MPR News Update

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem traveled to Minnesota Friday to deliver remarks on the ongoing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. Noem's visit comes at a time of growing tension over immigration enforcement across the country. In Minnesota, immigrant rights groups have urged state and local leaders to push back against expanded federal enforcement. Minneapolis-based Target plans to lay off about a thousand corporate employees as part of an effort to streamline its operations.This is an MPR News Evening update, hosted by Kelly Bleyer. Theme music is by Gary Meister.  Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS. 

A state lawmaker is pushing for laws to protect students from inappropriate relationships in K-12 schools. Two Minnesota women pleaded guilty Tuesday in a scheme to defraud taxpayers by overbilling Medicaid for substance abuse treatment.Minneapolis police have arrested a person suspected of throwing two Molotov cocktails into an ice cream shop. It happened at Fletcher's Ice Cream and Cafe on East Hennepin Avenue. No one was hurt.Advocates pressuring the state Board of Investment to cut financial ties to Israel staged a sit-in Tuesday at the Retirement Systems Building in St. Paul. The protest was planned for the same day as the board's quarterly meeting. The protesters refused to leave the building when it closed for the day, and several were arrested.An asphalt and aggregate products business with many locations across Minnesota says it will be closing some of those facilities by the end of the year with nearly 300 employees losing their jobs. Minnesota Paving and Materials sent a notice to the state announcing the permanent closure of 14 of its operations in the state, including quarries in Owatonna and New Ulm and an asphalt plant in Kasota. The company's notice did not offer any details on why it's closing those locations.

The final victim of the Annunciation Catholic Church and School shooting in Minneapolis was discharged from the hospital Thursday. 12-year-old Sophia Forchas was shot on August 27th in the mass shooting that left two dead and thirty injured. A Twin Cities man is the first defendant to plead guilty in a scheme to defraud a Medicaid housing assistance program.This is an MPR News Evening update, hosted by Emily Bright. Theme music is by Gary Meister.  Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS. 

A state lawmaker is pushing for laws to protect students from inappropriate relationships in K-12 schools. Two Minnesota women pleaded guilty Tuesday in a scheme to defraud taxpayers by overbilling Medicaid for substance abuse treatment.Minneapolis police have arrested a person suspected of throwing two Molotov cocktails into an ice cream shop. It happened at Fletcher's Ice Cream and Cafe on East Hennepin Avenue. No one was hurt.Advocates pressuring the state Board of Investment to cut financial ties to Israel staged a sit-in Tuesday at the Retirement Systems Building in St. Paul. The protest was planned for the same day as the board's quarterly meeting. The protesters refused to leave the building when it closed for the day, and several were arrested.An asphalt and aggregate products business with many locations across Minnesota says it will be closing some of those facilities by the end of the year with nearly 300 employees losing their jobs. Minnesota Paving and Materials sent a notice to the state announcing the permanent closure of 14 of its operations in the state, including quarries in Owatonna and New Ulm and an asphalt plant in Kasota. The company's notice did not offer any details on why it's closing those locations.

A controversial proposed data center in northern Minnesota got some support last night, despite vocal community opposition. A group of people who want the state to cut financial ties to Israel held a sit-in at the Retirement Systems Building in St. Paul today. Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Elena See. Music by Gary Meister.

Minneapolis teachers say they plan to vote this week on whether to authorize a strike, if they don't reach an agreement with the district on a new contract. Users of some popular apps and social media platforms faced headaches as the result of an outage of Amazon Web Services.This is an MPR News Evening update, hosted by Kelly Bleyer. Theme music is by Gary Meister.  Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS. 

Local and state food aid providers warn that there won't be enough money to pay for food assistance benefits if the federal government shutdown continues into next month.And today is one of the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport's busiest days of the fall... as the annual MEA break starts.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Gov. Tim Walz says Minnesota is starting to feel the impacts of the federal government shutdown. A northern Minnesota tribe is suing 3M over pollution from "forever chemicals."And wildland firefighting crews continue working to fully contain the Crosby Fire burning in a remote part of a state park on the North Shore.

