Minnesota Today

Minnesota principals say they don’t have the time they need to do the sorts of instructional leadership their jobs require. According to a new report from the University of Minnesota, principals statewide responded to a survey saying they spend more time than they’d like on administrative tasks. And a new national report ranks Minnesota in the bottom half of the country for preschool enrollment. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

A sentencing date has been set for the Minnesota man convicted last week in the fatal stabbing of a teenager while tubing on a western Wisconsin river. Nicolae Miu will be sentenced on July 31st in St. Croix County Circuit Court in Hudson. And the St. Paul City Council unanimously passed a zoning proposal Wednesday that aims to prepare the city for a future with more electric vehicles. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find more from these stories at MPRnews.org. Sentencing date set for Apple River stabbing case St. Paul City Council votes unanimously to boost EV-readiness Read the latest edition of the AM Update newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

The family of Ricky Cobb II announced today a federal lawsuit against the state trooper who fatally shot him last year. And two Minnesotans are on Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people of 2024, announced today. That story and more in today’s evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

State lawmakers have advanced a proposal that addresses one item rideshare drivers and companies want settled. And Minnesota’s first lady Gwen Walz Tuesday joined gun control advocates at the State Capitol urging the Legislature to approve a pair of firearm bills. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find more stories at MPRnews.org. Read the latest edition of the AM Update newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

UnitedHealth Group spent about $872 million responding to a cyberattack in its first quarter, according to the company's earnings report released today. Crews continued searching a southwest Minnesota lake today for a 15-year-old boy who went missing while canoeing yesterday evening. Those stories and more in today’s evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Local governments in Minnesota are asking the state to help them fund projects that address new federal drinking water standards regarding so-called forever chemicals. And leaders of the House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee are backing $36 million in supplemental funding to expand child welfare and protection and food assistance. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find more from these stories at MPRnews.org. Local governments look to state to help foot PFAS bill Push for more Minnesota child care funding falls short as legislative session winds down Read the latest edition of the AM Update newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

The Minnesota DFL is disavowing a local party chapter's endorsement of a Minnesota House candidate convicted of second-degree felony assault. And a federal lawsuit accuses Anoka County and employees of deliberately ignoring the medical needs of a former jail inmate in opioid withdrawal. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

The east side of the historic Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis is now closed for repairs. And a construction project affecting two major routes through south Minneapolis is also getting underway today. On- and off-ramps linking Hiawatha Avenue and East Lake Street will be closed through October. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find more from these stories at MPRnews.org. Stone Arch Bridge visitors enjoy last weekend before repairs commence Road construction: 193 projects on tap for 2024 season Read the latest edition of the AM Update newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

A judge Friday gave a life sentence to a Brooklyn Park man who pleaded guilty in the death of his ex-girlfriend. Erick Haynes ordered two teenagers to break into the home of Zaria McKeever and kill her new partner, but one of the teens shot McKeever instead. This is the evening update from MPR News, hosted by Peter Cox. Theme music by Gary Meister.

A pair of bills pending in the Legislature would require transparent, upfront pricing that includes add-on service fees for everything from concert tickets to hotel rooms and restaurant bills. Both proposals passed the House Thursday. And 2024 is on pace to be the deadliest year on Minnesota roads in some time — from Jan. 1 through April 10, traffic fatalities were up 61 percent compared to a year ago.

The Minneapolis City Council voted today to extend implementation of its ordinance boosting pay for Uber and Lyft drivers by two months. Both Uber and Lyft have said the new rates are too high and will cause them to pull their services from the city. And after a trial that lasted 8 days, a Wisconsin jury found Nicolae Miu guilty today of first-degree reckless homicide in the 2022 Apple River stabbings. Those stories and more in today’s evening update. Hosted by Elena See. Music by Gary Meister.

One person was killed and two Hennepin County sheriff's deputies were injured Wednesday in Minnetonka. Police say the deputies suffered non life-threatening injuries while attempting to serve a felony arrest warrant. And no verdict was reached Wednesday in the Nicolae Mui trial. The jury continues deliberations Thursday. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find more from these stories at MPRnews.org. 2 Hennepin County deputies injured in Minnetonka, ‘armed’ person dies Read the latest edition of the AM Update newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

A lawsuit filed Wednesday against Hennepin County says it failed to protect its employees and take action against former sheriff Dave Hutchinson. Current and former employees of the Hennepin County sheriff's office blasted Hutchinson in the lawsuit, alleging he regularly made bigoted comments, and threatened employees' jobs and personal safety. The afternoon MPR News update is hosted by Elena See. Theme music by Gary Meister.

A Prior Lake man charged in the fatal stabbing of a Stillwater teenager during a 2022 tubing trip in western Wisconsin took the witness stand Tuesday. Nicolae Miu testified he acted in self-defense when he killed 17-year-old Isaac Schuman and injured four others. And Xcel Energy customers could soon pay different rates for the electricity they use, depending on the time of day. Find more from these stories at MPRnews.org. Xcel Energy hopes charging more for electricity during peak hours will encourage customers to shift energy use Read the latest edition of the AM Update newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

The Minnesota House has backed a proposal to let voters sue in some situations. The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in 2023 that the federal Voting Rights Act doesn't give individuals the right to sue since they're not explicitly named in law. Republicans said the state should not get involved in the matter. This is the evening MPR News update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music by Gary Meister.

Advocates for people with disabilities and members of the business community are warning it would be disastrous to allow Uber and Lyft to leave the city of Minneapolis. And President Joe Biden was in Wisconsin Monday, where he said more than 30 million borrowers would see “life-changing” relief from his plan to ease student loan debt. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find more from these stories at MPRnews.org. Frey again pushes Minneapolis City Council to reconsider Uber/Lyft ordinance Biden promotes 'life-changing' student loan relief in Wisconsin as he rallies younger voters Read the latest edition of the AM Update newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

Minnesota legislators are considering a measure to require any person selling copper to have a state-issued license to curb wire theft. St. Paul is one city that has been plagued by copper wire loss from street lights, creating dark neighborhoods. Also, the state Senate backed a bill that adds extra legal protections for renters. The is the evening MPR News update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music by Gary Meister.

The trial of Nicolae Miu, a Minnesota man charged with fatally stabbing a teenager during a tubing trip in western Wisconsin, is entering its second week. And the Minneapolis City Council gets an update this afternoon on reuse of the old 3rd Precinct police headquarters. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find more from these stories at MPRnews.org. Minneapolis plans community safety center, police precinct under same roof Testimony continues at trial for man charged in Apple River stabbing Read the latest edition of the AM Update newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

Discipline records from the Minneapolis Police Department show that about a dozen officers were disciplined for actions during unrest following George Floyd's murder in 2020. And the state Legislature would take the responsibility for building future light rail projects away from the Met Council and assign it instead to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Lawmakers and rideshare companies are working to avoid service disruptions in the Twin Cities spurred by a new Minneapolis ordinance. And native Minnesotan Paige Bueckers and her UConn Huskies face player of the year Caitlin Clark and her Iowa Hawkeyes tonight in the Final Four. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister. Find more from these stories at MPRnews.org. Lyft attempts negotiation on Minneapolis drivers’ wage increase Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers have been in each other’s orbit for years. The Final Four beckons Read the latest edition of the AM Update newsletter. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.