Minnesota Now

State health officials say they're monitoring a Minnesotan who may have been exposed to hantavirus. The person was briefly in contact with a cruise ship traveler who tested positive for the virus. The Minnesota Department of Health says the individual is not currently showing symptoms and the risk to the public remains very low. Hantavirus is normally passed on by rodents but the Andes strain linked to the cruise ship outbreak is the only known type that can spread person-to-person. Dr. Ruth Lynfield, epidemiologist at the Minnesota Department of Health, shared more about the steps being taken and what to know about the virus.

Every spring, a herd of bison stampede onto prairieland in the St. Croix River Valley. This Saturday, the Bison Festival at the Belwin Conservancy in Afton will draw hundreds of people to watch the release of the animals. The herd sticks around for the summer and helps create a healthy habitat. Belwin Conservancy naturalist Lynette Anderson joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the incoming bison herd.

Websites like Kalshi and Polymarket have unleashed a new era of betting on sports and current events. Minnesota lawmakers Tuesday passed a bill banning these prediction markets from the state. To become law, it will need to be signed by Gov. Tim Walz.The bill is the latest move by states and tribal nations that want to reign in these platforms. If what's happened elsewhere in the country is any guide, the bill will likely attract lawsuits. A federal agency has sued five states for their attempts to regulate prediction markets. The platforms themselves have also filed lawsuits. Todd Phillips has been surveying this legal landscape. He's an assistant professor of law at Georgia State University, where he specializes on financial regulation. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to explain.

Gas prices are continuing to climb. On Wednesday, according to AAA, the average price in Minnesota was $4.15. It's averaging even higher in the seven-county metro at $4.24. You may have looked at the price at the pump recently and wished you had an electric car. But data shows the number of Minnesotans buying electric dropped by 50 percent in the last few months of 2025. From January through October of 2025, EVs made up 8.4 percent of vehicle registrations in the state. In November and December, that dropped to 3.9 percent, according to the Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association.Association President Scott Lambert said high gas prices are unlikely to reverse the trend. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini for a check-in on the EV industry.

State lawmakers passed a bill creating a new Office of Inspector General aimed at combating fraud. Once Gov. Tim Walz signs the bill, the state will have until September 2027 to launch the office. We learned more about its responsibilities and the challenges it could face.For three families, this season marks five years since a series of shootings in north Minneapolis killed two children and critically injured another. We spoke with the grandfather of one of the victims and heard about the status of the investigations.The Trump administration is suing Minnesota over the state's climate change lawsuit against fossil fuel companies. A legal expert joined us to explain the case and its broader implications.We looked at a growing housing trend in Minnesota: luxury single-family rental homes.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “the noise” by Vinny Franco and our Song of the Day was "Climbing High" by Clover and the Bee.

This spring is five years since a tragic series of shootings on the north side of Minneapolis. Three children were hit by stray bullets within weeks of one another. LaDavionne Garrett Jr, a ten-year-old at the time, was shot and seriously injured on April 30, 2021. On May 15 and May 17, 9-year-old Trinity Ottoson-Smith and 6-year-old Aniya Allen was hit by stray gunfire. Both girls died. Despite a 180-thousand-dollar reward for information leading to arrests, only Ottoson-Smith's case has been solved. For years before, Aniya Allen's grandfather KG Wilson worked to prevent gun violence in the neighborhood and support families who lost their loved ones. He joined Minnesota Now to talk about the toll of Aniya's unsolved killing and how, all these years later, he's keeping her memory alive. Then, MPR News host Nina Moini talked with Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans about the two open investigations.

In some Minnesota suburbs, a new kind of housing development is beginning to take shape: entire neighborhoods of newly built single-family homes designed specifically for renters. Industry experts say the developments of large, luxury homes with garages and yards managed by investment companies are becoming more common.Supporters argue the communities offer flexibility and another option in a tight housing market, while critics worry they could further complicate affordability and reshape the path to homeownership for many Minnesotans. MPR News host Nina Moini spoke to Laura Russ, the executive director of the Shenehon Center for Real Estate at the University of St. Thomas, about the rise of built-to-rent housing developments and what they could mean for the future of housing in Minnesota.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is facing a new legal challenge after the federal government sued the state over its climate deception lawsuit against major oil and gas companies.The U.S. Department of Justice filed the complaint in early May, arguing Minnesota is overstepping its authority by trying to hold companies accountable in state court for global greenhouse gas emissions. The original lawsuit, first filed by Ellison in 2020, targets ExxonMobil, Koch Industries and the American Petroleum Institute. It alleges the companies misled the public about the risks of climate change in order to protect their business interests.University of Minnesota law professor James Coleman joined MPR News host Nina Moini to discuss why the new federal lawsuit could have implications for climate litigation cases across the country and what options Minnesota may have moving forward.

