MPR News with Angela Davis

What does it mean to grow up in a family haunted by a tragedy? That's one of the central themes in a new memoir by Laurie Hertzel, the former book review editor for the Minnesota Star Tribune. In “Ghosts of Fourth Street: My Family, a Death, and the Hills of Duluth,” Hertzel writes about growing up in Duluth in the 1960s, the seventh child in a family of ten children. Her father was a college English instructor with a quick temper. Her mother was often overwhelmed. And her family was changed forever when she was 9, after the sudden death of her 18-year-old brother. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with Laurie Hertzel about how we're shaped by our family's stories, sorrows and silences. Guests: Laurie Hertzel was a journalist and the longtime book review editor at the Minnesota Star Tribune, retiring in 2023. She teaches creative nonfiction in the MFA program at the University of Georgia in Athens. She's the author of three books, including the memoir "News to Me: Adventures of an Accidental Journalist," which won a 2011 Minnesota Book Award, and “Ghosts of Fourth Street: My Family, a Death, and the Hills of Duluth,” which was published earlier this year.

Whether you're renting, trying to buy your first home, or making a move — many people are finding that affordable housing feels out of reach. Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari recently pointed to four major factors pushing up housing prices: High interest rates, rising construction costs, regulations and zoning rules, and a shortage of housing overall. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks about what more expensive housing means for renters and buyers across Minnesota — and what policymakers, builders and communities can do to make housing more affordable. Guest:Alene Tchourumoff is the senior vice president of Community Development and Engagement for the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Her team studies housing affordability and economic trends affecting low and moderate-income households across Minnesota. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.

The World Health Organization says it is deeply concerned about the scale and speed of the Ebola outbreak in Africa. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with an infectious disease expert about what's driving the spread of the virus, who is at risk and what it will take to contain it.Guest:Rebecca Wurtz is a professor in the division of Health Policy & Management at the University of Minnesota. She is also a board-certified infectious disease physician and has worked in public health roles in local, state, federal, international, and private sector settings.Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. 

Last March, President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.”It mandated a shift in how American history is portrayed in federal institutions, with a goal of eliminating “improper, divisive or anti-American ideology.”Instead, according to the executive order, the focus should be on a more “patriotic” narrative. And to ensure that happens, funding was cut for anything that “degrades shared American values” or “divides Americans by race.”This order applied largely to federal institutions, like the Smithsonian museums and the National Parks System.But here in Minnesota, the funding restrictions and shifts in ideology were felt immediately. History museum directors and curators — the people who collect and keep Minnesota history — were alarmed at what might be coming their way.So what happened? Were their fears realized?North Star Journey Live went to Mankato to find out. At the annual conference for the Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums, Angela Davis hosted a live discussion to talk about the ramifications of the federal order in Minnesota. Guests: Jessica Potter, executive director of the Blue Earth County Historical SocietyDave Nichols, executive director of the Rice County Historical SocietyMai Vang Huizel, founder and director of the Hmong MuseumKyle Ward, director of the social studies education program at Minnesota State University MankatoSubscribe to MPR News with Angela Davis on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.

High rents. Student loans. A shifting job market. For a growing number of young adults, moving back home isn't a setback — it's a smart financial strategy. But multigenerational living comes with real financial and emotional complexity. MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about what's driving the trend and how to make it work financially for everyone under the roof.Guests:Michelle Singletary is a personal finance columnist for the Washington Post. Jamia Erickson is a financial consultant with Thrivent, a Twin Cities based financial services organization.Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

Over the past decade, police in America have shot and killed 1,939 people who were in the middle of a mental health crisis. That's 20 percent of all police killings in that time. Those deaths helped fuel a movement. Instead of armed police, more than half of the country's largest cities now send specially trained social workers and EMTs. This new generation of first responders handle 911 calls involving mental illness, substance use disorders, or suicidal thoughts. Call to Mind: The Fifth Branch is a special program made in partnership with the “Tradeoffs” podcast. This episode takes listeners to Durham, North Carolina, to meet people who have reimaged the city's crisis-response system.For more reporting like this, subscribe and follow Call to Mind on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, TuneIn or wherever you get your podcasts.

