Minnesota Today

Roads, bridges and transit will get additional funding under a transportation finance bill that House lawmakers passed Wednesday. The Senate could approve the bill as early as Thursday.

This is an MPR News morning update for Thursday, June 24, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Major pieces of the next state budget are starting to fall into place at the State Capitol, as lawmakers work to hammer out an agreement by the middle of next week to avoid a government shutdown. Republican and Democratic leaders have reached a massive accord to fund schools in the state. This is the afternoon MPR News update for Wednesday, June 23, 2021. Hosted by Dan Kraker. Theme music by Gary Meister.

Minnesota legislators have a week to approve a new state budget, or risk a government shutdown.  This is an MPR News morning update for Wednesday, June 23, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Employers across the state are struggling to find enough workers as the COVID-19 pandemic eases and the economy picks up. State officials estimate there are about 120,000 job vacancies in Minnesota. At the same time more than 220,000 people are drawing pandemic-related unemployment benefits. This is the afternoon update for Tuesday, June 22, 2021. Hosted by Dan Kraker. Theme music by Gary Meister.

DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman says she believes the special session will wrap with an agreement for Governor Tim Walz to end his emergency powers.

Walz first declared the peacetime emergency over a year ago to address COVID-19. Republicans have said for months that they want the emergency powers to end.

This is an MPR News morning update for Tuesday, June 22, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

The University of Minnesota is increasing police patrols in neighborhoods near the campus where crime has spiked over the last year. After a weekend shooting in Dinkytown injured three university students and two others, U of M President Joan Gabel sent a letter to students, faculty and staff outlining new security measures. This is the afternoon MPR News update for Monday, June 21, 2021. Hosted by Kirsti Marohn. Theme music by Gary Meister.

After climbing well above 10 percent at times last year, the weekly average COVID-19 test positivity rate in Minnesota dropped below 1 percent on Sunday.

This is an MPR News morning update for Monday, June 21, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

A man who drove his truck toward a crowd of protesters on Interstate 35W in Minneapolis has come to an agreement with prosecutors to conditionally dismiss his case. Bogdan Verchirko was charged with threats of violence and criminal vehicular operation. Days after George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer, protesters gathered on the bridge over the Mississippi River. This is the MPR News afternoon update for Friday, June 18, 2021. Hosted by Nina Moini. Theme music by Gary Meister.

Police are investigating after a 911 caller Thursday reported finding human body parts in northeast Minneapolis. The caller made the discovery around 9:30 a.m. near 3rd Avenue Northeast across Main Street from the Mississippi River.

This is an MPR News morning update for Friday, June 18, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister

The first four pieces of a new state budget are up for votes Thursday. The Minnesota Legislature is in special session to complete a new two-year budget by July 1 or risk shutting the government down. Legislative leaders insist it won’t come to that.  This is the MPR News afternoon update for June 17, 2021. Hosted by Nina Moini. Theme music by Gary Meister.