Minnesota Today

Minnesota lawmakers found themselves swimming in surplus money Monday, as finance officials cautioned that events in Ukraine add uncertainty to a new forecast. 

“If you look at the oil prices anticipated in this forecast, they’ll become higher. If you look at markets and financial markets, they’re going to be unsettled,” said state Management and Budget Commissioner Jim Schowalter, noting that the national economic model contained in the forecast was completed before Russia invaded Ukraine. 

This is an MPR News morning update for Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Minnesota's booming economy looks even better yet in new projection, with a surplus now approaching $10 billion. Gov. Tim Walz wants to up rebate checks to $500 per adult. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

Joe Whitcomb, a Princeton, Minn., native, has been using Facebook Live to share what’s been happening around his home in Kyiv, Ukraine. Hours after ceasefire talks between Ukraine and Russian officials, Whitcomb connected with MPR News host Cathy Wurzer via cellphone from his home near the Swiss Embassy.

Minnesota lawmakers have grand ideas for what has been a huge budget surplus. They’ll learn Monday if that pot of available money is growing or shrinking. This is an MPR News morning update for Monday, February 28, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Trinity Ottoson-Smith, 9, was shot while jumping on a trampoline at a friend's home on the city's north side in May 2021. Prosecutors say a 19-year-old was intending to shoot people on a nearby side porch and Trinity was caught in the middle. This is an MPR News morning update for Friday, February 25, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

After less than two days of deliberations, a federal jury today found J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao guilty on all counts of violating George Floyd's civil rights in his killing. Floyd died in Minneapolis police custody in May 2020. This is an MPR News Evening update for February 24, 2022. Hosted by Natasha Senjanovic.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister. 

Russia has begun a military assault on Ukraine. According to news reports, Russia is attacking the country on three different fronts.

Minnesotans of Ukrainian descent are worried about the safety of their loved ones who are still in the country. Cathy Wurzer spoke with Liliya Kacharova, a chemistry professor at the University of Minnesota Duluth and at Lake Superior College, who was born and raised in Ukraine.

Theme music by Gary Meister.

Enbridge says the pipeline’s permits did not require that it maintain or report the data on drilling fluid that state Sen. John Marty is requesting. This is an MPR News morning update for Thursday, February 24, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

The first day of jury deliberations has ended in the federal trial of three former Minneapolis police officers charged with violating George Floyd's civil rights. Floyd died in Minneapolis police custody in May 2020. This is an MPR News Evening update for February 23, 2022. Hosted by Natasha Senjanovic.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister. 

A couple of bills that aim to increase parents' control over their children's public school education await votes in the Minnesota Senate.

One would allow parental review of all instructional materials. The other would require access to class syllabi for parents within the first two weeks of the start of classes.

The bills are among the measures Senate Republicans have introduced during the legislative session as a part of what they call the "Parents' Bill of Rights."

Host Cathy Wurzer talked about the effort with GOP gubernatorial candidate and Sen. Michelle Benson, R-Ham Lake, and Sen. Mary Kunesh, DFL-New Brighton.