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 They rescinded the ban and are now considering a new policy that does not specifically mention rainbow stickers.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.

Minnesota U.S. Senate candidates Peggy Flanagan and Michele Tafoya disagreed on a range of issues during an hour-long debate on MPR News Friday. Flanagan, the Democrat, accused Tafoya of trying to distance herself from President Donald Trump after receiving his endorsement earlier this week. Tafoya, the Republican, criticized Flanagan’s record as lieutenant governor and pointed to fraud, education and crime. It was the candidates’ first and only scheduled debate before Election Day on November 3.

More than 200,000 Minnesotans have already voted in this year’s election. The Secretary of State’s office says most of those ballots were returned by mail, while more than 80,000 people have voted in person. Four years ago, about 673,000 Minnesotans cast ballots before Election Day.

The offices of U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon were sent suspicious mail. A threatening letter and white powder addressed to Simon’s office was intercepted before it arrived, and suspicious mail was also intercepted before reaching Klobuchar’s Minnesota office. The FBI is investigating suspicious mailings sent to senators and election offices in multiple states.

Authorities have identified all six people who died in a plane crash in Wisconsin earlier this week. All six were from western Wisconsin. The victims included members of a family returning home from a high school volleyball game in southeastern Wisconsin. Federal aviation officials say the pilot reported ice on the plane’s wings as it passed through a thunderstorm before crashing near Wisconsin Dells.

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 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.

Authorities have detained and charged a man accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a woman last week.

And teams of state and federal officials will begin assessing the damage in New Richland later this week after the southern Minnesota community was hit by heavy flooding more than a week ago.

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.

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.