Minnesota Now

Minneapolis is considering building a new police training center.And U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison is raising concerns about her visit to an immigration detention center in Texas, where some Minnesotans detained by ICE are being held.Thousands are expected to gather in St. Paul on Saturday for the third No Kings rally to protest President Trump's policies. St. Paul police shared more about their safety plans.Plus, we are just beginning to understand the wide-ranging impact of the ICE surge here in Minnesota. A new survey has some insight. And excitement is growing for the U of M's women's basketball team and its journey to a championship. We spoke to the high school coach of a star player.

It was one of those sports moments that felt like magic: a close game that would decide who went home, and who moved on in the NCAA women's basketball tournament. Then Gopher guard Amaya Battle got the ball and shot a perfect, game-winning swish with less than a second left on the clock. Battle's former coaches, Tara Starks and Alexis Garcia, watched from Hopkins High School as the University of Minnesota beat Ole Miss, earning a ticket to the Sweet 16 for the first time in more than 20 years. Hopkins head girls basketball coach Tara Starks joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about Battle and the big upcoming game.

Findings from one of the first comprehensive surveys of the impacts of the surge of federal agents are out — and they show there were broad negative effects on people in the Twin Cities. The U.S. Immigration Policy Center at the University of California San Diego is behind the research. Between mid-February and early March, they surveyed more than 700 people in Minneapolis and more than 600 people in St. Paul. Tom Wong, the director of the center, joined Minnesota Now to break down the economic, health, education, and public safety impacts the study found.

Tens of thousands of people from across Minnesota and across the country are expected in St. Paul on Saturday for the No Kings rally. The political protest at the State Capitol is the flagship event on a day when thousands of other rallies are planned across the country. The event is protesting Trump administration policies. It will feature local officials and activists, alongside celebrities like Jane Fonda, Bruce Springsteen and Joan Baez. This is the third No Kings rally since President Donald Trump took office and organizers expect Saturday's event to be the biggest.State and local law enforcement are making security plans to keep the event here in St. Paul safe. St. Paul Police Deputy Chief Kurt Hallstrom spoke to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini about the plans.

The Minneapolis City Council is set to vote Thursday on funding for a new police and emergency responder training facility.A proposal before the council would allocate close to $5.6 million to acquire land for the facility. The money would come out of other parts of the city budget, including animal control and traffic safety.MPR News reporter Estelle Timar-Wilcox joins Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to provide an update.Read the latest on this story at MPRnews.org.

Minnesota officials are suing the Trump administration for access to evidence in the three shootings by federal officers.Plus, the city of Brooklyn Park is having a group home boom, but city leaders are questioning how well some of these facilities are caring for vulnerable residents.Two women in Minnesota died in domestic violence incidents 12 days apart. Their cases bring to light the legal limitations of orders for protection. Plus, a new business incubator has opened in the historic Rondo neighborhood of St. Paul. Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner shared how long the warm weather may last.And an event series uses headscarves as a starting place for connection and storytelling. The Minnesota Music Minute was “butterflies” by runo plum. “Bona Fide“ by Charlieboy was the Song of the Day.

The clothes people wear often tell stories about who we are and that can be especially true with what we wear on our heads. Headscarves, headdresses and other head coverings hold religious and cultural significance across many groups. For years, Rose McGee has gathered Minnesota women together to share about their lives, backgrounds and style, with headscarves as a starting place. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about a Headscarf Story Circle happening in Rochester Saturday. The event is the second of a three-part series organized by the Minnesota Humanities Center and Rochester Women's Magazine.

A new retail and business incubator space has officially opened in the historic Rondo neighborhood of St. Paul. Rondo Exchange on Selby Avenue is now home to four new businesses that span photography, visual art, self-care products and digital illustration. The Rondo Community Land Trust is behind the incubator, which aims to provide retail space and support to creative entrepreneurs. The land trust's larger mission is to foster community wealth and stability in Rondo, a community that was fractured more than 60 years ago when the construction of I-94 displaced many long-term residents from the predominantly-Black neighborhood.Mikeya Griffin, president and CEO of the Rondo Community Land Trust, joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about Rondo Exchange.

