Minnesota Now

The Minneapolis City Council decided Thursday to put a moratorium on data center projects in most of the city until November. The ordinance makes an exception for downtown, where some say data centers will help boost declining property values. The Minnesota School Safety Center has a new director. We spoke with her about her ideas for preventing violence in schools. And a new law lays out regulations for banks and credit unions in Minnesota wanting to add cryptocurrency management services. Plus, we learned how to prepare our homes for climate disaster.And the largest gathering of Ethiopians outside of Ethiopia is taking place here in Minnesota —for an enormous annual soccer tournament!The Music Minute was “It Could Happen to You” by Minneapolis pianist and composer Mary Louise Knutson. The Song of the Day was “Free” by Jillian Rae.

Thousands of people from the Ethiopian community will be in the Twin Cities for a soccer tournament hosted by the Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America.Starting Saturday, June 27, and stretching through July 4, Minnesota will host to the largest gathering of Ethiopians anywhere outside Ethiopia, making the event not only a soccer tournament but also a cultural celebration.Elias Meles, who is on the board of the Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America, joined Minnesota Now to talk more about this year's event.

Every time thunder booms or the wind thrashes trees around, anxious minds wonder, will my roof survive this storm? It's a reasonable thought, of course. Last summer, five severe weather disasters in Minnesota caused an estimated $13 billion in total damage, according to the nonprofit research group Climate Central. Our ask: Help me climate-proof my homeOur professional: Heidi Roop, director of the Climate Adaptation Partnership

Many people use banks or credit unions to manage their money. But soon, these same institutions could help some people manage their cryptocurrency. A new law taking effect Aug. 1, 2026, in Minnesota lays out the rules for financial institutions wanting to become so-called “crypto custodians.”Advocates for the legislation say it's an important step in ensuring local banks and credit unions stay competitive against national crypto companies. Minnesota Department of Commerce Deputy Commissioner Michael Crow spoke to MPR News host Nina Moini about the new regulations and what it could mean for the state's economy.

Minnesota has a state agency dedicated to helping schools prepare, respond and recover from all kinds of threats and emergencies. From school shootings to cyberattacks, the Minnesota School Safety Center's mission is to keep schools safe. MPR News host Nina Moini spoke to the agency's new leader, Connie Forster, about her ideas as she steps into the role.

The Minneapolis City Council voted 7 to 5 on Thursday to put new data centers on hold for most of the city until November. Council member Aurin Chowdury introduced the ordinance.The moratorium exempts downtown data centers that take up 350,000 square feet or less. Supporters of that carveout say data centers could be the answer for declining property values and a shrinking tax base downtown. We spoke to the president and CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Council, Adam Duininck, about the possibilities he sees.

Twin Cities Pride returns this weekend with the annual festival in Loring Park and parade in downtown Minneapolis on Sunday. Over the past 53 years, the festival has grown to attract thousands of people to come see performers, check out vendors, and celebrate with friends and family. This year's celebration comes during a challenging moment for many LGBTQ+ people, with ongoing political battles over transgender rights nationwide. Andi Otto is the executive director of Twin Cities Pride. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about this year's festivities and what holding a pride celebration means in 2026.

Under current law in Minnesota, kids have to be at least 10 years old to be prosecuted for a crime. On Aug. 1, that bar will be raised to 13. The change is a result of legislation originally passed in 2024. Once it takes effect, Minnesota will become one of only three states with a minimum age of delinquency of 13, joining Maryland and New Hampshire. But some county officials say their agencies are not prepared for the change. MPR News host Nina Moini talked with two people who have raised concerns. Nicole Kern is director of community corrections in Morrison County in central Minnesota. And Anne Broskoff is director of human services in Brown County in southern Minnesota.

Starting July 1, Medicare will begin a new pilot program that will allow some users to access popular GLP-1 weight-loss medications at a reduced cost. Originally developed to treat diabetes, GLP-1 medications like Wegovy have exploded in popularity. Dr. Carolyn Bramante is an associate professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School who specializes in obesity and weight loss. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about how GLP-1 drugs have changed medicine and what broader access for older Americans could mean.

Google will host an open house Wednesday night for its proposed data center in Hermantown, in northern Minnesota. The project has become a hot-button issue for the small town of 800 residents, and is one of many data center proposals popping up in greater Minnesota. MPR News reporter Dan Kraker has been following the story in Hermantown and joined Minnesota Now with details.

