Minnesota Today

Over 40 law enforcement agencies met to discuss recent shootings happening across the Twin Cities metro area, which they say are linked to gang violence. Police are calling for a regional task force to put an end to gang violence.

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.

The two candidates for Congress in Minnesota's 2nd District held a contentious debate on MPR News Friday.

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.

Community leaders and families in the Somali community are worried a recent string of shootings involving Somali youth in Eden Prairie will add more negative focus to their community — and stereotype their children.

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.

Prosecutors say a mass shooting outside the Reign Event Center in Minneapolis in July may have been retaliation for an assault at another club the previous evening. The shooting left nine people injured, including one person who may be permanently paralyzed. Veronica Brown, 21, now faces felony charges of drive-by shooting and second-degree assault. Prosecutors say video and DNA evidence link her to gunfire directed at a crowd of more than 100 people.

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.

The FBI says it foiled a planned mass shooting at the Mall of America. Investigators say 18-year-old Sheikhdoon Mohamud told an informant that he wanted to go to Somalia to fight for the Islamic State, but couldn’t afford to travel — so he instead plotted to attack the Mall of America.

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.

Federal officials say they stopped a man from carrying out an alleged terrorist attack at Mall of America. FBI agents arrested 18-year-old Sheckdoon Abdullahi Mohamud in a public park yesterday in Richfield after he purchased a rifle from an undercover FBI agent there, according to the charging documents.

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.

Opening statements begin Wednesday morning in the latest Feeding Our Future trial. Muna Fidhin is among 81 people charged over the last four years with ripping off taxpayer-funded child nutrition programs.

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.

Average gas prices in Minnesota climbed nearly 10 cents overnight.

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.

Edina’s mayor is warning against blaming Somali American neighbors for recent gun violence. At a community meeting Monday, Mayor Jim Hovland said some residents are beginning to associate Somali identity with the shootings. He said Somali families are worried their children will be stereotyped or targeted.

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.

Two men say they fell victim to a new ICE tactic to keep immigrants in detention in Minnesota. Two young men being held in the Freeborn County Jail for immigration violations say after judges ordered their release, ICE agents were waiting at the courthouse doors to re-arrest them.

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.