This month, two women were killed in domestic violence incidents 12 days apart. Ashley Kittelson was allegedly killed by her husband in International Falls on March 6th. Jennifer Marsaw and her 5-year-old son, were allegedly killed by her husband in Anoka County on March 18th. Marsaw's husband has been charged with two counts of murder. Their two cases share a common thread. Both women filed orders for protection from the men accused of killing them. Violence Free Minnesota Co-directors Nikki Engle and Katie Kramer joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about legal systems of protection and how they're advocating to make those systems function better. If you or someone you know is in a dangerous situation with a partner, a 24-hour statewide domestic and sexual violence hotline. The number to call Minnesota Day One is (866) 223-1111 or you can text (612) 399-9995.

State lawmakers are considering creating a new state office focused on stopping fraud. That proposal passed in the Senate with support from both parties. But in the House, it's been stalled. We'll learn about the sticking points and where things stand.Minneapolis has been in the global spotlight this year, again. We'll learn how the city's tourism agency is trying to convince people to visit after the ICE surge. The Trump Administration canceled a report about the health of nature across the country. But scientists are publishing it anyway. We'll talk to a Minnesota professor who's part of the project. It's syrup season! We'll head north to hear about the joys of tapping trees and boiling sap in Grand Rapids, Minn.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Dicey (The Floor Song)” by Bryn Battani and our Song of the Day was “Seven Corners” by Mucilage.

Many Minnesotans are currently experiencing the sweet spot of a generations-old springtime tradition. The time to tap for maple syrup comes each spring, as the temperature is wobbling between freezing overnight and thawing during the day. This time is not just about making a sweet treat to add to our pancakes. It's a long process that invites people to pause to observe details of the earth waking up from winter. That's what an upcoming event in Grand Rapids, Minn., aims to encourage. The Forest History Center is celebrating this spring with an event called Maple, Music and Phenology. The center's program supervisor, Bryan French, is boiling gallons upon gallons of maple sap to make syrup for the event on Saturday afternoon. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it.

Scientists are taking feedback on a report about the health of nature across the country. It's the first of its kind, and it started as a federal government project under the Biden Administration. When President Trump took office and canceled the report last year, its authors decided to finish it anyway. University of Minnesota associate professor of forest resources Danielle Ignace is a lead author of a chapter about the human causes of environmental change. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it.

Minneapolis started out the first months of 2026 in the global spotlight. The ICE surge brought an unprecedented number of federal agents to the city, which led to illegal detainments and harassment by agents, and the deaths of Renee Macklin Good and Alex Pretti. Many of the city's residents got a lot of attention nationally for their organized resistance against ICE actions and mutual aid efforts, as well.Meet Minneapolis, the city's tourism agency, is tackling how to present itself to tourists after months of upheaval. The agency is launching a new tourism campaign this month.MPR News host Nina Moini spoke to Melvin Tennant, president and CEO of Meet Minneapolis about his plans.

Combatting fraud is one of the central topics at the State Capitol this legislative session. One of the marquee bills, establishing an Office of the Inspector General, would create an independent agency to investigate fraud in state programs. Rep. Matt Norris, DFL-Blaine, is the author of the bill in the House. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about why he thinks the state needs an Office of the Inspector General, sticking points around law enforcement and getting the bill passed.

The Trump administration has sent ICE agents to more than a dozen airports across the country. We'll hear from a travel expert on what role federal agents could play at these airports and what he is seeing at MSP.State lawmakers are taking up a bill that would limit zoning rules in order to potentially get more homes built in Minnesota. It's the third time supporters have tried to get legislation of this kind passed.Also at the Legislature, a bill to repeal César Chavez Day in Minnesota. It comes after an investigation revealed allegations of sexual abuse.And the Minnesota's sports world is mourning the loss of hockey reporter Jessi Pierce today. We'll check in with our sports contributors who crossed paths with Pierce.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Lately I've Let Things Slide” by The Cactus Blossoms and our Song of the Day was “Castle Danger” by Tim Dallman.

