Minnesota Now

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.

Minnesota Now's series called "Thank You, Stranger” explores the small acts of kindness that make a big impact. MPR News producer Ellen Finn talked to Northfield, Minn. residents whose lives have been touched by Daryl, a man they call the "Northfield Angel."

Eden Prairie-based UnitedHealth Group is suing the international news organization, The Guardian, for defamation. The Guardian article in question explores how UnitedHealth engaged in cost-cutting tactics by paying off nurses to cut down on hospital transfers. The Guardian cited internal emails, documents and interviews with more than 20 current and former staffers.But the health insurance company claims the paper ran information it knew to be incorrect to capitalize on the killing of CEO Brian Thompson. Jane Kirtley, a professor of media law and ethics at the University of Minnesota, broke down the lawsuit on Minnesota Now.

This week brought another significant tornado outbreak to parts of Minnesota. The Twin Cities was spared this time, but are the Twin Cities and other downtowns safer because of urban heat islands? Maybe not so much. Kenny Blumenfeld, a senior climatologist with the Minnesota State Climate Office, studies urban tornadoes. He did some myth-busting in a conversation with MPR News chief meteorologist, Paul Huttner.

Officials are working on plans for a funeral for Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark. We share remembrances from a vigil at the state capitol. Plus, the Minnesota Legislature is set more regulations for data centers that are popping up around the state.We normally assume city centers are generally safe from tornadoes, but that may be a myth. We learn more from an expert.Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group has sued a media company for defamation. We break down what implications the case could have on press freedom. Plus, you hear from residents of a small town whose lives were touched by a man they are calling the “Northfield Angel.”It's Juneteenth! We hear from the latest winners of the Miss Juneteenth Minnesota Pageant.

A close colleague of Representative Melissa Hortman, DFL Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, is voicing her shock and grief over the shootings of lawmakers. Plus, we hear from a social worker about working through the collective grief and trauma of this loss. We have the latest on a former Minnesota ISIS member granted early release after he helped terrorism investigators. Plus, our Native News team gets us up to speed on funding threats to tribal colleges and we hear from a recent graduate.Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner will give us the rundown on how many tornadoes touched down earlier this week. And Minneapolis-based drag performer and RuPaul's Drag Race winner, BeBe Zahara Benet reflects on her career.The Minnesota Music Minute is “On My Way” by Mayyada. Our colleagues from YourClassical bring us a special Song of the Day: “When Thunder Comes'“ by Mari Esabel Valverde, performed by the choir at St. Olaf College.

This weekend legendary drag performer BeBe Zahara Benet will headline a show at the Capri Theater in north Minneapolis. Marshall Ngwa first took the stage as BeBe at a pride party in 2000, dancing alongside Cyndi Lauper. That was shortly after he moved to Minneapolis from Cameroon. A few years later, BeBe competed in the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race and won the title of “America's Next Drag Superstar.” The reality TV show has exploded in popularity since then. It brought more eyes to the art of drag, which LGBTQ+ people and allies have used to challenge gender norms and celebrate authentic self-expression for more than 100 years. Meanwhile, BeBe has continued to perform and release original music, with a home base in Minneapolis. BeBe joins MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about his career and upcoming show.

Our friends over at YourClassical have been celebrating Pride Month with a new series called “Classical Queery” that explores the intersection of classical music and LGBTQ+ identities. YourClassical fellow Mya Temanson takes the mic for the Song of the Day and then joins MPR News host Nina Moini to share more about the series.

Tribal colleges are vital hubs for education, cultural preservation, and economic growth. Recent proposed budget cuts by the Trump administration and historical underfunding by Congress have placed these institutions at risk. Native News reporter Melissa Olson spoke with tribal college administrators in Minnesota. She shares what she's learned with Minnesota Now. And MPR News host Nina Moini talks with Red Lake Nation College graduate Summer May about how attending a tribal college influenced her life and career.

This month, the state of Minnesota has seen severe thunderstorms, tornadoes and lots of drizzly, cloudy days. June has not felt too summery, but that is beginning to change. MPR News Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner joins Minnesota Now with details on the forecast.

