Podcasts about mpr news

Cannabis is going mainstream in Minnesota in ways that would have been hard to imagine just a few years ago. THC drinks are on store shelves. People talk about edibles and dispensaries as casually as they talk about coffee or craft breweries. For many young adults, cannabis has become part of everyday life — a way to unwind, manage stress or hang out with friends. Using it carries far less stigma than it once did and many people see it as safer than alcohol or tobacco. But even with growing acceptance, questions remain about how cannabis affects young adults, including their mental health, motivation, sleep, and focus. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert explores what research shows — and what we still don't know — about marijuana, health and young people. Guests:Heidi Glesmann is the substance use prevention, education, and recovery unit supervisor at the Minnesota Department of Health. She oversees the Be Cannabis Aware campaign, which is focused on educating youth under age 25, and the adults who support them, about cannabis use. Sylia Wilson is a researcher and associate professor at the Institute of Child Development in the College of Education and Development at the University of Minnesota. Her work looks at how substance use affects young people's health, behavior and development. 

Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives have returned to Washington D.C. to vote on a bill that will end the longest federal government shutdown in history. Congress has been in stalemate for nearly seven weeks, as neither party could reach an agreement on a spending bill. But in the Senate on Sunday night, seven Democratic and one Independent joined most Republicans to pass the bill. The House, where Republicans have a majority, will vote on the bill Wednesday night. U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, a Democrat, is the longest-serving member of Minnesota's congressional delegation. McCollum said she plans to vote against the bill.”The more Americans find out what's in it,” McCollum told MPR News, “it's not — which Republicans like to call it, a ‘clean CR' — they're going to be appalled.”She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the vote. MPR News reached out to Minnesota's Republican representatives in Congress for interviews, but did not receive a response by the time of this conversation.

A new poll from the national group Mayor's Innovation Project shows that female mayors face higher rates of harassment and violence than their male counterparts. Former Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges helped to develop and facilitate the survey. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about its findings.

Minnesotans love talking about Minnesota and don't miss a chance to put the state and the Midwest as a region on a pedestal. But if you ask people outside the Midwest, they may not even be able to point to Minnesota on a map. A new conference is dedicated to making sure the Midwest is not forgotten. The goal of the “Lost Region Recovery Project Conference” is to grow the study of the Midwest. The conference will take place Saturday in Sioux Falls, S.D. MPR News host Nina Moini talked with its organizer, Jon Lauck.

We have all been witnesses to moments in history. But there are people in every community who go a step further by working to shape what happens next. Minnesota Now's series, Out to Lunch, is a chance to get to know some of those influential neighbors. MPR News host Nina Moini recently met up with longtime activist T Williams at Soul Bowl, a restaurant inside the V3 Sports health and wellness center in north Minneapolis. He has lived in the neighborhood since moving to Minnesota in 1965. That year, he became director of the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center. After riots broke out on Plymouth Avenue in 1967, he helped set up the Minneapolis Urban Coalition, a group of corporate leaders, local politicians and community members created to work on poverty and racial inequality in the city. Now, Williams is sharing a record of his long career advocating for people of color in Minnesota. He wrote a book with co-author David Lawrence Grant. It's called “Rewind: Lessons from Fifty Years of Activism.”

Veterans and their families in Minnesota who are experiencing hunger will get food support from the state. And a Ramsey County judge won't let Minnesota keep a binary trigger ban in effect as a case challenging goes through appeals.Those stories and more in today's evening from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Layoffs are climbing across industries — from tech to retail to manufacturing. And Democrats won key races last week, campaigning on promises to make life more affordable.Are companies cutting costs because consumers are stretched thin? Or are different economic forces all hitting at the same time? MPR News guest host Catharine Richert takes a closer look at what's happening in the economy. Richert and her guests will dig into what's driving job cuts, why affordability continues to strike a chord with voters and what these trends could mean for the months ahead. Guests:Chris Farrell is the senior economics contributor for MPR News and Marketplace.Louis Johnston is a professor of economics at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University.

The Food and Drug Administration has removed their black box warning label from hormone-based drugs used to treat menopause symptoms. The warning has appeared on hormone therapy treatments for nearly two decades after a landmark study found the therapy could increase risks of cancer. But now, the FDA is changing course. Diane Feller is a certified nurse midwife and menopause practitioner at HealthPartners. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to explain how this decision will impact patients in Minnesota.

