Minnesota Today

The longest-serving member of the Minnesota House died Wednesday evening. Mary Murphy was 85 years old. And a new $1.6 million shelter that can serve one dozen young adults aged 18 to 24 is set to open in Duluth next month. Currently there are only two to four beds for young adults in Duluth. This is a MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. Former DFL Rep. Mary Murphy, longest-serving woman in Minnesota House, dies at 85 New shelter to open in Duluth for young adults experiencing homelessness Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

The Minnesota DNR is investigating the deaths of waterfowl found dead across 20 counties in southern Minnesota in recent weeks. More than 50 birds were discovered and have tested positive for the a strain of the avian flu virus. Also longtime Minnesota legislator suffered a stroke last week. This is an MPR News Evening update, hosted by Emily Reeze. Theme music is by Gary Meister.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys are preparing for the felony burglary trial of DFL State Sen. Nicole Mitchell. And consumer groups and utilities are calling on state lawmakers to increase funding for energy assistance. This is a MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. As costs rise, number of Minnesotans losing heat, electricity spikes As session nears, status of a Minnesota lawmaker facing criminal charges remains a flashpoint Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

The Minnesota Department of Health is reporting over 40 outbreaks of norovirus so far this month. This is almost two times more than the usual number of outbreaks that occur in December. Addressing Medicaid fraud is the focus of a new position in the Minnesota Attorney General’s office, amid cases of alleged overbilling for substance abuse treatment service. This is the MPR News evening update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music by Gary Meister.

About 21,000 public employees in Minnesota may soon be eligible to receive Social Security benefits. On Saturday, the U.S. Senate passed the Social Security Fairness Act. If signed by President Joe Biden, the bill would allow police officers, letter carriers, firefighters and other public employees to receive a public pension and Social Security benefits. And NewRange Copper Nickel has wrapped up work on a $20 million salvage operation at its facility in northeastern Minnesota as the company continues to prepare for a possible mine. This is a MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. Twenty years after first proposed, NewRange still vying to build Minnesota’s first copper mine Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

In a ruling critical to Minnesota House control, a Democrat elected in November is barred from taking office after a court order in Ramsey County. Also, if you’re a fan of the snow that fell across much of the region this week, make sure to get out and savor it this weekend. Warmer weather is in the forecast for next week. This is the MPR News evening update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music by Gary Meister.

The weather will be top of mind for many of us Thursday. There is a winter storm warning in place from northwestern Minnesota running southeast through east-central Minnesota. There is winter weather advisory for just about everywhere else. Some schools across the state are closed or on delayed schedules. Minnesota’s second largest school district is set to select a new superintendent Thursday. St. Paul school leaders have narrowed their options to three candidates. All are women of color. And in sports, Karl-Anthony Towns returns to Target Center Thursday night. The former Timberwolves star was traded to the New York Knicks just before the season started. This is a MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister.

Minneapolis and Saint Paul have declared snow emergencies due to the snow with special parking rules going into effect at 9 p.m. Thursday. Snow totals by afternoon totaled 7 inches at New Prague in southern Minnesota, as well as at Holt in the northwest. Also, the state increased the size of the labor force with more workers taking jobs. Wages in Minnesota outpaced the rate of inflation. This is the MPR News evening update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music by Gary Meister.

The weather will be top of mind for many of us Thursday. There is a winter storm warning in place from northwestern Minnesota running southeast through east-central Minnesota. There is winter weather advisory for just about everywhere else. Some schools across the state are closed or on delayed schedules. Minnesota’s second largest school district is set to select a new superintendent Thursday. St. Paul school leaders have narrowed their options to three candidates. All are women of color. And in sports, Karl-Anthony Towns returns to Target Center Thursday night. The former Timberwolves star was traded to the New York Knicks just before the season started. This is a MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister.

Winter storm warnings are now in place for much of northern and central Minnesota —including the Twin Cities — from late Wednesday through Thursday. A storm system may drop more than half-foot of snow on parts of the state. The warnings stretch from the Red River Valley south and east to Saint Cloud, Duluth and the metro area. Also, Minnesota taxpayers eligible for a child tax credit can opt for advance payments beginning next year. This is the MPR News evening update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music by Gary Meister.

