Minnesota Now

MPR News is continuing to follow the federal law enforcement clash with protesters in St. Paul Tuesday morning. Agents were seen using chemical irritants and less-lethal ammunition. We learned more about federal authority to use force in such situations here and around the country.Lawmakers are getting details about proposed 2026 state construction projects to decide which ones will make the cut. MPR News reporter Dana Ferguson tagged along to hear their pitches.It's mid-November. Are you surprised about our state's lack of snow? MPR chief meteorologist joined the show to talk about that and the weather forecast ahead.Plus, it's the end of a more than 230-year era. A Minnesota coin collector gave the penny a solemn goodbye.

The U.S. has stopped printing its most humble currency, the penny. After more than 230 years, the U.S. Mint ended production because it cost nearly four cents to make the one cent coin. And while most of us keep our spare pennies in junk drawers or maybe collecting dust in jars, coin collectors are holding them close. Joining Minnesota Now to talk about the history of the penny and what's next now that it's not printing is Jason Jenkins. He is part of the Red River Valley Coin Club in the Fargo-Moorhead area.

A federal operation in St. Paul Tuesday morning led to a confrontation between federal agents and protesters. Federal agents used chemical irritants and projectiles on the crowd. At a press conference Tuesday morning, St. Paul City Council Vice President Hwa Jeong Kim spoke in defense of people who gathered to observe and record the operation. “Concerned and caring residents were shoved, thrown to the ground. One observers' foot was run over. This is not safety. This is not law enforcement. This is state violence,” she said. In a statement to MPR News, an ICE spokesperson said the agency and law enforcement partners conducted court-authorized law enforcement activity and served a search warrant as part of a federal criminal investigation. MPR News asked for additional information about the chemical irritants used by agents, but have not received a response. With growing ICE operations across the country under the Trump administration, advocates have called for community to respond to federal action that appears to involve ICE. It's leading to more clashes, like the one that occurred Tuesday. For more on this issue, MPR News host Nina Moini talked with ACLU of Minnesota Legal Director Teresa Nelson.

Fall is turning into winter and Minnesota has had its fair share of darker, shorter days. But there's one thing missing — snow! The state has barely seen flakes so far this season. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the late start to snowy season.

You likely know chef Sean Sherman's name. His restaurant Owamni is a staple in the Minneapolis restaurant scene. His commitment to spreading Indigenous foods and knowledge of Indigenous cooking has officially leveled up — not only is Sherman's restaurant expanding to a larger location at the Guthrie Theater, he's out with a new cookbook highlighting Indigenous recipes across North America. It's called “Turtle Island: Foods and Traditions of the Indigenous Peoples of North America.” Sherman joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about his new book and its launch at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis on Nov. 18.

The Minneapolis Police Department is facing criticism for how it handled three cases involving people of color who made multiple reports of violence to police. The city auditor is looking into the response in the cases of Davis Moturi and Allison Lussier in 2024. Last month, auditor Robert Timmerman publicly criticized MPD for missing meetings and slowing down the review. In response, assistant chief Katie Blackwell told officers to cooperate in an order reported by the Minnesota Star Tribune. Chief Brian O'Hara has also ordered an internal review of the police response to reports of domestic violence by a woman named Mariah Samuels. She was fatally shot in September and her ex-boyfriend is charged in her killing. The Minnesota Star Tribune reporter Liz Sawyer published an investigation of Samuels' case and has been covering the others, along with her colleagues. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to explain.

This week, three Minnesota foundations launched "Our Home State," a five-year, $20 million initiative to expand access to affordable housing and address housing instability in the state.It's a collaboration between The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, the F.R. Bigelow Foundation and the Mardag Foundation. St. Paul-based company Ecolab has pledged an additional $3 million to the project.Alfonso Wenker is the senior vice president of community impact at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation. He talked to MPR News host Nina Moini about the project.

Federal agents clashed with protesters in an industrial area of St. Paul Tuesday morning. We had the latest on that developing story. One of the state's largest health insurers is shutting down. We found out what that means for 300,000 people in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The Minneapolis Police Department is facing criticism for its handling of three high-profile cases. The most recent is the killing of a woman who made multiple reports of domestic violence. We talked to a Star Tribune reporter who investigated her case. Three philanthropy groups are putting up $20 million to help people find and keep affordable housing. We learned more about the project. Plus, we talked to renowned chef Sean Sherman about his new cookbook.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Frybread” by Keith Secola and our Song of the Day was “None of my Hands” by Hiahli.