A group of former foster youth are calling for children in foster care to have better support and more control over their lives. The Minnesota Promise Report released in early June by the group Foster Advocates draws from the experiences of 120 teens and adults with experience in foster care. It includes common struggles as well as proposed solutions. The state of Minnesota has an office dedicated to investigating concerns from foster youth and proposing policy to make the state program better. The Office of the Foster Youth Ombudsperson launched in 2024. It's led by Misty Coonce. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about her work.

Melissa and Mark Hortman's children released their first statement since the assassination of their parents on Saturday. In that statement, Sophie and Colin Hortman said, “the best way to honor our parents' memory is to do something, whether big or small, to make our community just a little better for someone else.” One of the ways they said to do that is to “pet a dog. A golden retriever is ideal, but any will do.” Melissa and Mark had a beloved golden retriever named Gilbert, who they adopted from an Eden Prairie nonprofit called Helping Paws. Officials announced Monday that Gilbert also did not survive the shooting. Helping Paws trains service dogs for people with disabilities as well as first responders and veterans dealing with PTSD. The Hortmans were avid volunteers with the organization. Alyssa Golob is the executive director of Helping Paws and she joined MPR News host Nina Moini on Minnesota Now.

Minnesota is still reeling from the horrific state legislator shootings and the following manhunt that played out over the weekend. It ended with the arrest of Vance Boelter Sunday evening. Investigators found a list of potential targets in Boelter's car, including officials, businesses and Planned Parenthood locations. Ruth Richardson is the CEO of Planned Parenthood of North Central States, as well as a former Minnesota state legislator. She joined Minnesota Now to talk about threats to Planned Parenthood – and remember her former colleague Melissa Hortman, who was killed on Saturday.

Among those mourning the loss of Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband is Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth. We heard her reflections and remembrances. Plus, new details show the suspect in the weekend's shooting went to more than just two lawmakers homes on that night.During the search for Vance Boelter, authorities discovered lists with the names and addresses of Democratic officials and the locations of Planned Parenthood clinics. We heard from the regional CEO of Planned Parenthood.We learned more about Melissa and Mark Hortman's work volunteering for an organization that trained service dogs.There's a new report out about the experience of Minnesota kids in foster care. We heard from from someone working to make the foster care system better.

Vance Boelter, the man charged in the shootings of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses, made his first appearance in court Monday afternoon. We learn more about the state and federal charges from our reporter, Peter Cox. The assassination of Melissa Hortman and her husband and the attempted assassination of Senator John Hoffman and his wife have sent shock waves through Minnesota. Nina Moini speaks with Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan about Hortman's legacy and whether security measures need to be re-examined at the state capitol. In his first sit-down interview with media since the shootings, Governor Walz speaks with our politics editor Brian Bakst.We also learn more about how political violence is reshaping the country.Politics Editor Brian Bakst and producer Matt Alvarez contributed to Minnesota Now today.

Gov. Tim Walz called Rep. Melissa Hortman, who was fatally shot Saturday, his “closest ally” and praised her bipartisanship as a model for a divided country. Walz told MPR News he has asked his staff to prepare for the possibility of Hortman and her husband to lie in state at the Capitol.

The assassination of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark and the attempted assassination of state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette are just the latest in a string of recent political violence. Just in the past two months alone, a gunman killed two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington, a man firebombed a Colorado march calling for the release of Israeli hostages and an arsonist set ablaze the residence of the governor of Pennsylvania. Jillian Peterson is a professor of criminology and criminal justice at Hamline University and also co-founder of The Violence Project, which does research on mass violence. She joined Minnesota Now to talk about political violence.

Among the state leaders who are mourning the loss of DFL House Leader Melissa Hortman is Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan. She became lieutenant governor in 2019, the same year Rep. Hortman took up the gavel as Speaker of the House. Before that, Flanagan worked with Hortman and DFL Senator John Hoffman as fellow lawmakers. Flanagan joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the devastating events of the weekend and her relationships to Rep. Hortman and Sen. Hoffman.