A group of Minneapolis City Council members is asking the mayor's office to share its plans for the Minneapolis Police Department, after Chief Brian O'Hara resigned amid misconduct allegations. MPR News host Nina Moini talked with council member Robin Wonsley ahead of Tuesday's meeting.Minnesota-born journalist Justin Ellis is out with a new book exploring the history of racism in his home state, a place known for being nice.Native Americans are working to reclaim tribal tobacco while addressing the harms of the commercial kind. A conference focused on this work is happening this week in Minneapolis.The Special Olympics USA Games kicked off in Minneapolis this week. We met a coach for Minnesota bocce ball to talk about the competition.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Gunflint Lake” by Maygen and the Birdwatcher, and our Song of the Day was “The Envelope” by Funk N Spuds.

Minnesota is hosting thousands of athletes, coaches and fans this week as the Special Olympics USA Games get underway in the Twin Cities. The games bring together athletes from across the country to compete in more than a dozen sports, from swimming and gymnastics to bocce ball. Bocce ball may not be as widely known as some other sports, but for many athletes, it's a chance to compete, build confidence and create lasting friendships. Kymm Salwasser is a Special Olympics bocce ball coach. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the games.

Following the murder of George Floyd, many asked the question: “How was Minneapolis, of all places, at the center of a global racial reckoning?” For Minnesota-native Justin Ellis, it wasn't surprising. And now, the journalist is out with a new book that lays out Minnesota's long quiet history of racism to help answer that question. The book is titled “The Cruelty of Nice Folks: Why Minneapolis Is the Story of America.” Ellis joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it.He'll host a reading and discussion of the book June 30 at 7 p.m. at Moon Palace Books in Minneapolis.

Traditional tobacco is at the core of many Native American cultural and spiritual practices. But commercial tobacco, packaged in cigarettes or vapes, contributes to higher rates of lung cancer among Native Americans.Many of the people working with these two sides of tobacco are in Minneapolis for the National Tribal Tobacco Conference, held Tuesday and Wednesday on the University of Minnesota campus. Mat Pendleton, otherwise known by his Dakota name Wakiyan Waste', is an enrolled member of Lower Sioux Indian Community and led prayer at the conference. Colin Welker works on commercial tobacco policy with the Public Health Law Center at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law and is presenting at the conference. They both joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about their work at the conference.

Leadership is in limbo at the Minneapolis Police Department after the abrupt resignation of former Chief Brian O'Hara. On Tuesday, city council members asked Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for more information on the direction of the department. Council member Robin Wonsley is the lead author of the request to the mayor about MPD's path during this period of change. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it.After Council member Wonsley spoke to MPR News host Nina Moini live on the air, Mayor Jacob Frey announced that the city aims to select a new chief within the next 16 weeks, after engaging with community members and city leaders, and that a search firm will conduct a nationwide search and consider internal applicants.

Months after the peak of the surge of immigration agents this winter, mutual aid groups and organizers helping Minnesotans stay in their homes say there's still a crisis as eviction filings look on pace to break last year's record high. A 48-year-old Hmong man from St. Paul was deported to Laos in May. A new story from Sahan Journal follows his journey and looks at how his wife and five kids are navigating the reality of being separated from him indefinitely. A Minneapolis writer is honoring her brother in a new memoir that traces his battle with ALS and his career as the so-called Dream Doctor.Thousands of athletes are in Minneapolis this week to compete in the Special Olympics. We'll get a glimpse of this weekend's opening ceremony.

A story by Sahan Journal out Monday follows a Hmong family separated by deportation. It starts with the day in February when Linda Yang learned ICE agents planned to detain her husband Zong. He's now in Laos. Linda and their five kids live in St. Paul. Sahan Journal Reporter Katelyn Vue plans to keep telling the story of how the family is dealing with this new reality in a series of articles this year. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about her reporting.

In the early 2000s, people all over the country could get insight into their dreams by calling up a different radio program. The Dream Doctor was a nationally-syndicated show hosted by Charles McPhee. He died of ALS in 2011 at the age of 49.His sister, Larkin McPhee, lives in Minneapolis. She's won Emmys and Peabody Awards for her documentary films. But for her brother's story, she turned to writing. McPhee is out with a book this month about their relationship. It's called “I'll See You in My Dreams: A Sister's Memoir.” She joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about the book.