Two Minnesota Democrats will be taking leadership positions on agriculture committees in Washington. And voters who backed DFL Representative Brad Tabke testified today amid an election lawsuit. Those stories and more in today’s evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Electoral College members meet Tuesday at the State Capitol and at sites across the U.S. to cast the final votes in the presidential election. Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips gave farewell remarks to Congress on the House floor Monday. The 3rd Congressional District Democrat did not seek reelection. Phillips unsuccessfully sought his party's presidential nomination earlier this year. This is a MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

A judge has sentenced a southeast Minnesota man to life in prison without the possibility of parole for killing his estranged partner. Family and friends tearfully remembered Madeline Kingsbury in a Winona County courtroom Tuesday during Adam Fravel's sentencing hearing. And Minnesota took part in the ceremonial casting of Electoral College votes on Tuesday. This is a MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. ‘Pure evil’: Madeline Kingsbury’s family, friends decry abuse that led to her murder Adam Fravel sentenced to life in prison for murdering Madeline Kingsbury ‘An irreplaceable feeling’: Formerly incarcerated advocate votes in Electoral College Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

A DFL state lawmaker is appealing a judge's decision to let a lawsuit continue challenging his residency. And construction is underway on a new $32 million military and veterans’ museum next to Camp Ripley near Little Falls. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Elena See. Music by Gary Meister.

A trial kicks off Monday in Scott County in a case that could impact control of the Minnesota House of Representatives. The Minnesota Republican Party has a new chair. At a party meeting Saturday, Alex Plechash defeated David Hann, the party’s chair for the past three years. And last week, President Joe Biden commuted the federal prison sentences of more than 1,500 people — but not everyone is happy with the decision. One person whose sentence was commuted was Jim Carlson. In 2014, Carlson was convicted of selling illegal synthetic drugs from his Duluth head shop. On Facebook over the weekend, St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsey called Biden’s decision “frustrating.” Ramsey wrote that Carlson’s actions “contributed to the spread of addiction (and) increased crime.” This is a MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. Trial begins in Shakopee over Minn. House race that could swing control of chamber Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

If you have travel plans across southern or central Minnesota late tonight or tomorrow -- keep a close eye on weather and road conditions. And Hennepin County commissioners yesterday approved a $3.1 billion dollar budget for 2025. The budget includes a 5.5 percent property tax levy increase. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Bright. Music by Gary Meister.

There’s no indication the man who allegedly shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was ever insured by UHC. That’s according to a spokesperson for the Twin Cities-based company. The killing has prompted widespread speculation about whether Luigi Mangione had a bad personal experience with the health care insurer. The 26-year-old had spinal surgery last year for chronic back pain, but his public posts appear to be positive about the experience. Federal investigators have started looking into suspected Medicaid fraud among autism centers in Minnesota. A search warrant application unsealed by a federal judge Thursday alleges Smart Therapy in Minneapolis received nearly $14 million in reimbursements from Medicaid between 2020 and last month. Star Autism Center in St. Cloud — which opened in August 2020 — received $6 million. This is a MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. Back trouble and brain fog bothered suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing, his posts show FBI agents raid autism treatment centers in Minneapolis, St. Cloud Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

FBI agents this morning searched the offices of two autism treatment centers as part of a major investigation into Medicaid fraud. And the Minneapolis City Council enacted its 2025 budget today, overriding a mayoral veto. Those stories and more in today’s evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has vetoed the city council's budget, but the council could vote Thursday to override him. The St. Paul City Council approved a budget with a property tax levy increase that is lower than what the mayor proposed. The levy increase of 5.9 percent passed five to one. This is a MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. Mayor Jacob Frey vetoes 2025 budget approved by Minneapolis City Council St. Paul City Council passes property tax increase, makes cuts to mayor's spending plan Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he’s vetoing the 2025 budget approved by the city council last night. In a statement this afternoon, the mayor said he WILL approve the property tax levy, an increase of just under 7 percent. And the authors of Minnesota’s cannabis law are expressing disappointment over procedural delays that will push a retail market rollout into spring or summer. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.