Marquee fraud prevention legislation is on its way to Gov. Tim Walz's desk to be signed into law.A bill creating an Office of Inspector General received final approval in the Senate on Monday in a unanimous vote. The new office will have the power to review payments for public programs and take action if it spots irregularities. The office is expected to be fully operational by Sept. 1, 2027.Legislative Auditor Judy Randall is familiar with this type of work. Her office conducts routine audits of state agencies. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to discuss the potential impact of the new office and the challenges it may face as it launches.

There's only one week left of this year's legislative session. And it's been one defined by a closely divided House and Senate. From fraud to gun control and immigration, we'll check in on what state lawmakers will be pushing for as the finish line nears.The deficit facing Minneapolis Public Schools is shrinking after district leaders say they caught a budgeting error. We'll have more on what went awry.Meanwhile, the Trump administration's Justice Department is challenging Minnesota's lawsuit against three major fossil fuel companies. Plus, we'll meet Minnesota's first ever youth poet laureate — Sienna Lee of Moorhead. And get a rundown on the playoff runs for the Wolves, Wild and Frost!Our Minnesota Music Minute was the official state song of Minnesota, “Hail! Minnesota,” and our Song of the Day was “Minnesota” by The Push Stars.

It's never a dull moment in a Timberwolves playoff series. Minnesota beat the Spurs Sunday night after San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama was ejected from the game in the second quarter. Their series is now tied and they've got another game Wednesday. Monday night though is for hockey playoffs. The Frost play Game 5 and the Wild play Game 4 in their respective series. Joining Minnesota Now to break it all down are our sports contributors, Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson.

Minnesota officially has its first youth poet laureate. Sienna Lee, a high school junior from Moorhead, was chosen for the role after a long selection process. She will serve a one-year term and become a public ambassador. The youth poet laureate program was established in 2025 by the state Legislature and is overseen by the Minnesota Humanities Center along with its national partner, Urban Word.Lee joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about her poetry.

Minneapolis Public Schools says a budgeting error that stretches back to 2022 led to tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue and staffing cuts. Now that the budget error has been caught, it means that the district's $50 million deficit is now shrinking to about $38 million. But as first reported by Minnesota Reformer, this isn't the first big budget blunder in the district. Education reporter Melissa Whitler has looked at several issues within the district's finances. She joined Minnesota Now with more on her reporting.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is pushing for a second term for police Chief Brian O'Hara. But he'll need to get approval from the city council to serve. We also have the story of a St. Paul family living with the aftermath of one person being detained by ICE and deported.Teenagers are doing drugs less than they did a decade ago. A school district's health services lead spoke more about that steady decline along with her observations on drug use — and mental health — for Bloomington's high schoolers.Plus, Minnesota's favorite bird is back for the season and looking for a nice place to raise their chicks. But the DNR has spotted fewer loon babies recently and is encouraging more human-made, floating nests to help.

Minnesota teens report using cannabis at half the rate they did a decade ago. That's according to survey data the state collected in 2025 and published this spring. Four percent of students in grades 8, 9 and 11 said they had used cannabis in the last year, compared to about 10 percent in 2013. It's continued to decline since the state legalized marijuana for adults in 2023. Lani Lovas oversees school nurses and sets policies as health services director for Bloomington Public Schools. She joined to provide more perspective on the findings.

During this time of year, Minnesota's beloved loon is settling back onto the state's many lakes after wintering between the Gulf of Mexico and along the southern Atlantic coast. They're looking for a good place to nest and raise their young over the next few months. But volunteers with the DNR have spotted fewer and fewer chicks growing up on Minnesota lakes in recent years. It's led the agency to study ways to make raising a loon family on one of Minnesota's lakes more desirable. One option they're looking at: human-made floating homes that loons can nest in. The DNR's loon program coordinator, Tim Mitchell, told MPR News host Nina Moini more about it and what the state bird is up to this time of year.

