Minnesota Today

A jury is deciding whether a white former Brooklyn Center police officer is guilty of manslaughter in the shooting death of a young Black man. Prosecutors and defense attorneys Monday each presented their closing arguments in the trial of Kimberly Potter. This is the MPR News evening update for Monday, Dec. 20, 2021. Hosted by Natasha Senjanovic. Theme music by Gary Meister.

Attorneys are expected to make closing arguments Monday in the trial of Kimberly Potter. The former Brooklyn Center police officer is charged in the April shooting death of Daunte Wright. This is an MPR News morning update for Monday, December 20, 2021. Hosted by Phil Picardi.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

The National Weather Service has confirmed an E-F-2 tornado with winds up to 115 miles per hour caused major damage to buildings in the community of Hartland this week. It was one of at least five twisters that touched down in southern Minnesota Wednesday night. This is an MPR News evening update for Dec 17, 2021. Hosted by Nathan Stevens

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

The National Weather Service has confirmed at least two tornadoes touched down in southern Minnesota last night. That’s the first time tornadoes have been confirmed in the state in December.  This is an MPR News evening update for Dec 16, 2021. Hosted by Nathan Stevens.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister. 

The prosecution has rested in the trial of Kimberly Potter, the white former Brooklyn Park officer charged in the shooting death of 20-year-old Black man Daunte Wright. As Potter's defense team began presenting their case, MPR News reporter Jon Collins joined Minnesota Now host Cathy Wurzer with more.

Theme music by Gary Meister.

The latest data suggests the surge from Thanksgiving gatherings is subsiding. Still, the state crossed a difficult milestone Wednesday, tallying more than 10,000 pandemic deaths. Hospitalizations remain high. This is an MPR News morning update for Thursday, December 16, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Derek Chauvin pleads guilty in federal court, ending his prosecutions for killing George Floyd and the state looks to be in for a once-in-a-lifetime weather event. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

Health care professionals in greater Minnesota met virtually Wednesday to discuss the dire effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in their respective parts of the state. Andrea Roberts, president of the Minnesota Association of Nurse Anesthetists, told Minnesota Now host Cathy Wurzer more about the pandemic’s impact on nurses and rural communities.

Theme music by Gary Meister.

In April, jurors in state court convicted former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. A judge later sentenced him to 22 1/2 years.

In May, federal prosecutors charged Chauvin with using excessive force by pressing his knee into Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes. Chauvin originally pleaded not guilty, but a change of plea hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

This is an MPR News morning update for Wednesday, December 15, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

A wave of carjackings has hit the Twin Cities and many other parts of the country, and no one is entirely sure why. Stephanie Kollman, policy director of the Children and Family Justice Center at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in Chicago, has dug deep into recent police data on carjackings. She told Minnesota Now host Cathy Wurzer that there are no simple answers.

Theme music by Gary Meister.