Podcasts about mpr news

Thursday, jury selection was underway in downtown St. Paul in the federal trial of three former Minneapolis police officers accused of violating George Floyd's civil rights. MPR News editor Brandt Williams previewed the trial for host Cathy Wurzer.

Are you one of those people that freeze up when you need to calculate a 15 percent tip on the restaurant tab? Do you hope a friend will volunteer to figure it out?  You might have a bit of math anxiety.  A lot of adults and kids think they're bad at math and say they don't like it. But learning to be comfortable with numbers and patterns is vital to holding many jobs, being a smart consumer and being a good citizen.   Math educators are thinking these days about how to help students get excited, not anxious, about math. The state of Minnesota is revising its math standards for the first time since 2007 — right in the middle of a math slump caused by the pandemic's disruption to classroom instruction.  MPR News host Angela Davis talked with two math educators about how parents and teachers can kindle success in math.   Guests:  Sara VanDerWerf is a mathematics specialist with the Minnesota Department of Education. She is a former middle and high school math teacher in the Minneapolis Public Schools and past president of the Minnesota Council of Teachers of Mathematics.  Christopher Danielson created the Math On-A-Stick play space at the Minnesota State Fair. He's a former middle school math teacher and college instructor. He currently develops online math lessons for Desmos and blogs about math at talkingmathwithkids.com.   Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

Are you one of those people that freeze up when you need to calculate a 15 percent tip on the restaurant tab? Do you hope a friend will volunteer to figure it out?  You might have a bit of math anxiety.  A lot of adults and kids think they're bad at math and say they don't like it. But learning to be comfortable with numbers and patterns is vital to holding many jobs, being a smart consumer and being a good citizen.   Math educators are thinking these days about how to help students get excited, not anxious, about math. The state of Minnesota is revising its math standards for the first time since 2007 — right in the middle of a math slump caused by the pandemic's disruption to classroom instruction.  MPR News host Angela Davis talked with two math educators about how parents and teachers can kindle success in math.   Guests:  Sara VanDerWerf is a mathematics specialist with the Minnesota Department of Education. She is a former middle and high school math teacher in the Minneapolis Public Schools and past president of the Minnesota Council of Teachers of Mathematics.  Christopher Danielson created the Math On-A-Stick play space at the Minnesota State Fair. He's a former middle school math teacher and college instructor. He currently develops online math lessons for Desmos and blogs about math at talkingmathwithkids.com.   Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

The federal courthouse in downtown St. Paul will be locked down tight this week, as jury selection starts in the federal trial of three former police officers charged in connection to the May 2020 killing of George Floyd. This is an MPR News morning update for Thursday, January 20, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

State sues COVID testing operation and Vikings are weighing a diverse pool for their general manager job. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

Have you found love in the pandemic? Decided it was time to break things off with someone? Has the pandemic brought you and your partner closer together… or has it made your relationship more rocky?  The American Family Survey found in 2020 that 37 percent of married people reported that the pandemic has increased stress in their marriage. But on the flipside, that same survey found that 56 percent of those surveyed said the pandemic made them appreciate their partner more.  So how can we strengthen our romantic relationships during times of prolonged stress and trauma? And how do we navigate dating and starting new relationships?  MPR News guest host Twila Dang talks with a relationships and dating writer and a marriage and family therapist about navigating love during the pandemic.  Guests:  Lisa Bonos writes about dating and relationships for The Washington Post Steve Harris is a professor in the Couple and Family Therapy Program in the Department of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota Yachao Li is an associate editor for the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships and an assistant professor of communication studies at the College of New Jersey Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.

The package of public construction projects is the opening bid in a regular-session debate over infrastructure. It faces a tough sell in the Republican-controlled Minnesota Senate. This is an MPR News morning update for Wednesday, January 19, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Waste water data indicates the COVID peak may already be here in the Twin Cities. Mayo Clinic says it is also seeing signs of a plateau. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

As the cost of shelter goes up, some people are turning to alternative ways to afford the roof over their head. MPR News guest host Twila Dang talks with experts involved with land trusts and housing cooperatives and takes listener calls about creative ideas for alternatives to rising rents and mortgages. 