Immigration in the United States has reached historic numbers. More than 50 million people born in other countries now call the United States home.Migrating to a new country can bring unique mental health challenges, like coping with the traumas that may have caused a person to leave home, and the pressure of fitting into a new community.Meanwhile, global conflicts, the COVID-19 pandemic, changes to U.S. immigration policy, and America's recent deportation crackdown have all amplified the challenges of making a new home in the United States.This Call to Mind special program explores the unique mental health challenges for immigrants in America.For more reporting like this, subscribe and follow Call to Mind on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, TuneIn or wherever you get your podcasts.

We spend about one-third of our lives sleeping. And not because we're lazy. Every living creature sleeps, from cats to dolphins, and even fruit flies — it's an essential need for good health and survival. So, if sleep is a basic health need, why do so many people have trouble doing it? Nearly a third of Americans say they sleep poorly or not enough. Our 24/7 culture makes it tough to get a good night's sleep; we prize long work hours, fast-paced productivity, staying up late to socialize, and simply stiving for more. While lack of sleep can leave a person groggy, it can also signal a mental illness, make an existing problem worse and increase the risk of mental health issues. This Call to Mind special explores the fundamental relationship between sleep and mental health.For more reporting like this, subscribe and follow Call to Mind on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, TuneIn or wherever you get your podcasts.

Every day we hear concerning news about the human costs of climate change. Severe storms and wildfires can lead to housing instability. Air pollution and dirty water have been tied to respiratory illnesses and cardiovascular diseases. And a growing area of psychological research reveals that climate change is both harming our mental health and triggering new disorders. This Call to Mind special looks at the mental health consequences of climate change. We'll hear from experts who say climate-related anxiety, depression, and grief are urgent mental health issues. And we'll hear real-world stories of people coping with a rapidly changing environment.Use the audio player above to listen to the episode.Listen and Follow Call to Mind on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, TuneIn or wherever you get your podcasts.Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.

Americans are stressed. And what many people are concerned about seems to have escalated and changed. There are the usual personal stressors like money, caretaking, and jobs, but pressing social challenges like political division and the uncertain economy, are shaping life's challenges for many people. Health experts warn that living with chronic stress doesn't just make us feel bad in the moment. Stress can shape the brain's neural networks. It puts many people at higher risk for mental illnesses like depression, anxiety disorders and substance-use problems.This Call to Mind special examines stress. We'll hear firsthand about issues that can overwhelm us, how it impacts our mental health, and from experts about ways to manage the strain.

A weather forecast can shape your whole day — from what to wear and when to exercise, to whether to make dinner plans for the patio. And when severe weather is on the horizon, those forecasts and warnings can save lives. So how do meteorologists get it right? And why do forecasts sometimes miss the mark?MPR News host Angela Davis sits down with MPR News meteorologist Mandy Thalhuber to talk about what goes into accurate forecasting, the impact of cuts to the National Weather Service and what makes the work so rewarding.Guest: Mandy Thalhuber is a meteorologist at MPR News, where her forecasts and weather insights can be heard on the radio and found online at Updraft. Before joining MPR News in 2024, she worked at Weatherology, providing local weather forecasts for radio stations across the country.

Nearly one in five Americans rate their mental health and emotional well-being as poor, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.In Minnesota, many people's mental health has been strained by a series of overlapping stresses — from the COVID-19 pandemic to the murder of George Floyd, the assassination of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, the mass shooting at Annunciation Church and School, and more recently, a surge in federal immigration enforcement that has left many communities experiencing fear and uncertainty.MPR News host Angela Davis talks with the new leader of NAMI Minnesota about his vision for reaching more Minnesotans with mental health support and how seeking help for his own mental health is shaping the way he leads.Guest:Marcus Schmit is the executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Prior to joining NAMI Minnesota, he was the executive director of Hearth Connection, a nonprofit focused on ending long-term homelessness. If you or a loved one is experiencing a crisis, you can call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also find the number for your local county or tribal crisis team here.

