Minnesota Now

On Minnesota Now this week, we're airing Call to Mind, the MPR News initiative fostering new conversations about mental health.Mental illness is the leading cause of hospitalization for America's military service members.  Anxiety conditions and post-traumatic stress disorders lead the list of diagnoses. This special explores the mental health needs of veterans and people serving in the militaryWe hear about how combat and non-combat military duty can impact mental health. And we explore the unique resources and support available to service members and veterans.   Join Call to Mind host Kimberly Adams for “Silent Battles: Mental Health and Military Service,” a one-hour broadcast special.

On Minnesota Now this week, we're airing Call to Mind, the MPR News initiative fostering new conversations about mental health.Technology is ever-present in modern life, from remote work to communities on social media, from dating apps to telemedicine. We live with an ever-expanding array of online options and an ever-growing list of new questions about how healthy it is to spend so much time online with our devices. This broadcast special explores the influence of technology on our mental health.  We'll hear from experts about how online communities, AI, influencers, and social media compromise one's mental health. We also meet people whose wellbeing has been improved by new technologies.  Join Call to Mind host Kimberly Adams for “Promise and Peril: Technology and mental health,” a one-hour broadcast special. 

On Minnesota Now this week, we're airing Call to Mind, the MPR News initiative fostering new conversations about mental health.Studies show that 1 in 4 older adults live with a mental illness such as depression, anxiety and substance use disorders. But many older people don't get the help they need. And America's aging population is expected to double by 2050. This program explores the unique mental health challenges of older adults and the models in place to care for them. We'll hear from mental health providers, direct care workers and older Americans living with mental health issues. The program explores therapeutic solutions and improved treatment systems to help older adults and their wellbeing. Join Call to Mind host Kimberly Adams for “The Aging Mind,” a one-hour broadcast special.

On Minnesota Now with this week we're airing Call to Mind, the MPR News initiative fostering new conversations about mental health.An estimated 29 million Americans will suffer from an eating disorder in their lifetime. These mental illnesses can be profoundly disruptive to a person's life and psychological wellbeing. And eating disorders can be deadly. Anorexia nervosa has one of the highest mortality rates of any psychiatric condition. Eating disorders strike a wide range of people, but deep-rooted assumptions about who suffers from these diseases often complicate the road to recovery.  This special looks at eating disorders and the challenges of treatment. We'll hear firsthand from people who have experienced these illnesses and experts who treat them.  Join Call to Mind host Kimberly Adams for “Beyond the Mirror: The Challenge of Eating Disorders,” a one-hour broadcast special. 

President Donald Trump's mega tax and spending bill has passed before its Friday deadline. Minnesota's counties may be affected as it would cut funding to the Medicaid and food assistance programs they run. We'll talk to a county commissioner about the impact. As we gear up for the Fourth of July, a Minnesota fireworks manufacturer will talk us through the difficulties the fireworks industry is facing.In a new Minnesota Now and Then, we'll listen back to a 1976 MPR News broadcast about how Minnesotans celebrated the country's 200th birthday. And about 20 trucks are gearing up for the first ever Native American Food Truck festival in St. Paul this weekend. We'll hear about the variety of Indigenous foods they are celebrating.Our Minnesota Music Minute was 'In the Dark' by Cornbread Harris and our Song of the Day was 'Shapeless' by Dante DeGrazia.

This Saturday, about 20 Native American-owned food trucks will be parked at Harriet Island Regional Park on the Mississippi River for a Native American food truck festival. Organizers say the event is the first of its kind in Minnesota.The co-owner of Trickster Tacos and the founder of the festival, Mariah Grant, joined Minnesota Now to talk about what to expect.

In June, severe weather in Bemidji left nearly every home and business without electricity and some without running water. The storm hit early Saturday morning on June 21. And on that day, Bluebelle Event Venue in Bemidji had a wedding. Amy and Levi Chandler were expecting 265 guests. The fallout from the storm made it seem almost impossible to pull off the big day. The caterers had no electricity or water to cook with. The florist was trapped at her house behind fallen trees in the driveway. And the wedding venue itself had no power or water. In our series Thank You, Stranger, we talked to Jessa Solheim, an owner of Bluebelle Event Venue, and the bride, Amy, about how the community came together to make sure the Chandlers could tie the knot.

