MPR News Update

Minneapolis police are investigating after a shooting at Boom Island Park last night left one person dead and five more injured. And more rounds of smoke from Canadian wildfires are forecast to move across Minnesota over the next couple of days. That's prompted officials to extend an air quality alert for the entire state through midday Wednesday.Those stories and more in today's evening news update. Hosted by Elena See. Music by Gary Meister.

An air quality alert is now in effect for all of Minnesota through Monday evening, as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to stream across the state. That's an expansion of earlier alerts, as the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says reinforcing waves of smoke are expected Saturday, Sunday and again on Monday.Listen for more on the MPR News afternoon update for Friday, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music by Gary Meister.

Layoff notices will begin going out tomorrow as lawmakers work on unfinished pieces of the state budget.And major wildfires burning north of Duluth for nearly three weeks are now nearly fully contained. But state officials expect the risk for more severe wildfires to remain, possibly all summer long.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Bright. Music by Gary Meister.

The Minnesota Timberwolves' season is over. They were beaten by the Oklahoma City Thunder Wednesday night 124-94. The Thunder jumped out to a 30 point lead in the first half and were never threatened. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points. OKC won the best-of-seven series 4 games to 1. They play next for an NBA championship.A federal judge in Fergus Falls sentenced two men Wednesday in a human smuggling operation that led to the deaths of an Indian family on the Minnesota-Canada border. The family was trying to cross illegally from Canada in January 2022 when a blizzard hit and they froze to death. Harshkumar Patel, a native of India, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in the smuggling ring. Steve Shand, a Florida resident, was sentenced to 6.5 years. The Minnesota Frost celebrated another championship Wednesday night in St. Paul. It's the second year in a row the Professional Women's Hockey League team won the Walter Cup trophy.A Minneapolis gang member convicted at a trial last fall is headed to federal prison for life.

A wildfire burning in the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota is growing, leading authorities to close off a part of Superior National Forest land in the Horse River area. The Horse River fire is still relatively small, but it has more than doubled in size in recent days to nearly 25 acres, and it's burning completely uncontained.This is the evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Bright. Music by Gary Meister.

Firefighters are inching closer to fully containing two wildfires that have burned for more than two weeks in northern Minnesota.And funding for the school readiness program Head Start was spared in spending cuts the House passed, but some people who work with struggling families worry cuts could still come as the House bill is considered in the Senate.Those stories and more in today's evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

A series of events gets underway today in Minneapolis to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the murder of George Floyd and the racial justice movement that it sparked. A moment of silence will be held this afternoon at the intersection of 38th and Chicago where Floyd was killed.The Minneapolis Park Board is closing some parking areas around Bde Maka Ska earlier in the evening. That change is in response to safety concerns stemming from large groups gathering in those parking lots at night. The Park Board said those groups have engaged in “disruptive, illegal, and sometimes violent conduct.”The Timberwolves lost to the Thunder last night in game two of the NBA's Western Conference championship series 118-103. The Thunder now lead a best-of-seven series 2-0. The Minnesota Frost beat the Ottawa Charge 2-1 last night to knot the PWHL's Walter Cup finals at a game apiece. Britta Curl-Salemme scored both Frost goals.

Faith leaders gathered at Minneapolis City Hall today for an interfaith prayer, marking the five-year anniversary of George Floyd's murder by Minneapolis police. And Gov. Tim Walz defended a proposal today to roll back a tax exemption for data centers in the state.Those stories and more in today's evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

A series of events gets underway today in Minneapolis to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the murder of George Floyd and the racial justice movement that it sparked. A moment of silence will be held this afternoon at the intersection of 38th and Chicago where Floyd was killed.The Minneapolis Park Board is closing some parking areas around Bde Maka Ska earlier in the evening. That change is in response to safety concerns stemming from large groups gathering in those parking lots at night. The Park Board said those groups have engaged in “disruptive, illegal, and sometimes violent conduct.”The Timberwolves lost to the Thunder last night in game two of the NBA's Western Conference championship series 118-103. The Thunder now lead a best-of-seven series 2-0. The Minnesota Frost beat the Ottawa Charge 2-1 last night to knot the PWHL's Walter Cup finals at a game apiece. Britta Curl-Salemme scored both Frost goals.

An international student who's been in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody since March was released under a judge's order Thursday. Firefighting crews are now making quick progress on wildfires that have burned in northeastern Minnesota for nearly two weeks. And lawmakers are expecting to work through the Memorial Day weekend to finalize the bills needed to craft a two-year state budget.