The arts aren't just something extra — they're a central part of how people in Minnesota connect with each other and experience their communities.Two out of every three Minnesotans attended a concert, visited a gallery or saw live theater in the past year. That engagement adds up. Arts and culture generate an estimated $1.6 billion in annual economic impact across the state, according to the Creative Minnesota 2025 report.So what shows are drawing in audiences right now? And what challenges are facing arts organizations behind the scenes? MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two colleagues who cover arts and culture in Minnesota. Guests: Jacob Aloi is a newscaster and arts and culture reporter for MPR News. He's a member of the American Theatre Critics/Journalists Association. He's contributed to PRX's The World, American Theater Magazine and NPR's Here and Now. He previously hosted a show on Frogtown Community Radio in St. Paul.     Alex V. Cipolle is a senior arts reporter and critic, covering arts and culture for MPR News. She previously covered the arts in the Pacific Northwest and southwest France and has written for publications including The New York Times, Fast Company, Frommer's and Hyperallergic.

Over the past year, Minnesota has been at the center of several major breaking news events.From the assassination of a top Minnesota lawmaker and the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School last summer, to the fatal shootings by federal officers during “Operation Metro Surge” earlier this year, complex stories have unfolded quickly, often with conflicting information and intense public reaction. So how do journalists keep up? And more importantly, how do they get it right? MPR News host Angela Davis talks about what happens behind the scenes during breaking news and how our newsroom verifies information before it reaches you. Guests:Brian Bakst is a senior politics editor for MPR News. He is also the host of Politics Friday, where he discusses Minnesota politics —​ the latest from the legislature, election news and more. Matt Sepic is a correspondent for MPR News based in Minneapolis. He focuses much of his reporting on courts and legal affairs. He also contributes frequently to NPR's national coverage. 

What's next for DEI? Since taking office, President Donald Trump has signed a series of executive orders to reverse federal policies around diversity, equity and inclusion. The most recent order signed last month prohibits DEI activities in private companies that contract with the federal government. Some states have also passed anti-DEI legislation and many private companies have pulled back on diversity initiatives. So, where does this leave efforts to create workplaces that are more inclusive and fair? MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about how DEI is evolving and what it takes to create workplaces that work for everyone. Guests: Stacey Gordon is the founder of Rework Work, a leadership strategy and consulting firm, and author of “UNBIAS: Addressing Unconscious Bias at Work.” They are based in Edinburgh, Scotland.Lily Zheng is a consultant based in the San Francisco Bay Area who works with leaders to create inclusive workplaces. They are also the author of several books, including "DEI Deconstructed," "Reconstructing DEI" and "Fixing Fairness." Milton Dodd is the executive director of the Forum on Workplace Inclusion, a Minneapolis conference on May 27-28 for organization leaders, human resource managers, Employee Resource Group (ERG) leaders and others working on issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion. Dodd is also president of Infinity Systems, a Minneapolis consulting company specializing in organizational alignment and inclusive workplace cultures. Amid DEI backlash a liberal and a conservative Minnesotan seek common ground Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. 

