Walz drops out; Klobuchar considers run

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty says her office is seeking out evidence to conduct a local investigation into this week's fatal shooting of Renee Macklin Good in Minneapolis by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.She says the office is asking for information, video and photos of the event to be submitted through a link on the office's website. And Minneapolis Public Schools will offer the option for remote learning for a month amid federal immigration enforcement in the city. The remote learning option currently extends until February 12.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent who fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Good on Wednesday morning has been identified through court documents from a June incident in Bloomington. NPR has confirmed that Jonathan Ross is the ICE officer who shot and killed Good as she was driving away from a group of agents on Portland Avenue.The Department of Homeland Security has not released Ross’ name, but DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said that the same agent who killed Good had been dragged by a car in an incident last year. Hundreds of protestors marched down Lake Street Thursday night in a peaceful demonstration against ICE. The shooting this week is just the latest in a series of traumatic events in the state. Daniel Griffith is pastor and rector of the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis. He says the Twin Cities are dealing with collective trauma, following the assassination of state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the Annunciation school shooting. But he says it's important to maintain hope.

Federal agencies have taken sole lead of the investigation of a fatal shooting by a federal immigration officer of a woman in Minneapolis, shortly after saying it would investigate jointly with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Gov. Tim Walz criticized the decision by the FBI to take over the investigation.The Minneapolis school district canceled classes today and tomorrow.This is an MPR News Evening update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music is by Gary Meister.  Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS. 

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is calling for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to vacate the city after an agent shot and killed a woman this morning. At a press conference today, Frey angrily condemned the shooting and the ICE operation.That story and more on today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

The Anoka-Hennepin teachers union and school district have reached a tentative contract agreement, averting a strike that could have started as soon as Thursday.A state audit found a grant program within the Minnesota Department of Human Services is failing to provide adequate oversight. The Behavioral Health Administration is part of DHS and is in charge of disbursing grants to programs that help Minnesotans with mental health conditions and substance use disorders. But a new report from the Office of the Legislative Auditor found that BHA does not have adequate controls to make sure the grants are being used as intended.

Gov. Tim Walz spoke to reporters today about his decision to drop his reelection bid. The decision came amid attacks from the federal government over his handling of fraud in the state.And a Capitol area security panel will meet tomorrow to consider new rules that could improve public safety on the campus.Those stories and more in today’s evening update. Hosted by Kelly Bleyer. Music by Gary Meister.

Gov. Tim Walz announced Monday that he's ending his bid for reelection. The Democrat was first elected in 2018 and was running for a third term. Republican candidates for governor and Republican party leaders applauded Walz’s decision not to run again, but quickly criticized any Democrat who might step into his place.A hotel in the southern Twin Cities suburbs was criticized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for canceling the reservations of federal agents engaged in an immigration crackdown in the state. Protesters have repeatedly targeted area hotels hosting ICE agents. Homeland Security accused the Hilton Hotels chain of siding with criminals and impeding law enforcement.The Anoka-Hennepin school district and teachers union meets Tuesday in an attempt to settle a contract before a strike date later this week. The teachers union has been in mediation with district leadership since November.

Gov. Tim Walz has dropped out of his race for re-election amid growing federal scrutiny of fraud in Minnesota. Walz announced in the fall that he would seek a third term, but in recent months, fraud in state social service programs has become a national story.Sources told MPR News that Democratic Sen. U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar is considering a run for governor. Former Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty says Klobuchar would be a challenging opponent for GOP candidates — if she runs.That story and more in today’s evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese.

Gov. Tim Walz has scheduled a news conference for later this morning without a predetermined topic. That’s fanning speculation that the two-term Democratic governor may be reassessing his reelection campaign.Walz has faced unrelenting pressure over proven and alleged fraud in Minnesota-run social service programs. More than a dozen Republicans have already entered the governor’s race. Walz last appeared before reporters on Dec. 23. Aides to the governor didn’t return messages last night. MPR News will carry Walz’s 11 a.m. news conference live on the radio and online at MPRNews.org.Walz is condemning conspiracy theories that President Donald Trump is recirculating about the assassination of state representative Melissa Hortman last summer. Trump reposted a video on TruthSocial with false claims about what led to Hortman's death. The post is the latest in Trump's efforts to politically smear Walz.Correction (Jan. 5, 2025): An earlier version of this podcast misstated the Timberwolves’ score. The audio has been updated.