Minnesota law enforcement agencies are hiring an outside group to review the law enforcement response to the shooting deaths of state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and the shootings of state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette.The after-action report by the International Association of Chiefs of Police will look at the 43 hours between the first 911 call and the gunman's arrest.Robert Davis is a retired police chief and led the after-action review of the city of Minneapolis' response to the unrest following George Floyd's murder. Robert now leads his own consulting firm doing the same type of work. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to provide insight on the review.

The Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum is partnering with Lakeland PBS and Pioneer PBS to bring the Veterans Day Film Festival 2025 across the state Tuesday. Audiences in Mankato, Stillwater and Little Falls can see three films about three different Minnesota veteran experiences.Randal Dietrich is the executive director of the Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum in Little Falls. He called MPR News host Nina Moini from the official State of Minnesota Veterans Day Ceremony in Mankato to talk about the film festival.

An estimated 7 million adults in the U.S. live with bipolar disorder, a mental health condition that causes dramatics shifts in a person's mood. Scientists are still learning all the neurological complexities of the disorder.A University of Minnesota Medical research team was awarded $4.4 million for a first-in-the-world study of severe bipolar disorder. Dr. Ziad Nahas is the executive vice chair and professor in the university's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. He's also leading the study. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about his team's research on bipolar disorder.

Minneapolis teachers have reached a tentative agreement with the district, averting a strike that was scheduled to begin tomorrow. And GOP gubernatorial candidate Lisa Demuth is the first in the race to announce her running mate.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

In a storm that blew hurricane force winds on Nov. 10, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald — a massive ore carrier longer than two football fields — disappeared into the dark, frigid waters of Lake Superior. All 29 crew members were lost. Fifty years later, the sinking of the Fitzgerald remains one of the most haunting and mysterious maritime disasters in American history. MPR News guest host Dan Kraker talks with a Great Lakes historian about the ship's final, fateful voyage and why the tragedy holds meaning for many Minnesotans.Guest:Frederick Stonehouse is a Great Lakes historian, lecturer and the author of more than 30 books on maritime history, including “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.”

Monday marks 50 years since the Edmund Fitzgerald took its final voyage, before getting swallowed by Lake Superior in a November storm. All 29 crew on the ship died. MPR News was reporting on the story at the time. The day after the ship sank, MPR News reporter Claudia Hampston spoke to Erling Hanson. He was a boat engineer with experience sailing on Lake Superior. Here is Hanson's reaction to news of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975.

Monday marks 50 years since the Edmund Fitzgerald took its final voyage, before getting swallowed by Lake Superior in a November storm. All 29 crew on the ship died. The story of the Fitz has become an urban legend of sorts around the Great Lakes region. Exactly what led to the ship sinking is a mystery. A new book is dedicated to looking at the theories and telling the stories of the crew, through interviews with their family members. The book is called “The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” Its author, John U. Bacon, sat down for an interview with MPR News reporter Dan Kraker.

It was an eventful off-year election across the country. In Minnesota, St. Paul elected a new mayor, state Rep. Kaohly Her. It was in a surprise repudiation of the incumbent, Mayor Melvin Carter.  Across the river, Minneapolis voters gave their mayor, Jacob Frey, another term.  As the dust settles from the the 2025 election, momentum for the 2026 midterms is picking up. Minnesota will see an election as big as they come as voters will elect a governor, a new U.S. senator, key positions from the attorney general to the secretary of state, eight members of the U.S. House and the entire state Legislature — which is now as closely divided as ever. MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst and a pair of political analysts look back at this week's voting and look ahead to what's in store next year. Later in the hour, a Republican U.S. Senate candidate will make his case on why he's running and what he'll have to navigate to reach the fall ballot. Then, a recap on state politics where two political reporters make their politics panel debut. Guests: Chas Anderson is the co-CEO and senior principal at Park Street Public and a longtime Republican strategist. Todd Rapp is the president and CEO at Rapp Strategies and a veteran DFL strategist. Adam Schwarze is U.S. Marine veteran and former Navy SEAL seeking the Republican nomination for Minnesota's U.S. Senate seat. Peter Cox is a correspondent for MPR News.Michelle Griffith is a reporter for the Minnesota Reformer.Nathaniel Minor is a reporter for the Minnesota Star Tribune.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation or subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS. 