As the cost of shelter goes up, some people are turning to alternative ways to afford the roof over their head. MPR News guest host Twila Dang talks with experts involved with land trusts and housing cooperatives and takes listener calls about creative ideas for alternatives to rising rents and mortgages. 

A legal fight over a gravely ill Buffalo man's treatment at a Coon Rapids hospital is over after he was transferred to a hospital in Texas. This is an MPR News morning update for Tuesday, January 18, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

The city of Rochester now requires face masks in public places, joining a growing list of Minnesota cities with mask mandates. This is an MPR News morning update for Monday, January 17, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Robocalls. Identity theft. Fake websites. Scams take many forms in the digital era. And they cost Americans serious money. In 2021, Americans lost about $30 billion to scam calls. And in 2020, they lost $56 billion to identity fraud.  According to the AARP, scammers often target older adults, and they use creative methods that reflect what is currently popular, including Zoom, COVID vaccine cards and online shopping.  MPR News guest host Chris Farrell talks about scams, how they affect older adults and how to avoid them with two experts.  Guests:  Jay Haapala is the associate state director for AARP Minnesota. He specializes in helping the public understand and avoid scams.  Marti DeLiema is an assistant research professor of social work at the University of Minnesota. She studies the risk factors associated with financial fraud.  Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.

Winter storm warnings are posted for areas stretching from Fargo and Detroit Lakes all the way to Willmar, Worthington and Albert Lea. This is an MPR News morning update for Friday, January 14, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

State panel backs off plan to ease sentences for repeat offenders after outcry, and Duluth joins the mask mandates. And here comes an Alberta Clipper. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

Many adults can think back to a time when someone other than their close family took an interest in them, taught them a new skill or maybe helped them through an emotionally tough patch.  Mentors can play an important role in a young person's life, especially children who may not have a lot of adult support or guidance. Sometimes they can make the difference between thriving and just surviving.   MPR News guest host Chris Farrell talks with two people who head up organizations that match young people with caring adults.  And, if you're looking for a mentor or want to be one, check out the Mentoring Connector at MENTOR Minnesota. Guests:  Darrell Thompson is a former professional football player and president of Bolder Options, a nonprofit organization that matches children ages 10 to 14 with adult mentors in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Rochester.    Susan Basil King is president and CEO at Wallin Education Partners in St. Paul, a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships and advising for low-income and first-generation college students.   Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.

With hundreds of staff absences daily, Minneapolis school officials say the district can't keep the doors open. The move starts Friday, with in-person classes set to resume Jan. 31. This is an MPR News morning update for Thursday, January 13, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Minneapolis and St. Paul announce vaccine mandates, and Minneapolis schools go online due to COVID. The state is also spending $40 million to bolster hospital staff. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

The federal court judge overseeing the trial of three former Minneapolis police officers charged in the killing of George Floyd in 2020 said he's concerned about COVID disrupting the proceedings. This is an MPR News morning update for Wednesday, January 12, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

President Joe Biden has once again extended the pandemic pause on federal student loan payments – this time until May 1. While campaigning for president, Biden pledged to cancel at least $10,000 of student debt per person.  That has not yet happened. But the pause on student loan payments has reignited the debate on what to do about student loans. Student loan borrowers in the U.S. owe $1.7 trillion in federal and private loans. Some advocates and lawmakers are calling for Biden to forgive $50,000 per person, and others are advocating that student loans be forgiven altogether.  MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two researchers about the debate on student loan debt and whether canceling debt is the best way to address the student debt crisis.  Guests:  Jalil Mustaffa Bishop is an assistant professor at Villanova University in Villanova, Pa. He researches how student loan debt affects Black borrowers.  Jason Delisle is a senior policy fellow at the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. He studies higher education finance and student debt. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.