Police reform advocates in Minneapolis are denouncing the Trump administration's attempt to drop the federal consent decree.And a working group on the human services budget bill at the Minnesota Legislature is meeting privately to iron out differences. As they do, advocates for disabled people in the state held a rally this morning to push against possible cuts for disability waivers.Those stories and more in today's evening news update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

While much of the state budget will get sorted out in a special session, lawmakers passed a bill to fund several state government agencies last night. Heavy rains that have fallen in parts of the state today will ease drought and abnormally dry conditions.Those stories and more in today's evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Crews battling wildfires in northeastern Minnesota have had to contend with windy conditions today. East winds of 15 to 20 miles per hour have been accompanied by gusts of up to 40 miles per hour.And meteorologist Sven Sundgaard says that while a system will bring rain to the state today through Wednesday, it's expected to miss the region where fires are burning.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Gov. Tim Walz is promising residents in the fire ravaged areas in the northeastern part of the state will get help in rebuilding.Public sector unions are expressing frustration over a proposed plan to close the state prison in Stillwater. Those stories and more in today's evening update. Hosted by Emily Bright. Music by Gary Meister.

Minnesota legislative leaders and Gov. Tim Walz say they have a budget deal. Leaders say the negotiations brought a bipartisan plan that balances the budget into the future. And the University of Minnesota will close a research center focusing on racial health disparities following a plagiarism scandal.Those stories and more in today's evening update. Hosted by Jacob Aloi. Music by Gary Meister.

Two large wildfires burning uncontrolled in northeastern Minnesota grew significantly overnight. The Jenkins Creek fire more than doubled in size and has now burned more than 20,000 acres of forest, or about 31 square miles. It's burning north in a long, narrow band east of Hoyt Lakes and south of Babbitt. Meanwhile the Camp House Fire grew modestly to about 15,000 acres. That fire near Brimson has destroyed at least 144 structures.That story and more in today's evening update. Hosted by Kelly Bleyer. Music by Gary Meister.

It's another hot, dry, breezy day across the region -- creating more challenges for crews battling wildfires in northeast Minnesota. More than 40 homes and cabins have been destroyed by the fast-moving wildfires.Those stories and more in today's evening update. Hosted by Kelly Bleyer. Music by Gary Meister.

Authorities are still investigating what caused a fast-burning wildfire about 35 miles north of Duluth, but believe a campfire may be to blame. Much of Minnesota is under an air quality alert Monday. And Gov. Tim Walz is urging lawmakers to compromise as their budget deadline quickly approaches.

At a roundtable Friday, 8th District Republican Minnesota Congressman Pete Stauber said Congressional Republicans will not cut Medicaid but, rather, work to make sure people are not abusing government help by implementing a work requirement for medical aid. Some state lawmakers want to repeal a ban on seclusions for children in kindergarten through 3rd grade. Seclusions are forced isolations from the classroom. In Minnesota, 100 percent of children who are placed in seclusion have disabilities. Advocates for the repeal say educators need this option as a last resort, but disability rights supporters like DFL Rep. Kim Hicks argue seclusions don't help anyone.“We have to ask ourselves, do we really support people with disabilities and students with disabilities, if we will not stand up for the basic human right to not be locked in a box at six?” she said. The state Department of Education recommends an "urgent end” to seclusion for all children by 2026.Macalester College in St. Paul says it will house international students over the summer, in light of uncertain immigration rules.In an announcement to students and staff this week, college President Suzanne Rivera said the school is worried about students not being able to get back into the country if visa rules change after they leave for the summer. Go deeper with the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter.Macalester College offers free summer housing to international students with visa worriesMinnesota disabilities advocates push back on plan to restore school seclusion roomsSubscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

Local Catholics are excited about the election of Pope Leo XIV from Chicago. "We have a pope! An American!" said Joan McLeod and Gailyn Ryan. The University of Minnesota says it has lost more than 70 federal grants totaling more than $22 million in Trump administration budget cuts and that it does not know what's coming next. And the first Republican contender has entered the 2026 Minnesota governor's race.Those stories and more in today's evening newscast from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

The driver charged in a crash that killed two people and injured nine others at a St. Louis Park restaurant last year entered a guilty plea in Hennepin County court this morning.And a bill that strengthens consequences for people with multiple DWIs has passed the Minnesota Senate.Those stories and more in today's evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey's 2025 State of the City address was heavy on public safety improvements. The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management has announced the date for the first lottery to decide who will get cannabis business licenses from the state.Those stories and more in today's evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

A Minnesota Senate ethics panel has deadlocked along party lines and won't proceed with a complaint against DFL Senate President Bobby Joe Champion today.The Rochester police department says it's completed an investigation into a video posted on social media that featured a woman calling a child a racial slur at a local park.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.