Minnesota Today

Minnesota Public Radio
  • 4.4 (223)
  • Daily News
  • Updated Daily

Minnesota Today from MPR News brings you the most important stories from around the state. All on your schedule. Get updated on the latest news in about five minutes, every weekday morning and evening.

  1. 1d ago

    Wildfires burn nearly 73,000 acres in U.S. and Canada as crews watch for new lightning fires

    The U.S. Forest Service says wildfires have burned nearly 73,000 acres in the U.S. and Canada. The agency says about 1,000 personnel are working on the fires, which are about 60 percent contained. Officials say crews are monitoring the Chub Fire southwest of Crane Lake and the Camp Fire northeast of Ely. They’re also watching for new fires that may have started from recent lightning strikes. Minnesota economic development officials say the tax that funds the state’s paid family and medical leave program will stay flat for 2027. The Department of Employment and Economic Development says the existing 0.88 percent payroll tax should be enough to cover claims next year. The tax is split between workers and employers. The department says 75,000 people have used the program so far this year, with benefits costing about $600 million. The Minnesota Department of Health says a large multistate outbreak of gastrointestinal illness caused by the cyclospora parasite has not been linked to Minnesota. Health officials say Minnesota has reported 98 cases of cyclosporiasis since early May, which is in line with what the state typically sees during the summer. The department says it is not observing any concerning trends. There is currently no indication that contaminated items tied to the outbreak were distributed in Minnesota. A St. Paul iron foundry is shutting down after years of pressure from community members and regulators. Northern Iron, in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood, has faced fines from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency over excessive air pollution. Regulators took the foundry to court to try to revoke its permit. Northern Iron says uncertainty over whether it would be allowed to keep operating forced it to close, and foundry leaders say they plan to fully close the facility by the end of the year.

  2. 1d ago

    Hundreds of thousands of Haitians across the country face uncertainty as their Temporary Protected Status ends

    Several new Minnesota laws about domestic violence are taking effect soon. The bills were passed with bipartisan support during the most recent legislative session. One gives police more time to arrest someone suspected of domestic violence without a warrant. Another clarifies the process for how offenders surrender their guns. Temporary Protected Status for people from Haiti ended this week, leaving hundreds of thousands of Haitians across the country facing uncertainty — including some in Minnesota. Immigration attorneys and business groups say the end of the program could also create challenges for employers that rely on TPS holders in industries like long-term care, construction and restaurants. More allegations emerged Thursday of bizarre behavior by St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her. A former deputy police chief told investigators from an outside law firm that the mayor approached her in a locker room and asked if her own breasts were too big before complimenting the officer's breasts. A source with knowledge of the investigation tells MPR News that Her also allegedly made "orgasmic noises" while working out in the police gym. GOP U.S. Senate candidate Royce White’s bid to undo an order for protection against him is outlined in a new legal filing. That order, granted by a district court judge, requires White to steer clear of his teen son for two years and his former partner for 50 years. Some GOP leaders urged him to drop out of the Senate race after judicial findings earlier this year that White engaged in bouts of aggression and other verbal threats. Minneapolis has approved the appointment of its next fire chief. Reginald Freeman will join the department after serving as fire chief in Hartford, Connecticut, Oakland, California and some jobs overseas. New Minnesota laws tackle domestic violence response and prevention As Haiti TPS protections end, Minnesota immigrants and employers wonder what comes next Former St. Paul police official alleges Mayor Kaohly Her made inappropriate comments Minneapolis City Council approves Reginald Freeman as new fire chief

