Minnesota Now

This week MPR News invites you to jump on the Minnesota Lynx bandwagon. Why? Because the No. 1 ranked team is in the playoffs which kick off this week. And they are looking great. Even if you don't know a thing about the WNBA, basketball or care about sports in general, the Lynx players are just plain fun to follow. At least that's what MPR News resident Lynx superfan tells us. MPR newscaster Emily Reese joined Minnesota Now to explain who the standout stars on the team are and why everyone should be watching the Lynx during the WNBA playoffs.

Minneapolis singer, rapper and writer Dessa has risen to fame over the past two decades through her genre-defying solo performances and collaborations with groups like the Minnesota Orchestra and Doomtree.Dessa is releasing a new single “Camelot” off her new EP on Friday. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to share a sneak peek of her new project and reflect on her two decades in the Twin Cities music scene and beyond.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency recently released an analysis of the water quality of rivers, lakes and streams across the state. While the Blue Earth River in southwestern Minnesota has improved, scientists are still seeing the effects of the June 2024 Rapidan Dam failure on the river's water quality.MPR News senior reporter Hannah Yang has been covering the impacts of the dam failure, which released more than a century's worth of sediment buildup into the Blue Earth River. She joined Minnesota Now to share what she's learned, as a part of a regular check-in with reporters in Greater Minnesota.

The state of Illinois and the city of Chicago are suing to stop the deployment of Texas National Guard troops to the Chicago area. The Trump administration says it needs the National Guard troops to protect federal agents who are carrying out immigration enforcement orders. A bipartisan group of former governors is asking to get involved in the case in support of Illinois and Chicago leaders. Among them are two former Minnesota governors, Democrat Mark Dayton and Arne Carlson, who served as a Republican but has since moved away from the party. Carlson joined MPR News host Nina Moini to share more.

Federal judges are deciding whether the National Guard can continue to deploy in Chicago. Two of Minnesota's former governors are signing their support to sue the Trump administration over it. Former Republican Gov. Arne Carlson will weigh in.The University of Minnesota's regents faced some tough decisions over their budget and the historic Eastcliff Mansion Thursday. We get an update on that. Plus, MPR News senior reporter Hannah Yang lets us in on her process covering flooding and water quality in southwestern Minnesota.And one of Minnesota's favorite musicians Dessa brings us her brand new music.The Minnesota Music Minute was “Just Another Sucker feat. Prince” by 94 East.

Within a week, there was vandalism at a Minneapolis synagogue and a fire and break-in at a Minneapolis mosque. We talk to faith leaders from both houses of worship about their concerns around targeting religious institutions. After ICE agents arrested a construction crew while they were working on a roof in St. Paul, concerns are growing within the immigrant community. We check in with an advocacy group about what they are hearing from immigrant workers. Plus, the Crown Prince of Norway is in the Twin Cities. We talk to the Norway House about the significance of his visit and Minnesota's deep ties to the country.

The first group of Norwegian immigrants arrived in the U.S. on a ship from Norway 200 years ago. And this week, Norway's Crown Prince Haakon, the heir to the Norwegian throne, is in Minnesota to recognize the unique ties the state has had to the country since 1825. On Tuesday, Haakon visited Norway House in Minneapolis. He was greeted by hundreds of community members waving Norwegian flags and he cut the ribbon for a library connecting Minnesotans with Norway. Sandy Ulsaker Wiese is board chair of the Norway House. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to explain the significance of the Crown Prince's visit and how Norwegians have shaped Minnesota.

A recent raid on a construction site in St. Paul has alarmed neighbors and immigrant advocates. ICE confirmed agents arrested four people who were working on a roof project on Thursday. A spokesperson for the agency said three of the four had criminal convictions but did not provide names or further information. MPR News has not independently verified those details. At a vigil, immigrant advocates said arrests like these are creating a climate of fear. MPR News host Nina Moini talked to Merle Payne about how this moment is impacting people working in the Twin Cities who could be subject to immigration arrests. Payne is executive director of the worker advocacy group, CTUL.