President Trump announced travel restrictions that will affect people from almost 20 countries across the globe. We learn about the early effects of the ban here in Minnesota from an immigration lawyer.A new report shows that the number of students choosing open enrollment is rising. Some say its worsening segregation in schools.Have you ever argued with an older loved one about whether they should still be driving, or how to take care of them as they age? We talk to a mediator who is helping families work it out. The NBA finals begin Thursday. One player headed there got his start in Minneapolis. We hear from Chet Holmgren's former coach about his journey to the top.Today's Minnesota Music Minute was “Grace and a Tender Hand” by Gaelynn Leah. The Song of the Day was “Passengers” by Aoife O'Donovan.

Even though the Minnesota Timberwolves won't be in the NBA finals this year, a Minnesotan will be on the court. Before he was a starter for the Western Conference Champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnehaha Academy graduate Chet Holmgren was just a tall kid in youth basketball learning the game with guidance from his coach, Larry Suggs.Suggs coached Holmgren on a club team starting in elementary school, a team that also included Suggs' son, Jalen, now a point guard for the Orlando Magic. Suggs joined Minnesota Now to talk about Holmgren's childhood and his NBA success.

Ten years ago, when Anna Hover was at the height of her career and raising her children in St. Paul, she got sick. She asked for help online, and the kindness of her neighbors helped put her life back together. Minnesota Now producer Ellen Finn spoke to Hover for our Thank You, Stranger series. Thank You, Stranger is our series about unexpected kindness in our lives. 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.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

The state of Minnesota recently announced $1.3 million in grants for projects that it says will make the state a better place to live as an older person. This includes funding for accessible design, housing and health care access. One of the projects hinges on the complicated relationships, choices and disagreements that families navigate as loved ones age. Community Mediation Minnesota, a network of nonprofits that provide mediation services, is receiving $60,000 from the state to do more work with older people. Katie Arnold, the co-executive director of Community Mediation Minnesota, joined Minnesota Now to talk about the grant and how their work can make a difference in the lives of families with aging loved ones.

President Donald Trump is banning travelers from 12 countries and partially restricting travelers from seven others, starting on Monday. He announced the ban Wednesday in a proclamation that said the move will protect U.S. national security. It's an echo of Trump's first term, when he signed an executive order blocking travelers from seven majority-Muslim countries. That ban led to protests at airports around the country, including in Minnesota, and a lengthy court battle. Mitchell Hamline School of Law Professor Ana Pottratz Acosta joined Minnesota Now to provide insight into the latest ban.

Nearly 44,000 Twin Cities students crossed into another district to attend school this year, using a process known as open enrollment, according to a new report published by Axios Twin Cities, a digital news outlet. According to their analysis, the number of students participating in open enrollment has grown every year for at least a decade.Meanwhile, research also shows racial segregation is worsening in schools, and some critics of the policy argue that open enrollment is one reason why. Kyle Stokes, a reporter with Axios, and Myron Orfield, the director of the University of Minnesota Law School's Institute on Metropolitan Opportunity, joined Minnesota Now to talk about the history of open enrollment and how it's reshaping school districts in the Twin Cities.

Dozens of federal agents surrounded a Minneapolis restaurant Tuesday. The incident sparked protests from some who believed it was an immigration raid, but officials say it was unrelated to immigration enforcement. We learn more from Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt.It's been a wild week of record smoke throughout the state. When will we get relief? MPR Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner shares the latest forecast.And a new program is encouraging more doctors to work in rural parts of Minnesota. We hear about the new residency program in Grand Rapids. Plus, you may have read one of Tim O'Brien's books in school. He's a famous novelist from Minnesota. We talk to the author of a new book about his life.And we hear about the future of a Minneapolis sambusa business that sells the frozen Somali pastries to schools and stores around the state. Today's Minnesota Music Minute was “Just Another Sucker” by 94 East and “Solo Cups” by Fred the Bear was the Song of the Day.