Minnesota Now

President Trump announced travel restrictions that will affect people from almost 20 countries across the globe. We learn about the early effects of the ban here in Minnesota from an immigration lawyer.A new report shows that the number of students choosing open enrollment is rising. Some say its worsening segregation in schools.Have you ever argued with an older loved one about whether they should still be driving, or how to take care of them as they age? We talk to a mediator who is helping families work it out. The NBA finals begin Thursday. One player headed there got his start in Minneapolis. We hear from Chet Holmgren's former coach about his journey to the top.Today's Minnesota Music Minute was “Grace and a Tender Hand” by Gaelynn Leah. The Song of the Day was “Passengers” by Aoife O'Donovan.

Even though the Minnesota Timberwolves won't be in the NBA finals this year, a Minnesotan will be on the court. Before he was a starter for the Western Conference Champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnehaha Academy graduate Chet Holmgren was just a tall kid in youth basketball learning the game with guidance from his coach, Larry Suggs.Suggs coached Holmgren on a club team starting in elementary school, a team that also included Suggs' son, Jalen, now a point guard for the Orlando Magic. Suggs joined Minnesota Now to talk about Holmgren's childhood and his NBA success.

Ten years ago, when Anna Hover was at the height of her career and raising her children in St. Paul, she got sick. She asked for help online, and the kindness of her neighbors helped put her life back together. Minnesota Now producer Ellen Finn spoke to Hover for our Thank You, Stranger series. Thank You, Stranger is our series about unexpected kindness in our lives. If you have a story to share about a stranger who made your life a little brighter, we want to hear it.Contact us at minnesotanow@mpr.org or ‪(612) 361-1252‬.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

The state of Minnesota recently announced $1.3 million in grants for projects that it says will make the state a better place to live as an older person. This includes funding for accessible design, housing and health care access. One of the projects hinges on the complicated relationships, choices and disagreements that families navigate as loved ones age. Community Mediation Minnesota, a network of nonprofits that provide mediation services, is receiving $60,000 from the state to do more work with older people. Katie Arnold, the co-executive director of Community Mediation Minnesota, joined Minnesota Now to talk about the grant and how their work can make a difference in the lives of families with aging loved ones.

President Donald Trump is banning travelers from 12 countries and partially restricting travelers from seven others, starting on Monday. He announced the ban Wednesday in a proclamation that said the move will protect U.S. national security. It's an echo of Trump's first term, when he signed an executive order blocking travelers from seven majority-Muslim countries. That ban led to protests at airports around the country, including in Minnesota, and a lengthy court battle. Mitchell Hamline School of Law Professor Ana Pottratz Acosta joined Minnesota Now to provide insight into the latest ban.

Nearly 44,000 Twin Cities students crossed into another district to attend school this year, using a process known as open enrollment, according to a new report published by Axios Twin Cities, a digital news outlet. According to their analysis, the number of students participating in open enrollment has grown every year for at least a decade.Meanwhile, research also shows racial segregation is worsening in schools, and some critics of the policy argue that open enrollment is one reason why. Kyle Stokes, a reporter with Axios, and Myron Orfield, the director of the University of Minnesota Law School's Institute on Metropolitan Opportunity, joined Minnesota Now to talk about the history of open enrollment and how it's reshaping school districts in the Twin Cities.

Dozens of federal agents surrounded a Minneapolis restaurant Tuesday. The incident sparked protests from some who believed it was an immigration raid, but officials say it was unrelated to immigration enforcement. We learn more from Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt.It's been a wild week of record smoke throughout the state. When will we get relief? MPR Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner shares the latest forecast.And a new program is encouraging more doctors to work in rural parts of Minnesota. We hear about the new residency program in Grand Rapids. Plus, you may have read one of Tim O'Brien's books in school. He's a famous novelist from Minnesota. We talk to the author of a new book about his life.And we hear about the future of a Minneapolis sambusa business that sells the frozen Somali pastries to schools and stores around the state. Today's Minnesota Music Minute was “Just Another Sucker” by 94 East and “Solo Cups” by Fred the Bear was the Song of the Day.

Since its founding ten years ago, a Minneapolis-based business has grown to sell frozen sambusas to grocery stores and school districts across the state. Now the business, Hoyo, is moving to a commercial kitchen that owners say will allow them to double production of the savory pastries, which are an essential part of Somali cuisine. Hoyo CEO Ghita Worcester joins MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about what's next.