During the height of Operation Metro Surge, the federal government publicized the arrests of protesters and observers. We learned why prosecutors dismissed the charges in a third of those cases. Diesel gas prices are nearing a record high. We heard how that's impacting Minnesota's trucking industry and your wallet. Plus, urban flocks of turkeys are hard to miss this time of year. We got some answers about the bird from an expert. And dozens of venues across Minneapolis are inviting the public to behind-the-scenes visits for Doors Open Minneapolis this weekend.The Minnesota Music Minute was "The Window” by We are the Willows and “Get Up and Dance” by Sonny Knight and the Lakers was the Song of the Day.

If you're feeling like wild turkeys are everywhere lately, it's because they are. It's the time of year when turkeys are out and about looking to expand their flock after a winter spent roosting. So, we took the chance to get some turkey testimonials from Minnesotans about encounters they're having with our big-feathered friends and get questions they'd ask a turkey expert if they could.Roy Churchwell, resident gamebird consultant with the DNR, joined Minnesota Now to answer those questions.

Gas and diesel prices in Minnesota are nearing record-highs as President Donald Trump threatens Iran with more bombing if it doesn't fully open the Strait of Hormuz and agree to a deal he's put forth to end the war. Fuel prices have skyrocketed since the war on Iran began more than two months ago. John Hausladen, president of the Minnesota Trucking Association, spoke about how these changes are putting truckers in a tough spot.

The rich culture and history of Minneapolis will be on full display for anyone to see this weekend with Doors Open. Seventy-five spaces across the city, many normally closed to the public, will open their doors for free for a behind-the-scenes look. From historic buildings to city maintenance facilities, the festival reveals corners of the city that most of the year are unseen. For details, MPR News host Nina Moini talked with Heidi Swank, the executive director of Rethos, which puts on the celebration.

During Operation Metro Surge, thousands of Minnesotans were sent to detention centers in Texas. And in one case, a woman with an ovarian cyst said she's been denied medical care. Rep. Angie Craig went to visit her Monday. We talked to the congresswoman about her experience. In another immigration case, a Brooklyn Park man detained for more than three months may avoid deportation, thanks in part to a last minute pardon from the state. We'll check in on the Minneapolis emergency rent relief program and how much money has been distributed so far.A new book is sharing a different framework for research that centers often underserved communities. We'll talk to the author, Brittany Lewis.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Black Butterfly” by Sounds of Blackness.

It's been two weeks since the city of Minneapolis opened applications for emergency rent relief. The fund was created after some immigrant families couldn't pay rent, because they were too scared to leave their homes and go to work during Operation Metro Surge. The $2 million rent relief fund is being administered through Hennepin County, along with three partner organizations. And we're going to check in on the progress of the program. Will Lehman is the area manager of homelessness prevention for Hennepin County and Jackie Pérez, vice president of programs at CLUES, Minnesota's largest Latino-led nonprofit organization, and a community partner organization helping disperse rent relief funding.

Minneapolis' Research in Action CEO Brittany Lewis says that too often, institutions conduct research on communities without including them, and that their findings never reach the people they are supposed to help. Lewis is out with a book Tuesday that outlines a different framework. It's called "Building a New Table: A Community-Centered Handbook for Transformative Social Change." She talked with MPR News host Nina Moini about how she realized she wanted to put her new book into the world and what it looks like when research does not effectively include the communities they are supposed to be focused on.Lewis will celebrate the launch of her book at the Loft Literary Center on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

During Operation Metro Surge, thousands of people detained by federal immigration agents ended up getting put on a plane and flown to detention centers out of state. According to an analysis by Sahan Journal, 3,400 people were flown to Texas. And as of early March, 530 remained there. It's unclear now how many are still in detention today.One detainee's experience has gotten the attention of lawmakers. First reported by the Minnesota Reformer, Andrea Pedro-Francisco of Burnsville has a tennis ball-sized ovarian cyst. She was scheduled to have surgery to treat the cyst, but was detained days before it could happen.While in ICE detention, Andrea says she has not gotten the medical care she needs for her cyst. Democrat U.S. Representative Angie Craig, whose district includes Burnsville, went down to visit Andrea at Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas, on Monday. Congresswomen Angie Craig talked to MPR News host Nina Moini about her visit.

The state Senate will vote Monday on a package of gun violence protection bills. It includes a ban on assault weapons and restrictions on ghost guns. More from supporters and opponents of the legislation that's been a central debate this session.It was decision day for many high school seniors this weekend, as they chose where they will be headed in the fall for college. Thousands of those students could get free tuition at Minnesota schools thanks to the North Star Promise program. A check in on the program ahead.And the Wild and the Wolves are starting the second round of their playoffs. It's the first time in Minnesota history that's happened. Our Minnesota Music Minute was a performance of Gustav Mahler's “ Symphony No. 5” by the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony.

