Minnesota Now

Minnesota Now broadcast live from the MPR Stage at the corner of Judson and Nelson with a full hour of political news, fair food, farming and live, local music. It's a midterm election year, and candidates and their campaigns are all over the fairgrounds looking for votes. We surveyed the scene with political journalists Peter Cox and Laura McCallum. For 50 years, a State Fair coffee shop has used the fair to advocate for farmers. We met a lifelong farmer with the Minnesota Farmer's Union. Plus, we tried two new fair foods and get to know the people behind them. And we heard a couple tunes from Twin Cities folk duo the Cactus Blossoms.

Brothers Page Burkum and Jack Torrey are no strangers to the Minnesota State Fair, or the MPR stage. But their name – and their music – brings to mind a different scene, the desert. The Cactus Blossoms are known for rich vocal harmonies and twangy guitars that create a rich, old country sound. They've been playing together for more than a decade now and have six albums to their name, most recently, the 2024 release, Every Time I Think About You. Next month, they'll be touring with some other Twin Cities favorites, the Jayhawks. And after that, they're taking their music across the American West. The Cactus Blossoms joined MPR News host Nina Moini live at the State Fair to share music and stories, ahead of a show Thursday night on the Preyes Stage at the fair's Schilling Amphitheater.

The Great Minnesota Get Together brings people from all across the state, so it's a go-to spot for candidates running for office. Every major candidate has their own booth, and most candidates are here for multiple days, speaking to voters and visiting vendors. It is a big election year in Minnesota. Voters will choose a new governor and a new U.S. Senator. And every single seat in the state legislature will be on the ballot. Joining Minnesota Now at the State Fair booth are two members of the MPR politics team, Reporter Peter Cox and longtime political reporter and editor now back at MPR News Laura McCallum.

It's what many of us wait all year for — the new foods at the Minnesota State Fair. And this year's lineup is a diverse mix of 36 new items. There's the “Dubai Whooping Pie” and the “Dill with It, Cookie.”Minnesota Now got a chance to taste two of the items on the list and hear more about how they were created. Sara Hayden, owner of Sara's Tipsy Pies, and Aliah Bennett Taylor with Lumpia City joined Minnesota Now at the Fair to talk about the “Ube Strawberry Sundae Tart” and “Longanisa Cheese Curd Lumpia.”

Many of us may think of the giant slide or deep-fried food on a stick when we think about the Minnesota State Fair. But the Great Minnesota Get-Together was actually created to highlight farmers and farming across the state. It's a mission Gary Wertish, president of the Minnesota Farmers Union, thinks a lot about. He joined Minnesota Now on stage at the Fair to share more about the challenges facing small family farms and how the union is working to support them.

Some students are heading back to school, including in Fridley, where the school district saw major disruptions last school year due to Operation Metro Surge. We heard how the district is welcoming everyone back on the first day of school. Students across the state will now be required to learn about mental health. We learned about the new state standards. Plus, have you opened up your electricity bill this summer to see your payment has surged? We broke down what's behind the increase. MPR's weather team joined us live from the state fair with a Labor Day weekend weather forecast. And a new documentary goes behind the scenes of the Great Minnesota Get-Together.The Minnesota Music Minute was “Lately I've Let Things Slide” by the Cactus Blossoms and “State Fair” by Wilder Atkins was the Song of the Day.

An upcoming documentary looks to showcase the State Fair in a new light. Simply called "The Fair Documentary," it goes behind-the-scenes of fair favorites and highlights corners of the fair you may have never seen before. Director and producer Alec Fischer joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the film, which is currently in production.

Minnesota students may be exploring new questions in school this year about how to ask for mental health support and show up for friends who are struggling. Beginning this fall, the state requires Minnesota schools to provide mental health instruction for students, from fourth grade through senior year. The Minnesota Department of Education and Minnesota's branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) have co-developed guidance to help schools implement the new requirement. NAMI Minnesota Executive Director Marcus Schmit joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about what the new approach to mental health education could look like.

The federal government plans to stop reporting on the race, gender and other demographics of workers across industries. But the Minnesota Department of Human Rights is asking it to keep tracking that data. I'll talk to the state's human rights commissioner. First responders in Burnsville are working with psychiatrists to learn how to respond to mental health crises. We'll learn about the new partnership.Minnesota students are going back to the classroom. And school leaders are now required to have cell phone policies. I'll talk to three high school principals about their approach. Plus, some students who stayed home during Operation Metro Surge never returned to their schools. An education reporter looked into the numbers.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “That Was The Moment” by LASALLE and our Song of the Day was “Puppers (Bandit's Song)” by Maximiano.

