Gov. Tim Walz was in Iowa over the weekend ahead of the state’s caucuses to counter Republican messaging.

And 2023 was a record year for travelers showing up at airports with firearms. At Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, officers stopped 53 firearms from entering the airport or being carried on planes.

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

Two top Minnesota Democrats are headed into Iowa in coming days to offer their party’s perspective ahead of a Republican showdown in Monday’s caucus.

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

Winter weather advisories are in effect today for southern Minnesota, including a blizzard warning for the southwest corner of the state. Dangerously cold wind chills will follow the snow. And the St. Paul Fire Department believes a devastating fire last week likely was caused by an unattended candle. A community vigil to support the family is planned for tomorrow.

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

University of Minnesota officials have issued an all-clear for the Twin Cities campus Thursday afternoon, after a suspect in earlier social media threats was located in western Minnesota. Earlier today, UMN Twin Cities had asked people to stay away, after a 41-year-old man reportedly posted online threats about shooting people on campus.

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

The weather will be grabbing headlines across the region for the next several days, with more snow for southeastern Minnesota and extreme cold over the weekend. Former Minnesota House Speaker Kurt Daudt is resigning his seat in the state Legislature, and Republican Party leaders are calling on state lawmakers to reject a new state flag and keep the current one.

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

A woman admitted stealing more than $2.4 million dollars from government child nutrition programs. Sharon Ross of Big Lake is among five dozen people charged in connection with the Feeding our Future investigation and the 17th to plead guilty.

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

Another defendant in the Feeding our Future conspiracy case is expected to plead guilty Wednesday. And a new state legislative task force met Tuesday to address a crisis facing emergency medical response in rural Minnesota.

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

The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe plans to open a cannabis growing facility. In her annual State of the Band address Tuesday, chief executive Melanie Benjamin said the decision to get into the cannabis industry was not made lightly, but a majority of band members said they support it.

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

Three people are dead after a reported "active shooter" at a Cloquet motel last night. Authorities are expected to release more information at a news conference this morning. Plus the Minneapolis City Council has appointed its new leaders. The council voted for Elliott Payne as president and Aisha Chughtai as vice president.

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

Freelance court interpreters working for the State of Minnesota say they'll begin refusing jobs starting Monday. A freelance interpreter told MPR News their wages have stagnated while pay for judges and other essential courtroom workers has risen. The state has proposed a $9 an hour pay bump for certified interpreters. The interpreters say that's not enough.

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