Wednesday morning, security guards at Temple Israel in Minneapolis discovered the synagogue had been vandalized with what synagogue leaders are calling antisemitic rhetoric. The vandalism at Temple Israel comes on the heels of a break-in at Alhikmah Islamic Center in Minneapolis on Monday. A few days prior, there was a fire at the same mosque. Police are investigating whether the two mosque incidents are connected. For more, MPR News host Nina Moini talked with Temple Israel Senior Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman and Jaylani Hussein, executive director of Minnesota's Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Tuesday marks two years since the beginning of the war in Gaza. Currently, there is a new round of peace talks between Israel and Hamas over a plan drafted by the U.S.  The war began when Hamas militants stormed across the border, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. 48 hostages remain in captivity. Israel responded by launching an attack in Gaza, which has killed 67,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.  College campuses have been a flashpoint for the war. On Tuesday, the University of Minnesota is both a place of protest and place for support for Jewish students.  Rabbi Jill Avrin is the director of campus affairs for the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas. She spoke to MPR News host Nina Moini about working with Jewish students across the spectrum of political beliefs.

Soybean farmers are getting hit by the U.S. trade war with China. They could catch a break if the federal government moves forward with plans to send out billions of dollars in aid. We talked with an agricultural economist about what a bailout would mean for Minnesota growers.It's been two years since the Hamas attack on Israel and the onset of war in Gaza. In the U.S., college campuses have been central to clashes in public opinion. We talked to a rabbi who is working for the University of Minnesota to support Jewish students who hold a wide range of views of the conflict.We met a Minneapolis writer with roots in St. Paul. As a child in the 1960s, she watched Interstate 94 tear through her family's historically Black neighborhood. Now, she's out with a new novel about a little girl having that same experience. It's called “The House on Rondo.”Our Minnesota Music Minute was “No Water” by Libianca and our Song of the Day was “Never be the Same” by Sarah Morris.

It's been more than 60 years since the construction of Interstate 94 destroyed much of the historically Black St. Paul neighborhood known as Rondo. Minneapolis writer Debra J. Stone remembers visiting her grandparents as a child in Rondo every Sunday without fail. She even remembers playing in an enormous dirt pit from I-94 construction growing near their house. It was only when her grandparents' house was demolished that she realized the effect the interstate would have. Debra wrote a novel about a little girl, not unlike herself at the time, grappling with the destruction of the Rondo neighborhood in 1963. The book is called “The House on Rondo,” and it is out Tuesday. She spoke to MPR News host Nina Moini about her experience growing up visiting Rondo and her new book.Debra will read from her new book at Black Garnet Books in St. Paul for a book launch event on Oct. 11.

As soon as Tuesday, the Trump administration is expected to announce a significant bailout package to help soybean producers and other farmers. President Donald Trump's trade policies have had an outsized impact on farmers. China, the biggest buyer of U.S. soybean exports, isn't buying any beans. It's leaving Minnesota's soybean farmers in a lurch. Ed Usset is a grain market economist for University of Minnesota Extension. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to explain why soybean farmers need government assistance and the potential impact of that federal aid.

The city of Minneapolis is celebrating its second annual Latino Business Week. But how has the city's Latino community been navigating business during the Trump administration's immigration actions? We'll hear from a restaurant owner and Minneapolis city council member Jason Chavez.The Trump administration says Minnesota violated federal civil rights law. That's because the state allows transgender student athletes to compete in sports consistent with their gender identity. If Minnesota doesn't comply, the state could lose funding for education. We'll break it down with an education civil rights lawyer.Plus, what's next for the Minnesota Vikings after they stay undefeated in London, with our sports contributors Wally and Eric.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “When I Was Younger” by WILD HORSES and our Song of the Day was “Autumn Almanac” by The Kinks.

Business owners and city leaders kicked off the second annual Minneapolis Latino Business Week. The city partnered with multiple community organizations to put on training events, mixers and a celebration highlighting the many businesses led by Latinos in the city. The recognition week comes amid a year of highly restrictive enforcement and efforts to limit both illegal and legal immigration by the Trump administration. The heart of Latino Business Week is at Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis. One business owner, Wilin Castro, runs a restaurant there called Andy's Garage. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini along with Minneapolis City Council Member Jason Chavez.

The Minnesota Vikings remain undefeated in London. They kept the streak alive Sunday with a comeback against the Cleveland Browns. Jordan Addison caught a touchdown pass from Carson Wentz with 25 seconds left in the game. That play made the final score 21-17. The team has now played five regular season games in London, starting in 2013. It's part of the NFL's effort to grow its fan base in the United Kingdom.Lynx player Napheesa Collier made national headlines when she called out WNBA leadership — specifically, league commissioner Cathy Engelbert. Now Collier has canceled a meeting with Engelbert that was scheduled after this dispute. Joining MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about this plus other Minnesota sports news are contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson.

