Minnesota Today

A federal judge jailed a Feeding Our Future defendant Monday over allegations of witness tampering. Last week, Abdinasir Abshir allegedly approached a cooperating defendant who was testifying at the trial and asked to speak with him in a bathroom.

Prosecutor Joe Thompson said the move was troubling in light of an attempt to bribe a juror in the first Feeding Our Future trial in June. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright ordered Abshir jailed pending a Friday hearing.

Organizations that support victims of domestic violence say a federal funding freeze announced by the Trump administration has put their work in limbo, and will likely lead to cuts.

In the wake of last week’s Minneapolis-to-Toronto Delta flight crash, two passengers have filed federal lawsuits. One lives in Texas. The other, Hannah Krebs, lives in Minnesota.

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

Two passengers have filed separate federal lawsuits following last week's Minneapolis-to-Toronto Delta crash. Twin Cities resident Hannah Krebs, filed one of the suits while the other was filed by a Texas man. Krebs’ lawsuit claims the crash was caused by the flight crew's "gross negligence and recklessness."

And, after more than 15 years, change may be coming for the Northstar Commuter Rail between the Twin Cities and Big Lake. MnDOT and the Met Council Monday said they’ve started to study replacing that train service with buses, as a potentially more cost-effective option.

These stories and more on the MPR News afternoon update, hosted by Emily Reese. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

St. Paul Police say a man charged in three sexual assault cases is facing additional charges thanks to DNA evidence. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says DNA from an 18-year-old St. Paul man matches that found in assaults from 2023 2024 in the Prosperity Heights neighborhood.

Police warn the man met his victims on dating apps and websites, then threatened victims with a knife or handgun while assaulting them. The suspect, Rakai Eugene Davis, is not in custody and there is a warrant out for his arrest. St. Paul police say he's a threat to public safety and believe there may be additional survivors. They ask anyone with information to call 651-266-5685.

In early March the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the University of Minnesota will begin work on a new elk project. Researchers intend to capture 25 adult cows and around 15 bulls each year over the next two years. The elk from northwest Minnesota’s wild herds will then be fitted with GPS collars.

Honey bee industry officials are raising the alarm about bee deaths this year. There have been previous die offs over the past 20 years. In those cases, beekeepers lost as much as 50 percent of their bees over the winter. But Ellis says losses this year are ranging from 70- to 100 percent and there aren’t enough bees to pollinate the California almond crop.

Statewide data from the Minnesota Department of Health shows seasonal virus hospitalizations are trending downward.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has issued a formal opinion saying organizations that comply with President Donald Trump’s recent executive order banning transgender students from competing in sports consistent with their gender identity would violate state law. The guidance comes after the Minnesota State High School League asked the state office for formal advice on the matter.

The first bill voted on in the Minnesota House this session didn’t get enough support to pass Thursday. The Republican-sponsored bill would have declared more data from state attorney general investigations as public.

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

A nonprofit says the Trump Administration has frozen funds for a more than $2.5 million project to improve the Mississippi River corridor in parts of Minnesota, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has vetoed the city council's plans for George Floyd Square.

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

Delta Air Lines says all but one passenger injured when a flight from Minneapolis crashed while landing in Toronto on Monday has been released from the hospital. All 76 passengers and four crew survived after the plane burst into flames and flipped over on the runway. Investigators are still working to determine what caused the crash.

State lawmakers are considering legislation that would remove Algebra II as a required math credit. Sen. Rob Farnsworth, R-Hibbing, presented his bill Wednesday. Currently, Minnesota students need to take three math classes for graduation.

Minnesota Rep. Pete Stauber is ruling out runs for governor and Senate in 2026. The Republican representing Minnesota’s 8th District told Northern News Now he plans to stay put. He said he wants to remain in his role as chair of the Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee.

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

The Minneapolis public school district met this week to discuss strategies to close its $75 million budget shortfall, and Delta Air Lines says all but one of the passengers injured when a flight from Minneapolis crashed while landing in Toronto on Monday has been released from the hospital.

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

A prosecutor in the Feeding Our Future trial on Tuesday raised allegations of witness tampering. They said that a defendant who’s slated for trial later this year approached a witness in the courthouse on Tuesday and asked to speak with him in a bathroom.

Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier is now out of prison and back home in North Dakota on his tribal homelands of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. 

The House Education Policy Committee has backed a plan to roll back ethnic studies requirements in Minnesota schools. The panel has advanced a bill — with Republicans supporting it and Democrats opposing.  

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

Starting today anyone who wants to grow or sell retail recreational marijuana can submit an application with the state of Minnesota, officials are investigating the wreckage of the plane that crashed in Toronto yesterday, and flags are at half-staff in Burnsville today in honor of three first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice.

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

A Delta Air Lines jet from Minneapolis flipped on its roof while landing Monday at Toronto’s Pearson Airport. All 80 people on board survived and those hurt had relatively minor injuries, according to airport officials. Snow was being blown by winds gusting up to 40 miles per hour at the time of the crash. 

Today’s dangerously cold temperatures prompted many school districts across Minnesota to cancel or delay the start of classes, or move to online learning. Minneapolis and St. Paul public schools canceled classes Tuesday. Other districts closed Tuesday include Brainerd, Mankato, Rochester, St. Cloud and Winona.

Around 100 people gathered for a vigil Monday night at the Minnesota Capitol for a transgender Minnesota man who was found dead in New York. Five people there now face murder charges in the killing of Sam Nordquist, a 24-year-old from Oakdale.

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