If you've spent much time in Minnesota or a high school English class, chances are you have heard of Tim O'Brien. Maybe you have even read his award-winning short story collection about the Vietnam War called “The Things They Carried.” A new book recounts O'Brien's life, including his childhood in Worthington and early adulthood at Macalester College.Author Alex Vernon joins MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the biography, which is titled “Peace is a Shy Thing: The Life and Art of Tim O'Brien.”

The state has really been through it weather-wise this week. In a bizarre sight on Tuesday, many Minnesotans witnessed rain pouring through smokey air. MPR Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner joins MPR News host Nina Moini to explain these wacky weather events and what's to come.

The University of Minnesota Medical School is expanding rural physician training in the state with a new residency program planned for Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital in Grand Rapids. The new program joins a similar one in Willmar, where the first cohort will start their residencies next week. With these two programs, the U says it aims to create more opportunities for students to specialize in rural healthcare. Dr. Shailey Prasad, the associate vice president for global and rural health at the University of Minnesota Medical School, joins MPR News Nina Moini with more details on this effort.

MPR News is following an incident where dozens of federal agents to surround a restaurant in the heart of the Latino community in Minneapolis Tuesday. As news of the operation spread on social media, people believing the presence of federal agents was connected to an immigration raid tried to block tactical vehicles from coming down Lake Street and shouted at agents. At one point, some law enforcement used a chemical irritant to break up the crowd. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a statement it was part of a narcotics and money laundering investigation and not related to immigration enforcement. The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office partnered with federal agencies to carry out the investigation, according to a statement posted on social media. For more information on what happened, MPR News host Nina Moini talks with Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt.

State lawmakers are still working to finish up their budget bills, which they'll take to a vote in a special session as soon as Wednesday. We heard about the major sticking points and what it will take to avoid a government shutdown.We found out how state health officials are responding to a recent measles case at the Mall of America. The U.S. Supreme Court will soon release its opinion on a disability rights case that began in a Minnesota school district. A law professor joined the show to break it down. We met one of 29 leaders from the region who are being recognized for their community work through the 2025 Bush Fellowship. We learned all about two red pandas and their new habitat at the Minnesota Zoo.Our Minnesota Music Minute was ‘Sleepn' by TABAH and our Song of the Day was ‘Fool's Gold' by The Harlow Pennies.

The Bush foundation announced 29 recipients of its annual fellowship Tuesday. Each of them will get a grant to help build skills and make a difference in their communities. The fellows hail from Minnesota, the Dakotas and the native nations in the region. Many of the fellows focus on racial justice. One of them is Kelis Houston. When she started working in child welfare, Kelis noticed that an alarmingly disproportional number of African American children were being separated from their families. The children were being kept away for longer and more frequently than other children. Kelis Houston joined Minnesota Now to explain the work that lies ahead of her.

Red pandas are wildly popular at zoos around the world, and in their home region in forests across Asia. Over the weekend, two panda brothers made their debut at the Minnesota Zoo for the summer. It's been four years since the Minnesota Zoo has hosted red pandas. They're joining a new exhibit focused on the forests of China. Randy Kochevar is the chief animal care, health, conservation and behavior officer at the Minnesota Zoo. He joined Minnesota Now to explain how the zoo set up a new home for the pandas.

June is typically the time of year when the United States Supreme Court hands down their opinions on the cases they decided to take up this session. One of the cases up for a decision is a disability discrimination case involving a Minnesota family that sued Osseo Area Schools. The family has a daughter with severe epilepsy and cognitive disabilities. They requested that Osseo Area Schools allow their daughter to have a later school schedule because she tends to suffer from seizures in the morning. The school did not make that accommodation and the family is working to prove that public school officials violated the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act. The case could test the reach of federal laws that promise special help for children with disabilities in public schools. Jill Hasday, a law professor at the University of Minnesota, joined Minnesota Now to explain the case.

If legislative leaders and Governor Tim Walz had their way, all 201 lawmakers would be headed back to the Capitol for a special session as soon as Wednesday. The governor has not yet made that report-for-duty call, and the legislature hasn't polished up the budget enough to stage bills for up-or-down votes. Officials are making early preparations for a possible partial government shutdown, but that worst-case scenario is still weeks away. Peter Cox joined Minnesota Now from the Capitol to talk about what's ready and what's still holding things up.