FDA restrict the sale of unapproved fluoride products; the AAP statement on leucovorin in ASD; at-home prenatal ultrasound; Kygevvi approved; Gazyva reduces SLE disease activity.

When we think about what happens to our body after we die, some of us may picture a heavy, polished casket or an urn of ashes left after cremation.But a growing number of people are choosing to return to the earth in more environmentally friendly ways.Some are choosing water-based cremation, which doesn't burn fossil fuels. Others are planning simpler death rituals that skip embalming, steel caskets and concrete burial vaults. Instead, the body is placed in the ground in a biodegradable basket or shroud and allowed to decompose as quickly and as naturally as possible. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with her guests about rising interest in these greener options and some of the questions and concerns that surround them. Guests: Angela Woosley has been a licensed mortician in Minnesota for 20 years. In 2020 she started her own funeral care business focused on natural death care, Inspired Journeys. She previously worked for a funeral home and taught in the Program of Mortuary Science at the University of Minnesota.   Taelor Johnson is the communications director for Interra Green Burial by Mueller Memorial in St. Paul and White Bear Lake. She's the third generation working in the family-run funeral home.  MPR News correspondent Dan Kraker is based in Duluth and covered efforts to establish a green cemetery in Carlton County, Minn.

For nearly four decades, MPR News reporter Dan Gunderson told stories that remind us how much meaning can be found in everyday life. He's covered floods and farming, faith and politics, the changing landscape of rural communities — and the people who live there.  But what's made Dan's work so memorable isn't just what he's covered. It's how he's covered it — with patience, curiosity, and a deep respect for the people he meets along the way. Now, after 38 years with MPR News, Dan is retiring. At an event in Moorhead in late October, MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talked with Gunderson about storytelling, some of the people he's met over the years and what he's discovered about Minnesota along the way. Guest:Dan Gunderson is a reporter based in Moorhead. He covers general news for a wide swath of western Minnesota and eastern North Dakota with a focus on the environment, agriculture and Indian Country. He has reported for MPR News since 1987. 2025 Dan Gunderson, longtime MPR journalist and master Minnesota storyteller, retires 2025 Minnesota minister rediscovers his faith among people in need 2025 In this west-central Minnesota town, fiddle jams draw players from ages 3 to 86 2025 Minnesota woman on a quest to preserve stories of disappearing towns 2025 ‘Loon lady' turns passion into action to protect Minnesota's iconic bird 2011 Researchers investigating movement of black bears into new habitats 2007 Moorhead orchestra students rock 2001 The land of the dancing tractors 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.

Menopause is an often overlooked stage of life, but experts believe its impact on women's lives deserves a lot more attention and research. A conference happening Thursday in Minneapolis is bringing together leaders, health care experts and advocates to bring midlife women's health to the forefront. The conference is being put on by the local organization, Let's Talk Women. Founder Katie Severt joined MPR News host Nina Moini to share more.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is one of many airports nationwide that has been forced to cancel flights starting Friday due to staff shortages amidst the government shutdown. We hear how upcoming travel plans may be impacted. Women go through a big physical and mental change in midlife, but experts think that menopause is not talked about nearly enough. MPR News reporter Dan Gunderson is retiring after nearly 40 years of storytelling out of Moorhead. We look back at his illustrious career.Many Minnesotans are trying to dodge the glum mood that often comes with darker days in the winter. We get some tips.Plus, books published in Hmong are relatively rare. We talk to someone who's changing that.The Minnesota Music Minute was “Push and Pull” by Jaedyn James. The Song of the Day was “Spandrel” by Jacob Pavek.

Starting Friday, airlines will cancel flights at busy airports across the country, including the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration directed airlines to cut traffic by 10 percent to keep travelers safe during the government shutdown. Air traffic controllers have been working without pay since October 1 and that has exacerbated staffing problems. The shutdown is now the longest in United States history. Gunnar Olson, a reporter and podcast host with Thrifty Traveler joined MPR News host Nina Moini with advice for passengers.

MPR News reporter Dan Gunderson retires on Friday. He spent decades reporting Native American stories in the Fargo-Moorhead region.Dan has highlighted many community members from the White Earth Nation, including artists, tribal leaders and those working on land return efforts. He was at Standing Rock, reporting from the camp during the 2016 pipeline standoff in North Dakota. He also covered many other stories including boarding school history, wild rice harvests and cultural reclamation.Native News editor Leah Lemm spoke with Dan Gunderson about his reporting on tribal nations as a non-Native journalist.

