Minnesota Today

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.

House Speaker Lisa Demuth says she opted to enter the GOP primary race for governor after party leaders deflated the endorsement in that contest.

And Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has named an interim police chief as the city looks to replace Brian O'Hara, who resigned last week.

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

Republicans gather in Duluth Friday to begin winnowing their field of U.S. Senate candidates. An endorsement contest could bring some to drop out of the race, but an August primary will determine the nominee for the general election.

For Democrats, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan heads into this weekend's DFL state convention with a victory already in hand. Her opponent in the DFL Senate race, U.S. Rep Angie Craig, decided Wednesday to skip the convention, with the delegate math showing a strong advantage there for Flanagan. The two will instead battle it out in the August primary.

Four Twin Cities leaders will accept the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation Profile in Courage Award this Sunday on behalf of the people of the Twin Cities.

Some members of the Minneapolis City Council are questioning Mayor Jacob Frey's handling of investigations into former police Chief Brian O’Hara, who resigned on Tuesday.

Attorneys for independent journalist Don Lemon are renewing their push for access to grand jury transcripts in the case of Lemon and 37 others charged in connection with a protest at a St. Paul church in January.

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

Following Minneapolis police Chief Brian O'Hara's resignation Tuesday, Mayor Jacob Frey appointed assistant Minneapolis police Chief Katie Blackwell — who has been at the department for over 25 years — as acting police chief effective immediately.

Minnesota is celebrating the completion of a major milestone in the ongoing cleanup of the St. Louis River. The river forms the headwaters of Lake Superior. There's been a major effort to clean up the river since 1987.

The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is one step closer to getting land back from the University of Minnesota. Gov. Tim Walz signed legislation paving the way for the university to return the land on which its Cloquet Forestry Center is situated.

Traffic is now down to a single lane in each direction through fall along two stretches of Interstate 94 in central Minnesota. MnDOT says crews are repairing and resurfacing two bridges along eastbound I-94 between Sauk Centre and Melrose.