Minnesota Today

Strong storms are possible with even a couple of isolated severe storms ahead of a big cold front. The Storm Prediction Center says there is an enhanced risk (level 3 out of 5) for the southeastern corner of Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin. The national weather service says Friday morning could bring isolated hail and Friday afternoon could bring very large hail and the possibility of tornadoes. Supporters of Thursday’s U.S. Senate vote to overturn a 20-year mining ban near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness are emphasizing that environmental safeguards remain in place. The move reopens the door for projects like Twin Metals’ proposed underground copper-nickel mine near Ely. Opponents of Thursday’s vote say they’ll continue to challenge proposed mines near the BWCA whether at the state level, or through the courts. Minnesota Sen. John Hoffman and his family filed a civil lawsuit Thursday against the man charged with shooting them last June.

The U.S. Senate has voted to overturn a 20-year ban on mining on about 350 square miles of federal land near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, paving the way for Twin Metals to renew efforts to open an underground copper mine near Ely, on the doorstep of the wilderness area. Minnesota lost jobs in February, and state officials are linking the decline to federal immigration enforcement. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

A House committee voted down an effort today to initiate impeachment proceedings against two DFL officials. Republicans proposed starting impeachment proceedings against Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison. They said the pair didn't do enough to combat fraud in state programs. And Gov. Tim Walz and local school officials are pushing to make early childhood education more affordable for additional families. At an early childhood education site in Rochester, Walz detailed a plan he wants the Legislature to pass before the end of session. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

A proposal to boost state funding to schools for safety measures stalled in a House committee Tuesday. The broad school safety package would direct state funding to public and private schools intended to bolster security. The Republican bill would let school districts set up anonymous threat reporting lines, as well as allowing suspensions of young students. Wednesday is the deadline to file your taxes — but if you haven't finished filing, you have options. The judge presiding over the Feeding Our Future case continues to hand down sentences. The latest defendant to appear in court got 18 months in prison. Since late 2022, 58 people have pleaded guilty and another 7 were convicted at trial in a $300 million scheme that prosecutors say was the nation's largest COVID fraud.

The federal government is still withholding more than $240 million in Medicaid reimbursements to Minnesota, despite approving the state’s plan to address fraud concerns. Gov. Tim Walz says the funds should now be released. Thunderstorms, hail and at least one tornado scoured southern Minnesota last night. This is an MPR News Evening update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music is by Gary Meister.

A severe storm system bombarded southern Minnesota with hail Monday. A tornado also briefly touched down near Amboy. A Burnsville woman could die if she's not freed from immigration detention soon, her lawyer says. Andrea Pedro-Francisco is a 23-year old Guatemalan woman who was arrested in February in the south metro suburb where she and her family live. Immigration agents sent her to a detention center in Texas. Pedro-Francisco was about to have surgery to remove a large ovarian cyst. Her lawyer, Asra Syed, says she needs immediate medical care. Friends and family of a Wisconsin man who was shot and killed last week by a Superior police officer are speaking out against the death. Autumn Khalar was with 42-year-old David Menton on April 7 when he was killed. Khalar says Menton was not a threat to the officer and the shooting wasn't justified. The Wisconsin Department of Justice is investigating. The Superior Police Department says its officers responded to a, quote, "rapidly evolving dangerous situation. They are now navigating not only the weight of that moment, but also the scrutiny that follows." Go deeper with the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Severe storms drop baseball-sized hail, tornadoes in southern Minnesota Burnsville woman in ICE detention can’t access lifesaving surgery, lawyer says Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.

Spring Lake Park schools were closed Monday after a cyberattack, according to an announcement from the district. In a notice on its website, the district says an outside actor gained access to some internal systems. Financial relief for small businesses affected by the federal immigration enforcement surge remains in the mix at the Legislature. This is an MPR News Evening update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music is by Gary Meister.