Books written or translated into Hmong are relatively rare. It's estimated there are no more than 1,000 different book titles in Hmong. A new initiative called the Untamed Roots Collective is trying to change that in an effort to sustain and revitalize the language.This weekend, Untamed Roots Collective is launching self-published books in Hmong from more than a dozen authors. Kha Yang Xiong is an author and leader of the project. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to share more.

Health insurance is about to get more expensive for a lot of people — in Minnesota and across the country. Many older Minnesotans are scrambling to find new insurance plans after some insurers stopped offering or scaled back Medicare Advantage plans. People who buy their own insurance will see premiums jump next year as much as 26 percent on the individual market. Workers who get insurance through their employers are also looking at higher premiums. And the federal tax and spending bill signed by President Donald Trump this summer is expected to push as many as 140,000 low-income Minnesotans off Medicaid.  MPR News guest host Catharine Richert looks at how the rising costs of medical care along with changes in state and federal policies are reshaping health care in Minnesota. If you're looking for more information, here are some resources that were mentioned during the showContact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICAREMinnesota Aging Pathways (formerly known as the Senior LinkAge line) at 800-333-2433Guests:Sayeh Nikpay is a health economist and an associate professor in the Division of Health Policy and Management at the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health. Kelli Jo Greiner is a health care policy analyst for the Minnesota Board on Aging and the Minnesota Department of Human Services. 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.     

Voters in Duluth overwhelmingly passed a ballot initiative last night dubbed “Right to Repair.” It's a first-of-its-kind law in Minnesota that allows tenants to make simple repairs to their rental units and then deduct the cost of those repairs from their rent payment. The initiative was extremely popular. It won with 69 percent of the votes. MPR News host Nina Moini talked with Chloe Holloway, one of the leaders of the campaign with the organizing group Duluth Tenants.

The state of Minnesota has an office dedicated specifically to get movies made in the state. The Explore Minnesota Film office launched last year. Its staff are scouting locations across the state to help filmmakers bring their movies to life.Explore Minnesota Film Deputy Director Nell Lawrenz-Wareham joined MPR News host Nina Moini to share more about the effort.

Today is Election Day. There are races for mayor, city council and school board in communities around the state, as well as ballot questions.A report released today flags issues related to internal controls in the governor's office. And Austin-based Hormel Foods Corporation announced it would cut around 250 jobs as part of a restructuring. Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

President Donald Trump's mobilization of the National Guard in a few U.S. cities in recent months has reignited debate about when — and whether — federal troops should be used on U.S. soil. Does a president have the authority to deploy state National Guard units against a governor's objection? If so, what does that mean for the balance of power between civilian and military authority?MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with a political scientist who studies civil–military relations and a law professor who studies national security to help us understand what's at stake — legally, politically, and for the U.S. tradition of keeping the military out of domestic affairs.   Guests:Laura Dickinson is a professor of national security law and constitutional law at the George Washington University Law School. She is also the author of “Outsourcing War and Peace.”Ron Krebs is a Distinguished McKnight University Professor and professor of political science at the University of Minnesota where he studies civil-military relations and security policy. He is also the author of “Narrative and the Making of US National Security” and “Fighting for Rights: Military Service and the Politics of Citizenship.” 

Tuesday is Election Day and polls are open until 8 p.m. across the state. On the ballot, there are a number of municipal races and referendums. Voters in a pair of Minnesota Senate districts have the potential to change party control of a closely divided chamber. Perhaps the most closely watched races are for mayor in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Incumbent mayors Jacob Frey of Minneapolis and Melvin Carter of St. Paul are both seeking a third term in office. MPR News reporters Regina Medina and Sarah Thamer were at the polls Tuesday morning and joined MPR News host Nina Moini to share what they were hearing from voters.

The rise of sports betting has made it easier to gamble using the phone in your pocket. That's true even in states like Minnesota, where sports betting is illegal. The situation has some researchers and advocates concerned that more young adults could fall into gambling addiction or debt.  Those concerns are the topic of a conference in the Twin Cities this Friday, hosted by the Minnesota Alliance on Problem Gambling. Susan Sheridan Tucker is the group's executive director and Michelle Malkin is an assistant professor from East Carolina University who created tools to help students and counselors recognize when gambling becomes too risky. They joined MPR News host Nina Moini to share more about the impact of sports betting in Minnesota.   