On July 4, 1976 the United States was celebrating its bicentennial, or 200 years. Next year will be the Untied States semiquincentennial, or 250 years.Back in 1976, there was a series of celebrations and observances that paid tribute to U.S. Independence. That year at MPR News, we aired a special program hosted by former MPR News host Gary Eichten that looked at how Minnesotans across the state observed the milestone.

If you have plans to a see a fireworks show this weekend, it's likely you'll see the work of RES Pyro. It's a pyrotechnics company out of Belle Plaine that puts on fireworks displays across Minnesota and also manufactures pyrotechnics for shows internationally. Joining Minnesota Now with an inside look at the fireworks industry is the president and CEO of RES Pyro, Will Wallus.

Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives are on track to pass the big tax and spending bill by their deadline of July 4. The bill extends tax breaks from President Donald Trump's first term and eliminates taxes on tips. It also cuts federal funding for Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. In Minnesota and 10 other states, county governments manage these programs. St. Louis County estimates that the cost shift to St. Louis County will be more than $10 million for SNAP and $6.4 million for Medicaid.St. Louis County Board of Commissioners Chair Annie Harala joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about the impact.

After three years of violence during the Fourth of July in Minneapolis, law enforcement is putting in place additional safety measures during the holiday weekend. And it may rain on your Fourth of July parade. We get a detailed forecast from MPR meteorologist Sven Sundgaard. Plus, we check in with Iranian Minnesotans, who are concerned about the safety of loved ones back home. A legal battle is unfolding in federal court that could impact the future of electric vehicle infrastructure in our state. And we go “Out to Lunch” to a Twins game at Target Field with sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson!

Most Mondays on Minnesota Now, MPR News listeners hear the voices of sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson. Each week they walk us through the winning streaks, slumps and near-misses of Minnesota teams. In this installment of our series Out to Lunch, we go out to the ballgame with these two longtime broadcasters to find out what drives their passion for sports. MPR News host Nina Moini meets up with Wally and Eric at a recent Twins game against the Seattle Mariners.

June flew by and July has brought some seriously summery weather so far. MPR News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard joins Minnesota Now with the forecast for the upcoming Fourth of July weekend.

There's a special kind of dread that comes from driving a car that is about to run out of gas or power. That may be why electric vehicle advocates say highways need to have more EV charging stations for people who make the switch to electric. Those advocates had a recent win. A federal judge ordered the Trump Administration to unfreeze funding for EV infrastructure. But Minnesota's funding is still in limbo.Minnesota was one of 16 states plus the District of Columbia that sued over the funding freeze. But the court order only applied to 14 states, not including Minnesota. Great Plains Institute Senior EV Policy Specialist Moaz Uddin Mian joins MPR News host Nina Moini to explain.

Public safety measures are ramping up in Minneapolis ahead of the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Law enforcement leaders from the city of Minneapolis, Hennepin County and the state of Minnesota held a press conference Wednesday morning at Boom Island Park in Minneapolis to talk about additional safety measures that will be in place this weekend. MPR News reporter Matt Sepic attended the press conference joins Minnesota Now with details.

A new 15 percent tax on recreational marijuana products goes into effect July 1. It's one of the highest taxes on such products in the US. We heard from a business owner and a lawyer on how this could impact the budding industry. The state's newest budget lowers funding for Minnesota's disability waivers system. We learned more about the program and how the measure could impact people with disabilities. A new Supreme Court ruling allows parents to pull their children from a classroom when public schools use LGBTQ+ plus themed books in lessons. An advocate joined the show to explain.We heard a conversation with Justin Vernon of Bon Iver on his partnership with the Minnesota Lynx to promote gender equity.

The state Legislature voted to cut funding for nursing homes and the state's disability waivers system to help balance the budget. The disability waivers system is linked to Minnesota's Medicaid program and provides home and community-based services to those with disabilities, helping them live in a community rather than an institution. In 2023, around 70,000 Minnesotans used disability waivers. Lawmakers say the cuts will “slow the growth” of the program. Linda Wolford, the government relations director for the Minnesota Council on Disability, joined Minnesota Now to explain.

