Minnesota Today

As the impasse in the Minnesota House drags on, Republicans say they'll up the pressure on Democrats, who have so far boycotted the session.

It's shaping up to be a snowy weekend across the northern half of Minnesota, especially along the North Shore.

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

Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chair Ken Martin is viewed as one of the top contenders to lead the national Democratic Party and will face a key test tomorrow. 

Republicans have been unable to conduct business in the Minnesota House during a DFL boycott of the legislative session. And yesterday, they filed a lawsuit with the Minnesota Supreme Court seeking to move a stalled session forward. 

The annual City of Lakes Loppet Winter Festival takes place this weekend at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis.  Organizers make their own snow for the event.

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

The Minneapolis City Council today approved a $600,000 lawsuit settlement with a woman who claims then-police officer Derek Chauvin used excessive force against her in 2020.

And the Trump administration has started making changes to immigration policies, but for now, one program remains unaffected. The H-2A program allows U.S. employers who meet specific requirements to bring migrant workers to the country temporarily to fill agricultural jobs.

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

New results from the Nation’s report card show Minnesota students are still struggling in math and reading after the pandemic.  Average scores in fourth and eighth grade reading and math for Minnesota were not significantly different in 2024 than the last time students took the National Assessment of Education Progress tests in 2022. 

Republicans in the Minnesota House are supporting a legislative package to strengthen public safety measures in the state.

And the St. Paul-based Center for Victims of Torture says it has cut staff by 75 percent because of President Donald Trump's executive orders. 

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

A Republican in the Minnesota House plans to introduce a bill to enhance criminal penalties for physically accosting peace officers.

New data from national 4th- and 8th-grade tests shows Minnesota students are outperforming their peers across the country in reading and math ... but not making significant gains after the pandemic.

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

Minnesota's Senate will again be run by Democrats. Doron Clark won a special election Tuesday in Minneapolis to fill an empty seat and break a 33-33 tie. 

Minnesota's political leaders Tuesday reacted angrily to news the Trump administration has implemented a funding freeze on federal grants and loans. 

And two brothers set to face trial in connection with a scheme to defraud taxpayer-funded child nutrition programs have pleaded guilty to fraud.

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

The top budget writers in the Minnesota Senate are reacting to a White House announcement pausing all federal grants and loans today.

And the sales tax plan proposed by Gov. Tim Walz got its first committee workover today at Minnesota's Capitol.

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

There's a special election Tuesday for an all-important seat in the Minnesota Senate. Democrat Doron Clark faces Republican Abigail Wolters in the Minneapolis-area senate district. The winner will tip majority control in the chamber — which is currently tied 33 to 33.

State Senator Nicole Mitchell's burglary trial has been rescheduled for June 16. Mitchell was arrested in April in her stepmother's Detroit Lakes home. She is alleged to have taken several items that belonged to her late father. The Woodbury Democrat has pleaded not guilty.

And Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara is calling President Donald Trump's pardons of some Jan. 6 rioters a slap in the face to law enforcement.

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

Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org.

DFLer Doron Clark, Republican Abigail Wolters win primary in Senate District 60 special election

Voter guide: Senate District 60

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DFL Sen. Nicole Mitchell's burglary trial in Becker County has been rescheduled to June 16. Mitchell was arrested in April in her stepmother's Detroit Lakes home.

And a Sartell City Council member faces a charge of driving while intoxicated.

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

The executive order signed by President Donald Trump suspending the Refugee Admissions Program goes into effect Monday. Trump says communities are struggling to accommodate large numbers of new migrants and refugees. Arrive Ministries' Ruth LePage says that agency was expecting to resettle 550 refugees in Minnesota this year.

The third week of the state legislative session opens like the prior two weeks, without Democrats in the Minnesota House. DFLers are boycotting the session so far, over a lack of a power sharing agreement.  Republicans have a one seat majority in the chamber pending a special election.

Twin Cities Pride, Minnesota’s second largest festival, is removing Target from its June LGBTQ+ celebration. Andi Otto, Twin Cities Pride executive director, says the decision was made after the Minneapolis-based retailer announced on Friday it was dropping its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts.

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

Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org.

Minnesota lawmakers hit a reset after Supreme Court ruling, but will that break the stalemate?

Target gets booted from Twin Cities Pride festival after rolling back DEI efforts

Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.