Minnesota Today

The Minnesota Legislature begins its 2025 session in St. Paul. Lawmakers will need to set a budget between now and May. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon is pledging to adjourn the House if his fellow DFLers don't show up for the opening day. And the Vikings’ season is over. They lost to the Los Angeles Rams 27-9 Monday night in an NFC wild-card game. Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold was pressured from the start and was sacked a NFL playoff record-tying nine times. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. Five key questions as the Minnesota Legislature starts its session Rams overwhelm Vikings 27-9 in wild-card playoff game moved because of LA wildfires Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

Minnesota House leaders remain at odds over a power-sharing agreement ahead of the Legislature's start tomorrow. The University of Minnesota will receive more than $1.2 million in state lottery proceeds to track the threat of bird flu to the state's wildlife. That story and more in today’s evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Democratic and Republican leaders of the Minnesota Senate say they have come to an agreement to jointly run the chamber while it is tied for much of this month. Meanwhile, in the Minnesota House, Democrats took their oaths of office Sunday — as part of an effort to block Republican control when the legislative session begins. And three people died in a two-vehicle, head-on crash Sunday afternoon in central Minnesota. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened on Highway 169 near Mille Lacs Lake. This is a MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. Bumpier takeoff on tap for Minnesota Legislature’s session opening amid early oaths, election disputes Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

Minnesota hospitals are seeing a surge in visits. It's mostly flu patients, according to the state, but COVID-19, RSV and norovirus are also spiking. Hospitals says it's putting a strain on ICUs and increasing wait times in emergency departments. And a state senator facing burglary charges is requesting to postpone a jury trial until May — after the Minnesota legislative session comes to a close. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Are you sick? Know someone who is or has been? New data from the state health department shows hospital admissions for COVID-19 and RSV have increased, and flu-related hospitalizations are soaring. Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity invited the public to pay tribute to former President Jimmy Carter Thursday. The organization raised walls for community members to sign personal messages to the late president. This is a MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister.

Despite his death in 2021, Walter Mondale was part of today's funeral for President Jimmy Carter. Mondale's son Ted read a eulogy written in 2015 by the late vice president and Minnesota U.S. senator. Ans a DFL state senator won't vote remotely while on trial in Becker County on a criminal matter. Those stories and more in today’s evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

A federal judge has indefinitely delayed a hearing over former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin's effort to examine George Floyd's heart tissue. The Minneapolis Police Department this week welcomed the largest, most racially diverse incoming class of new hires to its department in more than five years. And North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley says Fargo police officers were justified during an officer-involved fatal shooting in November. This is a MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. Minneapolis Police Department welcomes largest class of new hires since George Floyd murder Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

Ahead of a Minnesota lawmaker's trial on burglary charges, attorneys are going back and forth over whether she can be called "senator" in front of jurors. Tens of thousands of people are fleeing wildfires in Los Angeles County. Crews are battling flames amid a heavy windstorm. Minnesota's Interagency Fire Center has so far not been tapped for help. A spokesperson says California officials will likely look for help from agencies in their region. Those stories and more in today’s evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

A new lawsuit aims to stop Minnesota's ban on products that contain PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals.” And state regulators modified the permit conditions for a gas pipeline near a pipestone quarry, a site sacred to Indigenous people in the southwestern part of the state. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission pulled back from permitting a construction route agreed on in September. Regulators now require Magellan Pipeline Company to work on an archaeological survey along two separate, possible routes. This is a MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. Cookware group files lawsuit against Minnesota’s PFAS ban Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

A Becker County judge has agreed to allow Minnesota media to record the jury trial of a state senator charged with burglary. And a cookware advocacy group filed a lawsuit in federal court yesterday that seeks relief from a new Minnesota law banning the sale and distribution of cookware containing PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals." Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

The power struggle in the Minnesota House is growing more intense — just a week ahead of the next legislative session. And the interim director of the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management is stepping down and being replaced with another interim director. This is a MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. Minnesota session agendas start to emerge as power fight drags on, acrimony picks up Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management will get new interim director Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

The state Republican Party has filed a lawsuit with the Minnesota Supreme Court that aims to halt a special election for a pivotal House seat. The lawsuit is over the timing of the late-January special election in the Roseville area. Delaying the election could keep Republicans in power in the House chamber later into the 2025 legislative session. The Minneapolis City Council this afternoon signed off on a long-awaited federal consent decree that mandates significant changes to the Minneapolis police department. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