Incentives like gift cards aren't working to get people vaccinated. Rates have stalled or dropped, and public health officials all over the country are nervous.  As omicron spreads, infection rates soar and hospitals are once again overwhelmed, do we need to rethink how we motivate people to get vaccinated? Would denying access to the public sphere increase the number of people getting their shots? Guest host Kerri Miller speaks with two public health researchers on motivating the masses to get vaccinated for the common good. Guests: Stefanie Friedhoff is part of the Brown University School of Public Health leadership team and works on public health communication strategy. Scott Ratzan is a public health communication expert at CUNY Graduate School of Public Health in New York, and is founding Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Health Communication. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.

For the first time in the pandemic, Minnesotans younger than 65 have accounted for more reported COVID-19 deaths in the last week than people aged 80 and older. This is an MPR News morning update for Tuesday, January 11, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Minneapolis Public Schools is closing its buildings and shifting to an e-learning day on Monday, due to the bitter cold forecast and concerns about COVID-19 affecting bus transportation. This is an MPR News morning update for Monday, January 10, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

When Barbara F. Walter started researching her book, “How Civil Wars Start, and How to Stop Them,” in 2018, many wondered if it was an “exercise in fear-mongering.” The idea that the U.S. could find itself mired in a second civil war seemed incredulous, even irresponsible. In 2021, it doesn't feel as implausible. Walter's book examines how civil wars start and what they have in common. “Civil wars ignite and escalate in ways that are predictable; they follow a script,” Walter writes in her introduction Walter joined host Kerri Miller to talk about the risk factors for a country imploding and why she is concerned about America right now. Guest: Barbara F. Walter is a professor of international relations at the University of California-San Diego and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Subscribe to the MPR News with Kerri Miller podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or RSS.

Two years into the pandemic, restaurants are sometimes open depending on omicron surges and staffing, and grocery stores are struggling with supply chain issues. But your family is still asking, “What's for dinner?” We are here to help. From the growing popularity of air fryers to mushrooms predicted to be the ingredient of 2022, getting it done in the kitchen has gotten easier and more interesting, even if you have to do it three times a day, every day.  Host Angela Davis talks to food writer and cultural anthropologist Kelly Alexander about finding or renewing your passion for cooking and eating at home in 2022. And James Rone, the program manager for the Project Success Institute joins Angela and Kelly to talk about getting teenagers shopping, cooking and possibly doing the dishes (no promises on this last one). Guests:  Kelly Alexander is a food writer, editor and professor of cultural anthropology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  James Rone is the Program Manager at the Project Success Institute in Minneapolis. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

The president, members of Congress and many federal workers take an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution — against all enemies, foreign and domestic. But what does that mean? What's actually in our founding document?  If you grew up watching “School House Rock,” you likely can sing the preamble, but most of us can't remember or quote the amendments. That not only affects our political conversations, but it also affects the job we do as citizens.  As we mark the one year anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection, we invite your questions about the U.S. Constitution. Guests:  Alan Rozenshtein is an associate professor of law at the University of Minnesota Law School, where he teaches constitutional law, criminal procedure and courses on legislation and regulation and cybersecurity law.  T. Anansi Wilson is an associate professor of constitutional and criminal law at Mitchell Hamline School of Law. They teach courses in constitutional civil liberties and criminal procedure and seminars about sexuality, race and the law. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.

Commissioner Irene Fernando released a statement Wednesday asking Sheriff David Hutchinson to step down. Hutchinson rolled his vehicle on Dec. 8 and pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated, but had said he would not leave his position. This is an MPR News morning update for Thursday, January 6, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

On Tuesday the state announced it will open three new testing sites, operated by the National Guard. Two of them will be in Anoka and Cottage Grove to meet demand in the Twin Cities. The third site will be in North Branch. This is an MPR News morning update for Wednesday, January 5, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Minnesota reports big jump in COVID, leaving little doubt that Omicron has arrived. The state responds with more testing and a plea for vaccinations, social distancing and masks. Also, another winter blast is on the way. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

COVID-19 cases are once again surging in Minnesota after the holiday season with the spread of the highly contagious omicron variant. Two years into the pandemic, the new variant has raised questions about how and when the pandemic will end.  MPR News host Angela Davis talks about how to cope with a pandemic that keeps stretching on. She spoke with an infectious disease expert, a child psychologist and a psychologist who studies the way uncertainty affects our minds.  Guests:  Kate Sweeny is a professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside. She specializes in how uncertainty affects our minds and mental health.   Sarah Jerstad is a child psychologist at Children's Minnesota Dr. Jack O'Horo is an infectious disease expert at the Mayo Clinic  Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

