Minnesota Today

Hennepin County prosecutors on Wednesday charged a St. Paul man with second-degree intentional murder in connection with the death late Sunday of Deona Erickson. Nicholas Kraus, 35, is also charged with two counts of second-degree assault. 

This is an MPR News morning update for Thursday, June 17, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister

The Hennepin County Attorney's office has filed murder and assault charges against a St. Paul man accused of driving his car into demonstrators in the Uptown area of Minneapolis, killing one and injuring several others. Nicholas Kraus, 35, faces one count of second degree intentional murder and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon. This is the afternoon MPR News update for Wednesday, June 16, 2021. Hosted by Nina Moini. Theme music by Gary Meister.

Racial justice activists say they’ll continue to hold vigil for two people killed recently in the Uptown area of Minneapolis, Winston Smith and Deona Erickson. Demonstrators vow to keep Lake Street closed even as city leaders work to keep the busy thoroughfare open to traffic. Around midday Tuesday, Minneapolis police officers and public works crews arrived at Lake Street and Hennepin Avenue.

This is an MPR News morning update for Wednesday, June 16, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister

In the past year, Minneapolis has seen the killings of three Black men by law enforcement, massive protests, a surge in gun violence and destructive rioting — all on top of the pandemic.

Now its residents are getting ready to elect a new mayor in this Democratic-dominated city. The seven candidates vying this week for the endorsement of the Minneapolis DFL offer competing visions of the city’s future, and of public safety, after this tumultuous year.

This is an MPR News evening update for June 15, 2021. Hosted by Catharine Richert. 

Our theme music is by Gary Meister. 

The Minnesota Court of Appeals handed a major victory to Enbridge Energy Monday, affirming state utility regulators’ approval of the Canadian company’s Line 3 oil pipeline replacement project. A three-judge panel ruled 2 to 1 that there is substantial evidence to support the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission’s approval of the project. 

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

Our theme music is by Gary Meister

A 35-year-old St. Paul man was arrested for vehicular homicide in connection with a crash that killed a woman who joined an ongoing protest in Uptown Minneapolis late Sunday night. The family of Deona Erickson said they weren’t surprised that she was at the protest on Lake Street. This is an MPR News evening update for June 14, 2021. Hosted by Hannah Yang.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

One person was killed and another injured Sunday night after being struck by a car in the Uptown area of Minneapolis during a protest, near the site where Winston Smith was shot by sheriff's deputies earlier this month. A witness said the eastbound SUV was moving at a high rate of speed as it approached just before midnight, and that the driver appeared to accelerate as they got closer to demonstrators who had blocked off Lake Street near Girard Avenue.

This is an MPR News morning update for Monday, June 14, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister

Minnesota tax collections come in $1.8b higher than expected. COVID-19 numbers continue to show encouraging signs. Pulitzer board honors Darnela Frazier, who recorded murder of George Floyd. This is an MPR News evening update for June 11, 2021. Hosted by Nina Moini.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister. 

Minnesota's high school graduation rate held steady for the Class of 2020, despite an abrupt shift toward the end of its senior year as early stages of the pandemic shuttered school buildings across the state. Data released Thursday from state education officials show that 83.8 percent of students graduated from high school within four years, a historic high for Minnesota.

This is an MPR News morning update for Friday, June 11, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister

An attorney for a woman who says she was in Winston Smith's vehicle when he was killed says she did not see a gun on him.  Smith was fatally shot last week in Minneapolis by two sheriff's deputies working with a federal task force trying to arrest him. This is the evening MPR News update for Thursday, June 10, 2021. Hosted by Nina Moini. Theme music by Gary Meister.