Podcasts about mpr news

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.     

Lawmakers in the tied Minnesota House of Representatives are considering shaking up the number of state legislators to avoid future ties.And Gov. Tim Walz is asking lawmakers to approve a new tax on social media companies as part of his supplemental budget plan.Those stories and more in the evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

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.     

Fossil fuels are by far the largest contributor to global climate change, accounting for nearly 90 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions. But there are people here in Minnesota working on solutions for managing those emissions.MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner spoke with Paul Dauenhauer, a Distinguished McKnight University Professor at the UM College of Science and Engineering, about the start-up company Carba, of which he is a cofounder.Through Carba, they have developed a proprietary process that converts plant-based waste material into biochar, a stable material that sequesters carbon and can be buried underground for more than 1,000 years

It's been about a month since White House Official Tom Homan announced a drawdown of federal immigration officers in Minnesota, but the news from a fearful public and growing concern for those impacted remains. Lawmakers at the state Capitol are responding to the fallout from “Operation Metro Surge” through a variety of bills. They're also holding press conferences and speaking on the floor of the House and Senate about what happened during the surge, from federal agents using unmarked vehicles and wearing masks, to whether the state should provide rental assistance for those afraid to leave their homes.  MPR News host Catharine Richert talks with two lawmakers about the immigration legislation at the state Capitol, and what may or may not get done with a tied House.  Later, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith has been outspoken on Capitol Hill. In the year from her announcement to not run for reelection, Smith has been quick to criticize the White House from the ICE surge to the war in Iran. Smith details those events and how she plans to close out her term with MPR News political correspondent Dana Ferguson.Guests:DFL Sen. Zaynab Mohamed of Minneapolis Republican Rep. Max Rymer of North Branch Democratic U.S. Sen. Tina SmithDana Ferguson, political correspondent for MPR NewsPeter Cox, correspondent for MPR NewsUse the audio player above to listen to the full conversation or subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

ICE may have wound down its operations in Minnesota, but the state is still facing the economic consequences of Operation Metro Surge. This has fueled concerns that an eviction crisis could take hold, particularly in the Twin Cities. On today's show, Kimberly joins MPR News correspondent Dana Ferguson in St. Paul, Minnesota to discuss measures the state legislature is taking to provide economic relief to renters, and what life has been like since she last checked in with us on “Make Me Smart.”

ICE may have wound down its operations in Minnesota, but the state is still facing the economic consequences of Operation Metro Surge. This has fueled concerns that an eviction crisis could take hold, particularly in the Twin Cities. On today's show, Kimberly joins MPR News correspondent Dana Ferguson in St. Paul, Minnesota to discuss measures the state legislature is taking to provide economic relief to renters, and what life has been like since she last checked in with us on “Make Me Smart.”

A bill to help cover rent costs for Minnesotans impacted by the surge of federal immigration agents has cleared the state Senate. State Senators voted 35-32 on Wednesday to send one-time funding of up to $40 million to county and tribal governments. The measure passed nearly along party lines with Democrats supporting and all Republicans but one opposed.Over in the House, which is tied between the two parties, lawmakers have introduced a similar bill, but it faces a tougher road to passage. A similar debate has been underway in Minneapolis, where Mayor Jacob Frey vetoed an eviction-related proposal Wednesday. It would have required landlords to give 60 days notice, instead of 30, before filing evictions. MPR News politics reporter Dana Ferguson joined to explain more about the conversations taking place at the state Capitol.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants to allow pork and poultry plants to speed up the pace of work. The agency says existing speed limits are outdated. Some plants have waivers that allow them to exceed those rules. Industry groups have praised the move to loosen requirements across the board. But labor representatives say a faster pace puts greater strain on workers' health and safety. Rena Wong is president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 663. It represents several meatpacking plants in the state of Minnesota. Wong spoke to MPR News host Nina Moini about her concerns about faster speeds in the plants.

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.