The Minnesota Vikings lost to the Detroit Lions Sunday night 31-9. The Vikings had several opportunities to score in the first half, but couldn't convert in the red zone. With the loss, the Vikings enter the playoffs as the NFC's No. 5 seed. They play the Rams in Los Angeles in a week. The Minneapolis City Council on Monday hears details of a tentative agreement between the city and the U.S. Department of Justice over possible federal court oversight of its police department. The DOJ alleges the department discriminated against Black and Native residents and unjustifiably used excessive force. This is a MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. Lions beat Vikings 31-9, win NFC North and No. 1 seed, dropping division rivals to No. 5 Minneapolis officials may be near agreement on federal oversight of MPD Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

Gov. Tim Walz is bringing a more-aggressive stance toward fighting fraud in state programs to the table as the Legislature gets ready to tackle the issue this session. And Xcel Energy's Minnesota customers will see higher electric rates starting this month. Last month, state regulators approved a 5.2 percent interim rate increase for Xcel. That amounts to a little more than $5 extra a month for a typical household. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Minnesota’s newest member of Congress takes her place in Washington today. Kelly Morrison fills the 3rd Congressional District seat that had been held by fellow Democrat Dean Phillips, who didn’t run again. The rest of Minnesota’s eight-person House delegation are members ranging from their second term to their 12th term. Funeral services are today for longtime state Rep. Mary Murphy of Hermantown. She died last week at the age of 85. The DFLer was the longest-serving woman in the Minnesota House and the second-longest serving legislator of all time in Minnesota. The Minnesota Frost beat the Boston Fleet last night 4-3 in overtime. The Fleet scored two goals late in the game to send it to the extra period, and then Minnesota’s Britta Curl-Salemme scored on a breakaway in overtime. This is a MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. Minnesota Capitol control remains in flux after senator’s death, House seat vacated Rain and warmth forces postponement of the first sled dog race of the season Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

Several candidates dropped out of a race for a suburban House seat today, setting up a head-to-head match this month. And the City of Minneapolis and the U.S. Department of Justice have reached a tentative agreement on a consent decree, which could mandate extensive reforms to the Minneapolis Police Department. Sources confirmed the tentative agreement to MPR News. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Today is the deadline for candidates to pull out of the running in two special elections for state legislative seats. Ten Democrats and three Republicans are running for a Senate seat in Minneapolis that came open after the death of DFL Sen. Kari Dziedzic. In a Roseville-area special election for the House there are five DFL and one Republican candidate. A man died and another was injured in a stabbing late on New Year’s Eve at a bar in southwest Minnesota. A suspect was arrested. Minnesota’s first sled dog race of the new year — the Gunflint Mail Run — has been postponed because of poor snow conditions. This is a MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. Minnesota Capitol control remains in flux after senator’s death, House seat vacated Rain and warmth forces postponement of the first sled dog race of the season Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

Starting tomorrow, all court participants will be required to use the Minnesota Digital Exhibit System to upload hearing and trial evidence. And cannabis compact negotiations are underway between the state and some of the 11 tribal nations in Minnesota. If successful, this could lead to tribal cannabis growers providing wholesale supplies to dispensaries around the state when they open in mid-to late 2025. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Jacob Aloi. Music by Gary Meister.

Gov. Tim Walz called a special election to fill the Senate seat of former Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic who died last week. It will take place Jan. 28, along with another special election for a Minnesota House seat. A pedestrian died and another was injured when they were struck by a vehicle Monday night in St. Louis Park. The driver of the vehicle was arrested. And Duluth police have arrested a man on suspicion of stealing hockey sticks from the Mankato boy's hockey team on Friday night 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. January special election called for tiebreaker Minnesota Senate seat after Dziedzic’s death Duluth police recover most Mankato West hockey sticks Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

Minnesotans are remembering former President Jimmy Carter, who died yesterday at 100 years old. Carter picked Minnesota U.S. Senator Walter Mondale as his vice president. And Gov. Tim Walz has called a special election to fill the Senate seat of former Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic, who died last week. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Jacob Aloi. Music by Gary Meister.