ICE agents showed up to work at airports across the U.S. Monday morning. The Trump administration says agents are there to help move along slow security lines due largely to the dwindling of TSA agents. Thousands of TSA agents are working without pay during the partial federal government shutdown. The federal government has not mentioned Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport as one of the airports that will see ICE agents Monday.Kyle Potter, editor of the website Thrifty Traveler, said in an interview with MPR News host Nina Moini that he visited the airport early Monday morning, a typically busy time with long wait times to get through security checkpoints, and he didn't see any ICE agents — or long security lines.

State lawmakers moved Monday toward a quick repeal of a law celebrating the late labor movement leader César Chavez following reports that he had sexually abused women and girls.A group of legislators and community leaders said the Legislature should take rapid action to pull the March 31 honor to Chavez from the books. Lawmakers are busy this week to have committees act on policy bills in the narrowly split Legislature. Despite that House DFL leaders pushed to advance it on the day it was introduced through an agreement with Republicans to accelerate consideration. The bill passed 129-0.The New York Times published a lengthy investigative story last week that included on-the-record accusations of rape and child sexual abuse by women who worked around Chavez in the farm worker rights movement. Chavez died in 1993.Efforts are also underway in St. Paul to rename a road and a school named after Chavez. Mayor Kaohly Vang Her said those could take longer as city officials are aiming to draw community feedback on which name should replace Chavez in those spaces.Rep. María Isa Pérez-Vega, DFL-St. Paul, said many are still reeling from the news of allegations against Chavez. But she said it's important that Minnesota lawmakers work together to drop the holiday in his honor.“It was gutting. It still is. We're grieving but when we grieve, we don't let go of each other. We actually hold on to each other even stronger. And this is not a weakness for us,” Pérez-Vega said. “This repeal is empowering, and it's to show strength and to leave a message for not just Minnesotans, but across the nation right now, to speak up, take action, and let's bring healing.”Emilia González Avalos, executive director of Unidos Minnesota, said it's important that the state take action.“Honoring our history does not mean we stop telling the truth about it. It means that we tell the whole truth because our communities, especially our children, deserve nothing less,” González Avalos said. “Repealing César Chavez Day is about drawing a clear line that no legacy, no matter how powerful, no matter how important, stands above the safety and dignity of our children and our community,” she continued. “We can honor farm workers. We can honor the movement — La Causa. We can honor the struggle of labor rights, but we don't have to enshrine a single figure in a way that leaves no room for truth, complexity or accountability.”Republicans agreed it was the correct move to act fast.“It's an unfortunate circumstance in front of us but it's the right thing to do,” said Rep. Jon Koznick, R-Lakeville.A Senate committee has a hearing scheduled for Tuesday, meaning a vote in that chamber is likely this week as well.Gov. Tim Walz told WCCO Radio last week that he plans to withhold an annual proclamation but he can't make the law change independently. Instead, it would be up to state lawmakers."This certainly clouds that legacy, and we should reassess it,” Walz said. “I would hope they would do something on that, but we won't be putting out anything. And I just want to make sure I stay in line with what the Legislature and statute says."Governors in other states that observe Chavez's birthday have said they will not do so this year in light of the accusations. Places across the U.S. that honor labor rights icon César Chavezhttps://interactives.ap.org/embeds/1UG30/1/If you or someone you know is in a dangerous situation with a partner, there is a 24-hour statewide domestic and sexual violence hotline. You can call Esperanza United's confidential, bilingual crisis line at 651-772-1611.Use the audio player above to hear a conversation with Minnesota Now host Nina Moini and Rep. Pérez-Vega.Correction (March 24, 2026): An earlier version of this story misspelled Jon Koznick's last name.