On Aug. 27, 2025, a shooter stood outside of Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis and opened fire through the stained glass windows. Children who had gathered for Mass during the first week of school dove for cover as bullets ricocheted off the pews. Older children shielded younger classmates with their bodies. Two students were killed that day. Many other children and adults were wounded, some critically. Eight months later, the Annunciation community continues to heal from the grief and terror. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two parents and the principal at Annunciation about what recovery looks like — including how some parents are using their voices in the legislature and elsewhere to make sure no other children go through what their families experienced. Guests:   Matt DeBoer is the principal of Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. He moved to Minnesota in 2022 to serve as campus minister at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Minneapolis after serving eight years as principal of a Catholic school in Seattle. Brittany Haeg is the mother of three children who attend Annunciation Catholic School. She is co-chair of the Annunciation Light Alliance, a nonprofit founded by Annunciation parents to ensure that children can learn, play and worship free from gun violence. Kristen Neville is in a blended family with five children who attend Annunciation Catholic School. She is founder and co-chair of the Annunciation Light Alliance.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks about how to prevent grooming — a pattern of manipulative behaviors to gain a child's trust in order to sexually abuse them.Angela's guests explain why preventing grooming isn't just about recognizing it. It's about creating conditions where it can't happen. Guests:Dr. Mark Hudson is a child abuse pediatrician and medical director of the Midwest Children's Resource Center at Children's Minnesota, Minnesota's largest pediatric hospital.Monica Rivera is the vice president of education and research at the U.S. Center for SafeSport, a nonprofit created in the wake of sexual misconduct at USA Gymnastics. Elizabeth Shockman is an MPR News reporter who covers K-12 education. To report abuse in Minnesota, contact your county's child protection agency: Directory of County and Tribal Child Protection Agencies | Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families. A 24-hour statewide sexual violence and domestic violence hotline is available in Minnesota. You can call Minnesota Day One at (866) 223-1111 or text (612) 399-9995.You can also contact the Midwest Children's Resource Center at 651-220-6750. Emergency phone consultation is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for concerned patients, parents, child protection and law enforcement agencies, physicians, therapists and attorneys. For more information about how to recognize and prevent grooming: Use this reference to identify, prevent, and respond to grooming behaviors.Recognizing Signs of Grooming in Sport | U.S. Center for SafeSport

MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about something that affects every one of us, but most of us were never formally taught — how to manage money. Guests:  Kumar Balasubrahmanyan is the vice president of Innovation for Junior Achievement North.Sara Dziuk is the president and CEO of Junior Achievement North.Isaac Kreis is a 10th grade student at Washington Technology High School in St. Paul. Rengsona Yawa is a 9th grade student at Washington Technology High School in St. Paul.

Last week, the U.S. Senate overturned a 20-year federal mining ban on land near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Supporters say modern mines can protect the environment while producing critical minerals and boosting the regional economy. Opponents argue the environmental risks are too great and the economic benefits aren't what they seem.MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks about what comes next and how lifting the ban could affect the environment and jobs.Guests:Julie Lucas is the executive director of MiningMinnesota, an industry trade group.Ingrid Lyons is the executive director of Save the Boundary Waters.

We all know that we should exercise. It's good for our hearts, minds and overall health. And yet, actually doing it — and doing it consistently — can be surprisingly hard.MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a behavioral researcher and a fitness expert about why so many people struggle to start and stick with an exercise routine, how to get motivated and what actually helps people build lasting habits.Guests:Beth Lewis is a behavioral researcher, licensed psychologist and a professor of kinesiology at the University of Minnesota. Her work is focused on finding what actually helps people move more. Amber Ellison Walker is the head trainer and the co-owner of Happy Human Fitness, an in-home personal training company based in Minneapolis.

The midterm elections are still months away, but voting is already a major focus.President Donald Trump has claimed that non-citizens vote illegally in large numbers, though there's no evidence of widespread fraud. Still, he has backed the SAVE Act, which would require in-person proof of citizenship to register. It passed the House, stalled in the Senate and some Republican-led states are moving ahead with similar requirements.At the same time, the federal government is seeking access to state voter rolls, the president's attacks on mail-in voting have ramped up and the Supreme Court may weigh in on mail-in ballot deadlines.So how secure are elections in Minnesota and across the country? Are new laws needed — or not? MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about how our election systems can balance security with access.Guests: Steve Simon has been Minnesota's Secretary of State since 2015. He oversees elections and partners with township, city and county officials to organize elections on behalf of Minnesota's four million eligible voters. He previously served in the Minnesota House of Representatives representing St. Louis Park and Hopkins. He's a past president of the National Association of Secretaries of State.Jennifer Morrell is the CEO and co-founder of The Elections Group, which works with election officials from across the country on how to conduct fair and secure elections. She is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Minnesota's Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs in its graduate Certificate of Election Administration program. She's also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and served as an election official in Utah and Colorado.

