Minnesota Today

Arctic Cat has cut more than five dozen jobs at its plant in Thief River Falls amid a downturn in the market for snowmobiles. And Anheuser Busch will close a large malting facility in Moorhead and move the work to a plant in Shakopee. Those stories and more in today’s evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police in 2020 started an uprising in Minneapolis and across the country. A new book and accompanying art exhibit spotlights and documents the art from that time period: the plywood murals made by protesters and mourners during the uprising. MPR News host Nina Moini talks with Leesa Kelly, the book’s author and founder of the organization, “Memorialize the Movement,” along with Amira McClendon, an artist and curator of the exhibition at the University of Minnesota.

A meatpacking company will pay a $2 million penalty, after reaching a settlement with the state of Minnesota over alleged child labor violations. The state says it found that Smithfield Foods illegally employed 11 teenagers, some as young as 14, at its plant in St. James between 2021 and 2023. Also, Lindsey Vonn says she’s ready to compete again. This is the evening MPR News update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music by Gary Meister

Scott County elections officials set Thursday, Nov. 21, as the day ballots will be recounted by hand in the race for House District 54A in Scott County. The county's canvassing board certified the vote count Wednesday which gives Democratic incumbent Rep. Brad Tabke a 14-vote margin of victory over his Republican challenger Aaron Paul. And people in Minnesota can now apply to a state health care program regardless of citizenship or immigration status. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Jacob Aloi. Music by Gary Meister. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. GOP Minnesota House candidates say they’ll ‘fight to make sure every ballot is counted’ MinnesotaCare applications now open to Minnesotans regardless of immigration status Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

Emailed bomb threats have been coming into county election offices across the state since last Friday. And President-elect Donald Trump announced Army veteran, Fox News host and Minnesota native Pete Hegseth as his pick to be defense secretary. Those stories and more in today’s evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday nominated a Minnesota native to serve as his defense secretary. 44-year-old Pete Hegseth grew up in Forest Lake. He's an Army veteran who ran against U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar in 2012. Hegseth is now a co-host of "Fox and Friends Weekend" on the Fox News Channel. And a federal judge recently struck down a Biden administration policy that could impact thousands of Minnesota families with mixed citizenship status. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Alex Simpson. Music by Gary Meister. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. Trump nominates Fox News host and Minnesotan Pete Hegseth for defense secretary Judge strikes down Biden program shielding immigrant spouses from deportation Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison says he'll sue if President-elect Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress try to circumvent Minnesota law. And St. Paul officials will erase the medical debt of 32,000 people. Those stories and more in today’s evening update. Hosted by Jacob Aloi. Music by Gary Meister.

The Minneapolis City Council will listen to public input Tuesday afternoon about the shooting of Davis Moturi. Moturi, who is Black, was allegedly shot last month by John Sawchuck, a white neighbor who previously threatened Moturi. City leaders say an independent investigation is forthcoming that will focus on why police didn't intervene before the shooting occurred. And President-elect Donald Trump's victory last week could help ease the path for copper-nickel mines near the Boundary Waters. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Alex Simpson. Music by Gary Meister. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. Trump election could reopen path for mining near Boundary Waters Minneapolis city officials plan independent review of police handling of shooting case Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

It is Veterans Day, and at ceremony in Arden Hills today Gov. Tim Walz thanked veterans and the people who care for them. And Sherburne County says it plans to pay for a hand recount in a few close races to confirm the accuracy of last week's election results. Those stories and more in today’s evening update. Hosted by Jacob Aloi. Music by Gary Meister.

