Tornadoes touch down in Rochester area

Severe thunderstorms have produced tornadoes Friday afternoon in southeast Minnesota. The National Weather Service reported multiple sightings of tornadoes south and east of Rochester between 2 and 3 p.m. including a report from the Rochester Airport tower. Federal prosecutors are inching closer to a decision on whether to seek the death penalty for the man accused of killing former DFL Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark.This is an MPR News Evening update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music is by Gary Meister.

Strong storms are possible with even a couple of isolated severe storms ahead of a big cold front. The Storm Prediction Center says there is an enhanced risk (level 3 out of 5) for the southeastern corner of Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin. The national weather service says Friday morning could bring isolated hail and Friday afternoon could bring very large hail and the possibility of tornadoes.Supporters of Thursday’s U.S. Senate vote to overturn a 20-year mining ban near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness are emphasizing that environmental safeguards remain in place. The move reopens the door for projects like Twin Metals’ proposed underground copper-nickel mine near Ely. Opponents of Thursday’s vote say they’ll continue to challenge proposed mines near the BWCA whether at the state level, or through the courts.Minnesota Sen. John Hoffman and his family filed a civil lawsuit Thursday against the man charged with shooting them last June.

The U.S. Senate has voted to overturn a 20-year ban on mining on about 350 square miles of federal land near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, paving the way for Twin Metals to renew efforts to open an underground copper mine near Ely, on the doorstep of the wilderness area. Minnesota lost jobs in February, and state officials are linking the decline to federal immigration enforcement.Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

A House committee voted down an effort today to initiate impeachment proceedings against two DFL officials. Republicans proposed starting impeachment proceedings against Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison. They said the pair didn't do enough to combat fraud in state programs.And Gov. Tim Walz and local school officials are pushing to make early childhood education more affordable for additional families. At an early childhood education site in Rochester, Walz detailed a plan he wants the Legislature to pass before the end of session.Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

A proposal to boost state funding to schools for safety measures stalled in a House committee Tuesday. The broad school safety package would direct state funding to public and private schools intended to bolster security. The Republican bill would let school districts set up anonymous threat reporting lines, as well as allowing suspensions of young students.Wednesday is the deadline to file your taxes — but if you haven't finished filing, you have options. The judge presiding over the Feeding Our Future case continues to hand down sentences. The latest defendant to appear in court got 18 months in prison. Since late 2022, 58 people have pleaded guilty and another 7 were convicted at trial in a $300 million scheme that prosecutors say was the nation's largest COVID fraud.

The federal government is still withholding more than $240 million in Medicaid reimbursements to Minnesota, despite approving the state’s plan to address fraud concerns. Gov. Tim Walz says the funds should now be released. Thunderstorms, hail and at least one tornado scoured southern Minnesota last night.This is an MPR News Evening update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music is by Gary Meister.

A severe storm system bombarded southern Minnesota with hail Monday. A tornado also briefly touched down near Amboy.A Burnsville woman could die if she's not freed from immigration detention soon, her lawyer says. Andrea Pedro-Francisco is a 23-year old Guatemalan woman who was arrested in February in the south metro suburb where she and her family live. Immigration agents sent her to a detention center in Texas. Pedro-Francisco was about to have surgery to remove a large ovarian cyst. Her lawyer, Asra Syed, says she needs immediate medical care.Friends and family of a Wisconsin man who was shot and killed last week by a Superior police officer are speaking out against the death. Autumn Khalar was with 42-year-old David Menton on April 7 when he was killed. Khalar says Menton was not a threat to the officer and the shooting wasn't justified.The Wisconsin Department of Justice is investigating. The Superior Police Department says its officers responded to a, quote, "rapidly evolving dangerous situation. They are now navigating not only the weight of that moment, but also the scrutiny that follows."Go deeper with the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter.Severe storms drop baseball-sized hail, tornadoes in southern MinnesotaBurnsville woman in ICE detention can’t access lifesaving surgery, lawyer saysSubscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.

Spring Lake Park schools were closed Monday after a cyberattack, according to an announcement from the district. In a notice on its website, the district says an outside actor gained access to some internal systems. Financial relief for small businesses affected by the federal immigration enforcement surge remains in the mix at the Legislature.This is an MPR News Evening update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music is by Gary Meister.