On Friday, the state of Minnesota ended its housing stabilization services program, which was intended to help people with disabilities find and maintain housing using federal Medicaid dollars.  In August, the Minnesota Department of Human Services announced the state would be ending the housing stabilization program after finding credible allegations of fraud.  Then in September, the Department of Justice charged eight people for their roles in what prosecutors describe as a “massive fraud scheme” tied to the program.  Now the program is entirely shut down. In Sherburne County, in central Minnesota, that means nearly 200 residents who were receiving services through the housing stabilization services program no longer have access to those resources. What happens to those residents now? Tony Masters, Sherburne County's Adult and Disability Services manager, joined MPR News host Nina Moini to share how residents have been impacted by the end of the program.

Tomorrow is Election Day for many communities across Minnesota. Most polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Minnesota offers same-day registration, as long as you have proof of residence. Open enrollment for state health care plans started Saturday, and many Minnesotans are seeing steeper prices for coverage next year.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

House Speaker Lisa Demuth is running for governor. In an interview with MPR News ahead of the announcement, the Cold Spring Republican described herself as being best positioned among a crowded Republican field to take on DFL Gov. Tim Walz, who is seeking a third term.Demuth climbed to the role of speaker earlier this year under a power-sharing deal in the tied House. Six other Republicans are in the governor's race so far. Demuth's entrance into the race is drawing sharp reaction in both political parties.Tuesday is Election Day, but voter turnout is expected to be low. For presidential elections, Minnesota typically ranks as No. 1 in voter turnout. But for local elections — even with this year's high-profile mayoral races in Minneapolis and St. Paul — fewer people will cast ballots. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon says it's important to vote in local elections because they tend to have a more-direct impact on people's lives.As the federal shutdown continues to jeopardize food assistance programs, local nonprofits are stepping in to help low-income Minnesotans. The Greater Twin Cities United Way has launched an emergency food relief campaign. And it is asking Minnesotans to donate or volunteer.The number of grey wolves around Voyageurs National Park has dropped significantly over the past two years, according to a new report by researchers with the Voyageurs Wolf Project.

Traditionally, a college degree has been seen as a ticket to a secure future.But not today. Thanks to soaring tuition costs and weighty student loans, many people are questioning the value of college. A 2025 Pew Research poll found that only one in four U.S. adults says it's “extremely or very important to have a four-year college degree” to get a well-paying job. And many young Americans — including Black, Latino and Indigenous students — contend they can build solid careers without seeking further education. In a 2025 survey by New America, a majority of young Americans agreed “there are lots of well-paying, stable jobs that people can find with only a high school diploma or GED.”So is college still worth it — especially when it comes to low-income or first-generation students? Is college still worth it? MPR News' North Star Journey Live project teamed up with Sahan Journal Community Conversations in October to host a panel discussing the pros and cons of higher education. They also discussed other burgeoning post-secondary options, like trade schools, apprenticeships and becoming an entrepreneur. Guests: Frida Torres Macal is the founder of That Social Invite, an independent social media marketer focused on helping women-owned businesses and professionals grow.Marquan Harper is a sophomore at the University of St. Thomas, where he is double majoring in Digital Media Arts and Marketing Management. He's also the founder of Ador Hospitality, a Midwest-based hospitality group dedicated to enhancing the nightlife experience for young adults aged 18-24. Jalayah Johnson is enrolled at the Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest as a second-year glazer apprentice for the Empire House.Ali Osman is a high school counselor at South High School in Minneapolis. Jessica Yang is the senior implementation manager at the Get Ready GEAR UP Minnesota program administered through the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS. 