More than six months after Operation Metro Surge began, many mutual aid groups and organizers are still triaging a crisis. The state recently passed $40 million in rent relief, but it likely won't reach local providers until late in the summer. Rent organizers worry many who need that help won't qualify or get it soon enough, as eviction filings threaten to pass last year's record. Cari Spencer spent time at a church in Burnsville where the need is worse than it was at the peak of the ICE surge and spoke with Minnesota Now host Nina Moini about how the need for help has become even greater after thousands of ICE agents left the streets of Minnesota.

A group documenting human rights abuses around the world released a report Thursday focused on Operation Metro Surge. It found violations that took place in Minnesota and shared recommendations for state and federal officials. We spoke with the leader of the research team.Federal prosecutors say 15 Minnesotans conspired against federal agents during this winter's immigration surge. We took a look at what conspiracy means under the law and how it applies to protests.And Annunciation Church and School parents are hosting a public conversation along with the creator of an Oscar-winning film about the impact of school shootings. Plus, we heard about a Juneteenth play that's been showing since before it was a federal holiday.The Music Minute was a performance by the Minnesota Orchestra of “Worship: A Concert Overture for Orchestra.” The Song of the Day was “Don't Leave” by Peter Wolf Crier.

For the better part of 2026, Annunciation Church and School parents were engaging with lawmakers to advocate for policy change following a mass shooting in their community. The legislative session has ended, but the work of the Annunciation Light Alliance has not. They are now turning to public engagement. On Monday, the group is partnering with CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman to show his Oscar-winning documentary “All the Empty Rooms,” followed by a panel discussion with Hartman and Annunciation parents at the Main Cinema in Minneapolis. Kristen Neville, co-chair of the Annunciation Light Alliance, and Steve Hartman spoke to MPR News host Nina Moini about the event.

The federal government has indicted 15 Minnesotans on charges of conspiracy, among others, for efforts to allegedly “violently oppose immigration law enforcement” during the immigration surge this winter. To take a closer look at the case being made against these individuals, MPR News spoke to Richard Painter, a professor of law at the University of Minnesota, about what conspiracy means under the law.

For 30 years, Rose McGee has celebrated Juneteenth by sharing her stage performance of “Kumbayah: The Juneteenth Story” across Minnesota. To mark this special anniversary, the performance will include special guest appearances from cast members from previous years who grew up as a part of this important story about the emancipation of African Americans. McGee joined Minnesota Now to talk more about the play and memorable moments from the last three decades.

An international human rights watchdog released a report Thursday on the surge of federal agents to the state this winter. Human Rights Watch interviewed 136 Minnesotans and analyzed visuals and court documents surrounding arrests and detentions.The report alleges federal agents used racial profiling and excessive force, and detained people unlawfully in facilities with poor conditions and insufficient access to lawyers. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson denied the report's findings in an email to MPR News.Ida Sawyer leads a team of Human Rights Watch researchers as the director of the group's Crisis, Conflict and Arms Division. She joined Minnesota Now to share more about the findings.Read more: Report authors say feds violated Minnesotans' human rights during ICE surge

Fifteen people have been charged by the federal government for anti-ICE actions this winter. Prosecutors allege they are part of antifa, a left-wing political movement. A history professor explained what antifa is and how it fits into this moment. The U.S. Supreme Court will soon rule on how law enforcement can track people's locations through their cell phones. We talked to a legal expert.Plus, for the first time in 20 years a new ingredient can go into sunscreen. Doctors say it's better than current options.There wasn't much sunshine Wednesday. We took a look at the rainy forecast with Chief Meteorologist Ben Cathey. This weekend is the 50th annual Grandma's Marathon in Duluth. One runner is preparing to have run all 50. The Minnesota Music Minute was “Everything At Once” by Hippo Campus and “Cherry Picking” by Jumpsuit was the Song of the Day.

A grand jury indicted 15 people Tuesday in connection to anti-ICE protests this winter.The charges include “conspiracy to impede or injure federal officers” and stalking. Federal prosecutors say these individuals are members of Direct Action Minnesota, which has ties to antifa — or anti-fascist — groups.To help us better understand what antifa is and what these charges mean, Minnesota Now spoke to Mark Bray. He's a history professor at Rutgers University and leading expert on antifa.