A federal law enforcement operation at a St. Paul manufacturer prompted a large response by observers and protesters on Tuesday morning.Federal agents wearing clothing marked “FBI,” “DEA” and “HSI” — Homeland Security Investigations, part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — were seen at Bro-Tex Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of cloth and paper wipes. It was not immediately clear what prompted the operation. MPR News host Nina Moini spoke to reporter Estelle Timar-Wilcox, who was on the scene.

One of Minnesota's largest health insurers is shutting down at the start of next year. Minnesota-based UCare announced the move in a statement issued Monday. According to officials with the nonprofit, its health insurance plans for more than 300,000 members across Minnesota and western Wisconsin will be transferred to Medica, another large nonprofit health insurer based in Minnesota. The shuttering of U-Care brings up questions about insurance options for Minnesota's most vulnerable. Stephen Parente is a professor of finance at Minnesota Carlson and the Minnesota Insurance Industry chair of health finance. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the change.

A once rarely-used process by the federal government has now been used to detain more than 200 immigrants at Fort Snelling Immigration Court in Minnesota. That's according to an immigrant advocacy group tracking the cases. We'll learn about the change. We'll learn more about eligibility changes to SNAP that took place in the background of the government shutdown and how those changes could impact Minnesotans going into the holiday season. Plus, Target is asking their employees to smile more at customers. But will this help the struggling retailer? We'll hear from a consumer behavior and psychology expert. And the Vikings, Gophers and Wolves all lost! We'll relive a forgettable Minnesota sports weekend with Wally and Eric.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “September Rain” by Jaki Blue and our Song of the Day was “Hillside Sunset” by Funk N Spuds. Use the audio player above to listen to the full show.Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

The Advocates for Human Rights, which is based in Minneapolis, said that its legal observers at Fort Snelling Immigration Court daily are seeing a shift in procedure.Michele Garnett McKenzie, the organization's executive director, said its legal observers have less access to courtrooms, documents and communication with judges. One of the changes The Advocates for Human Rights have noticed is a once rarely-used practice now being used to detain more immigrants. The organization says it tracked 225 people this year who had their case dismissed by a judge at Fort Snelling Immigration Court and then were immediately arrested by ICE agents outside the courtroom. Garnett McKenzie joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to shed light on what's changed in immigration court here in Minnesota.

The federal government shutdown caused weeks of turmoil for recipients of the food assistance benefits known as SNAP. In the background, major changes to the program took effect under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” Congress passed this summer. About 9,000 immigrants in Minnesota are no longer eligible for SNAP, according to the state. And administrators are in the process of implementing work requirements that are expected to impact 29,000 others. Sophia Lenarz-Coy, executive director of The Food Group, joined MPR News host Nina Moini to explain what's changed in Minnesota.

For a few seconds, it looked like the Minnesota Vikings had made a comeback to beat the Chicago Bears yesterday. But right after their last-minute touchdown, the Bears scored a field goal. Chicago won the game 19 to 17.The Vikings now go on to face their division rivals, the Green Bay Packers. While the Vikings will be away at Lambeau Field, high schools football teams will be taking over U.S. Bank Stadium for the state tournament. Sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about these stories and all things Minnesota sports.

Minnesota-based retail giant Target is encouraging its store employees to smile and interact with customers more. Target shared with MPR News that the employee training program is called “10-4.” At 10 feet within a customer, Target is guiding store employees to smile and make eye contact with customers. And at 4 feet, employees should consider a conversation. The new guidance has caused quite the conversation, with people reflecting “how do I want to be interacted with when going to a store?” Joining Minnesota Now is an expert in consumer behavior and psychology, Aaron Sackett. He's a marketing professor at the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business.

Ten years ago this weekend, Jamar Clark was shot and killed by Minneapolis police. His death was a turning point for the Black Lives Matter movement throughout Minnesota. We reflect on changes in policing in the city and on Clark's life with his sister.We get updated on the conflict between a Minneapolis landowner and the city about an encampment that grew on his property. MPR News reporter Kirsti Marohn joins us to talk about how battery storage plays a role in the state's shift to clean energy.Plus, we take you to a booming new Mexican market in Richfield. For some, when it gets chilly outside, it's time to turn the oven on inside. We talk with chef Amy Thielen about her favorite fall treats.The Minnesota Music Minute was “Sad Firm Handshake” by Dave King Trucking Company and “Flowers” by Dirty-930 was the Song of the Day.

