering the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that immigration detainees held at the Whipple Federal Building near Minneapolis have access to lawyers.

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

Minnesota U.S. Attorney Dan Rosen on Thursday dropped charges against two men accused of assaulting an immigration officer.

A judge Thursday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from cancelling $42 million in public health funding from the Minnesota Department of Health.

St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her is also optimistic about the announcement that the ICE surge is drawing down.

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

Attorney General Pam Bondi sidestepped the topic when pressed by Democrats during today's House Judiciary Committee hearing.

And St. Paul police say federal agents were pursuing a person in a vehicle in St. Paul today -- leading to a multi-car crash. The person who was pursued had non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to the hospital.

Bloomington police say a human trafficking sting operation has resulted in the arrest of 30 men. Police Chief Booker Hodges says law enforcement talked to over 330 people over two days in what they are calling “Operation Looking for Love… In All the Wrong Places.”

And Minnesota business owners say even after ICE operations eventually end, recovery will take a long time.

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

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is proposing new catch limits for native rough fish. For more than a century, native rough fish like redhorse, bowfin and buffalo were lumped in with invasive species like common carp — and not considered worthy of protection or management. If approved, the new rules would take effect for the 2027 fishing season.

And students at Minneapolis Public Schools will have the option to take classes from home for another two months, amid the ongoing federal immigration operation.

But the wife tells MPR News she spoke with Abreu-Vasquez by phone Sunday and he told her he still hasn't received the meds, and without them, he could eventually die.

A Minneapolis-based media company that makes podcasts about video games raised almost 280,000 dollars for Minnesotans scared to leave their homes due to the activities of ICE.

The Department of Homeland Security has requested expedited deportation proceedings against the family of Liam Conejo Ramos.

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

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Minneapolis is allocating $1 million dollars in funding for emergency rental assistance as some families struggle to pay their bills amid the ongoing federal immigration operation.

An ice sculpture commissioned by Minnesota veterans was destroyed by a man pardoned for participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt says she is considering a change in policy at the county jail that would allow staff to notify federal immigration officials when someone they're seeking to detain is being released from custody.

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

That still leaves about 2,000 federal agents in Minnesota, far above the usual number. Homan said further drawdowns will depend in part on less interference from protesters.

Greater Minnesota cities are saying they need more funding for water infrastructure projects and replacing lead service lines. Those are some of the issues they’ll be lobbying lawmakers about once the state’s legislative session starts in two weeks.

Attorneys representing refugees detained by ICE say the Department of Homeland Security is ignoring a court order and is asking the court to hold the agency in contempt.

The City of Anoka is opening its cannabis dispensary Thursday, making it the first municipal cannabis store to open in Minnesota.

But critics say it’s not enough.

And the City of Minneapolis anticipates that Operation Metro Surge has led local businesses to lose as much as $20 million in revenue a week.

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

There is no U.S. Senate straw ballot. But Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan — who's running for senate — says she expects the federal immigration enforcement operation will draw turnout.

The Department of Homeland Security says it is rolling out new oversight measures for federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. In a statement posted to social media platform X, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced that body cameras are being deployed immediately to every officer in the field in Minneapolis.

Meanwhile, a court order requiring federal investigators to preserve evidence in Alex Pretti's fatal shooting has been lifted. The judge says there is no indication that authorities have failed to properly maintain evidence. The FBI is now taking the investigative lead. A separate state probe is ongoing.

The Minnesota Court of appeals has ruled that the state cannot criminalize a tribal member for possessing cannabis on tribal land.

Advocates rallied outside Target headquarters in Minneapolis Monday, calling on the company to speak out against immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota.

Live updates on ICE in Minnesota.

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

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A federal judge in Minnesota has ordered that elementary-aged children who were taken into custody by ICE last week be kept in or returned to the state. The second grader and fifth grader were taken into custody with their mother on Thursday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. They attended the same school as 5-year-old Liam Ramos.

Two Minnesota immigrant advocacy groups are committing new funding to support families impacted by increased immigration enforcement.

And hundreds of protesters gathered at the Whipple federal building near the Twin Cities airport this morning. They say they don't trust new leaders overseeing the ongoing surge of federal immigration agents.

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

And Republican candidates for Minnesota governor are adopting common messaging aimed at knocking down new Democratic candidate Amy Klobuchar.

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