Americans will soon have a new option for sun protection. The FDA gave the green light to bemotrizinol, the first new ingredient approved for sunscreen in the U.S. in over 20 years. Minnesota has the nation's second-highest rate of skin cancer. University of Minnesota dermatologist Dr. Ingrid Polcari considers this development to be a win for local public health. She talked to MPR News host Nina Moini about it.

When thousands of runners line up in Two Harbors on Saturday for the 50th annual Grandma's Marathon, only one will be running his 50th Grandma's too. John Naslund, 76, was one of about 150 runners when he ran the very first Grandma's in 1977. Now it's grown to more than 9,000 participants and come Saturday Naslund hopes to be the sole person who can say he's ran all 50. He spoke to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini about his streak.

The U.S. Supreme Court is nearing the end of its current term. By late June or early July, the justices will announce decisions in a handful of high-profile cases. One of those has to do with how law enforcement uses location data collected by tech companies. Minnesota's Supreme Court decided a similar case back in April.Investigators have used a tool called geofencing to draw a virtual boundary around an area where a crime was committed and find out from tech companies which phones were nearby. Law enforcement needs a warrant to access this data, but critics say the tactic violates privacy rights. University of St. Thomas law professor Julie Jonas joined MPR News host Nina Moini to explain the main questions before the Supreme Court, and what its decision could mean for Minnesotans.

On Tuesday morning, federal prosecutors announced charges against 15 anti-ICE protestors. Reporter Matt Sepic joined us with details. A new report finds progress is stalling on the Minneapolis Police Department's court-ordered reforms. Federal loan programs for higher education are going through some major changes starting July 1. We heard what this means for students, especially those going into nursing and other healthcare professions. A dispute over a big solar project in southwestern Minnesota is closer to resolution. We found out how the case fits into the state's energy landscape. Saturday Nigh Live cast member Tommy Brennan is coming back home to Minnesota to help open a new venue in Shakopee.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Here Comes the Sun” by Motion City Soundtrack, and our Song of the Day was "Luna" by Thomas and the Rain and Studio Z.

Shakopee's new outdoor summer concert venue is the Mystic Lake Amphitheater. It's opening season has a stacked lineup, including Bob Dylan, Dave Matthews Band, Mumford and Sons and Guns N' RosesThe new venue will open with an event called “Setting the Stage: An Evening of Minnesota Music, Comedy & Community,” on Saturday, June 20. St. Paul native, comedian and Saturday Night Live cast member Tommy Brennan will host the event.Brennan joined The Current's Jill Riley to talk about his Minnesota ties, his work in comedy and the upcoming event at Mystic Lake Amphitheater.

Students taking out loans or tapping into aid for college or graduate school will see major changes starting July 1.It's a result of major changes to social safety net programs, including the federal financial aid system, in the 2026 “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”Rachel Sherlock is the associate director of financial aid at Minnesota State University Mankato and she joined MPR News host Nina Moini to sort through the changes, like what students should know about new borrowing limits and what repayment options will look like going forward. Chris Rubesch, president of the Minnesota Nurses Association, also joined host Nina Moini to talk about why he thinks these changes to the financial aid system could have a negative impact on the health care sector.

A tribal nation is one step closer to switching on a large solar project in southwestern Minnesota. The Upper Sioux Community installed rows of solar panels to power its casino in 2024. The project means the tribe plans to buy less electricity from its local utility, the Minnesota Valley Cooperative Light and Power Association. The cooperative then threatened to cut off power to the casino. A judge ruled in favor of the tribe in early June. Now, the dispute is up to state regulators to decide. A spokesperson with the Public Utilities Commission said a public comment period is open through July 22 and the commission is likely to take up the issue this fall.Gabriel Chan is a University of Minnesota professor focused on energy policy. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about how the case fits into the landscape of efforts to transition to renewable electricity across the state.

A new progress report finds the Minneapolis Police Department is falling behind on court-enforced reforms. It's the fourth report over two years from the independent evaluator, Effective Law Enforcement for All. Minnesota Department of Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero helped create the court agreement and walked MPR News host through it.