It's been one year since the U.S. raised tariffs on Canada. MPR News host Angela Davis and senior economics contributor Chris Farrell take a look at the impact — on both sides of the border.Angela and Chris will talk again with some of the people they first interviewed last April in Thunder Bay, Ontario and Grand Marais, Minn.Guests:Livio di Matteo is a professor of economics at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario.Charla Robinson is the president of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce.Chris LaVigne is the manager of the Grand Marais Municipal Liquor Store.

Historically Black colleges and universities — known as HBCUs — are schools that were created to educate Black students at a time when most colleges would not admit them.While “HBCU” might not be a household name in Minnesota, students and graduates of these 107 schools represent a thriving culture and network, especially in the southern United States.And, their impact is significant. A recent report by Forbes magazine reveals that HBCUs have produced about 80 percent of Black judges, 70 percent of Black doctors and dentists, 50 percent of Black engineers, and 40 percent of Black lawyers. And about half of the nation's Black teachers graduated from an HBCU.MPR News host Angela Davis talks with several graduates of HBCUs and a leader from an organization that supports these schools. They'll talk about the history of these institutions and why they still matter today.Guests:Laverne McCartney Knighton is an area development director for the United Negro College Fund. She oversees fundraising and scholarship programs in Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and the Dakotas. James Burroughs is the senior vice president of government and community relations and the chief equity and inclusion officer at Children's Minnesota — Minnesota's largest pediatric hospital. He also attended Morehouse College, an HBCU in Atlanta, Ga. Zarina Sementelli is a recent law school graduate who grew up in Minnesota. She graduated from Spelman College, an HBCU in Atlanta, Georgia, and California Western School of Law.

Addiction doesn't happen in a vacuum. Stress, fear, instability and isolation can shape how people cope and recover. MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about how some people living with substance use disorders support others in recovery.Guests:Caddy Frink is the director of programs for Minnesota Recovery Connection, a nonprofit that works to increase access to the support, care and resources needed to achieve long-term recovery from substance use disorders.Edward Hovelman is a peer recovery specialist and the director of bilingual programs at the Minnesota Recovery Connection. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. To learn how to get support for mental health, drug or alcohol issues, visit FindSupport.gov. To find a treatment facility or provider go to FindTreatment.gov or call 800-662-HELP (4357).

We think of wildlife as separate from urban life. But there are a lot of wild critters living all around us in the city. Turkeys have made a remarkable comeback in the last few decades after being driven entirely out of Minnesota. Deer, squirrels, rats and racoons are regular visitors to many people's back yards. And, a relatively new research project is documenting how coyotes and foxes are vying for territory in city neighborhoods. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about the secret lives of wild animals in our midst and how they interact with each other and with us. Guests: Geoff Miller is a post-doctoral associate in the department of fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology at the University of Minnesota, where he works with the Twin Cities Coyote and Fox Project. His research focuses on how coyotes and foxes live in urban areas, and interact with each other and humans. Marlene Zuk is a professor in the department of ecology, evolution and behavior at the University of Minnesota. Her newest book is “Outsider Animals: How the Creatures at the Margins of Our Lives Have the Most to Teach Us.” Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.    

When most of us think about 911, we picture flashing lights and first responders arriving on the scene. But that fast emergency response starts somewhere else — with a person answering the phone. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a 911 call taker, a dispatcher, and the director of Minneapolis's 911 call center about what happens after the phone rings — how they gather critical details, move information through the system and send help where it's needed. Guests:Joni Hodne is the director of the 911 Emergency Dispatch Center in Minneapolis. She oversees the city's 911 operations, including staffing and training.Lori Patrick is a dispatcher who has been working at the 911 Emergency Dispatch Center in Minneapolis for over 30 years. She dispatches first responders in the field, relaying crucial information in real time. Ben Jacobs is a call taker for the 911 Emergency Dispatch Center in Minneapolis. He takes emergency calls, gathers critical information and often helps callers stay calm in emergencies.