State leaders are reacting to Gov. Tim Walz's proposal to centralize the way Minnesota provides Medicaid services. This comes as part of the Governor's push for anti-fraud changes at the state Department of Human Services. Walz said the current system, which is split among counties, managed care organizations and the state, has become increasingly difficult to administer. He laid out a plan Wednesday that would have DHS take over eligibility determinations for Medicaid programs. He also said the state would take the lead in modernizing what he called an “outdated system.” The plan would need lawmaker approval. It received immediate pushback from both Republicans and Democrats. For reaction from the county perspective, MPR News host Nina Moini talked with Julie Ring, executive director of the Association of Minnesota Counties. She also spoke with a Josh Berg, a board member with the Association of Residential Resources in Minnesota, or ARRM. He advocates for service providers that receive Medicaid funding.

A Minnesota occupational therapist has created a sensory-friendly hijab. Inspired by her siblings' experience with autism, Najma Omar set out to design a hijab that could help make loud noises less overwhelming. That led to SereniHijab, a hijab made of lightweight fabric with padding that covers the ears. Najma Omar joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it.

A bill that would allow psilocybin, a psychedelic, to be used for therapeutic purposes to treat addiction and severe mental illness in Minnesota is one step closer to passing this session. The legislation would launch a state-run trial psychotherapy program using psilocybin. The bill is based off recommendations from a 2025 report by the state's Psychedelic Medicine Task Force. Two members of the task force joined MPR News host Nina Moini to explain the therapy and their support of the bill.Neuroscientist Jessica Nielson is chair of the task force and professor of psychiatry at the University of Minnesota. Stefan Egan is also a member of the task force and a veteran. He testified in support of the bill this week and shared his personal experience using therapeutic psilocybin.

Medical professionals and sports journalists have zeroed in on a problem that appears to affect women athletes at higher rates than men: ACL injuries. There's another trend in the data, as the Minnesota Star Tribune and New York Times recently pointed out. High school athletes are tearing their ACLs at higher rates than before, especially in girls' sports. A study by the National ACL Injury Coalition suggested the rates of serious knee injuries increased 32.3 percent in girls' sports over the 15 years between 2007 and 2022. That's almost double the 14.5 percent increase the study found in boys' sports. The ACL is a ligament that helps hold the knee in place. An injury usually means the end of an athlete's season; sometimes, it means surgery. For young athletes, it can also have particular social, emotional and economic impacts.For more, MPR News host Nina Moini talked with Jill Monson, lead physical therapist for the Complex Knee Injury Clinic at Twin Cities Orthopedics in Eagan.

In December 1980, 19-year-old Jean Hilliard from Lengby, Minnesota, slid her car into a ditch on an icy rural road during a bitterly cold night with temperatures at -22°F. She decided to walk about two miles to a friend's house for help but collapsed unconscious in the snow just 15 feet from the door, where she lay exposed and frozen solid for six to seven hours. The next morning, rancher Wally Nelson discovered her rigid body—described as hard as a log, with frozen-open eyes and no detectable vital signs—and rushed her to the local hospital, where doctors initially thought she was dead. Miraculously, after slow warming with heating pads and community prayers, she revived within hours, made a full recovery with no amputations or lasting damage, and went on to live a normal life, leaving medical experts baffled by her survival.   Branch of Hope: https://www.dareformore.org/   In 2012, Dare for More founder Reba Bowman traveled to the Dominican Republic and saw firsthand the plight of women and girls. There are many places in the world where women are treated as expendable. This toxic culture leads to exploitation in every way imaginable. Poverty can be the tipping point sending women and children into crisis. The pressure of living on as little as $1.25 per day can leave women and children vulnerable to trafficking. Millions of women and children are exploited every day as a result of human trafficking. Many factors lead women and children to a crisis point. Some are marginalized by their community, others are widowed, orphaned, abused, or neglected, and most have no one who is listening to their cries for help. Dare For More believes that helping the vulnerable before they become victims is an important part of their work. In each community, they reach out to those who are in need and help them find stability through life-skill and job-skill training. These opportunities not only create immediate change for the family but long-term change for generations to come.   Sources: Enger, J. (2018, January 25). Frozen. Thawed. Not dead: Jean Hilliard's amazing Minnesota story. MPR News. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/01/25/jean-hilliard-northern-minnesota-frozen-survived McRae, M. (2023, October 23). Amazing true story: The woman who survived being “Frozen Solid.” ScienceAlert. https://www.sciencealert.com/amazing-true-story-the-woman-who-survived-being-frozen-solid Connare, C. (2026, January 27). Frozen Stiff: A true story of winter survival. Almanac.com. https://www.almanac.com/extra/frozen-stiff-true-story-winter-survival   Join The Dark Oak Discussion: Patreon The Dark Oak Podcast Website Facebook Instagram Twitter TikTok Youtube This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