Minnesota's sports world is mourning the loss of hockey reporter Jessi Pierce. She and her three children were killed in a house fire this weekend at their home in White Bear Lake. Minnesota Now sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson worked closely with Pierce and shared their remembrances. Plus, they shared the latest in basketball, including the Timberwolves big win in Boston and the start of the Minnesota high school boy's basketball tournament.

Monday afternoon state lawmakers will discuss the latest attempt to get more homes built in Minnesota by limiting local zoning rules. Supporters say those rules block development, making it harder for people to find homes they can afford. This is the third year in a row that a group of housing advocates and Republican and DFL lawmakers tried to loosen zoning restrictions from the state Capitol. The previous bills failed, with opposition from local government leaders. This year's version includes some compromises.One group that fought previous bills is the League of Minnesota Cities, which is now taking a softer stance. Joining Minnesota Now to explain the shift is League of Minnesota Cities lobbyist Daniel Lightfoot.

An immigration judge has ordered that 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his family be deported. We took a closer look into the asylum process and how judges make decisions on cases like his with an immigration attorney.St. Paul Public Schools students returned back to fully in-person class after some opted for virtual learning during the surge of federal agents. We got an update on the transition back.Figuring out how to pass down the family farm brings up a lot of emotions — and logistics. We talked to someone who helps families sort through it.And a man with cancer unexpectedly got life-saving help from a snow plow.Plus, a former state senator is detailing her love of partner dance and its health benefits in a new book.

This week, St. Paul Public Schools ended a temporary virtual learning option it began in January, when many families feared sending their children to school due to the surge of federal immigration agents to Minnesota. At one point, about 7,000 students, roughly a fifth of the district's student body, had taken the online option. By March 9, the number of virtual learners had shrunk to about 1,800, according to the district. St. Paul Public Schools Office of School Support Director Kathy Kimani joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the transition back to in-person learning.

When Ember Reichgott Junge was a young state senator representing the New Hope area in the mid-1990s, she walked into a partner dance studio looking for a husband. She did find one, but it turns out, he doesn't dance. However, she did find a lifelong passion: a deep connection to partner dancing. Years later, she looked into its impact on health and wellbeing — and wrote a book about it. In "The Dance of Resilience," Reichgott Junge explores the surprising ways dance can transform people's lives and health. She gave Minnesota Now a closer look at the book.

Minnesota Now's series called “Thank You, Stranger” explores the small acts of kindness that make a big impact.As the March blizzard made its way to the state, Jim Gausman was reminded of another storm that hit 20 years earlier — when he unexpectedly got life-saving help from a snow plow driver as he was fighting cancer.Minnesota Now producer Alanna Elder spoke with Gausman about the help he received on that day in this installment of “Thank You, Stranger.”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.

Planning for the next generation to take on the family farm can be a huge stressor on farmers. According to a recent analysis by Farm Journal, nearly 15 percent of American cropland is projected to change hands by 2030. Yet, many producers have no formal succession plans in place. Over the winter, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture along with University of Minnesota Extension and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, are helping farmers with that transition through retreats. Jim Molenaar supports farmers with succession planning and presents at the retreats. He joined Minnesota Now to talk more about his work.

Fargo Police arrested a woman for bank fraud using AI facial recognition technology. But the woman is from Tennessee and says she's never been to Fargo. We hear from the Fargo Police Chief about the case and an expert on AI and policing. The south Minneapolis Uptown neighborhood is struggling, and a new organization is hoping to revitalize the once-bustling business district. Plus, more and more rentals in the Twin Cities metro are owned by investors. We break down the data.With warmer weather on the way, Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner has the forecast. Plus, Minnesota Hmong artists will share music and poetry in a benefit concert for those impacted by the ICE surge. We talk to an organizer of the event.

A new organization is looking to get the Uptown neighborhood in south Minneapolis back on its feet. First reported by Southwest Voices, community members and business owners have been voicing concerns of an escalation of open drug use, trash littered across the business district and unhoused people and large groups loitering at the transit station and outside vacant businesses. The newly-formed group “Uptown United” is hoping it can turn that pattern around and revitalize the neighborhood by bringing together neighbors, business owners and local leaders. Kevin Norman is the leader of the organization, and he joined Minnesota Now to talk about his efforts.