The Trump administration says Minnesota is in violation of Title IX due to a policy that lets transgender student athletes compete in sports consistent with their gender identity. Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in programs that receive federal funding. Administration officials say Minnesota must end its policy by Thursday or risk losing federal education aid. Previously, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has argued that the policy is consistent with Minnesota's human rights laws.Joining MPR News host Nina Moini to break this down is Jessica Heiser, a Minnesota-based education civil rights lawyer with Imprint Legal Group.

Thursday is the second day of the federal government shutdown. We learn how Minnesotans could be impacted.There are now 18 measles cases confirmed in Minnesota. We talk to an infectious disease expert with the state health department about efforts to stop the dangerous disease. We learn about the Lower Sioux Indian Community's work building homes out of hemp.Since the U.S. started a trade war with China, making magnets in the U.S. has been difficult. A new plant in Minnesota could change that.We hear how a woman was comforted after a huge loss in our “Thank You, Stranger” series.Plus, we go to MPR's archives for a conversation with the late Jane Goodall.And it's the 75th anniversary of Charles Shulz's “Peanuts” comics! We look back at the St. Paul cartoon that changed the world.

Minnesota Now's series called “Thank You, Stranger” explores the small acts of kindness that make a big impact.Minnesota Now producer Ellen Finn spoke to Becky Miest in Northfield. A stranger helped pick her back up after an emotional journey with her cat. In our series Thank You, Stranger, we hear the stories of how strangers can make our lives a little brighter or lift us up in a difficult moment. 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.

The Minnesota Department of Health has confirmed 10 new cases of measles since Monday, bringing the total to 18 cases in the state. Meanwhile, national health officials reported there is a total of more than 1,500 cases across the country. That's the highest number since the disease was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000. Jessica Hancock-Allen, the director of the Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division at the Minnesota Department of Health, joined MPR News host Nina Moini to explain the situation.

It's been 75 years since Charles Schulz's beloved comic strip “Peanuts” debuted on October 2, 1950, in St Paul.Charlie Brown, Snoopy and their friends have had a huge impact on culture in Minnesota and around the world. Kate Roberts, senior exhibit developer at the Minnesota Historical Society and self-proclaimed “Peanuts” superfan, joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the comic's legacy.

Most magnets are made from rare-earth elements imported from China, and access to these elements has become a bargaining chip in the U.S. trade war with China. But the magnet supply could become less of a concern, if a Minnesota company is successful in its bid to replace rare-earth magnets. Niron Magnetics held an official groundbreaking of its new manufacturing plant in Sartell last week. MPR News correspondent Kirsti Marohn joined Minnesota Now to share what she's learned, as a part of a regular check-in with reporters in Greater Minnesota.

The Lower Sioux Indian Community has been leading the charge in Minnesota in building homes out of hemp. The tribe has its own facility that makes a home insulation material known as “hempcrete," which is safer and healthier than conventional materials.Lower Sioux's innovation has led it to host the 13th International Hemp Building Symposium this weekend. It's the first time the conference has been held in the United States.Danny Desjarlais, a member of the Lower Sioux Indian Community and the industrial hemp construction project manager for the tribe, joined MPR News host Nina Moini to share more about the symposium and his work.

State leaders outlined some of the potential impacts of the federal budget shutdown Thursday. Gov. Tim Walz and other state budget officials said thousands of federal employees are at risk of being furloughed and funding for nutrition programs and clean energy projects are in limbo. MPR News politics correspondent Dana Ferguson joined MPR News host Nina Moini with details.

The U.S. government is shut down after President Donald Trump and Congress failed to strike a deal to keep government programs and services running. We talk to Democratic U.S. Senator Tina Smith about why she voted against the bill and what's next. An annual report is out sharing how many people died in Minnesota from intimate partner abuse. We talk to Violence Free Minnesota about efforts to make that number zero. A new series from MinnPost is looking at how Minnesota is a leader in school-based mental health care. There is a chance of 90 degree temperatures this week. Chief meteorologist Paul Huttner shares a detailed forecast. Plus, we talk to a member of the Minneapolis rock band Gully Boys about their debut album.