Veterans Day observances are taking place Monday across Minnesota to thank and honor all veterans for their service to the country. And the Minneapolis City Council will hear a proposal this week for reconstruction of the intersection where George Floyd was killed. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Alex Simpson. Music by Gary Meister. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. In Warren, a different kind of veterans memorial draws people near Native American veterans reflect on military service and family ties Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

A narrow winning margin for the DFL candidate for a St. Cloud-area seat in the Minnesota House has widened, now that updated figures were released today. And Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz gave his first public speech after being part of the losing Democratic presidential ticket this week. Those stories and more in tonight’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Duluth police say five people were found dead Thursday in an apparent murder-suicide at two homes in the city. Officers made a welfare check just after 2 p.m. and found a 47-year-old woman and a child dead from gunshot wounds. Police say they identified a suspect and went to his home about a mile away. Inside they found a 46-year-old woman and another child who also fatally shot. The suspect, a 46-year-old man, was also found dead. And after a three-week trial, a Mankato jury has found Adam Fravel guilty on all four charges for the 2023 murder of Madeline Kingsbury. Kingsbury was the mother of Fravel's children. David Kingsbury, Madeline's father, says justice has been served — but it won't bring his daughter back. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. Adam Fravel found guilty on all charges in Kingsbury murder Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

After a three-week trial, a jury found Adam Fravel guilty of four charges for the murder of Madeline Kingsbury. Kingsbury was the mother of Fravel's children. The case attracted national attention and was moved from Winona to Mankato as a result. And Democrats are assessing their party’s poor showing in Tuesday’s election. That includes a further erosion of support for Democratic candidates in rural areas. Those stories and more in today’s evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

The results of Tuesday's election is expected to produce a tie in the Minnesota House of Representatives; DFL and Republican Party leaders say they are looking at how to share power. And voters Tuesday overwhelmingly passed a constitutional amendment that diverts tens of millions of dollars in Minnesota lottery proceeds annually to environmental projects around the state. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. Expecting a tie in the Minnesota House, party leaders look to share power A deadlocked Minnesota House? We’ve been here before Voters overwhelmingly back Minnesota lottery spending on environmental projects for another 25 years Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

The race for Minnesota's House of Representatives could well result in an even 67-67 split between parties, with two anticipated recounts. The last — and only time — the house was tied was in 1979. And it was another election with high voter turnout in Minnesota. About 76 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots, according to the state's initial estimates.

Republican Donald Trump has been elected the 47th president of the United States. The Associated Press called the race after Trump’s victory in key battle ground states including Wisconsin. It's an extraordinary comeback for the former president, who becomes the first person convicted of a felony to win the White House. In Minnesota, Democrat Kamala Harris won the vote for presidency, beating Trump 51 to 47 percent. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar won reelection for her fourth term. She beat GOP opponent Royce White easily. But, in lamenting the GOP's nationwide success, Klobuchar said Americans want Washington to find common ground. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. Trump wins the White House in political comeback rooted in appeals to frustrated voters Election 2024 live updates: Control of Minnesota House still unknown By the numbers: In Minnesota politics, the more things change, the more they stay the same Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

Minnesota’s Secretary of State says early voter turnout on election day has been high. Steve Simon said he’d been able to reach 20 of Minnesota’s 87 counties by noon, all of whom were reporting that the voting process was going well. Those stories and more in today’s evening update on Election Day, November 5. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

It's Tuesday, Nov. 5 — Election Day. Polls are open between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. A Crow Wing County woman is marking 74 years of service as an election judge. The man accused of killing five young women in a high-speed crash along Lake Street last year rejected a plea deal Monday and will go to trial in February. Derrick Thompson was allegedly driving a rented SUV when he exited Interstate 35W and crashed into a Honda Civic, killing the women inside as they were running errands ahead of a friend's wedding. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org. 'I thought it would be fun.' 92-year-old election judge has served voters for 7 decades Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

More than one million Minnesotans have already cast their ballots for the 2024 election. The Minnesota Secretary of State's Office reports more than 1,170,000 voters have already cast their ballots ahead of Election Day. And Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz is taking his final campaign blitz on the road to two battleground states today: Wisconsin and Michigan. Those stories and more in today’s evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Tuesday is Election Day. A new law in Minnesota is meant to protect poll workers from harassment. The measure prohibits threatening and intimidating anyone involved in administering elections. A handful of federal election monitors will be observing voting at Twin Cities polling places Tuesday. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find these headlines and more at Mprnews.org. Minnesota campaigns, volunteers make their final play for votes as clock ticks down Minnesota law bans harassment, intimidation of election workers Read the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.