Minnesota Hmong artists are collectively organizing a benefit concert this weekend for families and businesses impacted by the ICE surge in Minnesota. They will share music, poetry and stories about their lives Saturday night at the Pan Asian Center in Maplewood. MPR News host Nina Moini talked with Tou SaiKo Lee, a local artist and organizer of the event titled Interwoven: A Tapestry of Resilience and Resistance.

Nearly one in 20. That's the number of single-family rental homes in the Twin Cities metro now owned by a private investor. The finding comes from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, which has been tracking investor ownership from 2006 to 2024. It's one marker of a changing real estate market amid ongoing conversations about housing affordability and ownership possibilities. The Minneapolis Fed will host an event Thursday morning where it will share more about the data. MPR News host Nina Moini talked with Ben Horowitz, one of the presenters and part of the team behind the project.

The Fargo police chief said Tuesday the department used more than just artificial intelligence to arrest a Tennessee woman for bank fraud. The use of AI in her case has received attention after charges were dropped in December. She has maintained her innocence and says she has never been to North Dakota. MPR News reporter Harshawn Ratanpal has the story.Plus, George Washington University law professor Andrew Guthrie Ferguson shares context on how police departments around the country are using AI and what could prevent mistaken arrests.Read more here: Questions swirl around Fargo PD's use of AI

Some Minnesotans are in a legal limbo as uncertainty continues surrounding the temporary protected status program. The Supreme Court ruled on Monday to temporarily block the end of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians and Syrians.Lawmakers in the state House and Senate are set to discuss potential regulations for self-driving taxis on Minnesota roads Wednesday. Waymo, the company behind these autonomous cars, has been doing tests in the state since last fall. One expert talked about the future of Waymo in the state.The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa celebrated the return of nearly 90 acres of land on Monday. Thousands of Minnesotans are out on the streets of downtown St. Paul for the 60th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. We got a glimpse of the festivities.Our Minnesota Music Minute was "Farewell to Nova Scotia" from The Inland Seas and our Song of the Day was “Danny Boy” by Johnny Cash.

Federal immigration officers arrested 23-year-old Andrea Pedro-Francisco in early February, a week before she was scheduled to have a cyst removed from her ovary. Members of Congress have taken up her cause, but they have not been able to reach her. That's in part due to a measles lockdown at Camp East Montana, where she is being held. Minnesota Reformer Deputy Editor Max Nesterak wrote about her story and joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it.

Waymo, the autonomous taxi business, has been testing its vehicles in Minnesota since last fall. Both House and Senate committees will discuss regulations they could place on self-driving taxi services like Waymo during hearings on Wednesday. Frank Douma researches autonomous vehicle policy at the University of Minnesota. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to chat about the future of Waymo in the state.

Temporary Protected Status for several countries is in legal limbo. The legal status known as TPS is an immigration status that allows people to temporarily live and work in the U.S. because of dangerous conditions in their home country such as war or environmental disasters.  Last fall, the Trump administration moved to end TPS for Somalia. It was set to end Tuesday, but a court ruling earlier in the month paused that. Additionally, on Monday the Supreme Court ruled to temporarily block the end of TPS for Haitians and Syrians.  Ana Pottratz Acosta is an immigration law expert and visiting clinical professor of law at the University of Minnesota. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to sift through the meaning of the legal back-and-forth.

Thousands of green-clad Irish and Irish wannabes were downtown St. Paul for the city's 60th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. One of the VIPs at the parade was Gabe Morcomb. She was awarded the 2026 title of Miss Shamrock. We heard from her along with MPR News reporter Regina Medina, who was at the parade.