One of Minneapolis' most recognizable rock bands this decade will release their long-awaited debut album on Friday. Gully Boys have been playing grunge-infused pop songs on local and national stages for more than nine years. The upcoming self-titled album contains songs their superfans know and love, plus many new releases. Gully Boys guitarist Mariah Mercedes joins MPR News host Nina Moini to share some of those songs and talk about the band. Beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday, MPR News' sister station The Current will play the full album with commentary from the band.

On Wednesday morning, a statewide coalition working to stop domestic violence released its annual homicide report. It names 24 people who were killed last year due to intimate partner abuse in Minnesota, plus three others whose deaths are listed as suspicious. For more about what these cases reveal about intimate partner violence, MPR News host Nina Moini talks with Nikki Engel, interim co-executive director of Violence Free Minnesota. The group has published a version of this report every year since 1989.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 Minnesota Day One at (866) 223-1111 or text (612) 399-9995.

Minnesota is recognized as one of the leading states for school-based mental health care. A three-part series from MinnPost explores how that came to be and where gaps in care still exist.Andy Steiner is mental health and addiction columnist for MinnPost. She joins MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the series, which she wrote as part of a fellowship with the Solutions Journalism Network.

Minnesota is facing a heat wave that harkens back to the dog days of summer, not the start of October. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner joins Minnesota Now to explain.

The U.S. government has shut down after the Senate failed to pass a stopgap spending bill. That means some U.S. government services are coming to a temporary halt and many federal workers are furloughed or working without pay through the shutdown. Republicans and Democrats could not come to an agreement on the spending bill before the deadline, which was at midnight. U.S. Sen. Tina Smith from Minnesota is one of many Senate Democrats who voted against the Republican-backed spending bill. MPR News host Nina Moini talks with her about that decision and what's ahead.

The United States Department of Justice is suing Minnesota, Hennepin County, and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul over what it calls sanctuary policies, limits on local officials collaborating with ICE. A law professor joins us to talk about the case. A Native American community leader is calling for discussions about encampments and drug overdoses to include the people who've been hit hardest by these issues. We talk to him.Plus, neurodiversity is a concept that embraces differences in how peoples brains work. We learn how companies can include employees with ADHD, autism and other conditions. And we talk about the beloved Red Wing Environmental Learning Center, which turns 55 years old this weekend.The Minnesota Music Minute was “Halfway up the Lawn” by runo plum. The Song of the Day was “She's Everything” by JT & the Gunslingers.

On Wednesday, representatives from several large Minnesota companies will gather in Minneapolis to learn about neurodivergence, an umbrella term for a variety of ways someone's brain may work differently from what's considered typical. Neurodivergence includes conditions such as ADHD, autism and dyslexia. The disability advocacy group PACER Center is hosting Wednesday's workshop, which is led by Wells Fargo and the University of Connecticut. The idea is to design hiring and workplace practices to include neurodivergent employees. PACER Center executive director Tonia Teasley joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the workshop.

In Minnesota, Native Americans experience homelessness at a much higher rate than other racial or ethnic groups. Many Native people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Minneapolis live in encampments, which have been criticized as areas ripe with violence and drug use. What to do with encampments — and whether to close them — has become a divisive issue in Minneapolis. The issue has risen to the forefront again following a shooting earlier this month at a homeless encampment in south Minneapolis that left one dead and six others injured.Joe Hobot is the CEO and president of the American Indian Opportunities and Industrialization Center in south Minneapolis and has a doctorate in education from Hamline University. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to share his perspective.

The Department of Justice is suing Minnesota, the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Hennepin County, the Hennepin County Sheriff and the attorney general over sanctuary policies.These policies, which jurisdictions often call separation ordinances, limit local government and law enforcement's collaboration with ICE. The federal government says the policies interfere with federal immigration enforcement and are illegal. In response to the lawsuit, both mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul say they are committed to the city's ordinances. Ana Pottratz Acotsa, a visiting professor at the University of Minnesota Law School and the Binger Center for New Americans, spoke to MPR News host Nina Moini about what impacts the lawsuit could have in Minnesota.