  3. 2d ago

    Drought now covers 76 percent of Minnesota after recent heat waves

    The latest U.S. Drought Monitor shows 76 percent of Minnesota is in drought. MPR meteorologist Sven Sundgaard says recent heat waves have dried out soils across the state. The Twin Cities metro area is in the abnormally dry to moderate drought category. Parts of north-central Minnesota are even drier, in the severe drought category. The Forest Service is reopening some entry points at the end of the Gunflint Trail to day trips Friday. Cook County and Forest Service officials say recent rainfall and increased staffing on the Little Knife fire are allowing authorities to lift more evacuation orders and reopen more entry points near the Gunflint Trail. Canoe outfitters and resort owners have been hit hard by recent Boundary Waters closures due to wildfires. More than 40 percent of the area is now reopened. St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her says she is cooperating with an independent investigation into allegations that she sexually harassed city employees. In a statement Wednesday, Her said she takes her responsibility to treat every employee with professionalism and respect seriously. Police Chief Axel Henry filed a complaint in April over text messages Her sent to city employees. Her says the texts were “attempts at humor” that fell short of the standard she expects of herself. Temporary Minnesota Department of Human Services Commissioner John Connolly says the agency has not had adequate oversight to identify fraud in its social services programs. Federal prosecutors say Medicaid fraud in Minnesota has been happening at an industrial scale. Connolly told MPR News the agency did not have the right policies, infrastructure or capacity to prevent it. Last week, federal officials announced they are withholding an additional $200 million in Medicaid funding. A company working to open a copper mine on the Iron Range has submitted updated plans to Minnesota environmental regulators. NewRange Copper Nickel is proposing several changes to the controversial project, including changes to how it stores waste tailings. The company also says it will release much less wastewater into the environment. The project earned state permits eight years ago, but lawsuits filed by environmental groups have since stalled it.

  4. 2d ago

    Parts of the BWCA reopen to overnight camping

    State legislators from across the country are vowing to introduce legislation that makes it possible for residents to directly sue federal agents who violate their constitutional rights. State lawmakers also plan to introduce similar legislation in Illinois, Colorado and other states. Parts of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area are reopening to overnight camping today. With firefighters making good progress containing several wildfires in the region, the Forest Service is opening about 40 percent of the Boundary Waters to overnight visitors. The Forest Service says it's monitoring conditions daily for opportunities to open more of the wilderness. Many of the most popular entry points, including those at the end of the Gunflint Trail, remain closed. This summer, blood donations have hit a four-year low, worsening the ongoing emergency blood shortage. The American Red Cross declared a national "blood crisis" in early July as the number of donations have not kept pace with hospital demand. Extreme heat, poor air quality and widespread foodborne illnesses have led to lower donor turnout this season. The Red Cross for Minnesota and the Dakotas is asking individuals to donate all blood types, but there is an urgent need for O negative and O positive blood. St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her is under investigation for alleged sexual harassment. According to reporting by the Star Tribune, Police Chief Axel Henry has filed a complaint against Her for allegedly sending sexually suggestive text messages to a city employee. A new report finds that federal immigration agents misused force more than 400 times since last summer. Physicians for Human Rights and the Human Rights Center at the UC Berkeley School of Law went through hours of video, legal filings and news accounts in their investigation. According to the report, Minneapolis accounted for a quarter of all cases where federal agents misused force on protesters. Minnesota, other states, will push for ICE protections Back into the BWCA: Canoeing campers return to the wilderness after wildfire closure The American Red Cross for Minnesota and the Dakotas declares blood crisis due to shortage St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her under investigation for sexual harassment allegations

  5. 3d ago

    St. Paul police chief accuses mayor of sexual harassment

    St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry is accusing Mayor Kaohly Her of sexual harassment. A spokesperson for the mayor confirmed that an investigation is underway. Henry’s attorney says Her sent sexually suggestive text messages to a city employee and sexually harassed multiple members of city staff, including police officers. The mayor’s spokesperson says the city will not comment further on an active investigation, and says Her “regrets any unintended impact her actions may have had.” Two summer camps in northern Minnesota are resuming activities as wildfire conditions improve. YMCA’s Camp Widjiwagan and Camp du Nord, both near Ely, evacuated campers earlier this month as wildfires burned in and around the Boundary Waters. Camp Widjiwagan plans to reopen Friday for a closing ceremony for campers returning from the Arctic Circle, with more camping trips returning next week. Camp du Nord says it will reopen Sunday while continuing to monitor wildfire activity. Minnesota lawmakers say they’re confident a federal judge will allow a new law to take effect that bans technology that can make someone appear naked without their consent. The law would allow people portrayed in AI-generated deepfake images to bring civil lawsuits. Elon Musk’s company x.AI has sued to block the law from taking effect Saturday. X.AI argues the law is unconstitutional and could force the company to limit functions on its AI tool. Attorney General Keith Ellison has shut down a nonprofit after an investigation found hundreds of employees were misclassified as volunteers at concession stands in Twin Cities stadiums. Ellison’s office says MN Fundraising Initiative was not operated for any charitable cause and instead operated as a staffing agency that saved on labor costs. The investigation found the nonprofit consistently paid workers “grants” in exchange for their labor, which Ellison’s office says violates Minnesota law. The town of Wasioja near Rochester is celebrating the restoration of a Civil War recruiting station. Wasioja was home to one of Minnesota’s first colleges, and 165 years ago, its students were among the first in the country to enlist in the Union Army during the Civil War. The recruiting station is the last remaining one in the state. The newly preserved buildings are now open to the public.

  6. 3d ago

    Elon Musk challenges anti-nudification law. St. Paul Mayor Her accused of inappropriate comments

    One of the lawmakers who led an anti-nudification bill in the Minnesota House says she expected AI companies to challenge the law. It bans technology used to create deepfake videos or images of people without their consent — and it takes effect this weekend. But Elon Musk’s company x.AI has sued to block enforcement. Musk's attorneys argue the company already prohibits users from using AI tools to create those images or videos, and they say the company should not be punished if users find a way around that prohibition. St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry is alleging that Mayor Kaohly Her directed inappropriate sexual comments toward him and other city staff. The Star Tribune reports that Henry notified the city in April that he'd filed a formal complaint, and that the city has hired a law firm to investigate. A letter from Henry's attorney that the newspaper obtained includes a screenshot of a sexually suggestive text message that Her allegedly sent to a city employee. A spokesperson said that the mayor has deep respect for staff and regrets any unintended impact of her action. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is prohibiting state employees from using private government information to bet on prediction markets. And relief efforts continue for communities along the Canadian border that were forced to evacuate due to wildfires. Elon Musk’s company sues Minnesota over new law to bar manipulated images to fake nudity Walz bans state workers from betting with private government info on prediction markets

  7. 4d ago

    Minnesota wildfires continue; Cyberattack targets Minnesota water

    Wildfires in northeast Minnesota have taken a heavy toll on Ely's tourism economy, with some business owners reporting profits are down as much as 70 percent. And state officials say more than 30 local water systems in Minnesota were hit by a cyberattack this week. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

  8. 4d ago

    Wildfires in northeastern Minnesota are more than 50 percent contained, firefighting officials say

    Firefighting officials say the wildfires in northeastern Minnesota are more than 50 percent contained. While fighting fires and protecting property remain the priorities, authorities are also looking to prevent future fires. A man charged with threatening ICE agents in Minnesota pleaded not guilty Monday. Kyle Wagner is one of 15 people facing federal charges of interfering with immigration agents during the enforcement operation in Minnesota. A judge in Minneapolis is temporarily blocking a new state law that bans prediction markets. Black Business Week is kicking off in Minneapolis. The week features free workshops, networking events and business resources designed to support Black entrepreneurs. And a musical adaptation of Purple Rain announced it's headed to Broadway.

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Minnesota Today from MPR News brings you the most important stories from around the state. All on your schedule. Get updated on the latest news in about five minutes, every weekday morning and evening.

Information

  • Creator
    Minnesota Public Radio
  • Years Active
    2012 - 2026
  • Episodes
    116
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Minnesota Public Radio
  • Show Website
    Minnesota Today

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