A first-of-its-kind partnership is forming between law enforcement and psychiatrists. The Burnsville Police and Fire Department Behavioral Health Unit is now working with the University of Minnesota Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences to help better respond to mental health crises. Joining Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about the new partnership is Burnsville Police Sgt. Max Yakovlev, who created the department's behavioral health unit and Dr. Sophia Albott, a psychiatrist and head of the Division of Adult Mental Health at the U of M.

For generations of students, passing notes was a classic way to get distracted at school. Then came cellphones, and suddenly, that distraction could fit in a student's pocket, connecting students to friends and the entire internet at any moment of the day. Minnesota schools are now entering their first full school year under a state mandate to have policies governing students' use of cellphones. The mandate went into effect in March. In preparation for this school year, Minnesota Now asked three Minnesota high school principals what they've learned so far about getting phones out of the classroom. Principal Rob Reetz of Mounds View High School, Principal Robert Bach of Stillwater Area High School and Principal Michelle Koch of Menahga High School spoke to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini about their policies.

A decades-long effort to collect demographic workplace data may be coming to an end. In July, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission put forth a proposal to end federal workplace reporting requirements that have been in place since 1966. The current system tracks demographics like race, ethnicity and sex in an effort to prevent employment discrimination. Last week, the Minnesota Department of Human Rights along with several other civil rights agencies filed a joint comment opposing the end of the tracking. “Eliminating Equal Employment Opportunity reporting represents yet another significant step in dismantling our nation's civil rights enforcement framework,” said Minnesota Department of Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero.Commissioner Lucero joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk more about the concerns she has around this proposal.

Each year, some students move and don't go back to the schools they attended before. But this year, some educators are bracing themselves for a different situation: students who stayed home during Operation Metro Surge and did not return. A new analysis from Sahan Journal looked at a group of districts with high numbers of English learners. They found enrollment dropped by about 1,700 students between October 2025 and March 2026 at those 29 school districts. That's compared to 80 students the year before. Joining Minnesota Now to talk more about these numbers and what's behind them is Sahan Journal education reporter Becky Dernbach.

Federal officials have decided not to charge an ICE agent in the shooting of a man in Minneapolis this winter. It follows an unsuccessful attempt to extradite the agent, who was released from a Texas jail last week.The Nepali community in Minnesota is coming together to collect relief for the thousands of people affected by devastating floods in their home country and in Tibet. And Meta's putting in place new rules for kids on Instagram and Facebook as a part of a multi-billion dollar settlement. We learned more about what these changes will mean for kids and families.Plus, a soon-to-be-released anthology edited by two Minnesota poets contemplates the history and future of policing.

The Minnesota Vikings have finalized their list of 53 players for the upcoming season. Sunday was the deadline for NFL teams to do so, but their rosters could still change. The Lynx lost their second game in a row Sunday before heading into a break for the FIBA World Cup. Minnesota Now sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson joined MPR News host Kelly Gordon to break down these sports stories, plus the latest on the Twins and Loons.

You've likely seen this headline before: local newspaper shuts down. This time, it's a neighborhood monthly that for the past 50 years has covered just one zip code in north Minneapolis. Alanna Elder reported on the Camden Community News' final issue published this weekend.

A pair of Twin Cities writers gathered the work of 36 other poets in a young adult collection that comes out Tuesday. The anthology is called “Witness: Poems to Address the Past, Present and Future of Policing.” It includes work by celebrated Minnesota poets like Danez Smith and Kao Kalia Yang as well as big national names, like Ada Limón and Amanda Gorman. Several poets will read their work in a launch event Tuesday evening at New City Center in Minneapolis. The project's editors, Ari Tison and Ty Chapman, also contributed to the collection. They joined MPR News host Kelly Gordon to talk about it.

Some big changes are on the way for kids who use Instagram or Facebook. They are part of a $17-billion settlement reached last week between the tech giant Meta and 47 states, including Minnesota. The agreement mandates changes to the platforms that limit use to two-hours each day, block the use of the apps at night, and silence notifications during school hours. To sort out how this will work in the real world for families and kids, MPR News host Kelly Gordon talked with Jodi Dworkin, professor and extension specialist in family social science at the University of Minnesota.