The U.S. Supreme Court has sided with parents who want to pull their children out of the classroom when public schools use LGBTQ+ themed books in lessons.In recent years, there's been an uptick in parents asking school boards to ban books, especially ones that feature marginalized sexualities and genders. Imam Hassan is the advocacy director at Gender Justice in St. Paul. The organization is holding a panel on the results of the decision Tuesday evening. Hassan joined Minnesota Now to explain how the ruling could play out in Minnesota.

July 1 marks the first day several new laws go into effect. That includes raising the tax on retail marijuana sales. Tax on recreational marijuana products is now 15 percent plus sales tax, jumping from 10 percent prior. That makes it one of the highest cannabis taxes in the country, according to data compiled by the Tax Foundation. This increase is coming as the state is starting to hand out its first licenses to business owners.Jen Randolph Reise is the founder of North Star Cannabis Consulting. Erin Walloch is the CEO of CannaJoyMN, a south Minneapolis store that sells marijuana seeds and hemp-derived products and is in the process of obtaining a micro-business dispensary license. Both Reise and Walloch joined Minnesota Now to talk about their perspectives on the tax increase.

U.S. Senators are voting Monday on President Donald Trump's "One Big, Beautiful Bill Act." The bill proposes major cuts to Medicaid, tax breaks and new money for national defense and immigration enforcement. We'll hear from U.S. Senator Tina Smith in Washington D.C. General Mills and other major food producers are moving away from the use of artificial dyes in their products. We'll break this trend down with an expert.Plus, a Minnesotan has a new memoir out about her experience with epilepsy.And a photographer is turning her passion project into action to protect the state's most iconic bird.The Timberwolves have re-signed some fan favorites and the Xcel Energy Center has a new name. We'll get the latest sports news from Wally and Eric.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Hand in the Air” by The Gated Community and our Song of the Day was “Villain” by Betty and the Rubble.

You likely know it as “the X” or the Xcel Energy Center. The home of the Minnesota Wild and the Minnesota Frost now has a new name: Grand Casino Arena. The 14-year naming rights contract begins Sept. 3.The partnership brings together sports and gambling. Sports betting legislation has failed to pass for two consecutive years at the State Capitol.Sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson joined Minnesota Now to talk about the new name, along with the latest players to ink a deal with the Timberwolves and the Lynx dominating performance.

Minnesota-based General Mills is among three major food producers that say they will be pulling artificial dyes from their U.S. products starting in 2027. The shift comes nearly two months after U.S. health officials said they would encourage food producers to phase out petroleum-based artificial food coloring.Joanne Slavin, a professor in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota joined Minnesota Now to break down this shift.

More than 55,000 people in Minnesota have epilepsy, a condition that causes people to have seizures. That's according to the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota.Stacia Kalinoski was forced to become an expert on the causes and symptoms of epilepsy when she began having seizures about 20 years ago. As they continued on-and-off, Kalinoski fought to pursue her dreams of working in journalism and her love of long-distance running. It's now been ten years since she had brain surgery for the condition. And she's out with a memoir, “Racing Uphill: Confronting a Life with Epilepsy.”

The U.S. Senate is nearing its self-imposed July Fourth deadline to vote on President Donald Trump's proposal of tax breaks and spending cuts. It's what he's calling the ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill Act.' Senators are on the floor in Washington and are expected to spend the entire day hearing amendments and voting. Democratic U.S. Sen. Tina Smith joined Minnesota Now from Washington to explain.

In a special edition of Minnesota Now, we dedicate the full hour to a conversation with Keon West. He is the author of the book released this year called "The Science of Racism: Everything You Need to Know but Probably Don't — Yet." The book lays out decades of scientific research about racism and its consequences, as well as efforts to address racial inequality. Now a social psychology professor at the University of London, West spent an earlier phase of his academic career in St. Paul. He attended Macalester College and graduated in 2006. MPR News host Nina Moini recently talked with West at the school's alumni weekend.

An 11-year-old boy is dead after a shooting at a Minneapolis park. It's the second deadly shooting at a city park this month. We talk to the Minneapolis Park Police chief about what he thinks is behind the violence and what he's doing to keep parks safe.The entire CDC vaccine advisory panel was fired by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The new members meet for the first time today. We hear how this panel's desicions could impact vaccine access. Plus, federal checks on unaccompanied minors are putting immigrant families on edge. We dive deeper into that story from Sahan Journal. Meteorologist Sven Sundgaard joins us with a look at flooding threats for today. And a new podcast is collecting stories of queer mutual aid through a hotline.Today's Minnesota Music Minute was “Don't Come Crying to Me” by Cindy Lawson. The Song of the Day was “The Great American Outrage Machine” by Dante DeGrazia.