Hockey and basketball fans in Minnesota are in the middle of a playoff bonanza. For the first time ever, the Timberwolves and Wild have both advanced to second rounds in the same year. And the Minnesota Frost have just begun their playoff run. Minnesota Now sports contributor Eric Nelson joined Minnesota Now with latest in the playoffs and a big announcement about the World No. 1 golf player coming to Minnesota.

High school seniors across Minnesota just locked in their plans for higher education next year on College Decision Day, May 1. Thousands of those students will have the opportunity for free tuition at Minnesota state and tribal colleges through the state program called North Star Promise. Students with yearly family incomes less than $80,000 are applying now for the third year of the program. It's made to help them access an education that may not have been financially feasible before. The program is believed to be a factor in boosting enrollment at Minnesota state schools, who have seen the largest single-year enrollment increase since 2010. Meghan Flores, the director of state financial aid programs, spoke to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini about how the program has grown over the last three years.

The state Senate is on the floor Monday to vote on a major gun violence prevention bill. It has been a core part of the conversation around the mass shooting at Annunciation church and school in south Minneapolis last August. The bill covers many different angles around gun violence — mental health and school safety, assault weapons, ghost guns and red flag laws.Minnesota Now host Nina Moini spoke to two people on both sides of the issue. Maggiy Emery is the executive director of Protect Minnesota, a gun violence prevention group. And Anna Leamy is the director of government affairs and advocacy at the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, a gun owners advocacy group.

MPR News reviewed a document that shows dozens of Minneapolis police officers worked with a Homeland Security Task Force. This comes as some are skeptical about relationship between local police and federal agencies after the surge of ICE agents this winter.Minnesota is also close to passing the nation's first ban on the use of artificial intelligence that generates fake nude images of real people. Plus, an effort is being launched to train Minnesotans on how to tell their stories about the ICE surge in the state. Also, this weekend, West St. Paul will celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a parade.And, we bid farewell to MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner who's retiring with a special lookback at his career.The Minnesota Music Minute was “Spirit Horse” by Annie Humphrey. The Song of the Day was “I Will Dare” by the Replacements.

Minnesota is on track to become the first state to ban the use of nudification technologies. These are AI tools that take images of real people and create fake nude photos or videos. Under federal law, it's a crime to share intimate content, including deepfakes, without consent. Now state lawmakers are trying to stop that content at its source. The bill passed the Senate unanimously Wednesday and now heads to Governor Walz's desk. Joining Minnesota Now to talk about this is someone who championed this legislation after being harmed by these technologies, Molly Kelley.

This weekend, the West Side of St. Paul will come to life with music, dancing, and colorful cars.The annual Cinco de Mayo event kicks off Friday with a car show and continues into Saturday with a parade and performances. Organizers of the celebration of Mexican culture say they want to lift people's spirits after a winter that was challenging for many in the community. Minnesota Now host Nina Moini spoke with Santino Franco, co-chairman of West Side Fiestas, the group behind the event, to learn more about the celebration.

It's been nearly six months since the Trump administration began its campaign to detain and deport thousands of Minnesotans. As state and city leaders continue to assess the full scope of the impact, a local partnership of community organizations is launching an effort to train people on how to collect stories of people's experiences during what the Trump administration called “Operation Metro Surge.”The trainings are tied to the “truth council” announced by Gov. Tim Walz in March. The governor said the aim is to document the impacts of these federal operations.Emilia Gonzalez Avalos is the executive director of Unidos MN, which is working to provide the trainings in partnership with ISAIAH and The Advocates for Human Rights. She shared more about the trainings and the work Unidos MN has been doing.

Governor Tim Walz gave his final State of the State address, retracing his time in charge. We heard parts of his speech and the Republican response. Plus, prosecutors say Feeding Our Future ringleader Aimee Bock leaked sensitive documents from jail to lawmakers and journalists.Minnesota farmers could be hurting long-term due to the war in Iran. We heard about the impact of fuel prices. Plus, we learned how Minnesota and other states are trying to use the legal system to hold corporations accountable for climate change. We took a deep dive into the rare languages spoken by Minnesotans. And we had our final forecast on Minnesota Now from MPR Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner ahead of his retirement.The Minnesota Music Minute was “Come in Close” by Nikki Lemire. “Johnny Law” by Frogleg was the Song of the Day.

