Minnesota Today

It’s going to be another frigid week in Minnesota. The entire state is blanketed with arctic air and under extreme cold advisories.

While many schools already had Presidents Day off, some districts that did not have canceled or delayed the start of classes because of the dangerous air temperatures and wind chills.

State officials are urging the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to review how it measures emissions, and how it responds to public complaints, following its investigation into a Minneapolis iron foundry. 

And a second spike in the number of flu cases in Minnesota has hospitals and clinics busy with more patients than usual. 

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

Recall petitions — the first step in a lengthy process for having a recall election — have been filed against seven Minnesota House members. The petitions stem from the three-week standoff in the House over leadership. Six of the petitions are for Democrats including caucus leader Rep. Melissa Hortman, who led Democrats through the boycott of the session until a leadership agreement was struck. A recall petition also was submitted against Republican Duane Quam of Byron. 

Business, agriculture and mining groups are voicing their support for a bill that aims to make Minnesota’s environmental permitting process more efficient.

And authorities are investigating possible links between burglaries at several Minnesota homes — including the homes of at least two pro athletes — and similar high-profile incidents across the country. 

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

Democratic U.S. Senator Tina Smith says she will not seek another term when the seat is up in 2026.

And Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan says she intends to run for the seat Smith will vacate in the U.S. Senate.

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

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is opening an investigation into the Minnesota State High School League — the governing body of sports and other extracurricular activities in the state — for its policy allowing student athletes to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity.

University of Minnesota researchers are sounding alarms over President Donald Trump's plan to dramatically cut funding for National Institutes of Health grants.

And Fairview Health Services says it is not interested in a merger with the University of Minnesota and Essentia Health. 

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

A man who spent nearly 20 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of murder is suing the city of Minneapolis.

And Fairview Health Services says it is not interested in a merger with the University of Minnesota and Essentia Health.

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

Minneapolis police are investigating links between six separate violent incidents that resulted in two people being shot and wounded early Tuesday on the city's south side. And a Twin Cities man listed as Feeding Our Future's board president testified Tuesday he had no knowledge of the nonprofit and was surprised to see his signature on its documents.

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

The interim leader of the state's effort to start a retail cannabis market says Minnesota is close to a launch date.

And a credit union with branches across central and northern Minnesota says nearly 100 of its customers were victims of debit card fraud.

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

January was a down month for Minnesota state finances. A monthly update from the state agency that manages the budget says tax collections were about 2 percent lower than expected last month — about $64 million less.

A Becker County attorney has added a second burglary charge against Woodbury state Sen. Nicole Mitchell linked to an alleged attempt to remove items from her stepmother's house in Detroit Lakes in April of last year.  The new charge is one count of possession of burglary or theft tools. Both charges against Mitchell are felonies. If convicted, the DFL senator could face prison.

And Gov. Tim Walz says it feels like the Minnesota Legislature has turned a page with the House organized following a weekslong boycott by Democrats in the chamber.

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

The Becker County attorney today added a second burglary charge against Woodbury state senator Nicole Mitchell linked to an alleged attempt to remove items from her stepmother's house in Detroit Lakes last year.

And jurors heard opening statements today in the trial of Feeding Our Future founder Aimee Bock and one of her co-defendants.

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

Opening statements are set for Monday in the second trial to stem from what federal prosecutors say was the “single largest” fraud scheme in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar defended the U.S. Agency for International Development on CBS's “Face the Nation” Sunday. The agency has been at the center of a controversy over how much the U.S. should help other countries with foreign aid — and how that aid is spent.

And the University of Minnesota could lose millions of dollars in medical research funding under a new Trump administration policy that goes into effect Monday.

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