Minnesota Now

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.

In the nick of time, a budget deal has been reached between most of Minnesota legislative leaders and Gov. Tim Walz. Now it's up to committees to fill in more details and put the plan to a series of votes. There's little time left to get a budget approved before the legislature is required to adjourn on Monday. A short special session is possible. MPR News Reporter Clay Masters joined Minnesota Now with the latest legislative updates.

Reinforcements are arriving to help fight several wildfires burning in northeastern Minnesota that have scorched about 58 square miles and destroyed dozens of homes, an area about the size of Minneapolis. The fires are still zero percent contained. Dan Kraker spoke to fire crews, those affected by the wildfires and volunteer efforts to take care of them.

Thunderstorms are expected to roll across central and eastern Minnesota into Wisconsin Thursday afternoon. It's possible they'll bring large hail, strong winds and tornadoes, especially as they travel east. The cloudy, windy and potentially severe weather forecasted for today is pushing this week's unseasonable heat. MPR meteorologist Mandy Thalhuber joined Minnesota Now to give the latest details on Thursday's storm.

As many as 9,000 Afghan refugees are at risk of deportation after the White House ended an immigration program that let them stay in the U.S. legally. We talk to an organization that has been supporting Afghans in Minnesota. Minnesota has seen four women die due to domestic violence in the span of four weeks. We hear from Violence Free Minnesota about their prevention efforts and how they are navigating potential cuts to federal funding.We hear the latest on a challenge to the state's ban on binary triggers on guns. Plus, this weekend Art-a-Whirl in northeast Minneapolis is celebrating 30 years. We hear from an artist being recognized in the country's largest open-studio tour.The Minnesota Music Minute was “Earthly Delights” by Field Hospitals and the Song of the Day was “Move on Up” by Curtis Mayfield.

This weekend is the 30th year of Art-a-Whirl, a free arts festival in northeast Minneapolis. The neighborhood has long been a hub for artists and creatives. Throughout the event it transforms as artists open their studio doors and northeast businesses host local music and food trucks. Organizers say it is the largest open artist studio tour in the country. Anna Becker is executive director of the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association, which organizes Art-a-Whirl. MPR News host Nina Moini talked with her along with Kari Maxwell, a painter and one of this year's 30 featured artists.

An organization that tracks domestic violence in Minnesota reported one intimate partner killing every week for the last four weeks, from April 12 to May 7. Murder charges have been filed in two of these deaths and law enforcement believe the other two occurred in murder-suicides. In total, Violence Free Minnesota has tracked seven intimate partner killings so far this year. Behind each one is a human life, with friends, family and communities in mourning. Guadalupe Lopez, executive director of Violence Free Minnesota, joins MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about efforts to prevent the loss of more lives to abuse.If you or someone you know is in a dangerous situation with a partner, help is available through a 24-hour statewide domestic and sexual violence hotline. You can call Minnesota Day One at (866) 223-1111 or text (612) 399-9995.

The Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday it will end the Temporary Protected Status program for Afghan refugees, a move that could lead to the deportation of thousands of migrants from the U.S., including in Minnesota. TPS protects migrants who cannot return to their home country due to unsafe conditions like war or natural disasters. In a statement, DHS said temporary protected status for Afghans will expire on May 20 and the program will be eliminated in July. Nasreen Sajady, executive director of the Afghan Cultural Society in Minneapolis, joins MPR News host Nina Moini to break down what this means for Afghan refugees living in the state.

Two wildfires in northeastern Minnesota have destroyed dozens of buildings and forced people to evacuate. We had the latest on the situation and heard from evacuees who gathered Monday night to wait for news on their homes in the wildfire's path. Between school and social life, the digital world isn't really optional for most teenagers today. A Minnesota author examined the latest research into teens and screens, and talked to adolescents about their relationships to their phones. She joined the show to talk about what she found.Minnesota has two professional sports teams that are just a game away from moving forward in the playoffs and both play Wednesday. Minnesota Now sports contributors joined the show with the scoop on the Timberwolves and the Frost.Our Minnesota Music Minute was ‘Stranger' by Alan Sparhawk and Trampled by Turtles and our Song of the Day was ‘Party Love' by Jae Fontane.

The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Frost are both one game away from advancing in their respective playoffs. The Timberwolves lagged behind the Golden State Warriors in the first half of Monday night's game, but at the halftime buzzer, Anthony Edwards scored a deep three and shrunk the Warriors' lead. The team went on to win the game 117-110. Similarly, the Frost won their most recent game 7-5 against the Toronto Sceptres. It was the highest-scoring game in Professional Women's Hockey League history. If they win the Wednesday night home game against Toronto, they'll go on to the finals. Minnesota Now sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson joined the show to talk about the outlook for the Timberwolves, Frost and Twins. 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.

