Minnesota Today

The investigation into the fatal shooting of a Minnesota corporate executive in New York City is now in its third day. The St. Paul Public School district has named three finalists for its next superintendent. The district began its search after Joe Gothard left the post for a job in Wisconsin this spring. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Officer Jesse Branch, who died as a result of a two-vehicle crash on Nov. 27, will have a funeral held for him Saturday in Red Lake. The driver of the other vehicle, Alan Lussier Jr., a Red Lake band member, also died. The 35-year-old officer was a father of six. Minnesota's top federal law enforcement official says he'll step down before Inauguration Day. Andy Luger is wrapping up his second stint as the state’s U.S. Attorney after serving under President Barack Obama, as well. It's custom for political appointees to resign during presidential transitions. This is a MPR News morning update, hosted by Alexander Simpson. Music by Gary Meister. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. Minnesota U.S. Attorney Andy Luger to step down ahead of Trump transition Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

The search for the gunman who fatally shot a Minnesota corporate executive continues today in New York City. And the Minneapolis City Council fell one vote short of overriding Mayor Jacob Frey's veto of a labor standards board. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

New York City authorities report no new details in the shooting death Wednesday of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. He was gunned down by a person who fled the scene on foot, and then may have used an electric bike to ride through Central Park. NYPD chief of detectives Joe Kenny said the assailant waited for Thompson before shooting him multiple times. Minnesota U.S. Rep. Angie Craig on Wednesday offered her condolences to Thompson’s family and his colleagues, during a gathering of Minnesota health professionals. Minneapolis City Council Member Emily Koski has announced she’s running for mayor. She joins Minnesota DFL Sen. Omar Fateh and Rev. DeWayne Davis in challenging Mayor Jacob Frey in his bid for reelection. This is a MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. Police hunt for the gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO in Manhattan Minneapolis City Council member Emily Koski joins mayor’s race Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

Brian Thompson, the CEO of Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare, was shot and killed this morning. The state of Minnesota has released an economic forecast this morning that is $1.1 billion less than its prior estimates. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

State economic officials release a key budget forecast on Wednesday. The projection of either a surplus or deficit will provide lawmakers and the governor an idea of how to proceed when crafting a new two-year budget. A Ramsey County judge heard arguments Tuesday in an election challenge that could alter a party tie in the Minnesota House next year. And the Minnesota Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday about whether USA Powerlifting discriminated against a transgender woman when it refused to allow her to take part in women's competition in 2018. This is a MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. Minnesota economic forecast will set fiscal tone at newly configured state Capitol Transgender powerlifter asks Minnesota Supreme Court to let her compete in women’s events Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

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 Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

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 Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

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 Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

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 Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

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. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

The jury in the federal human smuggling trial in Fergus Falls today returned guilty verdicts on all counts against Hari Patel and Steve Shand. The four Republican members of Minnesota's U.S. House delegation hope to influence President-elect Donald Trump's choices for federal appointments in the state. And another legal challenge looms over a Minnesota House race in the knotted-up legislative chamber. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

The Democratic incumbent in a Shakopee-area legislative race is the likely winner after a recount Thursday. Rep. Brad Tabke led his Republican challenger, Aaron Paul, by 15 votes. And after three days of testimony, a federal human smuggling trial is drawing to a close in Fergus Falls. The jury will receive final instructions before beginning deliberations Friday. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. Tabke wins Shakopee-area legislative race after recount, House control still unknown Closing arguments delivered in federal human smuggling case Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

Legislative leaders met with Gov. Tim Walz today for the first time since voters broke up DFL control of the Legislature in this month's election. And the Minnesota Lottery needs to strengthen its internal controls to ensure that it meets all its legal obligations, according to a new report from the Minnesota Legislative Auditor. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

The Robbinsdale school district held a town hall Wednesday night to discuss its budget. A counting error left the district with a $20 million shortfall. And two former St. Paul school district employees are filing a lawsuit against the district, claiming they were fired after raising concerns about how district leaders were handling finances. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. Robbinsdale schools to make budget cuts to address $20M shortfall error Two former St. Paul school employees file lawsuit, alleging they were fired for raising financial concerns Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.