Political and social circumstances influence the languages people speak and sometimes create distance from the languages of their parents and grandparents. In Minnesota, the most common languages are English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong, according to Census data analyzed by Sahan Journal. But there are many others spoken here, including Tibetan, Kru and Kichwa. Sahan Journal recently profiled several speakers and teachers of languages that are rare in the state. Reporter Shubhanjana Das joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the story.

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota has gotten warmer and wetter over the last century. It's one sign of a changing climate being seen in the state. As we continue to learn about the impacts of climate change, state leaders are taking steps to hold big companies accountable for their role in contributing to climate change. One route has been through the courts. Another has been through legislation that would make fossil fuel companies pay for their emissions. To learn where these efforts stand, MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with two guests who have been keeping an eye on these efforts in Minnesota and across the U.S. James Coleman is a professor of law at the University of Minnesota. And Margaret Barry is a climate litigation fellow at the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University.

The surge of federal immigration agents to Minnesota peaked more than three months ago. Some of those taken into ICE custody during that time are still detained outside the state. Minnesota Now shared an update in a case we covered earlier this year.The Trump Administration is seeking to deport At Chandee, who goes by Ricky, due to a criminal conviction from the 1990s. At the time, the government of Laos, where he was born, refused to accept him. Chandee was allowed to stay in the U.S. and check in periodically with immigration authorities, a circumstance shared by many other Hmong and Lao refugees who were convicted of crimes in the U.S.The Trump Administration argues that deporting people with past convictions makes communities safer. But Chandee's family says he turned his life around since that decades-old conviction, and that his community is better off with him in it.

Prosecutors in the Feeding Our Future case will be back in court Thursday to ask a judge to prohibit convicted fraudster Aimee Bock from contacting her two adult sons from jail. That's after Bock allegedly directed them to send confidential documents from her case to elected officials and the news media. Reporter Matt Sepic joined MPR News host Nina Moini to break down this latest twist in a case he's been following for the last four years.Read the full story here: Feds: Feeding Our Future ringleader tried to ‘minimize her starring role' by leaking secret documents from jail

The Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday morning that it carried out search warrants at Twin Cities daycare providers as part of a fraud investigation. We debriefed the latest on the operation, which involved state and county agencies. We had an update on the case of a Brooklyn Park man who has been in ICE detention for more than three months. Lakeville is seeing a population boom, but it's putting new housing on hold. We talked to the city's mayor about the decision. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline appears to be saving lives, particularly for young people, according to a new study. We talked to a local call center director about what's working.We took a musical history tour of the West Bank neighborhood of Minneapolis with the director of a new documentary about the scene.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Airproofing” by Leo Kottke and our Song of the Day was “Sleight of Hand” by Joey Van Phillips.

New data offers insight into how the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline may be affecting mental health outcomes, particularly among young people. An analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found the youth suicide rate was 11 percent lower than expected in the two and a half years after the hotline launched in 2022. The findings suggest that easier access to immediate mental health support could be helping to save lives.In Minnesota, regional call centers are part of the nationwide 988 network, responding to calls and texts from people in crisis every day.Carolina De Los Rios, director of 988 at Greater Twin Cities United Way, spoke with MPR News host Nina Moini about how the center operates.If you or someone you know is in crisis, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Minneapolis' West Bank neighborhood, also known as Cedar-Riverside, was once a hub for a thriving music scene. Beginning in the 1960s, folk, blues, rock and international musicians were drawn to the area, helping shape its cultural identity.A new documentary explores that musical history. Kevin Dragseth is the director of the Twin Cities PBS film, “Wild West Bank Sound.” He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the project.

The city of Lakeville's population is booming. It grew 12 percent from 2020 to 2024, according to U.S. Census data. That's compared to statewide growth of two percent. Despite Lakeville's growth, the city is putting a pause on building new housing. The city council passed a one-year moratorium last week. Lakeville Mayor Luke Hellier joined MPR News host Nina Moini to explain why they're hitting pause on housing and his vision for the future of Lakeville housing.

Tuesday morning, the Department of Homeland Security executed search warrants across the Twin Cities as part of what they say is an ongoing criminal investigation into fraud. FBI and Homeland Security Investigations agents were seen at several childcare centers and autism therapy providers throughout the morning. MPR News' Jon Collins checked on some locations in Minneapolis where state and federal agents have served the warrants, and talked to MPR News host Nina Moini about it.