The death toll is rising in Nepal and Tibet after devastating flash floods in the Himalayan region. More than 900 people have died and more than 4,700 are still missing. In Minnesota, the Nepali diaspora is coming together for relief efforts. Deepak Chaulagai, a board member with the Association of Nepalis in Minnesota, joined MPR News host Kelly Gordon with details.

Minnesota Now live from opening day of the Minnesota State Fair!The State Fair has historically become a stumping ground for politicians. As we gear up for the midterms, we heard from outgoing U.S. Sen. Tina Smith.Plus, the fair is built on agriculture. Farmers from across the state bring their livestock. We met two baby animals being shown at this year's fair.And crop art has become a main attraction. We learned about the craft and how it's grown.We also talked to local musician Sophie Hiroko and heard some of her music.

On Minnesota Now, we play local music every day. And when we broadcast from the State Fair, that music is live.Sophie Hiroko is from from Duluth and has been making a pretty big name for herself in the Minnesota music scene. She won the 2025 Palomino grant from the Duluth band Trampled by Turtles, she released an EP, she was picked as one of First Avenue's best new bands of 2025, and she recently headlined at the 7th St. Entry. Now, she shared with MPR News that she has secured studio space to record her first studio album. Hiroko joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about her music career and play two songs.

Thousands of Minnesota youth are bringing their animals to the State Fair this year along with their families, their 4-H clubs or FFA chapters. It's a big lift to prepare an animal to be judged for a ribbon at the fair, and the Minnesota State Fair foundation has a grant program for first-time fair goers, the BELLE grant. BELLE stands for beginning exhibitor livestock learning experience. The grant helps pay for travel, animal show supplies and feed for the animals. It also helps set up the first-timers with a mentor. 12-year-old Madelyn Donnelly and her mentor Allison Van Nurden, who is in her first year of college - and last year of 4-H. They both brought their lambs to the Minnesota Public Radio stage at the Minnesota State Fair to talk to MPR News host Nina Moini about their experience as mentor and mentee.

For many Minnesotans, there are several State Fair staples. Maybe it's Sweet Martha's, or the giant slide. Or maybe it's seeing the butter sculptures. Over the past several years, the crop art exhibit has joined the list of must-see attractions. Marta Shore is the woman behind putting the contest and exhibit together, as the crop art and scarecrow assistant superintendent.Shore spoke to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini at the MPR stage.

Over the next 12 days, Minnesotans will walk through the state fair gates to encounter animals, art and decadent food. Politicians will have a chance to meet voters face-to-face, which could be especially important in a competitive midterm election year like 2026. Democratic U.S. Sen. Tina Smith kicked off one of the year's the most significant statewide races when she announced in 2025 she would not seek reelection. DFL Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and Republican sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya are running for the seat. Smith now has a few months left in her term, with major budget and farming legislation before Congress. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini on the MPR stage.

Thursday marks one year since two children were killed and several were injured in a mass shooting at Annunciation Church and School in Minneapolis.When the call first came in of a shooting at Annunciation that morning, many of the Minneapolis police officers who ended up on the scene didn't know if it was real. But as more calls and details poured in, the reality of the situation quickly set in.Inspector Ryan Kelly got to the church within three-and-a-half minutes of the first 911 call, according to a new report released by the city this week. Dozens of other first responders soon arrived, including officers Valeria Perez Martinez and Liban Ibrahim.Minnesota Now heard from the three officers in interviews conducted and shared by the Minneapolis Police Department.

Thursday marks one year since the mass shooting at Annunciation Church and School in Minneapolis. Minnesota Now has a special one-hour program to remember the lives lost and hear how student survivors, parents and staff are grieving and healing. We hear from eighth graders who graduated from Annunciation and are now transitioning to high school. Plus, we learn how the school is supporting students and staff. And after the tragedy, parents mobilized to advocate for gun violence prevention. They worked with other parents who have a shared experience, from Sandy Hook. We have a special musical tribute to Fletcher Merkel, who was killed at 8 years old. And after Harper Moyski's death, her little sister has found sisterhood with Harper's best friends.