For many Minnesotans, fall means it's time to get the comforting warm flavors of nutmeg, apple, cardamom and maple to fill the air in the kitchen.Minnesota-based chef and cookbook author Amy Thielen joined MPR News host Nina Moini to share what recipes she's thinking about this fall season.

Earlier this month, Minnesota-based Xcel Energy announced it wants to double the amount of lithium battery storage it already planned to install next to its Sherco coal-fired power plant in central Minnesota. The batteries would allow Xcel to store energy produced at its wind, solar, nuclear and natural gas plants across the Upper Midwest.MPR News reporter Kirsti Marohn has been covering how batteries that store electricity on demand are becoming an increasingly important part of the transition to clean energy. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to share more about her reporting as part of a weekly check in with MPR News reporters based in greater Minnesota.

On Thursday morning, a judge denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the city of Minneapolis against a landlord who allowed dozens of people to camp on a parking lot he owns. The city sued Hamoudi Sabri in September to force him to close the encampment. A few days later, the city cleared the encampment after a shooting there killed one person and injured six others. Sabri's lawyers argued the city could not move forward with the lawsuit without including the people who had been living in the encampment in the case. MPR News reporter Cari Spencer was at the courthouse during the hearing and joined MPR News host Nina Moini to explain.

This weekend marks 10 years since the police killing of Jamar Clark. Clark was 24 years old and unarmed when Minneapolis police shot and killed him. The officers said Clark reached for one of their guns during a confrontation outside a party. Some witnesses disputed that Clark reached for the officer's weapon. No officers were charged with a crime. Clark's death spurred protests and activism that has carried through the police killings of other Black men in Minnesota, Philando Castile in 2016 and George Floyd in 2020.MPR News host Nina Moini talked to one of Clark's sisters, Tiffany Burns, to reflect on the 10 years since her brother's death, which changed Minnesota's history and her family forever.

The U.S. House of Representatives returns to Washington Wednesday to vote on a bill that would end the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history. We talk to one of Minnesota's representatives, Democrat Betty McCollum, about how she plans to vote.A new poll led by former Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges shows that female mayors face more harassment. We talk to Mayor Hodges about the results. Plus, is the Midwest a lost region? A conference is looking to put the study of the Midwest back on the map. And the northern lights were hard to miss last night! Paul Huttner shares the chances of seeing the aurora glow tonight. And we go out to lunch with T Williams, who shares his 50 years of activism in Minneapolis.The Minnesota Music Minute was “2042” by French Brigade and “Hallelujah I Love Her So” by Eddie Corchran was the Song of the Day.

We have all been witnesses to moments in history. But there are people in every community who go a step further by working to shape what happens next. Minnesota Now's series, Out to Lunch, is a chance to get to know some of those influential neighbors. MPR News host Nina Moini recently met up with longtime activist T Williams at Soul Bowl, a restaurant inside the V3 Sports health and wellness center in north Minneapolis. He has lived in the neighborhood since moving to Minnesota in 1965. That year, he became director of the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center. After riots broke out on Plymouth Avenue in 1967, he helped set up the Minneapolis Urban Coalition, a group of corporate leaders, local politicians and community members created to work on poverty and racial inequality in the city. Now, Williams is sharing a record of his long career advocating for people of color in Minnesota. He wrote a book with co-author David Lawrence Grant. It's called “Rewind: Lessons from Fifty Years of Activism.”

Minnesotans love talking about Minnesota and don't miss a chance to put the state and the Midwest as a region on a pedestal. But if you ask people outside the Midwest, they may not even be able to point to Minnesota on a map. A new conference is dedicated to making sure the Midwest is not forgotten. The goal of the “Lost Region Recovery Project Conference” is to grow the study of the Midwest. The conference will take place Saturday in Sioux Falls, S.D. MPR News host Nina Moini talked with its organizer, Jon Lauck.

Minnesota is abuzz with chatter about the northern lights display Tuesday night. Wednesday could bring another round! MPR chief meteorologist Paul Huttner joins Minnesota Now with details on the aurora and a warmer-than-usual weather forecast.

