Minnesota Today®

Among the hundreds of volunteers filling sandbags along the banks of the St. Croix River in Stillwater, was at least one who helped save the town from a catastrophic flood in 1965. Others said they just wanted to pitch in. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Cathy Wurzer Music by Gary Meister.

Flags in Minnesota will be flown at half-staff at all state buildings until sunset Friday to honor the Nashville school shooting victims. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Hannah Yang. Music by Gary Meister.

Teams of volunteers started filling sandbags Monday in downtown Stillwater ahead of anticipated major spring flooding along the St. Croix River. This is an MPR morning news update, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.

Health and environmental advocates Monday urged state lawmakers to pass legislation regulating so-called "forever chemicals."   One bill moving through the Legislature would ban non-essential uses of PFAS in children's products, cookware, cosmetics, dental floss and other products.  This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Jacob Aloi. Music by Gary Meister.

Last week Lazzaro's co-defendant Gisela Castro Medina testified that she and a friend met him on a so-called sugar daddy site, and he later paid her more than $50,000 to use social media to seek out and groom potential sex partners. This is an MPR news morning update, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.

Chris Clark, president of Xcel's Minnesota operations, told reporters that a container being used to catch water from the leaking pipe spilled over. The new leak is much smaller than the original one back in November. Clark says there's still no threat to the public. Xcel is hosting an open house on Monday at the Monticello Community Center from 5 to 8 p.m. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Hannah Yang. Music by Gary Meister.

Xcel Energy says it will power down its Monticello nuclear power plant after the utility discovered more radioactive tritium leaking into groundwater. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.

A woman who admitted recruiting and grooming high school girls for a one-time Minnesota Republican Party operative is testifying against him at his trial today. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Peter Cox. Music by Gary Meister.

An alleged victim of top Minnesota Republican Party donor Tony Lazzaro testified in federal court Wednesday that Lazzaro paid her for sex after connecting with her on social media. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.

A big trove of Minneapolis public school data is online, confirming fears of public exposure, and a sex trafficking case that rocked the Minnesota Republican Party is finally on trial. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.