Minnesota Today

Gov. Tim Walz says the Minnesota Legislature should consider prohibiting people from carrying firearms in the state Capitol. Current law says Minnesotans with a permit to carry are able to bring a gun inside the statehouse. Walz comments come after authorities charged a registered lobbyist who allegedly sent a text message threatening violence at the Minnesota Capitol.

Also, heat advisories and warnings are in place for parts of southern and western Minnesota as a sweltering heat wave is expected across the state. This is the afternoon MPR News update hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music by Gary Meister.

Extreme heat and humidity will roll into Minnesota this weekend. The sauna-like weather will be the first major heat wave of the summer. Temperatures will start to rise on Friday. The tropical air mass will push heat indexes to around 90 to 105 degrees.

Also, more than 23,000 runners are registered for events connected to Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, including a half and full marathon on Saturday. That number tops last year's record-breaking participation.

This is the afternoon MPR News update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music by Gary Meister.

Tuition is going up at the University of Minnesota this fall. The Board of Regents yesterday approved a 6-and-a-half percent increase — the largest in a decade and a half. In-state tuition for undergrads on the Twin Cities campus will be just over 16-thousand dollars in the next academic year. That does not include additional fees — which are also going up.

Brooklyn Park police are investigating a break-in at the home of DFL leader Melissa Hortman, and her husband Mark. The incident comes days after the Hortmans were shot and killed in their home in what authorities are calling a politically motivated attack. Police say they discovered pried-off plywood that was covering the home’s rear window. The window was also broken to gain entry by an unknown individual.

A new law requires some Minnesotans to get a permit before operating a boat or personal watercraft.

The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa recently celebrated the completion of a new heating facility. The facility will use locally sourced hardwood chips to heat the tribe's community center.

The Minneapolis City Council passed an honorary resolution Wednesday commemorating Juneteenth. The federal holiday celebrates the end of slavery in the United States.

Brooklyn Park police are investigating a break-in at the home of DFL leader Melissa Hortman, and her husband Mark. The incident comes days after the Hortmans were shot and killed in their home in what authorities are calling a politically motivated attack. Police say they discovered pried-off plywood that was covering the home’s rear window, but nothing appeared to be missing.

Also, state Rep. Kristin Bahner confirmed that her home was one of the targets of the man suspected of the shootings last Saturday.

This is the MPR News evening update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music by Gary Meister.

A candlelight vigil to honor the late DFL House Leader Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark is planned for Wednesday night at Minnesota’s state Capitol. Organizers are asking attendees not to bring signs of any kind. The Hortmans were the target of a political assassination early Saturday morning at their home in Brooklyn Park. The Capitol building will be closed to the public during the vigil that begins at 8 p.m.

Federal authorities have revealed that the man suspected in the shootings had an alleged target list that included leaders of Planned Parenthood.

A Twin Cities man who joined the Islamic State terror group a decade ago is out of federal prison after providing extensive help to investigators in other terrorism cases.

The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa recently celebrated the completion of a new heating facility.

Investigators are still trying to figure out what motivated a man to allegedly target Democratic elected officials in a series of shootings early Saturday morning. Meanwhile, candlelight vigil to honor top state House DFLer Melissa Hortman is planned for Wednesday night on the steps of the state Capitol.

In other news, the Superior National Forest will charge people more to enter the Boundary Waters.

This is the MPR News evening update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music by Gary Meister.

Vance Boelter has been charged in federal court with the targeted murder of state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and the shooting of state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette.

Acting U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Joe Thompson was among a contingent of law enforcement officials who discussed the shootings Monday in a news conference. Thompson alleged Boelter researched his victims and surveilled their homes before the shootings.

Boelter allegedly visited the homes of two other lawmakers the morning of the shootings. Brooklyn Park police Chief Mark Bruley said if it hadn’t been for the actions of an off-duty police sergeant who asked two officers to check on the Hortman home after the Hoffman shooting, it could have been a lot worse.

Some of the federal charges that Boelter faces are punishable by life in prison or the death penalty, if he’s convicted.

Republican Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth says Minnesota feels a loss of safety following the assassination of Hortman. Memorial tributes to her and her husband have sprung up inside and outside the Minnesota Capitol.

Severe storms — including reported tornadoes — caused damage and knocked out power to hundreds of homes and businesses Monday night. There were tornado sightings near Gull Lake and Nisswa, and possible tornadoes near Staples, Bertha, Deer Creek and Ottertail Lake.

And Minnesota chefs and restaurants earned top honors at this year’s James Beard Awards, announced Monday night in Chicago. Minneapolis restaurant Bûcheron won best new restaurant, topping nine other establishments across the country.

State and federal prosecutors today outlined charges filed against the man suspected of killing Minnesota House DFL leader Melissa Hortman and her husband.

That story and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Jacob Aloi. Music by Gary Meister.

A two-day manhunt for the suspect in the killings of a top DFL lawmaker and her spouse ended with his capture late last night. Vance Boelter faces murder charges in the deaths of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. The 57-year-old Green Isle man also faces attempted murder charges in the wounding of state Sen. John Hoffman and his spouse, Yvette. 

Boelter allegedly had a list of politicians and others, including both of Minnesota’s U.S. senators. The shootings and resulting manhunt are likely to mean big changes to the way Minnesota makes laws. 

Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, are on the mend after the early Saturday shooting. That's according to a message posted by Yvette Hoffman and shared online by Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar. 

Aspects of Saturday’s so-called “No Kings” rallies were canceled or curtailed because of the shootings of the Hoffmans and the Hortmans. Still, roughly 25,000 protestors gathered in St. Paul. It was part of a nationwide protest against the actions of the Trump administration.