Minnesota Today

Minnesota-based Cargill will lay off about 8,000 employees worldwide this winter, including 475 positions from its Minnetonka headquarters. And Minnesota state investigators say they have retrieved video from the phone of a man killed in a federal operation in 2021. It would be the only video that captures the confrontation between Winston Smith and members of a U.S. Marshals Service task force. Reports that people had seen the video prompted the BCA to do more to crack into the encrypted phone.

This is the MPR News afternoon update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music by Gary Meister.

In 2005, a pair of ruby slippers were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids. The slippers were on loan to the museum by a collector. The FBI recovered the "Wizard of Oz" shoes in 2018. This week, they go up for auction. The museum has been fundraising to purchase the slippers valued anywhere form $2.9 to $4.8 million.

Authorities in Woodbury say two people, including a teenage boy, were pulled from a lake Monday after breaking through thin ice. It happened during the late afternoon at Markgrafs Lake near Woodbury Drive, just south of I-94. Police say the teen was the first to break through the ice. Others tried to rescue him and one of those people also broke through and was rescued by first responders. A dive team later located the teenager and both people were taken to Regions Hospital. 

This is a MPR News morning update, hosted by Jacob Aloi. Music by Gary Meister.

Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org.

Ruby slippers from 'The Wizard of Oz' are for sale nearly 2 decades after they were stolen

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The trailing candidate in a narrowly decided Minnesota House race is asking a court to declare the seat vacant after 20 ballots were discovered missing. Republican Aaron Paul has formally filed his legal challenge of the November election in the Shakopee area, which resulted in DFL Representative Brad Tabke prevailing by 14 votes. Also, state Sen. Omar Fateh has entered the field of candidates opposing Mayor Jacob Frey who is seeking re-election.

This is the MPR News afternoon update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music by Gary Meister.

The Hennepin County Jail faces a Thursday deadline to reduce its population amid a staffing shortage.

And Ken Martin — Minnesota's top Democratic Party operative — is facing competition from a neighbor to become the chair of the Democratic National Committee. Ben Wikler of Wisconsin announced Sunday he wants to become the chair of the DNC.

This is a MPR News morning update, hosted by Gracie Stockton. Music by Gary Meister.

Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org.

Minnesota DOC orders Hennepin County to reduce jail population after finding staff negligence

Wisconsin Democratic leader Ben Wikler enters the race to lead the national party

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Minnesota Republicans say it's impossible to definitively say who won a pivotal state House race after officials detailed an absentee ballot mishap. Scott County officials disclosed today that 20 absentee ballots were accidentally discarded in October and are unlikely to be retrieved. That's more than the 14-vote margin for the declared winner, Democrat Brad Tabke, over Republican Aaron Paul.

And the Minnesota Court of Appeals is the next stop for a challenge to the Office of Cannabis Management's handling of social equity license applications.

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

A judge this week denied a former St. Paul police officer's request for early release from federal prison. In late 2019, a jury convicted former officer Brett Palkowitsch for a 2016 incident where he kicked Frank Baker and allowed a K-9 to maul him when officers mistook Baker for a robbery suspect.

And tensions bubbled between a Red Lake tribal official and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources last week over how to combat invasive species like zebra mussels at Upper Red Lake. 

This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Jacob Aloi. Music by Gary Meister.

Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org.

Red Lake Nation and Minnesota DNR disagree on how to combat zebra mussels

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Gov. Tim Walz says he does not regret being part of the Democratic presidential ticket. Walz is back to his routine and carrying out traditions of the governor's office after he and Vice President Kamala Harris lost the presidential race.

And two nursing home providers in Minnesota are suing the state's Department of Labor and Industry in an attempt to stop a holiday pay rule from taking effect in the new year.

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

Gov. Tim Walz has announced $5 million in new funding for Minnesota food shelves. The $5 million is part of leftover money the state received from the American Rescue Plan, President Joe Biden's COVID-19 stimulus package.

Hundreds of social equity applicants hoping for a cannabis business license will have to wait longer to set up shop. A lottery originally scheduled for Tuesday morning was put on hold by a Ramsey County judge.

And some Medicare Advantage plans are no longer being accepted by some Minnesota health care providers. Attorney General Keith Ellison is warning Minnesotans on Medicare who use advantage plans to double check their coverage and provider acceptance of those plans before open enrollment ends on Dec. 7.

This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Gracie Stockton. Music by Gary Meister.

Find more headlines at mprnews.org.

Judge halts cannabis license lottery that is precursor to Minnesota marijuana retail launch

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A Ramsey County District Court judge has ordered the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management to postpone a lottery for social equity licenses that had been set for tomorrow.

And Minnesota’s laws on abortion access are being challenged in federal court by a contingent of groups opposed to the procedure.

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

Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar wants President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet picks to undergo FBI background checks.  Klobuchar, a Democrat who was re-elected earlier this month, serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee. And the newest member of the Minnesota Senate is set to be sworn in Monday and restore the chamber to full force.

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

Find more headlines at mprnews.org.

Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter.

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