State lawmakers are taking steps to memorialize a fallen colleague — and to prevent political violence like the shooting that ended her life. Dana reports on the efforts to honor House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, as well as the policy changes aimed at triaging threats against elected officials. The moves come as lawmakers, judges and other elected leaders are facing a surge in threats. After a “hodgepodge” reaction to the early morning shootings at lawmakers’ homes nearly a year ago, legislative leaders say new threat response teams and communication trees will better equip the state to act quickly if they learn of potential dangers. Lawmakers will also have additional security available in place or at the Capitol if threats emerge. “Until last summer, we kind of had a hodgepodge way of reacting to that,” House DFL Caucus Leader Zack Stephenson said. “Now we'll have a statewide response that ensures that lawmakers all over the state are safe when their lives are threatened.” Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans told Morning Edition Host Cathy Wurzer that the new tools will make a difference. “The threats to our democracy continue to be real, and we need to treat them as that, and so that means that we need to address each and every time there is a threat seriously and put in additional protections for our legislators,” Evans said. “Communication can and will be improved when we encounter threats.”

The man accused of killing the Hortmans and shooting Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, is expected to change his plea in the case today. Vance Boelter was indicted on six counts of murder, stalking and firearms violations last summer. And he had pleaded not guilty. Our colleague Matt Sepic reports that the change-of-plea hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. before U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim in Minneapolis and Boelter is expected to plead guilty. The request for the hearing, filed yesterday, notes that Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche directed prosecutors not to seek the death penalty against Boelter “in accordance with the terms delineated in a proposed plea agreement.” The filing says a copy of the proposed agreement has been submitted to the court, but the plea agreement itself won’t become public until Boelter formally enters a guilty plea. Boelter is expected to face life in prison with no possibility of release after the Justice Department said it would not seek the death penalty. 

In the wake of the Hortmans’ assassinations, lawmakers committed to turning down the political rhetoric. But Star Tribune reporters Allison Kite and Ryan Faircloth report that it didn’t last . Many lawmakers attributed the return to at times inflammatory discourse to grief and frustration that they faced returning to the Capitol after the shootings, the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School and the federal immigration surge in Minnesota. Colin Hortman, the son of Melissa and Mark Hortman, spoke with lawmakers with weeks left in the legislative session and urged them to ratchet down the rhetoric. He told the Star Tribune that amid all the challenging issues facing the state, it could’ve been worse. And he said having a visual reminder of the impact of political violence — his mom’s photo in the House chamber — helped tone the vitriol down. “I hope that I made some difference in the close of [the] session,” he said. “I truly think that there’s a lot of hope to be gleaned from that.”

For those looking for a space to process this moment a year out, we have a rundown of local events to remember the Hortmans. Our station will also host two shows today aimed at examining political violence and changes made in the wake of the Hortman assassinations. At 9 a.m. , our colleague Catharine Richert will host an hourlong call-in show to break down what the state has been through in the last year and where Minnesota can go from here. And at noon , Minnesota Now Host Nina Moini will spend an hour discussing how the Hortmans are being remembered, steps taken in the Legislature to prevent future violent events and how an organization that trained the Hortmans’ dog, Gilbert, is working with a new generation of service dogs. Yesterday, the St. Paul City Council voted to approve a resolution proclaiming Sunday the “Mark, Melissa and Gilbert Hortman Day in St. Paul.”

Revenues coming into the state’s coffers tracked higher than what officials projected earlier this year. Minnesota Management and Budget reported yesterday that taxes and fees coming into Minnesota’s general fund totaled $2.1 billion , which was 2.4 percent higher than expected. MMB Commissioner Erin Campbell wrote that higher than expected income tax receipts drove up that number, while other tax categories came in lower than forecast in February. Year-to-date revenue forecasts remain a touch higher than the estimate state budget experts issued in February. A fuller look at tax-and-fee dollars coming into the state over this quarter will be included in the agency’s July update.

The man who allegedly threatened Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan online is close to reaching a plea deal. Caleb Sluder, 23, of Oglesby, Ill., appeared remotely for a plea hearing yesterday. He faces one count of threats of violence, a felony. Flanagan posted on X shortly after the shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in August, asking people to join her “in praying for the victims and families of the Annunciation community.” Sluder allegedly responded online, “You should be genuinely shot and killed,” and several other violent threats. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension tracked the account to Sluder, who told investigators he was angry and making a joke, and later apologized to investigators several times. Ramsey County District Court Judge Joy Bartscher said she understands Sluder and the state are “close to a plea agreement.” She said the hearing will be continued on July 17. Bartscher said both Sluder and the victim can appear at the hearing by Zoom.  

Minneapolis upped its estimate of the cost of the ICE agent surge to $700 million. Previously city officials had estimated the surge’s cost to residents, city government and businesses at around $200 million, but leaders released an updated assessment this week. Ellie Roth and Estelle Timar-Wilcox break down the numbers . In the wake of the surge, the city created an emergency rental assistance program and a small fund for businesses, but Mayor Jacob Frey says Minneapolis needs state and federal support. State lawmakers did approve extra money for renters, but didn’t pass support for businesses affected by immigration activity. You can find the full video of the city’s press conference with local leaders and business owners at the link.