A local podcaster is creating an oral history project built on stories from the LGBTQ+ community. It's called the We Help Us hotline and the phone lines are open to collect the stories of queer mutual aid in Minnesota. The stories sent in will then turn into a narrative podcast and will also be archived at the Tretter Collection at the University of Minnesota. Chris Stedman is the founder of Good Judy Productions and creator of the We Help Us hotline. He joined Minnesota Now to talk about the project. You can call 1-844-WE-HLP-US (1-844-934-5787) to submit a story.

Lawyers and advocates in the Twin Cities and southwestern Minnesota say federal agents are making home visits to interview unaccompanied minors. That's according to a recent story by Sahan Journal. Unaccompanied minors are children and teens who moved to the United States without guardians or legal status. Many are staying with sponsors, who are usually family members, while their cases go through court. The Trump Administration has told national news organizations that agencies are making “wellness checks” to look for signs of exploitation and human trafficking. But immigrant advocates are raising concerns. Joining Minnesota Now to explain is Sahan Journal's immigration reporter Katelyn Vue.

We are finally cooling down after some extreme heat. But now we're tracking multiple rounds of rain and the potential for flooding. Joining Minnesota Now with a detailed forecast, and a look at rainfall totals and how the start of tornado season is shaping up is Meteorologist Sven Sundgaard.

The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meets Wednesday and Thursday. A once-obscure board, its work was thrust into the spotlight after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired all 17 of its members earlier this month. He named eight replacements, some of whom have been outspoken about their mistrust of COVID-19 vaccines and lockdowns. The board wields enormous influence, deciding on who gets vaccines in the U.S. and when. Michael Osterholm, the Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy and the leader of the Vaccine Integrity Project at the University of Minnesota, joined Minnesota Now to talk about the impact the committee's decision could have on vaccine access.

Minneapolis police are still looking for a suspect in the deadly shooting of an 11-year-old boy at a park in north Minneapolis. MPD says the shooting happened at Folwell Park Monday afternoon. First responders tried to save his life, but the boy, Amir, died from his injuries. It's the second deadly shooting at a Minneapolis park this month. In early June, one person died, and five others were injured after a shooting at Boom Island Park in northeast Minneapolis. Minneapolis Parks Police Chief Jason Ohotto joined Minnesota Now to talk about park safety.

Nurses and health care workers in the Twin Cities and Twin Ports voted this morning to clear the way for a strike. We talk with the union about why they are considering that step and what's changed since their last strike in 2022. The shooter who attacked two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses in their homes was allegedly dressed as a police officer when he came to their doors. That's raising questions about how officers identify themselves to the public. Plus, the U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld a ban on gender-affirming care in Tennessee. The ruling won't affect Minnesota law, but it could bring more families to the state seeking care. And we meet the host of a radio show that's all about rural Minnesota cooking!Today's Minnesota Music Minute was “Company” by Alica Thao. The Song of the Day was “500 Dollars'“ by the Lamont Cranston Band.

There's a lot of media about food out there, but not much about the complexities and passion that fuels home cooking in rural Minnesota. That's what James Beard award winning chef Amy Thielen is taking on in her new project.Thielen hosts “Ham Radio,” a radio call-in show that takes us inside the kitchens of cooks all over the state. It airs on KAXE based out of Grand Rapids. She said her goal is to make it sound like a community cookbook translated into radio. She joined Minnesota Now to talk about the show.

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors. In recent years, 27 states have enacted laws that restrict access to gender-affirming care for youth. The ruling could doom lawsuits brought by transgender rights groups in states that have restrictions on gender-affirming care. While the ruling won't affect Minnesota's law protecting gender-affirming care, clinics could see a surge of new patients coming from out-of-state. Aaron Zimmerman is the executive director of PFUND, an organization that provides resources for LGBTQ+ plus people in the upper Midwest. He joined Minnesota Now to talk about the ruling's impact.