If you have a teen in your life, you know their communication and self-exploration revolves around screens. Parents and their children have been grappling with that fact for decades, but a new book explores the latest research and firsthand accounts of adolescent development, independence and the digital world. Minneapolis-based author Erin Walsh wrote “It's Their World: Teens, Screens and the Science of Adolescence,” which comes out May 13. Walsh joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the latest research on the teenage brain and tech.

Wildfires in northeastern Minnesota exploded in size overnight. Two large wildfires in the region are still uncontained. The biggest is the Camp House fire, which has spread over 12,000 acres. That's about the size of the entire city of Winona. Just 13 miles north of that fire, another fire, dubbed the Jenkins Creek fire, has burnt 6,800 acres. The burnt area is about the size of the city of Golden Valley. Together, the wildfires have burned dozens of homes and cabins and also led to evacuation orders in the region. On Tuesday morning, St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay said some people who did not evacuate are unaccounted for. "Their houses have been lost, so we need to determine where they are,” Ramsay said. “We are hoping that they evacuated, but this is a new phase of this incident, where we are, we are working on determining the location of people, where they're at and if they're safe."Leanne Langeberg works with the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini with the latest.

Shortwave radio has a long history in our world. The transmission can travel across continents, much farther than FM and AM radio. That ability has made it a powerful tool for governments, extremists, or anyone trying to get their ideas to a faraway audience. Minneapolis-based journalist Katie Thornton tells the story of shortwave radio in the second season of The Divided Dial. It's an award-winning series of the WNYC program On the Media. Thorton joined Minnesota Now to talk about the show.

Dozens of firefighters are working to contain a fast-spreading wildfire northeast of Duluth. The fire has prompted evacuations and has already burned down at least three homes. We'll get the latest update from Dan Kraker, our correspondent in northern Minnesota. A new study found that in the five years since the murder of George Floyd, Americans have grown skeptical that 2020 actually led to significant change. We'll break down that data with experts. Plus, the Duluth City Council will vote today on a controversial condo proposal. We'll hear how it's pitting opponents and supporters of low income housing projects against each other.And we'll learn more about how shortwave radio became an influential tool for political groups around the world.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Peaches” by Your Smith.

Immediately after the murder of George Floyd, there were more people than ever drawing attention to issues of racial inequality and police treatment of Black people. A new Pew Research Center study finds that in the years since, Americans are skeptical that 2020 actually led to any significant change. Two people joined Minnesota Now to dig into the data. Kiana Cox is an author of the study and a senior researcher on the race and ethnicity team at the Pew Research Center and Yohuru Williams, founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas.

Our top story on Minnesota Now, a wildfire is burning near Brimson, Minnesota. That's northeast of Duluth. The fire is uncontained and is still rapidly spreading through the area. Officials have named it the Camp House Fire. It prompted the evacuation of homes and cabins yesterday. Here with the details is MPR News reporter Dan Kraker.

A new advisory board in Brooklyn Center will offer recommendations to the city on policing and public safety. City council members approved the Community Safety and Violence Prevention Commission on Monday. Their 4-1 vote came after months of debate over whether to move forward with the commission. It is one of the last surviving proposals from a 2021 resolution that the city council passed in response to the killing of Daunte Wright. The Brooklyn Center officer who shot Wright during a traffic stop said she had meant to use her taser and was later convicted of manslaughter. Brooklyn Center Mayor April Graves was a council member at that time. She joins MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the city's reform efforts and how they have shifted along with the political climate.

New data shows Minnesota high school graduation rates are at a record high. We dig into the data for the class of 2024. And we look at some of the reasons why we may be seeing the increase with MPR News education reporter Elizabeth Shockman. When Daunte Wright was shot and killed by a Brooklyn Center police officer, the city made promises of reform. Four years later, the city council has approved a new community safety commission. Plus, cuts to arts funding from the Trump administration are impacting more than a dozen Minnesota organizations. Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner tells us how long this warm weather will last. And we go Out to Lunch with MPR's own Tom Crann as he gets ready to depart his role hosting All Things Considered.

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.Tom Crann has been a steady voice and presence as the host of All Things Considered for the last 20 years. Crann announced last month he is leaving MPR News to return to his roots as a classical music host with YourClassical MPR. He joined Moini for lunch to reflect on his career and what's ahead.

The Trump administration has canceled grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. These grants were promised to arts organizations nationwide, including many in Minnesota that are now scrambling to cover the shortfall. Senior arts reporter Alex V. Cipolle has spoken to some local arts leaders about the cuts. She joins MPR News host Nina Moini to share what she has learned.

No matter where you are in the state, there is no doubt that on Tuesday you experienced some pretty warm weather for early May. To learn more about how long this stretch of sunny weather will last, MPR News host Nina Moini talks with MPR chief meteorologist Paul Huttner.