Traditionally, a college degree has been seen as a ticket to a secure future.But not today. Thanks to soaring tuition costs and weighty student loans, many people are questioning the value of college. A 2025 Pew Research poll found that only one in four U.S. adults says it's “extremely or very important to have a four-year college degree” to get a well-paying job. And many young Americans — including Black, Latino and Indigenous students — contend they can build solid careers without seeking further education. In a 2025 survey by New America, a majority of young Americans agreed “there are lots of well-paying, stable jobs that people can find with only a high school diploma or GED.”So is college still worth it — especially when it comes to low-income or first-generation students? Is college still worth it? MPR News' North Star Journey Live project teamed up with Sahan Journal Community Conversations in October to host a panel discussing the pros and cons of higher education. They also discussed other burgeoning post-secondary options, like trade schools, apprenticeships and becoming an entrepreneur. Guests: Frida Torres Macal is the founder of That Social Invite, an independent social media marketer focused on helping women-owned businesses and professionals grow.Marquan Harper is a sophomore at the University of St. Thomas, where he is double majoring in Digital Media Arts and Marketing Management. He's also the founder of Ador Hospitality, a Midwest-based hospitality group dedicated to enhancing the nightlife experience for young adults aged 18-24. Jalayah Johnson is enrolled at the Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest as a second-year glazer apprentice for the Empire House.Ali Osman is a high school counselor at South High School in Minneapolis. Jessica Yang is the senior implementation manager at the Get Ready GEAR UP Minnesota program administered through the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS. 

One year from Monday, Minnesota voters will choose a governor. Over the weekend, House Speaker Lisa Demuth declared her candidacy, which is a jolt to the Republican field. She held her first event as a candidate Monday. MPR News politics correspondent Dana Ferguson was there and joined Minnesota Now to talk about Demuth's campaign and the landscape of the governor's race.

Many Medicaid service providers have been scrambling this week to understand how a new Minnesota audit will play out. And China has agreed to buy soybeans from the United States again, ending its boycott of the American crop.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

For centuries, witches have cast their spell on our imaginations and enchanted our stories. Throughout folklore and pop culture, some pointed-hat witches have established their unforgettable characters, both evil and good, from the Wicked Witch of the West, in the 1939 “Wizard of Oz” film, and Hermione Granger in the “Harry Potter” series. So, why are witches so popular? And why can't pop culture seem to get enough? Coming up Friday at 9 a.m., MPR News host Jacob Aloi, reporter Alex V. Cipolle and editor Max Sparber spend an hour exploring witches across history and culture. With their guests, the MPR News arts team will talk about the witches in one of Shakespeare's best-known plays, as well as witches in TV, film, music and books.

Voters in Minneapolis are electing a mayor this fall, and it's a crowded race with 15 names on the ballot. Four of the leading candidates for Minneapolis mayor address key issues and how they intend to lead their city in a MPR News/Minnesota Star Tribune debate. The candidates were selected because they've been the most active in their contacts with voters and in putting resources into the race.Incumbent Jacob Frey, state Sen. Omar Fateh, business owner and attorney Jazz Hampton and minister DeWayne Davis address public safety, property taxes, minimum wage and downtown development. MPR News senior editor Brandt Williams and The Minnesota Star Tribune's metro columnist Eric Roper moderated the Minneapolis mayoral candidate debate from the UBS Forum in downtown St. Paul. MPR News/Star Tribune debate Minneapolis mayor candidates differ over policing, minimum wage at This event was recorded on Oct. 27. Watch the video stream of the debate on the MPR News YouTube channel.Guests:Jacob Frey is the two-term incumbent mayor for the city of Minneapolis. Omar Fateh is a DFL state senator serving Minneapolis. Jazz Hampton is a business owner and attorney in Minneapolis. DeWayne Davis is the lead minister of the Plymouth Congregational Church of Minneapolis. Use the audio player above to listen to the full debate or subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS. 

Some Minnesota disability service providers are concerned about the state's plan to pause payments during an audit of Medicaid program billings.And a closely watched case involving a Minnesota gun law won't get sped up to the state's top court.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

The fall harvest is wrapping up across Minnesota. But will farmers turn a profit? Following a meeting Thursday between President Trump and China's president Xi Jinping, there is hope that China will resume buying at least some soybeans and other export crops from the U.S. But Minnesota farmers are still suffering from the fallout of the trade war. They're also grappling with inflation, tighter credit and increasingly unpredictable weather. And, the federal government shutdown has slowed access to farm loans, crop insurance, disaster aid and other programs. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with a farmer and Minnesota's agricultural commissioner about these challenges and what's next.

A first-in-the-nation program is pairing Democratic and Republican state lawmakers together to visit each other's districts. Sponsored by the Citizens League, the program pairs lawmakers who seemingly have nothing in common in order to promote civility in politics. Rochester bureau reporter Catharine Richert attended one of these swaps for MPR News Talking Sense project, a series which helps people have hard conversations better, by telling stories of people who are bridging divides. She shared more about the story as part of a weekly regional check in with MPR News reporters covering Greater Minnesota.