In the months after a deadly mass shooting at Annunciation Church and School last year, a group of Annunciation parents turned to organizing to prevent future violence. They met with state lawmakers and supported a range of policy changes, like a ban on assault-style weapons and more funding for mental health care. The Annunciation Light Alliance also found allies in Sandy Hook parents who have built a national advocacy network since the mass shooting at their children's' elementary school in Connecticut in 2012. To learn more about the past year of organizing and what's next, MPR News host Nina Moini talked with Annunciation Light Alliance co-founder Kristen Neville, who has five children at the school, along with Sandy Hook Promise CEO Nicole Hockley, who co-founded that group after losing her son Dylan, a first-grader, in the Sandy Hook tragedy.

Harper Moyski is remembered as a fearless leader, a beloved daughter and the best big sister. She was 10 years old when she was killed in the mass shooting at Annunciation Church and School. Since her death, her younger sister Quinn has formed a new friendship with Harper's best friends. They like to go to is Harper's memorial bench to reflect, heal and have fun. It faces the colorful Lyndale Park Rose Garden in south Minneapolis and it is one of many ways the girls keep Harper's memory alive. MPR News host Nina Moini sat down with Quinn, Orla, Savannah and Astoria to talk about their new friendship and how they're remembering and honoring Harper.

This week Minneapolis residents have a chance to share what they want to see in a new police chief, after former chief Brian O'Hara resigned in May. We'll hear from two city council members who are hosting listening sessions this week.The group collecting stories about the impact of the surge of federal agents will give its first public presentation this week. We'll hear from a member of the Minnesota Truth Council about the findings. The Department of Homeland security sent investigators here and to other states to look for noncitizen voters. We'll talk to an investigative reporter who learned that they didn't find much. An event Tuesday evening will celebrate Minnesota farmers through storytelling onstage.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Funky Frog” by Rada K and the Cicadas, and our Song of the Day was “Bad for You” by Haley.

Voting and election integrity has been a central issue in the Trump administration. Yesterday, the Supreme Court cleared the way for Trump's executive order that looks to restrict mail-in voting. Though it leaves the door open for more legal challenges. It's just one of many ways the Trump administration has looked to cast doubt on the voting process. A new ProPublica investigation looks at how hundreds of Homeland Security Investigators were deployed to Minnesota and across the country to try to find and prosecute noncitizen voters. But it ended up with meager results. One of the reporters behind this story, Peter Elkind, joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about his reporting.

Tuesday night marks the start of a series of community listening sessions in Minneapolis to get input on what residents want in a new police chief. Chief Brian O'Hara resigned in May over allegations he interfered with an investigation into his conduct. Now, the city is in the process of selecting a new chief. City council member Michael Rainville represents downtown Minneapolis, and is hosting a listening session Tuesday evening. Council member LaTrisha Vetaw, who represents parts of north Minneapolis will host a listening session Wednesday evening. They both joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about what they're listening and looking for in a new police chief.

Minnesotans will get a chance to hear stories collected for the Governor's Truth Council starting this week.The council was created in March to document the impacts of Operation Metro Surge and Operation PARRIS on Minnesotans. The first of four public presentations sharing the council's findings will take place Wednesday.Jennifer Prestholdt is vice chair of the council and deputy executive director of The Advocates for Human Rights. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to discuss the council's work.

Farming isn't usually a job that puts you on stage, in front of an audience. But farmers still have stories to tell — six farmers from around the state will tell theirs at the Minneapolis Central Library Tuesday evening. The event is called “Celebrating Minnesota's Farmers: A Love Story.” It's part of a storytelling series by the global non-profit, Food Tank. Food Tank president Danielle Nierenberg joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the event along with Anita Fondikum, owner and operator of Shining Lights Farm in Princeton, Minnesota, who is one of the event storytellers.

President Donald Trump is threatening more tariffs on goods from our neighbors to the north. Relations soured with Canada this weekend after negotiations fell apart. What this means for Minnesota and our economy as the trade war deepens.A statewide coalition has formed to increase vaccination rates across Minnesota. We'll learn more about the effort.And the Trump administration is looking to roll back protections for millions of acres of forests nationwide. What that could mean for Minnesota's northern forests with the potential repeal of the "Roadless Rule."Plus, a new season is just around the corner for the Minnesota Vikings, while the Minnesota Lynx are nearing the end of theirs. We'll have the latest from our sports contributors. Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Summer” by Tasha and our Song of the Day was “Call Me” by The Immaculate Beings.