The Science Museum of Minnesota has wowed generations with its dinosaur fossils, including an 80-foot Diplodocus. And tens of thousands of people have visited its other exhibits explaining everything from outer space to the history of race.But these days, fewer people are visiting.Like other cultural institutions across the country, the St. Paul museum has struggled to lure people back after the COVID-19 pandemic. Attendance is half of what it was in 2019, forcing the museum to eliminate summer camps, lay off employees and make other cuts.MPR News host Angela Davis talks about what contributed to the drop in visitors and how the museum is trying to sell more people on its cool collections, current exhibits and educational programming.Guests:Alison Rempel Brown has been the president and CEO of the Science Museum of Minnesota since 2016. She was previously chief of staff at the California Academy of Sciences.Colleen Dilenschneider is founder and managing member of IMPACTS Experience, a market research firm that works with cultural organizations, including museums, zoos, aquariums and science centers. She is based in Chicago.Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. 

Snow is still on the ground across parts of Minnesota, but it's not too early to start thinking about spring allergies. Coming up at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two allergists about what's coming this season and how to get ahead of it.Guests:Dr. Alice Knoedler is an allergist and immunologist at Midwest Allergy and Asthma, which is part Midwest Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists, a group of clinicians based in and around the Twin Cities. Dr. Zachary Rubin is a pediatrician and allergist who practices at Oak Brook Allergists in Chicago. He is also author of the recently published book, “All About Allergies: Everything You Need to Know About Asthma, Food Allergies, Hay Fever, and More.”Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

Foundations play a big role in supporting nonprofit work in Minnesota.One of the most prominent is the Bush Foundation. Founded in 1953 by 3M executive Archibald Bush and his wife Edyth, the foundation gives grants in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the 23 Native nations sharing that geography. Its funding is helping train Ojibwe language teachers, create a loan pool for Black homebuyers and launch Latina child care businesses.It's supported everything from duck habitat restoration in South Dakota to programs for entrepreneurs in rural Minnesota. And it invests in emerging leaders through its longstanding Bush Fellowship program.MPR News host Angela Davis talks with the president of the Bush Foundation, Jen Ford Reedy, about how philanthropy is changing, how it shapes a community and how the Bush Foundation has responded to community upheavals, including the recent immigration enforcement surge and the murder of George Floyd. Guest: Jen Ford Reedy has been president of the Bush Foundation since 2012. Reedy was previously chief of staff and vice president of strategy for the St. Paul and Minnesota Foundation, where she led the creation of GiveMN.org and Give to the Max Day. She has also worked as a consultant with McKinsey and Company and directed the Itasca Project, a CEO-led regional civic initiative in the Twin Cities. She sits on the board of the Council on Foundations. Editor's note: MPR has received funding from The Bush Foundation.

This is a time of real uncertainty for agriculture in Minnesota. Crop prices are fluctuating, the cost of fuel and fertilizer remains high, and tariffs and global trade uncertainty are adding another layer of pressure on farmers trying to make a profit. As spring planting season begins, farmers need to make some big decisions — facing a lot of unknowns. For many families, farming is not just tied to income, but to identity, tradition, and generations of work. So when things feel unstable, the impact goes far beyond the farm. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about how Minnesota farmers are managing the challenges.Guests:Thom Petersen is the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Before being appointed commissioner, he was the director of government relations for the Minnesota Farmers Union. He has spent most of his life working for a horse and farm business. Megan Horsager is a farmer in Chippewa County. She works on Stevens farms with her family, where they raise sugar beets, corn, soybeans, alfalfa and silage. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.   

What's it like to be married for 34 years to someone who wrote a book called “What Happy Couples Do.” That's the lucky situation in which Brian Bruess finds himself. He is president of the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University and the first president to lead both schools. His wife, Carol Bruess, is nationally known for her research on relationships and communication and is the schools' scholar-in-residence for relationships and dialogue. MPR News host Angela Davis continues her Power Pairs series talking with Carol and Brian about how they've supported each other in marriage, careers and creating community on campus. Guests: Brian J. Bruess is the president of the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University outside of St. Cloud, Minn. He started in July of 2022 and is the first person to serve as the joint president for both schools. He was previously president of St. Norbert College in eastern Wisconsin. Before that he worked for over two decades in administration at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minn. Carol Bruess is scholar in residence for relationships and dialogue at the College of St. Benedict and Saint John's University and professor emerita of communication and family study at the University of St. Thomas. She researches, speaks and writes about how to create healthy relationships. She's the author of five books, including “What Happy Couples Do,” and “Family Communication in the Age of Digital and Social Media.” Do you know a Power Pair?“Power Pairs” is a series featuring prominent Minnesotans in a close relationship. You may know of them separately but they reveal a new side of themselves when they sit down together. Listen to past interviews here and submit your idea for a future Power Pair here.Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.    