More than 15,000 nurses and health care workers across 22 hospitals and clinics in the Twin Cities and Twin Ports have voted to authorize a strike amid contract negotiations. While it doesn't mean a strike will happen, it's one step closer to health care workers going to the picket line. Chris Rubesch is the president of the Minnesota Nurses Association, the union representing the nurses and health care workers involved, and an RN at Essentia Health in Duluth. He joined Minnesota Now to talk about the vote.Minnesota Now reached out to the Twin Cities Hospital Group for an interview, but they were unavailable. They provided this statement:“Today's announcement of a strike vote puts the union's “strike first, patients second” mentality on full display. It is disappointing that the union has chosen this path instead of working collaboratively to find solutions. While today's vote tally does not mean a strike is imminent (a 10-day notice must be provided), if the union decides it is preferable for our nurses to leave their patients at the bedside, our hospitals will be fully prepared to care for patients. As they must be, our teams are focused on concluding these negotiations, reaching a fair settlement, and serving our patients.”

When a shooter arrived at the homes of four lawmakers, investigators say he was dressed as a cop, identified himself as police and had a vehicle that looked like a police car. He then shot and killed Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and shot and injured Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. Many people trust that when law enforcement comes to their door, it's for their safety. But after this incident, some of that trust may be slipping away. Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans joined Minnesota Now to dive into this issue.

Severe weather in northern Minnesota has pummeled the region over the past few days. As of Monday morning, more than 4,000 people in Bemidji are still without power. We'll speak to Bemidji mayor Jorge Prince about clean up efforts.As the war between Iran and Israel enters its second week, many Iranians in Minnesota are keeping a close eye on the conflict. We'll hear from a local Iranian organization. Plus, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas have created a new role to address tensions about Israel's war in Gaza on university campuses. We'll hear from their first director of campus affairs.And we'll learn who the Timberwolves have their eye on for the NBA draft and other sports headlines from Wally and Eric.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Hustle” by Sawtooth Witch and our Song of the Day was “Recipe” by Push and Turn.

There wasn't a Minnesota team in the NBA finals, but there was a Minnesotan! The winner of Game 7 was the Oklahoma City Thunder — which includes Minnesota's own Chet Holmgren.And on the women's side, the Lynx are dominating the start of the season. The same can't quite be said for the Minnesota Twins, who currently have a losing 37-40 record. Joining Minnesota Now with the latest sports headlines are Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson.

Tensions are growing in the Middle East as the war between Israel and Iran enters its second week. Over the weekend, the U.S. inserted itself into the war, launching a series of coordinated bombing attacks against three Iranian nuclear facilities. It's a major escalation of the ongoing Middle East conflict. As the war continues, many Iranians here in Minnesota have been keeping a close eye on the conflict. Parham Alaei is a co-founder of the Minnesota Committee in Support of a Democratic Iran and joined Minnesota Now to share his perspective.

Storms swept through northern Minnesota early Monday morning and caused power outages for more than 10,000 homes and businesses. That's on top of a devastating round of storms that brought hurricane-speed winds to the Bemidji area early Saturday. Those storms took down trees, power lines and buildings. And the damage sent people to emergency shelters as temperatures approached 90 degrees. As of Monday morning, more than 4,000 customers in and around Bemidji were still without power. No injuries or deaths from these storms have been reported in Minnesota. Leaders of Beltrami County and the city of Bemidji declared states of emergency over the destruction. Bemidji Mayor Jorge Prince joined Minnesota Now with the latest.

Israel has opened a new front with Iran. But the war in Gaza is still raging on. The latest there, the Israeli military said it recovered the remains of three hostages over the weekend. Overall, more than half the hostages have been returned in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Eight have been rescued alive and Israeli forces have recovered dozens of bodies. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed over 55,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Here in the U.S., tensions surrounding Israel's war in Gaza have often centered at universities, with continuous protests on campuses. In response, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas have created a new role. Rabbi Jill Avrin will be the organization's first director of campus affairs. She started the job this month. Rabbi Avrin joined Minnesota Now to talk about her goals for this new role.

A new crown and sash was presented to Miss Juneteenth Minnesota 2025, a pageant that's in its second year. The pageant celebrates young Black women who are leaders in their communities and who can rock some amazing looks. This year's winner, Jailyn Newton, and last year's winner, Khadijah Lamah joined Minnesota Now to talk about their experience participating in the pageant.