A new poll from the national group Mayor's Innovation Project shows that female mayors face higher rates of harassment and violence than their male counterparts. Former Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges helped to develop and facilitate the survey. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about its findings.

Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives have returned to Washington D.C. to vote on a bill that will end the longest federal government shutdown in history. Congress has been in stalemate for nearly seven weeks, as neither party could reach an agreement on a spending bill. But in the Senate on Sunday night, seven Democratic and one Independent joined most Republicans to pass the bill. The House, where Republicans have a majority, will vote on the bill Wednesday night. U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, a Democrat, is the longest-serving member of Minnesota's congressional delegation. McCollum said she plans to vote against the bill.”The more Americans find out what's in it,” McCollum told MPR News, “it's not — which Republicans like to call it, a ‘clean CR' — they're going to be appalled.”She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the vote. MPR News reached out to Minnesota's Republican representatives in Congress for interviews, but did not receive a response by the time of this conversation.

Minnesota law enforcement agencies are bringing in an outside group to look at the response to the deadly attack on Minnesota lawmakers and their families earlier this year. We learned more about the after-action report, as well as what results it might yield. A team of Minnesota researchers are trying to understand how bipolar disorder works in the brain. They hope to find new options for treatment. For years, hormone replacements for menopause have carried serious warning labels. Now, federal regulators are removing those warnings. We found out what it means for patients. Nov. 11 is Veterans Day. We heard from three Ojibwe veterans about their military service, and got details on a film festival recognizing the day.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “I Wish I Were a Mole in the Ground” by Charlie Parr and our Song of the Day was “Muscle Memory” by Yellow Ostrich.

The Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum is partnering with Lakeland PBS and Pioneer PBS to bring the Veterans Day Film Festival 2025 across the state Tuesday. Audiences in Mankato, Stillwater and Little Falls can see three films about three different Minnesota veteran experiences.Randal Dietrich is the executive director of the Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum in Little Falls. He called MPR News host Nina Moini from the official State of Minnesota Veterans Day Ceremony in Mankato to talk about the film festival.

An estimated 7 million adults in the U.S. live with bipolar disorder, a mental health condition that causes dramatics shifts in a person's mood. Scientists are still learning all the neurological complexities of the disorder.A University of Minnesota Medical research team was awarded $4.4 million for a first-in-the-world study of severe bipolar disorder. Dr. Ziad Nahas is the executive vice chair and professor in the university's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. He's also leading the study. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about his team's research on bipolar disorder.

The Food and Drug Administration has removed their black box warning label from hormone-based drugs used to treat menopause symptoms. The warning has appeared on hormone therapy treatments for nearly two decades after a landmark study found the therapy could increase risks of cancer. But now, the FDA is changing course. Diane Feller is a certified nurse midwife and menopause practitioner at HealthPartners. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to explain how this decision will impact patients in Minnesota.

Minnesota law enforcement agencies are hiring an outside group to review the law enforcement response to the shooting deaths of state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and the shootings of state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette.The after-action report by the International Association of Chiefs of Police will look at the 43 hours between the first 911 call and the gunman's arrest.Robert Davis is a retired police chief and led the after-action review of the city of Minneapolis' response to the unrest following George Floyd's murder. Robert now leads his own consulting firm doing the same type of work. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to provide insight on the review.

The federal government shutdown is the longest in U.S. history. As lawmakers work to reach a deal, SNAP benefits for hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans hang in the balance. We'll hear how SNAP administrators in Minnesota are navigating a series of conflicting developments. Just a few years ago, graduating college with a computer science degree pretty much guaranteed new grads a job. But how is the rise of artificial intelligence changing that? Plus, Monday marks the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. But exactly how it sank remains a mystery. We'll hear some of the theories. And the Loons are advancing to the Western Conference semifinals! We'll break down this weekend's sports news with contributors Wally and Eric.Our Minnesota Music Minute was a cover of “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” by jeremy messersmith and our Song of the Day was “Storm” by Bella Casper.