A late winter snowstorm led many schools and businesses to change their plans Monday. We'll find out how much snow fell in different parts of the state. And we'll hear from Minnesotans who braved the aftermath with shovels in hand. The snow also led a hunger relief advocacy day at the state capitol to move online. We'll talk with the leader of The Food Group about priorities this year, as some Minnesotans stand to lose their SNAP benefits. And some business owners want the federal government to pay them back for tariffs the Supreme Court ruled were illegal. We'll talk with a trade lawyer and a St. Paul manufacturer. Plus, the NCAA women's basketball tournament is coming to Minnesota this week.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Winter Builds Character” by USPOP and our Song of the Day was “Deep Dark Water” by Bethany Larson and the Bee's Knees.

Girl's and women's basketball are taking over the Twin Cities. The state girl's basketball tournament just wrapped up in St. Paul, with the Providence Academy Lions making Minnesota history as the first team to win five straight state titles.Meantime, the Gophers women's basketball team has made it to the NCAA tournament for the first time in nearly a decade. Minnesota Now sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson joined the program with basketball headlines and other sports news.

Businesses across the state and country are scrambling to understand if and when they might get refunds for illegal tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled President Donald Trump did not have the authority to set tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. It's estimated the federal government has collected some 160 billion dollars through these tariffs. But the ruling did not lay out a clear pathway forward for refunds to affected businesses. Joining Minnesota Now to help make sense of it all is international trade lawyer David Townsend and owner of St. Paul-based MISCO speakers Dan Digre.

Some legislative hearings at the Minnesota Capitol were canceled Monday because of the heavy snowfall over the weekend, but about 300 hunger-relief advocates are still connecting with lawmakers virtually for Hunger Day on the Hill. The event is organized by the statewide by the nonprofit The Food Group and a coalition of about 40 organizations. Advocates are pushing lawmakers to strengthen food access programs such as funding for food shelves and efforts to help people who could lose SNAP benefits because of federal policy changes. Rachel Holmes, the director of advocacy and community at The Food Group, joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about legislative priorities.

The state Senate approved rent help for Minnesotans affected by the surge of federal agents, but its future in the state House remains uncertain. We got the latest from our politics reporter.Plus, we met the Metro Transit's new police chief. And a coalition of Latino-led organizations is asking lawmakers to keep local government from cooperating with federal immigration agents. Also, meat packing workers are facing faster factory lines. Union leaders say it could be dangerous. We heard from one of those leaders.And local news reporter Courtney Godfrey is co-hosting the Paralympics at NBC. We talked to her about the games.The Minnesota Music Minute was “Easy Silence” by Dan Wilson, and “Playing House” by Anna Devine was the Song of the Day.

A bill to help cover rent costs for Minnesotans impacted by the surge of federal immigration agents has cleared the state Senate. State Senators voted 35-32 on Wednesday to send one-time funding of up to $40 million to county and tribal governments. The measure passed nearly along party lines with Democrats supporting and all Republicans but one opposed.Over in the House, which is tied between the two parties, lawmakers have introduced a similar bill, but it faces a tougher road to passage. A similar debate has been underway in Minneapolis, where Mayor Jacob Frey vetoed an eviction-related proposal Wednesday. It would have required landlords to give 60 days notice, instead of 30, before filing evictions. MPR News politics reporter Dana Ferguson joined to explain more about the conversations taking place at the state Capitol.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants to allow pork and poultry plants to speed up the pace of work. The agency says existing speed limits are outdated. Some plants have waivers that allow them to exceed those rules. Industry groups have praised the move to loosen requirements across the board. But labor representatives say a faster pace puts greater strain on workers' health and safety. Rena Wong is president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 663. It represents several meatpacking plants in the state of Minnesota. Wong spoke to MPR News host Nina Moini about her concerns about faster speeds in the plants.

The Winter Paralympic Games in Milano-Cortina are well underway. And Minnesota has the most athletes competing out of any other state. But there is another Minnesotan in the spotlight: Fox 9 reporter Courtney Godfrey. She is co-hosting the games with NBC. Godfrey lost her lower leg in a boating accident in 2017. Since then, she's been a member of the U.S. Para snowboard team and, at one point, had a goal of making it to the Paralympics. She talked with Minnesota Now host Nina Moini about her journey from athlete to co-host.