Minnesota Today

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an air quality alert for all of Minnesota through the early part of Monday. Fine particle levels are expected to reach the red air quality index category, a level considered unhealthy for everyone. And it's the final stretch for state lawmakers and the 2024 legislative session. One week remains.

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

Find more Minnesota news at MPRnews.org.

Air quality alert for all of Minnesota Sunday through Monday

Legislature prepares to go down to the wire as Minnesota session wraps up

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The St. Paul police department released body cam videos from the officers who killed a woman earlier this week. The officers were responding to a call that a woman was attempting suicide. The video shows a woman grabbing a gun from under a bed and pointing it toward officers before she is shot. This is the evening update from MPR News hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music by Gary Meister.

University of Minnesota students share their concerns Friday with the U’s Board of Regents. Pro-Palestinian protesters are calling for the U to cut financial ties with companies linked to the Israeli military. The chance to address regents was part of the agreement to end an encampment on the Twin Cities campus.

The Minnesota Senate has advanced a bill that would stiffen penalties for people who provide guns to people who can’t legally have them. The bill would raise the penalty from a misdemeanor to a felony for “straw purchasers.” The measure is likely the only gun restriction that will pass this legislative session. 

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

Find more Minnesota news at MPRnews.org.

Students set to address University of Minnesota Board of Regents

Minnesota Senate approves tougher penalty for ‘straw purchasers,’ other restrictions off the table

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Thursday’s drought monitor update classifies less than 40 percent of Minnesota as abnormally dry or in drought, the lowest percentage all year. And the Minnesota Legislature has approved a measure to enhance social media protections for children. It would bar kids under 14 from creating paid social media content. This is the afternoon update from MPR News, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music by Gary Meister.

A witness in the Feeding Our Future trial says he conspired with the defendants to steal government money meant for meal sites during the pandemic. 

And a state senator will undergo training on appropriate email communications after facing an ethics complaint. The four members of a Senate ethics subcommittee voted to pass a resolution that would drop a complaint against Republican Sen. Glenn Gruenhagen following the training.

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

Find more Minnesota news at MPRnews.org.

Feeding Our Future witness says he helped set up fake meal sites during the pandemic

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The Minneapolis City Council is expected to begin its consideration of the appointment of a new Civil Rights Department director when it meets tomorrow.

And a former Feeding Our Future employee told a jury today about how he conspired with others at the Twin Cities nonprofit to steal money from government child nutrition programs.

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

An ethics complaint against Minnesota Sen. Nicole Mitchell will be on hold until next month — unless additional information comes out sooner related to her burglary arrest. And Gov. Tim Walz says negotiations will move ahead on rideshare driver protections that can also satisfy Uber and Lyft, the dominant players in the industry.

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

Sen. Mitchell declines to testify before ethics panel as it defers decision on burglary arrest

DFL lawmakers advance rideshare plan despite Uber, Lyft pushback

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A Republican representative from Nebraska wants the U.S. House to censure Minnesota 5th District DFL Rep. Ilhan Omar for comments she made related to college student protests against Israel's actions in Gaza.

And the proposed framework between DFL lawmakers at the Capitol and the Minneapolis City Council over wages for rideshare drivers moved ahead at the Capitol today. A House committee advanced the plan that aims to better compensate Uber and Lyft drivers.

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

A woman died in after being shot by police Monday night in St. Paul. Authorities say it happened on the 1100 block of Rose Avenue East after the woman allegedly pointed a gun at officers. And criminal charges have been dropped for protestors who were arrested after refusing to leave the pro-Palestinian solidarity encampment at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus last month. 

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

Find more from these stories at MPRnews.org.

St. Paul police officers fatally shoot woman

Trespassing charges dropped for all 9 anti-war protesters arrested at U of M

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President Trump will campaign in Minnesota next week after twice coming up short in the state.

And state legislators and Minneapolis council members say they have an updated wage proposal for rideshare drivers.

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