If you've lived in Minnesota for a while, you've probably noticed that winters are changing. They're not quite as cold as they used to be. We get less fluffy snow that stays on the ground. And, sometimes, we even get winter rain.These local changes are closely linked to global warming, as greenhouse gases released by human activities continue to heat the planet.MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a climatologist and a climate journalist about how seasons in Minnesota are changing, how the state is doing on its goals to reduce carbon emissions and how the Trump administration has pulled back on addressing global warming.

It's been more than 40 years since cleanup began on a hazardous waste site in Northern Minnesota. From the 1950s until the 1980s, the St. Regis Paper Company treated wood with toxic chemicals near downtown Cass Lake on the Leech Lake Reservation. Those chemicals spread into the soil and groundwater. Today, the pollution continues to limit wild rice harvesting and fishing in the area. And tribal environmental staff say the cleanup is failing. Reporter Gabrielle Nelson is an environmental reporter and Report for America Corps Member for the Indigenous news outlet Buffalo's Fire, based in North Dakota. She recently dug into this story and talked with MPR News host Nina Moini about her reporting.

A group of Minnesotans are back after a trip to Selma, Alabama over the weekend to commemorate 61 years since a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights movement. On March 7, 1965, state troopers attacked marchers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma. The day what would become known as Bloody Sunday and helped spur the passage of the Voting Rights Act. A contingent of Minnesotans from various civil rights and immigration rights groups were among the thousands who gathered at the Edmund Pettus Bridge over the weekend. They participated as a part of a trip organized by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, an organization founded by Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. Christina Ojo is with the group Ayada Leads and Rico Durán is with COPAL MN. They joined MPR News host Nina Moini for a conversation about their time in Selma.

Starting Thursday, two iconic Indigenous artists will make a three-day tour of northern Minnesota. Keith Secola is a renowned Anishinaabe songwriter and a member of the Native Music Hall of Fame. Gary Farmer is a Cayuga actor known for roles including Nobody in the 1995 movie “Dead Man” and Uncle Brownie in the hit TV show “Reservation Dogs.” He also has a band, Gary and the Troublemakers. Together, the artists are bringing contemporary Native blues rock and traditional sounds to Virginia, Bemidji and Grand Rapids, Minn., starting Thursday, and they'll meet up with some other local acts along the way. The Ancestral Fires Music Tour will finish Sunday with a stop in south Minneapolis. Farmer and Secola chatted with MPR News host Nina Moini about their upcoming tour.

The war in the Middle East is driving up fertilizer prices, as the spring planting season approaches. The war has closed the Strait of Hormuz, which is a critical shipping route for fertilizer. Dan Glessing is the president of the Minnesota Farm Bureau and a farmer in Waverly, Minnesota, about an hour west of the Twin Cities. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the impact to Minnesota farmers.

Gas prices have been on a rollercoaster, and the war in the Middle East is raising concern that the cost of fertilizer will shoot up. An important shipping route is blocked. We heard from a Minnesota farm group about the potential impact on farmers here.One of the jurors from the first Feeding Our Future trial talked with MPR News about his experience in the courtroom. We learned how a polluted site is impacting life on the Leech Lake Reservation, more than 40 years after cleanup began. Two Minnesotans shared their experience in Selma, Ala. They took a recent trip honoring a critical moment of the civil rights movement. Two iconic Indigenous artists are traveling the state on the Ancestral Fire Music Tour. Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Fifth Element” by Let Joy.

A juror from the first Feeding Our Future fraud trial recounts deliberations, the shocking bribery attempt and the challenge of weighing the evidence to MPR News reporter Matt Sepic.