When federal agents surged into Minnesota in January, communities didn't just face a legal issue. They faced a moral one. Faith leaders showed up. Churches became distribution hubs for food and diapers. Nonprofits organized ride shares and distributed rent money. Clergy mobilized to protest, sing, champion and, in some cases, face arrest. “Our faith compels us,” was the common refrain. “Operation Metro Surge” is over now. But churches, mosques, synagogues and faith-based nonprofits say their work is just ramping up. A group of faith leaders joined MPR News host Angela Davis for a North Star Journey Live event at our studios in downtown St. Paul on Thursday, March 26, to talk about what they experienced on the front lines of the immigration enforcement surge and how their faith both compelled and comforted them. They also shared gifts from their own faith traditions to help Minnesotans process our collective moral injury. For such a time as this Guests: JaNaé Bates Imari is a minister and the co-executive director of ISAIAH, a multi-racial, multi-faith, nonpartisan coalition of faith communities in Minnesota.Rev. Hierald Osorto is senior pastor of St. Paul's-San Pablo Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, a multicultural, multilingual, inclusive Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) congregation.Rabbi Arielle Lekach Rosenberg is lead rabbi at Shir Tikvah Synagogue, a reform congregation in south Minneapolis.Imam Mowlid Ali serves as an imam and youth counselor at Abubakar As-Saddique Islamic Center in Minneapolis.Subscribe to MPR News with Angela Davis on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.

Federal job cuts last year hit one group the hardest — Black women. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a journalist who interviewed some of the women who lost their jobs about how they are doing a year later — financially and emotionally. The article was published recently in Hammer and Hope, an online magazine that focuses on Black politics and culture.Guest:Natalie Moore is a senior lecturer and director of Audio Journalism Programming at Northwestern University in Illinois. She was a reporter and editor at the Chicago public radio station, WBEZ, for 17 years where she was known for her reporting on segregation and inequality.She writes a monthly column for the Chicago Sun-Times and she is also the author of “The South Side: A Portrait of Chicago and American Segregation.” And she is co-author of “The Almighty Black P Stone Nation: The Rise, Fall and Resurgence of an American Gang” and “Deconstructing Tyrone: A New Look at Black Masculinity in the Hip-Hop Generation.”

Hennepin Healthcare operates one of Minnesota's largest and most essential hospitals, HCMC, formerly known as Hennepin County Medical Center. And it's not in good health.The hospital provides emergency trauma and burn care to patients from across Minnesota and trains more than a third of the region's future doctors.But that mission comes at a cost. The public hospital serves more low-income and uninsured patients than other hospitals, leaving it especially vulnerable as federal Medicaid cuts take hold and the number of uninsured Minnesotans rises. Add in other mounting financial pressures, and leaders say the system is being pushed to the brink.HCMC has already eliminated 100 positions, reduced services and is now seeking sales tax revenue just to stay afloat.MPR News host Angela Davis talks with her guests about the financial crisis at HCMC, why other hospitals are also struggling and some possible solutions. Guests: Jan Malcolm was appointed by Gov. Tim Walz as his senior adviser on hospitals and health systems. She served as Minnesota's health commissioner under three governors, stepping down in 2023 after guiding the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She previously served in executive positions at Allina Health and HealthPartners.Dr. Rahul Koranne is president and CEO of the Minnesota Hospital Association. He leads the organization in advocating for Minnesota's hospitals and health systems, focusing on sustainability, workforce challenges and community health. He previously served as the MHA's chief medical officer.