Ann Bancroft was the first woman to reach the North Pole on foot with dog sleds in 1986. A few years later she skied across the ice to the South Pole with a group of three other women, inspiring students across the country with updates along the journey.  But polar expeditions aren't her only legacy. Bancroft started a foundation 25 years ago that has awarded grants totaling more than $2 million to thousands of Minnesotan girls who have big dreams and need a boost.  MPR News host Angela Davis talks with Bancroft and the new executive director of the Ann Bancroft Foundation about encouraging and uplifting girls. Guests:  Ann Bancroft is an adventurer, author and teacher. She was the first woman to reach the North Pole on foot and sled and to complete a number of other expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic. She's the founder of the Ann Bancroft Foundation.  Ethelind B. Kaba is executive director of the Ann Bancroft Foundation.  Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.

As cases have ramped up in Minnesota and across the country, and omicron seems to be spreading much faster than previous variants, it has put a strain on the state's testing sites. This is an MPR News morning update for Tuesday, January 4, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Testing is getting crushed as data shows signs of omnicron surge in Minnesota. Also, Minneapolis says COVID may close some school buildings in the state's third largest district, and police arrest a suspect in Friday's Mall of America shooting. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

What's on your list of New Year's resolutions? Do you want to spend less and save more? Do you plan to get in shape? Lose some weight? Read more books? Stay in better touch with loved ones? Eat healthier? Work more? Relax more?  Whatever kind of change you want to make, saying it out loud is the first step. Committing to getting it done is the second step. The third step? Well, that's the hardest step of all, isn't it? Sticking to your goals so that you can reach them is difficult for everyone. But understanding the psychology of sticking to your goals will help you get there.  Host Angela Davis talks with three experts on establishing and meeting your goals for 2022.  Guests:  Theresa Nutt is a graduate faculty for the University of Minnesota's Integrative Health and Wellbeing coaching program. Ayelet Fishbach is the Jeffrey Breakenridge Keller Professor of Behavioral Science and Marketing at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and the author of “Get it Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation.”  Chris Farrell is the senior economics contributor at MPR News. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

As students return to classrooms on Monday, school leaders around the state are readying themselves for what may be a spike in virus spread. This is an MPR News morning update for Monday, January 3, 2022. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

All this week, we're listening back to some of the conversations we've had on this show over the past year.  Associate producer Samantha Matsumoto joined MPR News host Angela Davis to share some of the shows that have stood out to her.   We take you back to Nobles County, the fastest diversifying county in the state. We traveled there earlier this year to talk to some of the residents about what life is like in their community.  And we revisited a conversation about the complicated ways we describe our identities and the politics behind terms like BIPOC, Latinx and people of color.  We also listen back to an interview about a 2021 law that made Minnesota the first state in the country to stop separating incarcerated mothers from their newborn babies. Tune in on Friday for host Angela Davis's favorites from 2021 as we wrap up our look back at the past year on the air.

After more than a decade on the MPR News airwaves, Dr. Jon Hallberg says goodbye to host Tom Crann and all of you. Dr. Hallberg spent a final hour with MPR News listeners looking back on his long career and commenting on everything from the measles to back pain to flu shots and COVID. They also took questions from callers and previewed what's next for Dr. Hallberg. Guest: Dr. Jon Hallberg is an associate professor in family medicine at the University of Minnesota and medical director at the Mill City Clinic. He co-hosted the MPR News podcast Hallberg's Picture of Health alongside All Things Considered host Tom Crann.