Winona County officials say some of its computer systems remain offline as they work to restore services following a cyberattack earlier this week. And the Minneapolis City Council voted yesterday against reappointing Todd Barnette as the city's community safety commissioner. Mayor Jacob Frey says he'll veto that and keep Barnette in that role. Those stories and more in today’s evening update form MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Lawmakers on Thursday held a hearing on a bill meant to make grooming a felony. The bill, which has bipartisan support, suggests a series of changes to the state criminal code, teacher licensing requirements, mandatory reporter training and school field trip requirements. HCMC, the state’s busiest trauma center, is struggling financially. A bipartisan bill that would use revenue from a ballpark tax to help fund it got its first hearing in the legislature Thursday. For many immigrants in Minnesota, the final step to becoming a U.S. citizen is taking longer than expected. Oath ceremonies have dropped from about four a month to just one, according to the U.S. District Court of Minnesota.

Winona County is still working to recover from a cyberattack on their IT network this week. The attack is part of a growing trend of cybercriminals targeting local governments. A federal judge today dissolved a temporary injunction barring federal agents from retaliating against people observing ICE activities. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

An electric transmission line in northeast Minnesota is facing opposition from people fighting a proposed data center. The state Public Utilities Commission is holding hearings on the proposed power line from Grand Rapids to Hermantown. Google wants to build a massive data center where the line would end. A man who operated a banquet hall that was a key part of the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme is heading to prison for more than three years. Abdullahe Jesow used a fake nonprofit called Academy for Youth Excellence to siphon $4.3 million from taxpayer funded child nutrition programs by falsely claiming to have served millions of meals to kids during COVID.

The Minnesota National Guard is assisting officials in Winona County as they respond to a cyberattack. And Minnesota mayors were at the state Capitol today asking for money to help businesses recover from the immigration agent surge. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Foster youth advocates will testify Wednesday in support of a bill protecting Supplemental Security Income and Survivor Benefits for those in the foster care system. Survivor benefits are intended to support children who have lost a parent, and SSI supports foster youth with disabilities. Current practice allows counties to use these funds to reimburse foster care costs. Minnesota's electrical grid is in the midst of a massive expansion. Renewable energy advocates and utilities say new transmission lines are needed to make the grid more reliable. Xcel says that the proposal will face a lengthy environmental review, and they likely won't break ground until 2030.

A federal judge has declined to stop the Trump administration from halting more than $240 million in Medicaid payments to Minnesota. And state lawmakers return for the last leg of their session today after a holiday break. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

The Legislature returns Tuesday after a weeklong break. So far, this year's session has been heavy on conflict. The narrowly split Legislature came into session with a lot of pressing matters to address: immigration enforcement actions, gun violence, fraud and a tight budget. Lawmakers have six weeks to finish their work. The first defendant in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme to admit his involvement is avoiding prison because of his cooperation with investigators. After the FBI raided Feeding Our Future's offices and two dozen other locations in early 2022, Bekam Merdassa was the first conspirator to come forward. He pleaded guilty later that year. Many farmers across Minnesota will soon start planting their crops. While some ordered the fertilizer and fuel they’ll need ahead of time, those who didn’t now face huge price increases due to the war in Iran.

Some Twin Cities school districts that offered virtual learning during increased federal immigration enforcement operation are bringing students back to in-person classes today. Minnesota's top judge is retiring in September. Chief Justice Natalie Hudson's planned departure gives Gov. Tim Walz one more major appointment to the Supreme Court. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Riverview, a dairy company, aims to expand one of its operations near the west-central city of Morris to house more than 18,000 animals, becoming the state’s largest livestock farm. Riverview officials say the proposal could help create jobs. But concerns remain. A federal judge in Minneapolis is deciding whether the government may use military attorneys to prosecute civilians. The Justice Department has sent Army lawyers to Minnesota after an exodus of federal prosecutors. The Trump administration is closing a globally recognized forest research center in Grand Rapids. The Forest Service is moving its headquarters from Washington D.C. to Salt Lake City. It's also shuttering more than 50 research facilities around the country, including an office in Grand Rapids.

Winter continues to make an April comeback across much of Minnesota -- with another storm taking aim at the region from today through late tomorrow. It’ll bring rain and a few thunderstorms to the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota this evening. And St. Paul officials say an investigation into police actions during a November immigration operation is still underway. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Elena See. Music by Gary Meister.