On Halloween, it is said the veil between the spirit world and the living world is at its thinnest. And spirits come alive. In Minnesota, there are plenty of haunts where ghosts are said to be lurking. A local podcast is dedicated to exploring Minnesota's haunts and horrors year-round. Its hosts, Madeline Ramirez and Dan Laschansky, joined MPR News host Nina Moini to share more about “The Grim Cities” podcast.

Fourteen Medicaid programs that provide support for Minnesotans with disabilities are being audited for fraud. We talk to a care provider about the impact this may have on people who rely on these services. Election day is coming up. We hear from the mayoral candidates in Minneapolis and St. Paul who took the debate stage at MPR News. We peak inside the notebook of MPR's Rochester reporter to see how she told the story of people bridging political divides.And we get an update from a northeast Minneapolis co-op that was upturned by vandalism.Plus, are you ready for Halloween? A local podcast is looking into Minnesota's most haunted places.The Minnesota Music Minute was “Try to Sleep” by Low. The Song of the Day was “I Put a Spell on You” by Annie Lennox.

The state of Minnesota is hiring a third-party auditor to look for fraud in 14 Medicaid programs. These programs are intended to provide housing and care for people with disabilities and severe mental illnesses. Gov. Tim Walz announced Wednesday the state will temporarily stop paying providers of these services while the auditor, Optum, analyzes billing. A statement from the governor's office said this pause will last 90 days, but's not clear when it will begin. Josh Berg is director of Minnesota services and strategic growth for nonprofit Accessible Space, Inc. He's also on the board of directors of Association of Residential Resources in Minnesota, which lobbies on behalf of disability service providers. He spoke to MPR News host Nina Moini about how this pause could impact how providers can care for people with disabilities and severe mental health illnesses.

Gov. Tim Walz says his administration has hired a third-party entity to audit Medicaid programs to make sure money is being spent as intended. And TSA workers are continuing to work without pay during the government shutdown. Oct. 24 marked TSA's first pay period without a check.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Sex education in schools tends to focus on how to avoid unplanned pregnancy — but that means a lot of Americans don't learn much about fertility. One of the most common misunderstandings relates to age. A woman's fertility declines as she ages, but many people underestimate just how much harder it can be to get pregnant in their 30s and 40s. And, most people also think fertility treatments are more likely to be successful than they are.  MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with two doctors about what affects the likelihood of getting pregnant and the things people wished they'd known before trying to have a baby.Guests: Dr. Suzanne Darnell practices obstetrics and gynecology at M Health Fairview. She's also an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School.   Dr. Tana Kim is a reproductive endocrinologist and the IVF director at Reproductive Medicine & Infertility Associates (RMIA) in the Twin Cities. She is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology as well as reproductive endocrinology and infertility.  

Eight hundred Target employees who worked at the company's headquarters in Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park are in search of new jobs after the Twin Cities-based retailer announced layoffs Tuesday. On Wednesday, Cargill announced it is laying off 80 employees from its headquarters in Wayzata. The company cut 5 percent of its global workforce at the end of last year.Laid-off workers will now enter a job market that's frozen, and employers are hiring more cautiously amidst nationwide economic uncertainty.To learn more about the state of the job market in Minnesota and what it means for newly unemployed workers, MPR News host Nina Moini talked with Beth Glassman. Glassman is a senior employment counselor with Hired, a nonprofit that provides workforce development and employment services in the Twin Cities.

The government shutdown has lasted nearly a month now and there's no indication that Congress is any closer to resolving the budget conflicts before funding ends for several key programs on Nov. 1. Minnesota is home to 18,000 federal workers, many of whom have been told to stay home and not work, or work without pay. This week was the first where many didn't receive a paycheck. Abby, a federal worker in Minnesota, felt the impact Monday when she went to the pharmacy to pick up prescriptions. “I double checked my bank account to make sure I had enough to cover it. It was tough, and I knew I had to buy a bunch of other things as well,” she said. MPR News is not sharing Abby's last name, or the agency she works for, because she fears workplace retaliation. To understand the conversations federal workers are having around the dinner table as uncertainty grows, MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with with Ruark Hotopp. He is the national vice president of the American Federation of Government Employees District 8, a union that represents federal workers in Minnesota and other Midwest states.