Gov. Tim Walz pushed back on the Trump administration's tariffs and the economic setbacks they're causing for Minnesota farmers Tuesday. On a call with other Democratic leaders, Walz said China -- a top trade partner with Minnesota -- is not buying soybeans from the state. The Crosby Fire in Northeast Minnesota is now 85 percent contained.This is an MPR News Evening update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music is by Gary Meister.  Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS. 

Families traveling for the annual MEA school break this week might see delays at airports around the country, with impacts from the federal government shutdown. Volunteers have been working to remove an invasive species from the Whitefish Chain of Lakes north of Brainerd.The Crosby Fire is 70 percent contained as of Monday morning. Rain overnight helped firefighting efforts.This is an MPR News Evening update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music is by Gary Meister.  Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS. 

Crews continue working to contain a wildfire that's now burned more than 200 acres in a state park along Minnesota's North Shore.And University of Minnesota administrators say they're continuing talks with health care companies about possible partnerships with its medical school. Its current partnership with Fairview is set to expire in 2026.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Elena See. Music by Gary Meister.

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon is supporting a new bill before Congress to prohibit removal of people from state voter rolls without evidence of a change in status.And the Minneapolis City Council this morning passed an ordinance that aims to tighten accountability for negligent landlords.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister

Minneapolis police say they've identified more people who were hurt in the August shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church, bringing the total count to 30 victims.Gov. Tim Walz is walking back prior remarks that he'd call a special legislative session with or without an agreement with lawmakers.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Tonight could be the coldest night of the fall so far across much of the region.And a former Minnesota Republican consultant and donor will not have his sex trafficking conviction reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Minnesota soybean farmers are suffering after their largest consumer stopped importing amid the Trump administration's trade war.And a prominent Democrat in the Minnesota Legislature has announced he will retire at the end of his term.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer spoke about what it will take to end the federal government shutdown.And a resident who witnessed an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in St. Paul's North End neighborhood says it only took about 15 minutes.Those stories and more in today's evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Gov. Tim Walz pushed back on a White House proposal to cancel funding for clean energy projects in states that didn't support President Donald Trump's presidential bid. The DFL governor and former vice-presidential candidate said the threat was clearly a political move. And prosecutors are asking a judge to jail a defendant in the next Feeding Our Future trial for allegedly trying to stop a cooperator from testifying.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Federal workers are either furloughed or working without pay during the government shutdown that started today.And federal officials say Minnesota's inclusion of trans athletes in female sports is a violation of Title IX. The Trump administration announced yesterday it had found Minnesota's high school league and state department of education in violation of civil rights law for policies that allow transgender athletes to compete on teams consistent with their gender.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

The U.S. Department of Justice is suing the state of Minnesota — along with Hennepin County, Minneapolis and St. Paul — over policies limiting local law enforcement agencies' work in immigration operations.And the driver of a pickup truck died this morning after it collided head-on with a school bus in the city of Andover. Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

The Minnesota Department of Revenue is warning Minnesotans NOT to engage with text messages claiming to provide tax refunds. Work was paused today on road construction projects across the state... after two workers died in separate incidents in construction zones last week. MnDOT says the first-ever statewide safety stand-down was held in part to honor the lives lost. It also was a chance for workers to have discussions and share their experiences in an effort to recommit to and improve work zone safety.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Five candidates vying to be the next Minneapolis mayor participated in Friday's debate. This year's election is on Nov. 4 and uses ranked-choice voting. Early voting began Sept. 19.Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz told MPR News if he's elected to a third term, he plans to serve the entire term.This is an MPR News Evening update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music is by Gary Meister.  Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS. 

State Senator and Minneapolis mayoral candidate Omar Fateh says his campaign office was vandalized this week with an Islamophobic message and threat graffitied on a wall. And the U.S. Department of Justice is suing Minnesota's top election official as it tries to unlock statewide voter registration data.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Jacob Aloi. Music by Gary Meister.