New data from the state department of education shows Minnesota high school seniors are graduating at historically high rates. MPR News education reporter, Elizabeth Shockman, joins MPR News host Nina Moini to break down the numbers.Read the full report here: Minnesota graduation rates reach historic high after pandemic slide

The May 6, 1965, tornado outbreak was a rare Oklahoma-style weather event in Minnesota. Four of the six violent twisters were rated F4 on the Fujita Scale with estimated winds at more than 200 mph. The devastating twisters killed 13 people and injured at least 500 more. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner was a pre-schooler at the time, but he remembers the day vividly.

As part of its effort to slash government spending, the Trump administration canceled $17 million in grants to Minnesota universities for training school psychologists. We learned about the impact these cuts could have on students with mental health struggles. As state lawmakers try to reach a budget deal, the leader of one suburban county is warning residents that less money flowing from the state could lead to higher property taxes.In this week's Wander and Wonder segment, we met a mom working to help young girls across the region build healthy self-esteem. Eden Prairie is celebrating the first Minnesota Teacher of the Year to come from the district. We learned about her nearly 50 year career.Our Minnesota Music Minute was ‘For Mom' by David Billingsley and our Song of the Day was ‘There You Are' by Kiss the Tiger.

Lawmakers at the state capitol have less than two weeks left of the session. In that time, they need to finalize the state budget. In Scott County, which comprises the southwest Twin Cities metro, the board of commissioners shared with residents that that will mean an increase to property taxes.  Dave Beer is the chair of the Scott County Board of Commissioners. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to explain a potential property tax increase and the role the county plays in relation to state and federal funding.

The Trump administration is canceling $1 billion in school mental health grants. It will impact at least $17 million in funding in Minnesota. The White House said an Education Department review of the programs found they violated the purpose of federal civil rights law. Jessie Kember is president of the Minnesota School Psychologists Association and a faculty member in the University of Minnesota's school psychology program. She joined Minnesota Now to explain the grants cut in Minnesota and who will be affected.  Kember spoke to Minnesota Now in the capacity of her role as the President of the Minnesota School Psychologists Association.

A video of a woman admitting she called a Black child a racial slur on a playground in Rochester has gone viral, prompting a fundraising standoff and a police investigation. We'll hear from the president of the Rochester NAACP about the impact this incident has had on the entire community. A new mental health clinic is now open in St. Paul will provide care to more young people of color. We'll learn more about the program.Plus, a new development is bringing 90 new low-cost housing units to Duluth. We'll hear how this project could help ease the housing shortage in the city.And the Timberwolves are facing the Golden State Warriors in Round 2 of the playoffs! We'll get the latest from our sports guys Wally and Eric.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Grudge” by Gozie Ukaga and our Song of the Day was “Tidal Wave” by Garden Tigers.

Minnesota Now's weekly sports segment begins in Houston, Texas, where late Sunday night that city's NBA playoff run came to an end. The Rockets lost 89 to 103 to the Golden State Warriors. And that means the Warriors are coming to Minnesota. They'll play the Timberwolves in the second round of the playoffs, starting Tuesday night at Target Center. Joining Minnesota Now with some context on this matchup, plus other sports news, are Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson.

By this time next year, the city of Duluth will have 90 more units of low-cost housing. Last week, city leaders, developers and housing advocates celebrated the construction of two new apartment buildings in the West Duluth neighborhood.These projects will focus on providing housing for long-term homeless adults and those with disabilities. Nancy Cashman is the executive director of Center City Housing, the developer of the projects. She talked to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini about the need for affordable housing in the area.

It's no surprise that children and teens are reporting mental health struggles at higher rates than in the past. And nationwide, only about half of those with a mental health condition get treatment, according to the CDC. The Wilder Foundation is working to reach more kids with the new Wilder East Clinic. The site opened on May 1. It aims to close gaps in care for young people – especially young people of color – with providers who work in multiple languages. Joining Minnesota Now for details is Wilder Foundation vice president of community mental health and wellness Pahoua Yang.

Protesters gathered at the Olmsted County Government Center Monday to demand charges against a woman who directed a racist slur at a child last week. Rochester police said this morning they completed an investigation into a viral video of the incident. They sent their findings to the city attorney's office, which will decide whether to charge the woman. The situation has drawn national attention and outrage.This is the third incident of racial slurs making news in Rochester in about the last year or so. Rochester NAACP president Walé Elegbede joins MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the situation.

May 1 is also known worldwide May Day, a day that commemorates workers' rights and achievements. In Minneapolis, it's a colorful community celebration that has been around for 50 years.Sandy Spieler, the founder of May Day Minneapolis, joined Minnesota Now to talk about May Day's history in the city and the celebrations happening this weekend. Center for Healing and the Arts co-executive director Sofía Padilla also joined the program. The organization is helping with this year's festivities.