Hermantown to vote on Google data center; Obama endorses Flanagan

Vice President J. D. Vance's office says he will be in St. Cloud on Friday to make an announcement about the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to stop fraud. Vance chairs the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.That story and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

The Minneapolis City Council will vote this week on an ordinance that would allow supervised parking lots for unsheltered residents to sleep overnight in their cars.The city of Pine Island will conduct a more thorough environmental review of Google's controversial data center proposal in the town northwest of Rochester.Health officials say vaccine hesitancy is behind a cluster of 20 measles cases in one rural Minnesota county.Sanford Health announced Wednesday plans to stop inpatient labor and delivery services, as well as newborn care, at its Luverne, Minne., medical center and clinic in April 2027.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty says two YouTubers from out-of-state violated Minnesota law when they recorded themselves allegedly attempting to vote in Minneapolis during the August primary. James O'Keefe and Cam Higby are now charged with unlawful voting and identity theft.And a judge today sentenced a former owner of a Minneapolis restaurant to 30 years in federal prison for his role in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme. Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Last year a jury convicted Salim Said on all 21 counts including wire fraud, bribery and money laundering. At the same trial, jurors also convicted Feeding Our Future founder Aimee Bock — the ringleader of a $300 million scheme to fleece taxpayer-funded child nutrition programs during COVID.Alex Pretti’s parents, Susan and Michael Pretti, are calling on federal officials to share evidence with state and local agencies. Federal officials have said in court filings that they’re not obligated to share evidence with state officials at this time.About 650 emergency medical technicians and paramedics at North Memorial Health in Minnesota and western Wisconsin are campaigning for union representation.

The parents of Alex Pretti spoke earlier today in Minneapolis. They sharply criticized federal officials’ handling of the investigation into their son’s killing. It’s the first time that Susan and Michael Pretti have held a news conference since their son was fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis in January.And a meeting on a controversial data center proposal in the northeast Minnesota city of Hermantown has been put off again. Dan Kraker reports it was first postponed last night.Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

The Hermantown City Council is expected to vote Tuesday whether to approve or reject a proposed Google data center after dozens of protesters blocked the start of Monday night’s meeting.Left wing-streamer Hasan Piker and Minnesota Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar joined DFL state Sen. Omar Fateh on Monday for an event some Democrats criticized as divisive.Tensions were high Monday night as the Detroit Lakes school board wrestled again over the board’s attempts to ban rainbow stickers, which some teachers display in schools to signal support for LGBTQ+ students.

The Hermantown City Council is scheduled to vote tonight on whether to approve a controversial Google data center in a rural area just outside Duluth. Google has made a few changes to the proposal in advance of the vote. The tech giant is dropping a plan for up to $80 million in property tax breaks. It also scaled down the size of the development.And former President Barack Obama endorsed Democratic Senate nominee Peggy Flanagan's campaign this morning.Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

The Detroit Lakes School Board is meeting Monday. Some community members have signed up to give public comment about the board's recent efforts to ban rainbow stickers from school grounds. They'll now each only be allowed to speak for one minute. The University of Minnesota and CentraCare are launching a new medical school fellowship aimed at getting more doctors into rural areas who can deliver babies and handle complicated births. The Delta Air Lines CEO says he doesn’t want employees to fear artificial intelligence will take their jobs. The airline says more than 7,000 employees are based in Minnesota.The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is asking the public for input on state wildlife and aquatic management areas.

Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar cast her ballot today in her first public appearance since federal agents raided her home last week. And Minnesota officials say the federal government has stopped sharing evidence related to the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis.Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Several competing and collaborating groups are releasing lists of school board candidate endorsements. The conservative Minnesota Parents Alliance has endorsed 75 candidates in 52 Minnesota districts, and teacher unions have endorsed 89 candidates in 27 districts.After pressuring authorities for more than two and a half years, the family of a Minneapolis Indigenous woman finally feel justice was served. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced Thursday that 36-year old Charles Foss is charged with two counts, including second-degree murder, in the death of Allison Lussier in February of 2024. The Department of Justice has notified the state of Minnesota that it plans to send federal election observers to polls around the state. The Justice Department routinely monitors elections. But the presence of federal election observers at polling places during the primaries, including at 40 sites in Minnesota, sparked concern earlier this year.