Minnesota Today

Top legislative Republicans want a state senator to resign after an arrest on an alleged attempt to solicit a minor, and Minnesota law enforcement officials are hoping to get new drug screening kits to officers on the roads as drug-impaired driving reports rise.

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

After 19 days of testimony over more than five weeks, closing arguments could come Tuesday morning in the Feeding Our Future trial. 

The sounds of ship horns will soon be echoing again in Duluth’s Canal Park. The Soo Locks open for the season later this week.

Minnesota’s first rapid transit bus line that mostly runs in its own lane opens on Saturday. The route will link downtown St. Paul to Woodbury via 16 stations.

Those stories and more in today’s morning update.

People who commit Medicaid fraud would face stiffer penalties under a bill introduced in the Minnesota Legislature, and rural communities will have a chance to voice their concerns about the state of their government at a series of town halls sponsored by the Minnesota Farmers Union.

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

The Minnesota House returns to a full complement Monday after nine weeks with a vacancy. DFLer David Gottfried is being sworn in after winning a special election last week. That brings the House into a 67-67 tie. There are nine weeks remaining in the legislative session.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was in Omaha, Neb., Saturday as part of a series of townhall-style meetings in congressional districts represented by Republicans. The governor makes a similar stop in Wisconsin on Tuesday. 

Those stories and more in today’s morning update.

The University of Minnesota Board of Regents today voted to prohibit its colleges, centers and other academic units from making statements on "matters of public concern or public interest,” and the U of M is among more than 50 universities across the U.S. that are being investigated for alleged racial discrimination.

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

The Minnesota Department of Health says flu and COVID hospitalizations continue to decline, but hospital admissions for RSV have remained steady for the past eight weeks. The virus often resembles a common cold but can lead to prolonged coughing and wheezing in severe cases.  Health officials recommend washing your hands often, wearing a mask and getting vaccinated.

Feeding Our Future founder Aimee Bock on Thursday continued to deny she took part in an alleged $250 million scheme to defraud taxpayer-funded child nutrition programs. After taking the stand in her own defense, Bock faced cross examination from a prosecutor.

The city of Minneapolis will pay $450,000 to the attorneys who sued the city on behalf of an anti-abortion group.

President Trump is threatening a 200 percent tariff on European wine, champagne and spirits in response to the European Union’s plan to impose a 50 percent tariff on American whiskey.  

Those stories and more in today’s morning update.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, along with 20 other attorneys general across the country, is suing to stop the dismantling of the federal Department of Education, and Nicole Mitchell spoke in her own defense today at a Minnesota Senate Ethics Committee hearing.

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

Gopher men’s basketball coach Ben Johnson has been fired. The move, made early Thursday, came after the Gopher men’s basketball team lost a first-round game in the Big Ten Tournament Wednesday.

The Minneapolis school district is sending out layoff notices to staff members as part of its attempt to deal with a $75 million budget deficit. District leaders say initial reduction recommendations will be publicly presented at a board finance committee meeting March 25.

A bill introduced in the Minnesota House aims to encourage state and local agencies to share immigration data with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE. It also requires county attorneys to report undocumented immigrants who are arrested for a crime to ICE, regardless of whether a person is charged with an offense.

Those stories and more in today’s morning update.

Minnesota is losing nearly twenty million in federal dollars for farm-to-school programs. This comes after the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it would cancel promised funding.

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against executives who oversee three large tribal casinos, brought by owners of one of the state’s horseracing tracks.

Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org.

USDA cuts farm-to-school food funding in Minnesota

Judge dismisses lawsuit claiming tribal casinos in Minnesota are running illegal games

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The Minnesota House is officially split 67-67 after Democrat claimed an open seat in a special election. DFLer David Gottfried defeated GOP opponent Paul Wikstrom in a Tuesday special election to fill a vacant House seat representing Roseville and Shoreview.

DFLer Erik Osberg has launched a campaign for Congress in Minnesota’s 7th District, a seat Republican Rep. Michelle Fischbach currently holds. Ahead of DFL primaries in 2026, Osberg says he will meet voters in their communities.

Those stories and more in today’s morning update.