HealthPartners and Essentia Health propose merger; Budget shortfall for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities

Edina’s mayor is warning against blaming Somali American neighbors for recent gun violence. At a community meeting Monday, Mayor Jim Hovland said some residents are beginning to associate Somali identity with the shootings. He said Somali families are worried their children will be stereotyped or targeted.National Republicans are weighing how much they can boost Minnesota U.S. Senate nominee Michele Tafoya in the closing month of the campaign. Senate Majority Leader John Thune of neighboring South Dakota made a stop in Minnesota. A prescribed burn on Duluth's Minnesota Point is set for this week. The burn window is Tuesday through Thursday, weather permitting. The 17-acre site is at the end of Minnesota Point. The on-site walking trail will close temporarily.

Two men say they fell victim to a new ICE tactic to keep immigrants in detention in Minnesota. Two young men being held in the Freeborn County Jail for immigration violations say after judges ordered their release, ICE agents were waiting at the courthouse doors to re-arrest them.The former private prison in Appleton, Minn., being revamped to house a privately-run ICE detention facility has brought protesters out to a park weekly. DFL U.S. Senate nominee Peggy Flanagan visited those protesters Sunday. Classes resume Monday morning at Eden Prairie High School, days after a shooting outside their homecoming football game on Friday. Police have not announced any arrests and have not released any information about suspects.A Minnesota man was the 81st person to be indicted in the sprawling Feeding our Future fraud scheme. Shaakir Mohamud Ibrahim, 54, is accused of using funds that two nonprofits he worked with received to serve meals to children for personal purchases.

Candidates for Minnesota's attorney general tussled over financial holdings -- and more -- during an MPR News debate this afternoon. And more than 63,000 Minnesota voters have already cast absentee ballots. That's according to the latest stats posted today.Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Elena See. Music by Gary Meister.

Attorneys for Renee Good's family today announced two lawsuits for her killing by a federal immigration agent in Minneapolis in January. And the city of St. Paul today released the full report from an outside investigation into misconduct allegations against Mayor Kaohly Her.Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

The Justice Department has filed an ethics complaint against seven Minnesota federal judges. The complaint singles out Judges Patrick Schiltz and John Tunheim, but also includes five others who spoke with the New York Times for a Sept. 17 story.The Minneapolis City Council is poised to approve an ordinance to require human safety monitors in driverless rideshare vehicles. But if they do, Mayor Jacob Frey could veto it.More than 5,000 immigrants in Minnesota will lose access to federally funded Medicaid health coverage Thursday. Authorities have released the names of two of the three people who died in a crash between a car and a semi in Minneapolis early Tuesday.

In a rare move, the U.S. Department of Justice has filed a judicial misconduct complaint against multiple Minnesota judges over comments they made to the New York Times. And the Saint Paul City Council passed a resolution to pay for Mayor Kaohly Her and the city's defense in a lawsuit filed against her by Police Chief Axel Henry.Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

For the third time this year — there’s a proposed merger involving major healthcare systems in Minnesota. This time it’s Twin Cities-based HealthPartners and Duluth-based Essentia Health that are planning to combine under the HealthPartners name.The Minnesota Attorney General’s office has charged nine people with Medicaid fraud totaling $3 million. Of that money allegedly stolen from Minnesota’s Medicaid programs, $2 million is connected to Peter Meilahn. He’s a Duluth resident who provided psychotherapy and mental health services through his own practice and worked as an independent contracted therapist for Franklin Family Services.Starting Thursday, thousands of immigrants in Minnesota will lose access to Medicaid benefits. Refugees and asylees used to have those benefits while they awaited a green card, but a new federal law taking effect Thursday makes them ineligible.A Roosevelt High School teacher in Minneapolis who was violently detained by federal agents outside the school in January has filed a claim against the government.

Another proposed health system merger is poised to reshape Minnesota’s healthcare industry. Bloomington-based HealthPartners and Duluth-based Essentia Health announced today that their boards of directors have approved a merger plan.The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system has been warning state officials it may have to close campuses around the state if its budget isn't shored up.Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Fresh on the heels of President Donald Trump announcing a new $15 billion steel plant in Iowa, Republicans and Mesabi Metallics say Minnesota will have to reform its permitting process if it wants a larger slice of the steel manufacturing pie. The Detroit Lakes school board voted Monday night to alter the language of a resolution banning rainbow stickers from schools. They rescinded the ban and are now considering a new policy that does not specifically mention rainbow stickers. But the board members would not state whether the intention was still to ban them.The parents of Harper Moyski, a 10-year-old killed in the Annunciation Catholic Church and School mass shooting last year, were among advocates for gun violence prevention who joined a canvass last weekend in a competitive legislative district.