The ban, which takes effect Thursday, covers 12 northern Minnesota counties, and comes in response to chronic wasting disease found in two northern Minnesota locations this year. This is an MPR News morning update for Thursday, December 30, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

All this week, we're listening back to some of the conversations we've had on this show over the past year.  Associate producer Samantha Matsumoto joined MPR News host Angela Davis to share some of the shows that have stood out to her.   We take you back to Nobles County, the fastest diversifying county in the state. We traveled there earlier this year to talk to some of the residents about what life is like in their community.  And we revisited a conversation about the complicated ways we describe our identities and the politics behind terms like BIPOC, Latinx and people of color.  We also listen back to an interview about a 2021 law that made Minnesota the first state in the country to stop separating incarcerated mothers from their newborn babies. Tune in on Friday for host Angela Davis's favorites from 2021 as we wrap up our look back at the past year on the air.

The omicron variant continues to make headlines worldwide, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has loosened guidelines for isolating after testing positive for COVID-19. For more on how all this is affecting the pandemic in Minnesota, host Cathy Wurzer was joined by MPR News reporter Catharine Richert. Theme music by Gary Meister.

Authorities charged Daniel Eugene Johnson of Austin in June with four misdemeanors, including remaining in a restricted building. Now the 29-year-old is facing a new felony count of interfering with U.S. Capitol Police during the Jan. 6 insurrection. This is an MPR News morning update for Wednesday, December 29, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Minnesota health care workers welcome shorter COVID isolation, and the state announces nearly $50 million in additional federal COVID aid is coming from Washington. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

All this week, we're listening back to some of the conversations we've had on this show over the past year. This hour, producer Maja Beckstrom joins host Angela Davis to share some of the shows that stood out to her.   We'll learn more about the grief of losing the language of parents and grandparents. It's a topic that hit home for many listeners, including new immigrants and refugees, Indigenous people and also Minnesotans whose ancestors came here generations ago.  We'll explore unconscious bias — what it is, the harm it causes and how to become aware of our bias. And, we'll revisit a major story of the year — how overworked health care workers have struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The state's most recent numbers also show there have been 50,000 confirmed hospitalizations since the pandemic began. This is an MPR News morning update for Tuesday, December 28, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

COVID cases pass the 1 million mark in Minnesota, and proposed natural gas and electicity rate increases are poised to kick in for many utility customers across the state. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

This week we're looking back at some of the conversations host Angela Davis had in 2021 that resonated with us here at MPR News, and with you, our listeners.  On Monday, senior producer Susan Davis shared her selections.  She starts with a show about missing and murdered indigenous women, during which we didn't get or take any calls. She also brought us an excerpt from a show we did about the mental health of men – a show that was made full and fascinating because of the calls we took from listeners. Susan's choices also include a reminder of the importance of military veterans to Minnesota's culture. Producers Maja Beckstrom and Samantha Matsumoto will share some of their favorite shows on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tune in at 9 a.m. on New Year's Eve day to hear host Angela Davis's best of 2021.

The man, who has not yet been officially identified, was fatally shot by a police officer in the parking lot of a gas station in Austin on Thursday night, after he left his home following a lengthy standoff. Family members and community activists are disputing the official account of the shooting. This is an MPR News morning update for Monday, December 27, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Kimberly Potter faces seven years in prison for killing Daunte Wright during a traffic stop in April. The former Brooklyn Center officer is expected to be sentenced Feb. 18. This is the afternoon MPR News update for Thursday, Dec. 23. Hosted by Natasha Senjanovic. Theme music by Gary Meister.

Two years into the global COVID-19 pandemic, children and their parents are struggling with mental health concerns, COVID safety and living with the uncertainty of the ongoing pandemic. Being a parent can be challenging even during the best of times. So how do parents handle it as the pandemic rages?  MPR News Host Angela Davis speaks with a maternal child health specialist and a children's mental health expert about how to care for your children's – and your own – mental health.  Guests:  Brandon Jones is the executive director of Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health Erin Erickson is a maternal child health specialist and nurse practitioner. She also co-hosts the podcast “Mom Enough.”  Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

Seven members of an immigrant family from Honduras whose bodies were found inside a Moorhead, Minn., home last weekend died of carbon monoxide poisoning, authorities said Wednesday. Relatives of the family discovered the victims Saturday night in a home in south Moorhead when they went to check on them after not hearing from them. Neighbors said the children were last seen Friday. This is an MPR News morning update for Thursday, December 23, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.