The Trump Administration has taken a step toward opening tens of millions of acres of forest nationwide to roads, logging and other development. That includes 62,000 acres in northern Minnesota. That land is protected under what's called the Roadless Rule, created by the Clinton administration in 2001. In a statement last week, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins called the rule “outdated.” She said repealing it will help local forest managers control wildfires. Supporters of this move also say allowing logging and other development in these areas will boost rural economies. But environmental groups say it will jeopardize public lands that people treasure. Public comment on the proposal is open through Sept. 21.Forest ecologist Lee Frelich and director Center for Forest Ecology at the University of Minnesota joined Minnesota Now to explain how Minnesota's forests could be impacted.

A new coalition is working to vaccinate more Minnesotans. It's called "Immunize Minnesota," and it's working through advocacy, education and partnership statewide to achieve its mission.The coalition so far has ten organizations, including the Minnesota Department of Health and 30 individuals across the public health sphere. Joining Minnesota Now is co-chair of the steering committee, Munira Maalimisaq, who is a family nurse practitioner and CEO of the Inspire Change Clinic.

The trade relationship between the U.S. and Canada has taken another sharp turn. Sky-high U.S. tariffs on some Canadian goods took effect over the weekend after trade talks between the two countries fell apart. President Trump is now threatening another 50 percent tariff on Canadian automobiles, auto parts and steel starting next year. Canada says it will retaliate, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford warned that Canada could cut off electricity and critical minerals to the U.S. if the conflict worsens. That's a particularly important story here in Minnesota, where Canada is a main trading partner and where people and businesses regularly cross the border in both directions. Livio Di Matteo is a professor of economics at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario, right over Minnesota's border with Canada. He joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about Minnesota and Canada's trade relationship.

Google has its eye on two rural Minnesota towns. It wants to develop data centers in Pine Island and Hermantown. The company held open houses Wednesday about their plans and faced big push back. In Hermantown, some people were escorted out by police. New data on kindergarten vaccine rates are out from the CDC. It shows Minnesota has the third lowest measles vaccination rate in the country. We spoke to a pediatrician about why rates are so low. Plus, we've been talking to the candidates for Hennepin County Attorney. Today, we heard from state Rep. Cedrick Frazier. And, we talked to the organizer of the first ever Midwest Black Book Fair taking place this weekend.The Minnesota Music Minute was “Let Me Buy You Coffee” by Matcha Fever. The Song of the Day was “Who Da Man” by Brother Jon Band.

Google is trying to smooth over some ruffled feathers in two small Minnesota towns where the tech giant hopes to build a couple of massive data centers.Wednesday evening, Google hosted what it called a community celebration in Pine Island, about 20 minutes northwest of Rochester, with free food, live music and family activities.That same night in Hermantown, outside of Duluth, the company held an open house to answer questions from area residents about the hyperscale data center it wants to build there.MPR News Rochester-based reporter Molly Castle Work and our Duluth-based reporter Dan Kraker gave us a look inside the events.

As kids start looking ahead to the new school year, health officials are looking at new immunization data – and it's showing rates have continued to fall over the last year especially in Minnesota. Kindergartners in our state have the second and third lowest vaccination levels in the country for DTaP and MMR, respectively, at 86 percent for both. These two vaccines are combination shots that protect against a myriad of diseases like whooping cough and measles.Minnesota also has one of the highest exemption rates at 6.9 percent.Dr. Andrea Singh, chair of pediatrics at HealthPartners and Park Nicollet, joined Minnesota Now to talk through what these ongoing trends mean.

This weekend is a first for Minnesota's literary scene. The inaugural Midwest Black Book Fair will bring Black authors and booksellers to north Minneapolis on Saturday. There will be food for sale, and books as well as workshops and panels. Terresa Hardaway, who's behind the event and the owner of Black Garnet Books in St. Paul, joined Minnesota Now to give a preview.Read more about the event here: Inaugural Midwest Black Book Fair will debut in north Minneapolis

There were two winners out of last week's primary: Former federal prosecutor and Acting U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Anders Folk and state Rep. Cedrick Frazier. It sets up a November matchup for the seat being vacated by Mary Moriarty. Minnesota Now host Nina Moini spoke with both candidates. We aired the conversation with Folk Wednesday and we heard from Rep. Frazier Thursday.Frazier is a three-term state representative and former public defender. His campaign has focused on gun violence and youth crime. He's also calling for more crime prevention and alternatives to incarceration.Voter's Choice: Anders Folk looks to bring federal prosecution experience to Hennepin Co. Attorney's office