Over the past few years, the car market has gone through some changes.It's getting more expensive to buy a vehicle. Prices for new cars are high and so are interest rates, leaving many buyers stretching payments over six or even seven years to keep monthly costs manageable. Used cars aren't as affordable as they used to be and insurance and repair costs are rising too. At the same time, the types of vehicles on the market are shifting. Electric vehicles are more common. So are SUVs.So, what does this all mean if you're thinking about buying a car?  MPR News host Angela Davis talks with her guests about the economics of buying a car in 2026 — what's driving prices, how financing is changing and what buyers should know before heading to the dealership.Guests:Chris Farrell is senior economics contributor for MPR News and Marketplace. Joseph Yoon is the consumer insights analyst for Edmunds, an online resource for researching and buying both used and new vehicles. 

Minnesota U.S. Sen. Tina Smith says President Donald Trump's firing of Kristi Noem as Homeland Security secretary is welcome news -- but she is skeptical about his pick to replace her. Trump says he'll nominate one of Smith's Senate colleagues, GOP Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin. Flags were at half-staff across Minnesota Friday in honor of Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor of White Bear Lake, who was killed in an airstrike in Kuwait.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Elena See. Music by Gary Meister.Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

The United States is among the world's largest beef producers, producing some 12 million tons in 2025. But cattle generate a lot of emissions. The beef industry alone is responsible for around 3 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner spoke with Jennifer Schmitt, senior research scientist in sustainability at the University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment, about what's currently being done to reduce emissions.Plus, a snippet from a recent episode of This Old House Radio Hour about climate preparation is reshaping the housing of America.Click play on the audio player above to listen to this episode or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast.

The husband of a Minnesota soldier killed in Kuwait says the family is grieving and planning a memorial. The standing of a key state agency commissioner has become another political flashpoint in the Minnesota Senate. Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Ramsey County is changing how it responds to young people who commit crimes — and early results show their new approach is working. In the past, young offenders were charged much like adults. They were sent to court and often placed on probation or assigned community service. The new approach, sometimes called restorative justice, goes deeper. It pulls in members of the community, considers why the crime happened and helps young people understand the harm they caused while also holding them accountable. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about why more communities across Minnesota are using restorative justice and about a new a study in Ramsey County that shows it dramatically reduces repeat offenses.

Federal law changes provided new breaks for income derived from overtime and tips. Other business tax cuts were approved last year, too.Now Minnesota lawmakers are debating how many of those ideas to incorporate into the state tax code. It would come at a hefty cost. Proposals to contain rising property taxes are also under review in the Legislature.MPR News host Brian Bakst and a pair of lawmakers talk taxes. Later, we're off to Washington where Minnesota continues to be the focal point for multiple reasons. The continuing fight to contain public program fraud had the attention of a U.S. House committee, which summoned Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison to testify. Two congressional committees put now-removed Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on the hot seat over problems in the Minnesota immigration enforcement campaign.Guests:Republican Sen. Bill Weber, of LuverneDFL Rep. Aisha Gomez, of Minneapolis Dana Ferguson is a political correspondent for MPR NewsPeter Cox is a politics reporter for MPR News Caroline Cummings is a politics reporter for WCCO-TVUse the audio player above to listen to the full conversation or subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

Flags are at half-staff in White Bear Lake in honor of Army Reserve Sergeant Nicole Amor.And there were moments of constructive dialogue during an otherwise rancorous congressional hearing today on fraud in Minnesota.Those stories and more in this evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Protein is having its moment. Protein powders are marketed to young men who want to bulk up and to women in menopause to prevent losing muscle mass. It's also being added to everything from cereal to bagels, pasta and pancake mix. And, in January, federal dietary guidelines nearly doubled the amount of protein per day Americans are recommended to consume, with a focus on meats and full-fat dairy products. So, with all the protein hype, how much do we really need?MPR News host Angela Davis talks about our current protein obsession along with smart and budget-friendly ways to get the nutrition we need for a healthy life. Guests:  Tara Schmidt is a registered dietitian and instructor of nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. She is also the lead dietitian for the Mayo Clinic Diet, host of the podcast “On Nutrition,” and co-authored “The Mayo Clinic Diet: Weight Loss Medications Edition.”  Aimee Tritt is a practicing dietitian in private practice. She is also a clinical assistant professor of nutrition at the University of Minnesota in the College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resource Science.  

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison testified before a congressional oversight committee Wednesday on fraud in state programs. The hearing drifted into debates over immigration law. There were heated moments and plenty of terse exchanges. MPR News politics reporter Dana Ferguson was at the hearing in Washington, D.C. and joined Minnesota Now with details.