One woman is dead and five others were shot following a mass shooting at Boom Island Park in Minneapolis last night. As police are preparing for busier months ahead, Minneapolis police Chief Brian O'Hara will join us to talk about violence prevention this summer. A new study finds it's becoming more difficult for teachers to afford to rent or own homes in the communities they teach in. We'll learn why that matters and what effect this trend is having in Minnesota. Plus, a Minnesota youth-led conservation group is tackling local environmental problems. We'll hear from two teens behind the Green Crew.And the Lynx are undefeated to start the season. We'll get the latest from our sports contributors Wally and Eric.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “In The Light” by Laamar and our Song of the Day was “Minnesota Moon” by The Big Wu.

This weekend there was a concentration of Minnesota teams on the West Coast. The Twins lost their series in Seattle while Minnesota United won in that same city. The Lynx won their game in San Francisco against the WNBA's newest team, the Golden State Valkyries. The Twins, Loons and Lynx will all be at home for their next games. Our sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson joined Minnesota Now to tell us what to expect.

A group of Twin Cities teens want youth to feel more hopeful about the future of our world. They're turning to their own back yards to tackle climate change. The Green Crew is a youth-led conservation and leadership program. It was recently featured in the New York Times as part of the “50 States, 50 Fixes” series about local solutions to environmental problems. Joining Minnesota Now to talk about the Green Crew is Hannah Barisonzi. She is a junior at The Blake School and the founder of the Green Crew and Griffith Pugh, who just finished his freshman year of college and is a co-founder of the Green Crew.

A new study from the National Council on Teacher Quality shows that housing costs are outpacing the growth of teacher salaries across the country, including here in Minnesota. As part of a sample of more than 72 large urban school districts around the U.S., the research and advocacy group looked at whether teachers at Anoka-Hennepin Public School District and St. Paul Public Schools could afford to rent or own a home in the community they teach in. From 2019 to 2025, the study found in Anoka-Hennepin schools, teacher salaries increased on average 21 percent, while home prices jumped by nearly 36 percent and rental costs by nearly 51 percent.In St. Paul Public Schools during the same time period, teacher salaries increased on average 19 percent, with home prices increasing nearly 29 percent and rent nearly 51 percent.Joining Minnesota Now to talk about what impact housing affordability has on teacher retention and the education system is Heather Peske, the president of the National Council on Teacher Quality and John Wolhaupter, an educator in the Anoka-Hennepin Public School District.

A shooting at Boom Island Park near downtown Minneapolis left one woman dead and six injured Sunday night. Of those six, five people were shot. The Minneapolis Police Department said that the shooting happened at a gathering of more than a hundred people at the popular park. Sunday night's events prompted the city of Minneapolis to announce the launch of what it's calling ‘Operation Safe Summer' to curb the uptick in violence the city sees during the warmer months. Police Chief Brian O'Hara joined Minnesota Now to explain.

Jeanette Rupert, Jeanelle Austin and Butchy Austin grew up around 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis and all took action in different ways following the murder of George Floyd. They shared with MPR News how their activism has impacted them and their communities in the time since.

The prairie is teeming with such a wide diversity of living things that it's on par with tropical rainforests. But it often doesn't get the same attention or concern.  In a new book, a pair of Minnesota journalists document the story of North American grasslands as well as efforts to protect and restore them. Dave Hage and Josephine Marcotty are the authors of “Sea of Grass: The Conquest, Ruin and Redemption of Nature on the American Prairie.” They joined Minnesota Now to talk about their book.

The first recreational cannabis dispensary off tribal land in Minnesota is expected to open as early as this weekend. White Earth Nation's cannabis company, Waabigwan Mashkiki, will run the store in Moorhead. This comes after White Earth and the state signed an agreement earlier this week. It's the first of its kind in the United States, because it recognizes the authority of a tribal nation to regulate dispensaries off reservation land.  Mary Jane Oatman is executive director of the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association. She's an enrolled member of the Nez Perce Tribe and a descendant of the Delaware Tribe. Oatman spoke to Minnesota Now We about how the deal fits into the wider scope of tribal cannabis agreements around the country.

