Advocates for Missing and Murdered Indigenous relatives held events around the region Wednesday.

And the head of Minnesota's State Patrol is stepping down.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Gov. Tim Walz said he would sign a sports betting bill into law if it were to reach his desk this session — as long as it doesn't infringe on compacts the state has made with tribes. And state health officials have identified two cases of measles. Both cases are in very young children in the Twin Cities who had been overseas. The Minnesota Department of Health is working to contact anyone who was exposed.

This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister.

Prosecutors in the case of Minnesota State Trooper Ryan Londregan, who is charged with murder and manslaughter for the fatal shooting of Ricky Cobb II on Interstate 94 last summer, argued in court Tuesday to restrict public access to all future motions and evidence on the matter.

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

Democrats have control of the House and Senate. But the DFL governor was sounding bipartisan, as lawmakers returned to work.  And state health officials have identified the source of a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in northern Minnesota. They say testing points to parts of the city water system in Grand Rapids as the source. 

This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister.

Lawmakers returned to the Minnesota Capitol Monday for the start of the 2024 legislative session. Reworking a state law regarding school resource officers is a top priority.

And students at the University of Minnesota will get the chance to meet three candidates hoping to fill the role of president of the university system starting Monday.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

The 2024 state legislative session begins Monday in St. Paul. Democrats, who control both chambers, say the session will be more about tweaking existing legislation than approving new spending. And two of the three finalists to become the next University of Minnesota president will be in Morris and Crookston today — to kick off their public interviews.

This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister.

The University of Minnesota has taken a step toward buying its teaching hospital from Fairview Health Services. The university's Board of Regents today approved a non-binding letter of intent for the purchase.

That story and more in today’s evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

The Minnesota legislative session begins on Monday and state lawmakers are starting to champion various causes. The Minneapolis City Council approved a $950,000 settlement on behalf of journalists detained or injured by Minneapolis police during unrest following George Floyd’s killing in 2020. And the council also enacted a resolution calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.

This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister.

About 22,000 absentee and mail ballots have been marked accepted for Minnesota's presidential primary. New statistics released today by the Secretary of State's office show that many more ballots have been sent out but not yet been returned to election officials.

And Legislative Republicans plan to highlight recent raises for Minnesota state agency commissioners as examples of excessive spending by DFLers. Several leaders of state agencies saw salary adjustments of $30,000 or more per year.

Those stories and more in today’s evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

The Falcon Heights City Council meets with the St. Anthony Village City Council Thursday night to explore whether the Ramsey County suburbs should resume their policing relationship. The St. Paul City Council voted unanimously to change the name of a portion of St. Anthony Avenue to Rondo Avenue. And a new inspection report from the Minnesota Fire Marshal shows there were violations at Lutsen Lodge resort, which burned down early Tuesday.

This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister.