St. Paul mayor declines comment on lawsuit; Gas prices are down slightly but still up year-over-year

St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry is suing Mayor Kaohly Her for sexual harassment. Regina Medina reports he plans to stay in his job despite the lawsuit.And the man convicted in federal court of murdering former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark is now preparing for a state trial.Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

A Minnesota nonprofit accused of defrauding food assistance programs for children is set to dissolve and pay the state more than $18 million. That's part of a settlement announced Thursday between Attorney General Keith Ellison and Partners in Quality Care.Minnesota is considering changes to its annual K-12 academic testing procedures. Students and teachers spend time each spring on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments, which measure how schools are helping students progress in reading, math and science.New Richland city officials say 10 to 12 homes in the small southern Minnesota community are expected to be total losses from last weekend's flooding.

St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her declined comment today when asked about the lawsuit filed against her by Police Chief Axel Henry.And gas and diesel prices in Minnesota have been flat or slightly falling over the past couple days.Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry is suing Mayor Kaohly Her for sexual harassment. The lawsuit filed Wednesday comes on the heels of an outside investigation of the DFL mayor. The chief alleges that Her repeatedly told him that her marriage was in trouble, made multiple attempts to get close to him, and twice put her hand on his upper thigh during a budget meeting. Henry also says Her retaliated against him for filing an HR complaint — including by raising the pay of all other police command staff, but not his.The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension set new guidelines Wednesday to help law enforcement agencies take a more victim-centered and consistent approach to investigating sexual assault cases. Breanna Heisterkamp, a forensic nurse manager at Hennepin Healthcare, says the guidelines will help investigators better understand victims.Some rideshare drivers in Minneapolis are asking the city council to limit how autonomous vehicles can operate in the city. The company Waymo is currently testing its driverless taxis in the city. The council is considering a requirement for Waymo and similar companies to pay a licensed driver to monitor the car.And downtown St. Paul has a grocery store again with the Aldi now open at the intersection of Robert and 10th streets. The grand opening ribbon-cutting is Thursday at 8:30 a.m.

Motor oil prices are going up, which means Minnesotans are paying more for an oil change. This is the evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Clean up continues in New Richland after a weekend storm flooded the small southern Minnesota town. And the Minneapolis Mobile Medical Unit has treated more than 4,000 community members in its first year of operation.Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. music by Gary Meister.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has stopped publicly sharing location information for thousands of detainees. Three current and former ICE officials told The Associated Press that on Sept. 15 the agency removed from its website the location information for detainees subject to final deportation orders. In a statement, ICE did not confirm or deny the change.Bipartisan negotiations continue on a federal proposal to establish guardrails for artificial intelligence. Official estimates suggest nationwide corn yields will decline this year. Some experts say actual yields could be even lower because of drought conditions.

Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race has been relatively quiet since the August primary set up the fall matchup between DFL Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Republican former sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya. Both candidates have been attending events and fundraising, but public appearances and press conferences have been less frequent than during the primary. Campaign advertising has also been lighter than in the governor’s race, with a little more than 40 days remaining before Election Day.The Minneapolis City Council will hear public input Tuesday on a proposal that would require driverless taxis to have a person sitting in the driver’s seat. The ordinance would regulate autonomous vehicle companies including Waymo, which is testing vehicles in Minneapolis. Council member Robin Wonsley says the proposal is intended to protect rideshare jobs and address safety concerns. Waymo says the restrictions would limit its ability to operate in the city.Detroit Lakes Public Schools is revisiting a ban on displaying rainbows on campus. The School Board approved the measure this summer, targeting stickers used by some teachers to identify classrooms as safe spaces for LGBTQ+ students, but later paused enforcement while attorneys revised the language. Board members will discuss a new version Tuesday that does not specifically mention rainbows. The policy could be approved as soon as next month.St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her has amended her proposed 2027 budget, reversing an earlier proposal to close the Dayton’s Bluff Library. Her says higher-than-expected revenue projections, including additional money from a franchise agreement with Xcel Energy, allow the city to restore funding for the library and Highwood Hills Recreation Center. The updated proposal also restores morning hours at city recreation centers.

A Hennepin County judge set bail at $200,000 for an ICE agent accused of shooting and wounding a Venezuelan man in January. Early and absentee voting for November's midterm election starts Friday in Minnesota, just days after the Supreme Court blocked efforts by the Trump administration to curtail mail-in voting.A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for spraying vinegar on DFL Congresswoman Ilhan Omar earlier this year.After two seasons of much anticipation, Minnesota fans will get a visit from the 3-on-3 women’s basketball league Unrivaled in 2027. The league will make a tour stop in Minneapolis next year.