Two words could sum up the latest Vikings game: false start. In football, teams get penalized when offensive players move before a play officially begins. On Sunday, Minnesota racked up eight of those false-start penalties. That's more than any home team since 2009. The confusion helped fuel the Vikings' loss to the Baltimore Ravens, with a final score of 19 to 27. In soccer, Minnesota United is moving forward in the playoffs after about as close of a playoff game you can possibly get. Penalty kicks went into sudden death, which happens after no team wins in five rounds of kicks. Minnesota Now's regular sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson joined host Nina Moini with the latest sports headlines.

Monday marks 50 years since the Edmund Fitzgerald took its final voyage, before getting swallowed by Lake Superior in a November storm. All 29 crew on the ship died. The story of the Fitz has become an urban legend of sorts around the Great Lakes region. Exactly what led to the ship sinking is a mystery. A new book is dedicated to looking at the theories and telling the stories of the crew, through interviews with their family members. The book is called “The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” Its author, John U. Bacon, sat down for an interview with MPR News reporter Dan Kraker.

Just a few years ago, computer science was a lucrative major that all but guaranteed new graduates a job right out of college. But with the rise of artificial intelligence, a somewhat frozen tech job market and layoffs at major tech companies, securing an entry-level job in the industry is proving to be much more difficult. Loren Terveen is a professor and the head of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to share his perspective and what he's hearing from students.

Monday marks 50 years since the Edmund Fitzgerald took its final voyage, before getting swallowed by Lake Superior in a November storm. All 29 crew on the ship died. MPR News was reporting on the story at the time. The day after the ship sank, MPR News reporter Claudia Hampston spoke to Erling Hanson. He was a boat engineer with experience sailing on Lake Superior. Here is Hanson's reaction to news of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975.

One issue that sticks out from the historic halt of the federal government has been the wobbling of the food assistance money meant for 440,000 Minnesotans. Over the weekend, there was a back-and-forth in the courts over SNAP. In that time, Minnesota leaders said they fully restored SNAP benefits. But now it's unclear whether that money is available from the federal government. Minnesota and its SNAP administrators across the counties are navigating these conflicting developments. Barb Dahl is the Scott County Human Services director and joined Minnesota Now to share the latest she's seeing in SNAP benefits.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is one of many airports nationwide that has been forced to cancel flights starting Friday due to staff shortages amidst the government shutdown. We hear how upcoming travel plans may be impacted. Women go through a big physical and mental change in midlife, but experts think that menopause is not talked about nearly enough. MPR News reporter Dan Gunderson is retiring after nearly 40 years of storytelling out of Moorhead. We look back at his illustrious career.Many Minnesotans are trying to dodge the glum mood that often comes with darker days in the winter. We get some tips.Plus, books published in Hmong are relatively rare. We talk to someone who's changing that.The Minnesota Music Minute was “Push and Pull” by Jaedyn James. The Song of the Day was “Spandrel” by Jacob Pavek.

Books written or translated into Hmong are relatively rare. It's estimated there are no more than 1,000 different book titles in Hmong. A new initiative called the Untamed Roots Collective is trying to change that in an effort to sustain and revitalize the language.This weekend, Untamed Roots Collective is launching self-published books in Hmong from more than a dozen authors. Kha Yang Xiong is an author and leader of the project. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to share more.

The sun came up at 6:59 a.m. Thursday morning in St. Paul and set around 4:54 p.m. in the afternoon. In this next installment of Professional Help, we get some advice for taking care of our mental health and adjusting to the darkest months of the year.Our ask: Help me cope with shorter daysOur professional: Cecilia Bloomquist, the behavioral health director at Sawtooth Mountain Clinic in Cook County.

Menopause is an often overlooked stage of life, but experts believe its impact on women's lives deserves a lot more attention and research. A conference happening Thursday in Minneapolis is bringing together leaders, health care experts and advocates to bring midlife women's health to the forefront. The conference is being put on by the local organization, Let's Talk Women. Founder Katie Severt joined MPR News host Nina Moini to share more.

MPR News reporter Dan Gunderson retires on Friday. He spent decades reporting Native American stories in the Fargo-Moorhead region.Dan has highlighted many community members from the White Earth Nation, including artists, tribal leaders and those working on land return efforts. He was at Standing Rock, reporting from the camp during the 2016 pipeline standoff in North Dakota. He also covered many other stories including boarding school history, wild rice harvests and cultural reclamation.Native News editor Leah Lemm spoke with Dan Gunderson about his reporting on tribal nations as a non-Native journalist.