It's a tough moment in the job market right now.Layoffs are happening across industries, and for recent graduates just starting out, getting a foot in the door can feel harder than ever.If you're not out of work, you likely know someone who is — a friend, a partner or a family member. For a lot of us, work is tied to our sense of purpose, identity and even self-worth. So, a job loss can ripple beyond the loss of a paycheck. MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about what unemployment can do to our mental health — and how people are coping.Guests:Connie Wanberg is a professor and a leading researcher on unemployment and job search behavior at the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.Eli Blase is a therapist who owns Blase Therapy Solutions, a private practice based in south Minneapolis.

Repa Mekha saw slim opportunities for himself and his peers growing up as a young Black man in Milwaukee.He ended up in prison, where he started college and embarked on his life's work of figuring out what it takes to create more paths forward for Black Americans and other groups left out of mainstream economies.He worked with homeless teens in the Twin Cities and got a master's degree from Harvard University. He also founded a nonprofit that promotes cooperatively-owned businesses and distributes “wealth-building” grants to people who are descendants of the transatlantic slave trade.MPR News host Angela Davis talks with Repa Mekha about his life and vision for building wealth and wellbeing for Black Minnesotans.

Technology is changing how we work, how businesses operate and how decisions get made — from artificial intelligence to cybersecurity and automation. And it's happening quickly. Some leaders in the state's tech sector say Minnesota has the opportunity to lead — by bringing companies together, developing talent and thinking carefully about how technologies like AI are built and used. MPR News guest host Chris Farrell talks with some of those leaders about the opportunities, the concerns and how Minnesota is preparing people for a changing workforce.Guests:Joel Crandall is the president and CEO of the Minnesota Technology Association.  Elizabeth Adams is the founder and chief engagement officer of the Minnesota Responsible AI Institute.  

What makes tree sap start running in late winter? And how do you tap a tree without harming it? MPR News host Angela Davis talks about the science behind maple syrup, how climate change is affecting the sap season in Minnesota and what trees may better withstand climate change. Guests:Laura Irish-Hanson is an extension educator at the University of Minnesota.Brandon Miller is an assistant professor of horticulture and curator of Plant Collections at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

The weight of the world is increasingly showing up in therapy these days — from fears of the war with Iran to worries about the job market to anxiety about immigration enforcement. And, the counselors themselves are also feeling the strain.MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two mental health professionals about how therapists are coping with stress and burnout, and how all of us can take care of ourselves in difficult times. Guests: Darcie Davis-Gage is director of the Minnesota Center for Rural Behavioral Health at Minnesota State University Mankato, which provides mental health counseling in southern and central Minnesota and clinical training for students. She is a licensed mental health counselor and previously worked as a clinician and educator in Iowa. Nancy Rocha is a licensed clinical social worker and clinical manager at Canopy Mental Health & Consulting with locations in Northeast Minneapolis and Richfield, Minn. She sees clients and provides oversight and support to the clinical team.  Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.    Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.     

The wage gap facing women in Minnesota has barely budged in more than a decade. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two nonprofit leaders about how they think mentorship can help close it.Guests:Ethelind Kaba is the executive director of the Ann Bancroft Foundation, a nonprofit that works to empower girls to achieve their highest potential and dreams. Gloria Perez is the president and CEO of the Women's Foundation of Minnesota. She is a former president and CEO for the Jeremiah Program, a nonprofit that aims to end poverty for single mothers and children. And she was the executive director of Casa de Esperanza – now Esperanza United – where she mobilized Latinas to end domestic violence. 

MPR News host Chris Farrell and meteorologist Sven Sundgaard talk about the powerful March snowstorm that brought blizzard conditions and dangerous travel to central and southern Minnesota over the weekend.Guest:Sven Sundgaard is an MPR News meteorologist.Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.     

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in the U.S. But when it's caught early, the survival rate is around 90 percent, according to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.MPR News host Angela Davis talks about symptoms that shouldn't be ignored, common misconceptions about family history, and what treatment looks like today.