Minnesota Today

Officials in Blue Earth County say the Rapidan Dam on the Blue Earth River upstream from Mankato remains under threat of failure. But they also report the water flow around the structure is down slightly from yesterday.

Highway 60 through Windom is among many southern Minnesota highways closed due to flooding.

And the Lino Lakes City Council last night backed a one-year development moratorium that would temporarily stall a proposed housing development that includes a mosque.

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

As of 6 a.m. Tuesday morning, a house was still teetering on the edge of the newly-cut channel of the Blue Earth River by the Rapidan Dam. Flooding clogged the dam’s spillways with debris, and the river pushed around the dam and burst through the eroding ground to the river's lower stretches Monday. And Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park has closed tours to the mine due to flooding. Last week, the mine was hit with nearly 8 inches of water in less than 24 hours.

This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister.

Find these headlines at Mprnews.org.

Flooding pushes Blue Earth County dam to ‘imminent failure condition’

Historic northern Minnesota state park partially closes due to flooding

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Gov. Tim Walz and state emergency management officials held a briefing today to discuss the state's response to what the governor called, "catastrophic" flooding.

The Rapidan Dam's structural integrity is causing concerns for downstream residents as flood waters may cause it to fail.

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

Rivers and streams across the region have gone over their banks. Gov. Tim Walz has declared a peacetime emergency so the Minnesota National Guard can help. And gymnastics fans will be in Minneapolis this week for the USA Gymnastics Olympic trials. Two Minnesota-born gymnasts already have Olympic resumes — Suni Lee from St. Paul and Shane Wiskus from Spring Park.

This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister.

Find these headlines at Mprnews.org.

Flooded Minnesota communities begin transition from fight to recovery

Minneapolis hosts USA Gymnastics Olympic trials

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The Minneapolis Police Department released body camera video today from two separate fatal shootings involving police officers. On May 30th, police officer Jamal Mitchell was killed by a man who was later shot by officers.

And much of southern Minnesota — and parts of northern Minnesota — are under flood watches until tomorrow afternoon. Heavy rain is forecast to continue overnight... dropping as much as five inches in some places.

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

The St. Louis County Board has declared a state of emergency as communities in northeast Minnesota continue to deal with severe flooding. And officials with Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth are monitoring the weather ahead of the race Saturday.

Officials are responding to floods across northern Minnesota... after as much as half of a foot of rain fell in some areas earlier this week.

And both the Minneapolis and St. Paul school districts have approved their budgets for next year.

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

On Wednesday, people in Duluth and on the Iron Range surveyed storm damage after Tuesday’s deluge.  More than 6 inches rain caused rivers along the North Shore to churn brown and crash down the rocks to Lake Superior. And the Rondo Center of Diverse Expressions held its fourth Juneteenth observance celebration on Rondo Avenue and Fisk Street Wednesday.

This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister.

Find these headlines at Mprnews.org.

Heavy rain brings flooding to the North Shore, closes trails and roads

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Heavy rain Tuesday evening has led to flooding and road closures across a wide swath of northeastern Minnesota. Street flooding was reported in Duluth and on the Iron Range, and numerous washouts and closures are reported on county and local roads. Flood warnings remain in effect Wednesday from Leech Lake and Grand Rapids east to Hibbing, Ely and the North Shore. 

Rivers, creeks and streams are running high in Minnesota — and most of those eventually empty into the Mississippi. The National Weather Service's Craig Schmidt, senior service hydrologist, said to expect flooding next week.

"We are now looking at so much rain falling in the Crow basin and over the entire Minnesota basin that all of this is going to be funneling through the Mississippi in St. Paul,” Schmidt said. “We are looking at it to continue to rise close to major flood stage by late next week." 

This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister.

Find these headlines at Mprnews.org.

Read the latest edition of the AM Update newsletter.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

Another round of strong, severe thunderstorms have been moving across northern Minnesota today.

And at least 15,000 Minnesotans have been automatically registered to vote since the system was certified earlier this year.

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