Minnesota Today

A federal judge has tossed out U.S. Justice Department subpoenas targeting Gov. Tim Walz and other state and local leaders . Judge Patrick Schiltz called the subpoenas an “unlawful and unethical use of the grand jury process.” The subpoenas were part of a criminal investigation into whether state officials were obstructing federal immigration enforcement. Schiltz wrote that evidence the subpoenas...

Human Rights Watch Thursday released a report detailing human rights abuses by the federal government during this winter’s immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota, which the group alleges also violates international human rights treaties. The report documents what they allege were unlawful arrests, excessive use of force and unhealthy conditions in detention facilities. In an email to MPR News,...

Human Rights Watch Thursday released a report detailing human rights abuses by the federal government during this winter’s immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota, which the group alleges also violates international human rights treaties. The report documents what they allege were unlawful arrests, excessive use of force and unhealthy conditions in detention facilities. In an email to MPR News,...

While we’ve had showers and storms across Minnesota over the past week -- that rain has not been enough to keep drought conditions from expanding. And Minnesota's job numbers for May are a mixed bag. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Human Rights Watch Thursday released a report detailing human rights abuses by the federal government during this winter’s immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota, which the group alleges also violates international human rights treaties. The report documents what they allege were unlawful arrests, excessive use of force and unhealthy conditions in detention facilities. In an email to MPR News,...

Feeding Our Future founder Aimee Bock has filed notice that she plans to appeal her federal conviction and lengthy prison sentence. And a Minnesota lab shut down its cannabis and hemp testing program this week after running into compliance issues. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Federal prosecutors today charged fifteen people for allegedly conspiring to impede federal agents in the Twin Cities during the immigration enforcement operation. It sparked protests in St. Paul today, where protesters at the federal courthouse were met with pepper spray from U.S. marshals. That story and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Now in its second year of service, the Borealis Amtrak train has helped grow passenger ridership between St. Paul and Chicago. And a program that gets more kids learning outside is now a year old. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

A man who surrendered after a nearly eight-hour standoff with police last week could face charges as soon as Monday. The 31-year-old allegedly shot down a police drone and fired at sheriff's deputies multiple times Tuesday afternoon as they tried to serve an arrest warrant. The Church of St. Timothy in Blaine is honoring Mark and Melissa Hortman at its 9 a.m. Mass Monday morning. Melissa taught Su...

On Thursday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained more than 30 employees of a contractor working at a townhome complex in Bemidji. And Minneapolis-based Sleep Number announced today that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy -- and that it has entered an agreement to combine with a Canadian mattress retailer. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily...

A sentencing date is pending for Vance Boelter after he pleaded guilty Thursday to federal charges stemming from last June’s attacks on Minnesota lawmakers and their families. That includes the killings of former DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, as well the attack on DFL state Senator John Hoffman, his wife, Yvette, and their daughter, Hope. Under terms of the plea deal, Bo...

Vance Boelter today admitted killing a top DFL lawmaker and her husband during an early morning shooting rampage last year. Boelter’s plea means federal prosecutors will not seek the death penalty. And the Minneapolis City Council voted today to waive a special tax assessment for property owners in George Floyd Square. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily...

Minneapolis city officials say a new report on the economic effects of the federal immigration enforcement surge can help provide a roadmap for how to direct relief efforts . The city estimates the surge caused nearly $700 million in economic harm, most of that due to lost wages and business revenue. Additionally, the Minneapolis City Council is set to take up two measures this morning related to...

The city of Minneapolis now estimates that the federal immigration enforcement surge caused nearly $700 million in economic damage. And clean-up is underway after about 20 rail cars were knocked off the tracks in western Minnesota early this morning as severe storms swept through. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

A line of severe storms raced across Minnesota overnight, bringing wind gusts of more than 80 mph and knocking out power to thousands of homes and businesses. More severe storms are possible Wednesday afternoon and evening, especially across eastern Minnesota and into western Wisconsin. City leaders in Minneapolis will release an updated impact assessment for Operation Metro Surge on Wednesday. Th...

Air quality in the Twin Cities and much of central Minnesota may reach unhealthy levels this afternoon and evening. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an air quality alert from noon to 9 p.m. for the Twin Cities metro area extending northwest to St. Cloud, Sauk Centre and Little Falls. Like other alerts the past couple weeks, the concern is for ground-level ozone that forms on warm,...

An Annunciation family is condemning the gaming platform Roblox for a game modeled after the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Leah and Harry Kaiser said it’s “heartbreaking and unacceptable” to see tragedies like the one that critically injured their daughter recreated on the platform. They sent a letter to Roblox calling for stronger safeguards against violent content. The company s...

The Department of Homeland Security has posted a proposed contract for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to use a private prison facility in western Minnesota to hold up to 1,600 immigrant detainees. That’s according to a contract proposal issued Thursday that seeks to use Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton, owned by CoreCivic. Gov. Tim Walz has requested the extradition of a Texas ICE ag...

Minnesota lawmakers failed to add protections to an obscure discount drug program this year, amid complaints from the pharmaceutical industry that some large hospitals abuse the so called 340B program. Republican-endorsed governor candidate Kendall Qualls says the campaign focus this year shouldn't be on President Donald Trump. Qualls is one of several candidates in a GOP primary race to determine...

Forest Service officials say the Birch Bay wildfire burning a few miles northwest of Ely is now 30 percent contained. The Minnesota Department of Human Services has disenrolled sixty percent of providers from 14 high-risk Medicaid programs. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

The Catholic Diocese of St. Cloud is proposing to reduce its number of parishes and close some churches. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey announced yesterday that Bill Peterson will be interim police chief while the city conducts a national search for a new leader. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.