Tense exchanges played out Wednesday in a congressional hearing on fraud in Minnesota. Governor Tim Walz and Keith Ellison testified. MPR News reporter Dana Ferguson shared what she heard in Washington.A Minnesotan was among the soldiers killed in an air strike in the Middle East. We learned about Nicole Amor. Plus, a national philanthropic organization is creating a new fund to support Latino communities impacted by the ICE surge. A judge will soon decide whether to hold the U.S. Attorney in Minnesota in contempt for violating court orders in immigration cases. And we talked to the “big cheese” who is creating award-winning cheese in caves in southern Minnesota.The Minnesota Music Minute was “Not Today” by Guytano and “Closer to Fine” by Indigo Girls was the Song of the Day.

A national Latino philanthropy organization created a new fund to support Latino communities in states that are experiencing a heavy immigration enforcement presence. Its first focus is Minnesota. Christian Arana is the Vice President of civic power and policy with the Latino Community Foundation, based in California. He recently visited Minnesota to help oversee distribution of the new fund and joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it.

People across Minnesota and the country are mourning an Army Reserve member from White Bear Lake who was one of six service members killed in Kuwait amid the ongoing war with Iran. MPR News reporter Estelle Timar-Wilcox joined Minnesota Now to share more about Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, who was killed in an airstrike on Sunday, according to the military.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem testified today that close to 650 DHS agents remain in Minnesota.And a federal judge heard arguments today on a federal demand for Minnesota to turn over voter registration data.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

One in five Minnesota households can't afford the food they need. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about hunger in Minnesota — who's affected, what keeps people from seeking help, and potential solutions. Guest:Sarah Moberg is the chief executive officer at Second Harvest Heartland, which is one of the largest food banks in the country. It provides services in central and southwest Minnesota and western Wisconsin. She worked at General Mills for 25 years, where she was most recently the senior director of Innovation, Technology and Quality. For help finding free food, call or text the Second Harvest Heartland helpline: 866-844-3663.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.     

As the U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran continue, more than 250 Minnesota National Guard personnel are in or near the Middle East on regularly scheduled deployments.And Hennepin County prosecutors are investigating 17 alleged incidents of excessive force by federal agents during immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities. Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Increased federal immigration agents in parts of Minnesota has had ripple effects that are affecting child care. Some child care centers are reporting drops in attendance as families keep children home out of fear. And, staff members are strained as they worry about their own safety.  MPR News host Angela Davis is joined by early childhood education reporter Kyra Miles to talk about how the increase of federal immigration agents is affecting the child care industry and children, families and child care workers. Guests:Kimberli Benhoff is the program director of Rise Early Learning Center in St. Louis Park.Tiffany Taylor is a teacher at South Metro Childcare Academy in Bloomington. 

An heiress from Duluth.A trail of fires stretching from Minnesota to the Mexican border.And a quiet little mining town in Arizona… that never saw her coming.Marjorie Congdon Caldwell Hagen carried wealth, suspicion, and misery wherever she went.Her tale is part true crime… and part ghost story that still haunts this desert town.For this special episode, we're going local, and recording live from ground zero — Ajo, AZ, AND we're teaming up with Z89.3 KZAO's own Bo Johnson to tell the story of Marjorie Hagen — the “Black Widow of Ajo.”Source Material:MN Historical Society (MNopedia)Glensheen (UMD) official blog: “Women of Glensheen” Duluth News Tribune (feature): “Glensheen murders still intrigue”MPR News (feature, with photos/audio): “40 years later, Glensheen murders still grip Duluth”Minnesota Supreme Court (primary): State v. Caldwell (1982) Duluth News Tribune (feature)Brainerd Dispatch (AP report): DNA on key envelope (2003) MPR Archive (2003)Los Angeles Times (obituary/recap): Roger Caldwell's suicide Duluth News Tribune (30-year look-back)Washington Post (1992)UPI archive (1992)Los Angeles Times (1992 feature)Duluth News Tribune (retrospective)Star Tribune (2007)MinnPost (2009)Duluth News Tribune (2007 news)Music Credit:1. IMPERVIOUSMusic from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/dorian-pinto/imperviousLicense code: LUZNNGUQNGYSFZI8 Connect with us: killerhearttohearts@gmail.comFollow us on: Tik TokFollow us on: InstagramLike us on: FacebookFollow us on: Twitter

Minnesota's budget picture has improved since November - with a larger surplus than was expected just a few months ago.And tenant organizers could hold a vote tomorrow to authorize a Twin Cities-wide rent strike. Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Minnesota Arctic explorer Will Steger has trekked across thousands of miles of ice in both the north and South Poles, crossing the Larsen Ice Shelves a few years before they disintegrated and collapsed into the sea. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner spoke with Steger about dramatic changes he's seen in Arctic regions over the past several decades.