The first recreational cannabis dispensary outside of tribal land in Minnesota is set to open this weekend. We'll learn about the historic partnership between the White Earth Reservation and the state, that will lead the tribe to set up shop off the reservation.Did you know that Minnesota's grasslands have as much biodiversity as tropical rainforests? And North America is destroying a million acres of that land every year. Two local journalists have a new book about an unsung ecological hero: the American prairie. Plus, we'll hear from three siblings who grew up next to George Floyd Square. They all responded to Floyd's death in different ways. They went in depth about their journey as activists over the past five years.

The Department of Justice wants to drop an agreement that would have mandated police reforms for the city of Minneapolis and the police department. We learn what that means for the path to change in policing and how local officials are responding to the move. And a business owner at George Floyd Square shares his perspective about how five years after Floyd's murder, his business is being impacted. Plus, we learn how an insect may have helped contribute to the fast spread of wildfires in northern Minnesota. How much rainfall did Minnesota get this week? Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner joins us with the answer. And we go Out to Lunch with the chef and owner behind Billy Sushi to learn about his unique path to becoming a successful restauranteur.Our Minnesota Music Minute was "Buckets of Rain” by Bob Dylan and our Song of the Day was "Magnolia Tree” by Turn Turn Turn.

On Minnesota Now, we hear from many different people in Minnesota over the phone and in the studio. But we don't often meet them in the community, where news and life happens. In our “Out to Lunch” series, MPR News host Nina Moini sits down for a meal with people from Minnesota news and culture to get to know them better.Enkhbileg “Billy” Tserenbat is the owner of the trendy Minneapolis restaurant, Billy Sushi. If not for his popular restaurant, Billy is known for his outrageous viral social media videos and for often sitting courtside at Minnesota Timberwolves games. He's got a big personality - and he talked about how he uses it to be Minnesota's biggest hype man.

Edwin Reed owns Sincere Detailing Pros at 38th and Chicago in south Minneapolis. He said his business took a dramatic downward turn after the murder of George Floyd. He reflected with MPR News host Nina Moini on the five years that followed.

Parts of the state needed this wet week to soothe drought conditions. As another bonus, the air quality improved. But the rain, wind and cold meant weather whiplash for anyone who experienced last week's heat. MPR News Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner joins MPR News host Nina Moini with details on the rainfall and a Memorial Day forecast.

The U.S. Department of Justice signaled Wednesday that it is not interested in pursuing an agreement with the city of Minneapolis designed to mandate policing reforms. The DOJ filed a motion Wednesday morning to dismiss the government's consent decree with the city. In January, the city and President Joe Biden's justice department reached an agreement to address alleged discriminatory policing particularly affecting Black and Native residents. But the agreement needed a federal judge's approval to move forward.Matt Sepic joins MPR News host Nina Moini from Minneapolis after city leaders responded to the news.

The murder of George Floyd five years ago led to a court order that requires the Minneapolis Police Department and the city to fix a pattern of racial discrimination in policing. A new report outlines the reforms made so far, where progress has been slow and what's next. Minneapolis Council member Andrea Jenkins' district includes the block where Floyd was killed. We talked to her about George Floyd Square and why five years later, its future is still unclear. A Minnesota author grew up near an immigration detention center in California. His new book imagines the stories of Chinese immigrants who were there 100 years ago. Minnesota sports teams are racking up wins, but how far can they go? We got the latest from our sports contributors.Our Minnesota Music Minute was "This Joy" by VocalEssence and our Song of the Day was "Sweet Willow Tree" by The Nunnery.

Across the world of sports, Minnesota has been winning lately. The Twins just ended a 13-game winning streak. The Minnesota Frost cruised into the PWHL championships, which begin Tuesday night. The Lynx are also off to a strong start after winning their first two games of the season. And the Timberwolves have made it to the NBA Western Conference Finals. With all this victory in the air, it's hard not to wonder how long it will last. The stakes feel especially high for Timberwolves. If they win their seven-game series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, they will go to the finals for the first time ever. Minnesota Now sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about everything they know about the matchup.Wally Langfellow is the founder of Minnesota Score Sports Magazine and co-host of the sports talk show 10,000 Takes. Eric Nelson is the other host of that show and Minnesota Vikings NFL reporter for CBS' Eye on Football and Sirius XM.

Five years ago, the murder of George Floyd by then-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin turned the corner of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue into an epicenter of worldwide calls to change policing. It was at that intersection where witnesses filmed Floyd's final moments as he cried out repeatedly that he couldn't breathe.Now, as city leaders work to implement court-ordered police reforms, they are also trying to figure out what's next for the site where the murder happened, now known as George Floyd Square. Council member Andrea Jenkins represents that area on the Minneapolis City Council. She joins MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the future of George Floyd Square.