In the past two weeks, federal prosecutors have charged nine people with defrauding two Medicaid programs. Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson sits down with MPR News host Nina Moini to share more about how his office has been tackling fraud in the state.The National Rural Teacher of the Year is from a school district in Wright County. We'll hear how his approach to teaching has changed over the past three decades. And after a devastating loss, the Lynx are out of the WNBA playoffs. We'll talk with our sports contributors Wally and Eric to break down what happened and whether the Vikings can secure redemption across the pond. Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Break” by Gully Boys. The last 20 minutes of Minnesota Now was preempted by NPR special coverage.

It's a mournful day for Minnesota Lynx fans. The team lost Game 4 of the WNBA semifinals to the Phoenix Mercury Sunday night. That means they're out of the playoffs. The Lynx were ranked No. 1 in the league this season and favored to make the finals. Head coach Cheryl Reeve was not at the game. The league suspended her for behavior during and after the previous game in Phoenix.Reeve and some other coaches have said the play in the WNBA is becoming too physical.Joining Minnesota Now host to talk about this and the Vikings games across the pond are our sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson.

Minnesota teachers have done a three-peat for the National Rural Teacher of the Year.The National Rural Education Association bestowed the honor last year to Melissa Oberg, who teaches special education in Grand Marais. In 2023, it went to Morris teacher Jenny Maras. This year's honoree is Jeff Granrud. He teaches math at Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted High School. That's a district of about 1,300 students an hour west of the Twin Cities in Wright County. Granrud joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about his nearly 30-year career in teaching.

Over the last two weeks, federal prosecutors in Minnesota have charged nine people with defrauding two different Medicaid programs, and they say this is just the beginning. Last week, federal prosecutors charged a woman for defrauding a state autism treatment program out of $14 million. The week prior, eight people were charged with defrauding the state's housing stabilization services. Now the State Department of Human Services is suspending another disability program over fraud allegations. No one has been charged. This is all on top of more than six dozen people charged so far in the feeding our future child nutrition scheme. Acting U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Joe Thompson is the prosecutor in charge of all these cases. He sat down with Minnesota Now host Nina Moini for a wide-ranging conversation about fraud in Minnesota.

Autism is in the news. On the national level Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President Donald Trump's false comments about its causes created backlash. Here in Minnesota prosecutors are taking down an autism center fraud scheme. We'll talk about all of it with local advocates.It's vaccine season — but since the CDC has changed guidelines around COVID-19 shots, there's been a lot of confusion how and when to get it in Minnesota. We're going to clear that up.And we'll get the latest on rural housing needs in the midst of a shortage out of Bemidji.Plus a company is making it easier to shop around for therapists. We'll learn about how to find the right fit.And we'll learn about the life of a renowned northern Minnesota nature writer.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Sunshine" by Atmosphere and "Dark was the Night, Cold Was the Ground" by Ben Gateno was our Song of the Day.

Asking for help can be hard. And making a commitment to continuously ask for help can be even harder. We're talking about therapy. A new event is helping make therapy accessible. It's called Therapy on Tap. Nearly every month, about 15 therapists set up at a brewery and have conversations at mental health or help people find a therapist. Our ask: Help me find a therapistOur professional: Adam Steinbach, LMFT, co-found of As You Are TherapyThe next Therapy on Tap is this Sunday at at Utepils Brewing in Minneapolis.

On Thursdays, we're featuring the work of our regional reporters and having them open their notebooks a bit to shed light on how they work. Earlier this week, MPR News Bemidji bureau reporter Mathew Holding Eagle III shared a story about housing needs in Beltrami County. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to provide some insight on reporting on his story. If you have a news story or tip in Bemidji or the surrounding area you can email mholdingeagle@mpr.org.

Under President Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the federal government is putting a lot of attention on autism. Scientists and doctors criticized Trump's debunked statements about the causes of autism from a press conference he held earlier this week. Advocates of autistic people and their families are also raising concerns about the way the president talks about autism. The Autism Society of Minnesota released a statement Wednesday calling this language dehumanizing and harmful. The federal rhetoric comes as autism centers in Minnesota are under scrutiny for fraud. Federal prosecutors on Wednesday charged the owner of an autism treatment clinic with stealing $14 million from a state program that funds services for young people with autism spectrum disorder.Joining MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about this is the Autism Society of Minnesota's executive director Ellie Wilson and communications director Zephyr James, who was diagnosed with autism as an adult.