A proposal to tie up Medicaid funds to Minnesota could force tough budget choices.Gov. Tim Walz says the announced halt in Medicaid funding continues a campaign of retribution from the Trump administration.That story and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

When the world feels heavy, we look for small escapes.For some, that means tuning out the headlines to binge a new show or watch a must-see film.MPR News host Angela Davis talks with NPR's TV and media critic and a Twin Cities entertainment writer about what they're watching — and the hottest shows and movies right now.Guests:Eric Deggans is the TV critic, media analyst and guest host at National Public Radio.  He is also the Knight Professor of Journalism and Media Ethics at Washington and Lee University in Virginia. Lily Osler is an entertainment writer based in the Twin Cities. Her writing has been published in the New Yorker, Racket and Reactor. She is also the managing editor of Episodes, a newsletter and pop-culture blog. 

President Donald Trump took the national stage Tuesday night for his State of the Union address at a pivotal moment for his presidency and for his party.MPR News host Angela Davis talks about what the president said — and didn't say — with a historian, a political scientist and our listeners. Guests: Yohuru Williams is a distinguished university chair, professor of history and founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas.Whitney Court is a professor of political science and chair of political science at the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.    

Minnesota was a target in President Donald Trump's State of the Union speech Tuesday night. But he did not talk about the surge in federal immigration agents to the state. Instead, he focused on fraud. Trump said corruption is a problem in the U.S. and specifically called out Minnesota.MPR News reporter Matt Sepic joined Minnesota Now to break down what the President said.

A new filing from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security lays out a plan for the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents left in Minnesota to drop to about 400 after Wednesday. The numbers come after border czar Tom Homan's announcement of a drawdown earlier this month. Thousands of Minnesotans have taken part in demonstrations, mutual aid efforts and rapid response networks to support neighbors and fellow Minnesotans during the surge of federal agents. A broad coalition of groups across the Twin Cities looks to continue building on that momentum even in light of the drawdown announcement. Unidos MN organizer José Alvillar Hinojosa joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about a week of action the groups began Wednesday titled “Bring the Heat, Melt the ICE.”

Several parts of the state government are working to root out fraud from state programs. State lawmakers are considering legislation. And the Department of Human Services is reviewing payments to 14 Medicaid programs for possible fraud. It has delayed or suspended payments to some providers. Advocates for disability rights say people who rely on these programs are caught in the middle. At a senate human services committee meeting this week, several presenters described cases where people never received services that were paid for or abruptly lost services after payments were suspended. A group of legal experts will gather to talk about this issue Wednesday in a panel discussion at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. The event, titled “Disability Rights on Hold: How the fraud allegations and funding freezes are affecting the disability community,” is the opening to an exhibit about disability rights in Minnesota that will travel to three law schools this year. MPR News host Nina Moini talked with two of the panelists, disability lawyer Shamus O'Meara and University of St. Thomas law professor Elizabeth Schiltz, who is also one of the organizers of the panel and the traveling exhibit.

A University of Minnesota literature collection is celebrating more than 40 years of preserving African American heritage and culture. The Givens Collection contains more than 8,000 books, manuscripts, photos and personal papers. It recently wrapped up an exhibit to commemorate its beginnings. Curator Davu Underwood Seru joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the collection.

A whistleblower says Immigration and Customs Enforcement sent poorly trained cadets to Minnesota. Ryan Schwank was a lawyer for ICE who helped train cadets until he resigned eleven days ago. He says ICE has cut training hours by nearly half and removed all legal instruction about use of force. And Pine Island says Google is behind a massive data center project, and the big tech company is promising to bring in new jobs and tax revenue.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.