A new book by a St. Paul author tells the story of Chinese emigrants applying to enter the U.S. 100 years ago. The young adult novel incorporates the poems that people detained at Angel Island off of California carved into the walls, expressing their anger and longing.MPR News host Emily Bright spoke with author Freeman Ng about his book "Bridge Across the Sky."

The court-ordered reform process within the city of Minneapolis and its police department has reached a new phase. After George Floyd's murder, the state Department of Human Rights found that the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Police Department engaged in patterns and practices of racial discrimination. It led to a court-ordered agreement, that now is being enforced by an independent monitor. On Tuesday, that monitor released a report that looks at the progress made in one full year of the agreement. The Minnesota Department of Human Rights commissioner Rebecca Lucero joined Minnesota Now to explain where things stand one year in.

Flames rising. Police officers retreating. A community trying to protect itself.These scenes may evoke the chaos following George Floyd's murder on May 25, 2020. But they also describe what happened nearly two decades earlier, on Aug. 22, 2002, in north Minneapolis. That summer, community outrage erupted after a white Minneapolis police officer shot and wounded an 11-year-old Black boy.“It came at a time when tensions were already high,” reported MPR News' Brandt Williams in 2002. “An angry, predominantly Black crowd gathered and accused the police of targeting African Americans.”That unrest, like the one in 2020, drew the attention of the U.S. Department of Justice. But for longtime observers like Williams — who began covering the city in 1992 for the Black-owned “Insight News” — the story of police-community tensions in Minneapolis began long before Floyd's name became a rallying cry.Listen to MPR News senior editor Brandt Williams' conversation with Minnesota Now host Nina Moini. The segment was produced by Aleesa Kuznetsov and Megan Burks. It was engineered by Alex Simpson.

We're remembering five years since the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. Today, we are looking back at how we got here by examining decades of police-community relations in Minneapolis that set the stage for a racial reckoning. The deadline for the 2025 Minnesota Legislative Session is tonight at midnight, but lawmakers aren't done with their work. We'll get the latest updates on a special session and what still needs to happen from our politics team. Plus, patients with sleep apnea have found they sleep better after receiving medical marijuana, according to a new survey. We'll learn more about how the findings could help other patients struggling to sleep.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Undying Thirst” by Black Market Brass and our Song of the Day was “Carl Sagan” by Night Moves.

Sleep apnea is a condition that affects millions of people, often without them even knowing it. It's more than just loud snoring or restless nights. It can have serious health consequences. And the state Office of Cannabis Management has new data about using cannabis to treat the condition. They conducted the largest survey on record about the condition and cannabis. And their findings show it could really help patients. Joining Minnesota Now to explain is Grace Christensen, a research analyst at the Office of Cannabis Management.

At midnight Monday, it is all supposed to be over. The state Legislature is supposed to adjourn after passing a new two-year budget. That's not going to happen this year. A special session will be needed to complete the task because lawmakers are still navigating the remaining sticking points and political obstacles. Peter Cox, one of a trio of MPR News reporters tracking the session, joined Minnesota Now with an update.

Some much needed rain is coming to the state and it has the potential to come in the form of severe weather. We learn more from our meteorologist Mandy Thalhuber.The rain could help contain wildfires in northeast Minnesota that are still raging today. Minnesota's legislative leaders and Gov. Tim Walz have reached a budget deal just in time before the session ends. We learn more about their dash to tie up loose ends.We hear the story of the first Hmong-American to have a musical professionally produced right here in Minnesota, as part of our ChangeMakers seriesAnd do you have a tree climber in your life? A competition this weekend highlights the dare devils at the top of their game.The Minnesota Music Minute was “Sugar” by FenixDion. The Song of the Day was “Baby Girl” by Eleanor Sievers.

If there's a kid in your life who loves to climb trees, they may be interested to know it can be a career and a sport. There are competitions all over the world where arborists race to scale trees and complete tasks up in the branches. The Minnesota Society of Arboriculture's Tree Climbing Championship and Festival of Trees is this weekend at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis. Returning women's champion Sydney Hudzinksi will be defending her title and trying to make it to the international championships this fall. She joined Minnesota Now to talk about the event.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here.