ICE and Border Patrol are getting another massive budget boost after President Donald Trump signed off on a package last week directing $70 billion to these agencies over the next three years. We'll get a break down on plans for this money.A look inside a new clinic in Minneapolis trying to create an alternative, healing-centered response to sexual assault.Plus, a Minneapolis diner that shifted to a fully donation-based model during the federal surge this winter is continuing to operate under this unconventional approach. We'll check in with the owner of Post Modern Times about why he hasn't put prices back on the menu.And more Minnesota students are getting a chance to get outdoors thanks to some new state funding.And another former Minnesota athlete has gone on to win a championship after leaving the state. Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Down Home Blues” by Selby Ave Brass Band and our Song of the Day was “Just Go Home” by Nephuncle.

It was an incredibly busy weekend for sports. The NBA and NHL have their 2026 champions. The Twins have a series win. And the Lynx had fans on the edge of their seats with a close loss to the Aces. Minnesota Now sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson joined the program with the latest sports headlines and a remembrance of legendary colleague Larry Fitzgerald Sr.

Many survivors of sexual violence receive what's called a sexual assault forensic exam to collect evidence for law enforcement. These exams can take hours and they usually happen in an emergency room... which can be a harsh environment to spend the hours after a traumatic experience. A new clinic in Minneapolis will be the first in the Twin Cities to provide an alternative, with more focus on healing and follow-up treatment. Sahan Journal recently reported on the effort by Southside Community Health Services. And the organization's medical director Sheila Kennedy joined Minnesota Now to talk about it.

Earlier this year, a longtime south Minneapolis restaurant stopped putting prices on its menu. The diner formerly known as Modern Times rebranded itself as Post Modern Times and shifted to a donation-based model during the Minnesota ICE surge. Owner Dylan Alverson said he wanted to create a place where anyone could get a meal, regardless of their ability to pay. Months later, the restaurant is still operating on donations and drawing national attention for its unconventional approach. Dylan Alverson, owner of Post Modern Times in Minneapolis, spoke to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini about why he's sticking with the approach and how he's getting neighborhood input.

President Donald Trump has signed off on a massive increase in funding for U.S. immigration enforcement. The legislation, called the Secure America Act, was approved by Congress last week, after a standoff between lawmakers. Democrats said they didn't want to give more funding to the Department of Homeland Security after the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis this winter. But those negotiations fell apart, and now $70 billion will go to ICE and Border Patrol. Supporters say the investment will help the federal government enforce immigration laws and secure the border. Critics argue it gives too much power to the agency and not enough oversight. Heidi Altman is vice president of policy at the National Immigration Law Center. She joined Minnesota Now to talk about the bill and her concerns about what was left out.

We're marking one year since the tragic killings of DFL state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark. A look at their legacy and how DFL state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife — who were injured in the attack — are recovering. We'll also talk another lawmaker who was targeted that night, state Rep. Kristin Bahner, on how she's grappling with safety and running for office.Then, the man who allegedly carried out the attacks pleaded guilty Thursday morning. We'll have the latest on the case.And we'll talk to two experts studying an uptick in political violence.Plus, the Hortmans' children share one of their parents' favorite songs.And we'll meet some puppies who are training to be service dogs in the Hortmans' honor.

It's been one year since the killing of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark and their golden retriever, Gilbert.Gilbert started out as a service dog in training through Helping Paws, the Eden Prairie nonprofit that trains assistance dogs for people with physical disabilities, veterans and first responders living with PTSD. But Gilbert was ultimately deemed a little too friendly for the job, and the Hortmans adopted him as their own.In the months following their deaths, thousands of people donated to Helping Paws in their memory. That support helped create the Hortman Heroes Fund, which will train future service dogs for veterans and first responders with PTSD.MPR News host Nina Moini got a tour of the Helping Paws facility from executive director Alyssa Golob.

As Minnesotans were waking up to the news of the attacks on state Rep. Melissa Hortman and state Sen. John Hoffman on June 14, 2025, some of the state's political leaders were also learning they might have been targeted. Authorities say they found writings by the gunman that included the names of dozens of politicians. They also say that between the attacks on the Hoffmans and Hortmans, he went to the homes of two other DFL lawmakers. One of them is Maple Grove and Osseo Rep. Kristin Bahner.A year later, like Sen. John Hoffman, she has decided to run for reelection, despite the terrifying events of last summer. Minnesota Now host Nina Moini spoke with Rep. Bahner about her decision to run again, in part, to carry on the legacy of her late colleague.