Podcasts about mpr news

The man accused of killing former DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark is facing new state charges of first-degree premeditated murder. And the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board announced today it will reduce the historic Hiawatha Golf Course from 18 to nine holes. The course, which has ties to the Twin Cities Black Community, has experienced major flooding over its century long history.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

When we think about what makes a strong community, it often comes down to one thing — people showing up for each other. Across Minnesota, thousands of volunteers are showing up every day — to stock food shelves, tutor students, plant community gardens, organize donation drives and more.And the way we serve is changing.Today, it's easier than ever to sign up for one-time events, find projects that line up with your skills or passions and even volunteer virtually from your computer.  MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about why volunteering matters, how it strengthens communities and how you can find opportunities that fit your interests and schedule. Guests: Niila Herbert is the executive director of the Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement.Melissa Wilson is the senior director of engagement at Greater Twin Cities United Way. She leads the United Way's Volunteer United program, which promotes volunteer opportunities and events.  

As the state's first nontribal cannabis businesses are preparing to open, Governor Walz appointed an official director of the Office of Cannabis Management. Eric Taubel joins Minnesota Now to talk about the issues he's confronting.We head to the factory floor of a speaker company with an executive who says federal tariffs that are meant to help them are making it harder to keep their business in the U.S.Plus, a common practice of barricading lakeshores with large rocks comes with an environmental cost. MPR News correspondent Kirsti Marohn explains.Can you believe the start of school is right around the corner? We get tips on how be thrifty with school supplies.And the USA Wheelchair Softball World Series is in full swing.

Business owners have been on a rollercoaster this year from tariff battles between President Donald Trump and leaders of China, Canada, Mexico and other countries. Some businesses are pushing back against the tariffs that are meant to help them, including one here in Minnesota. Dan Digre is the CEO of MISCO Speakers, which has been making loudspeakers in the Twin Cities for 75 years. They sell their speakers to customers who make everything from airplanes to video games to fast food drive-throughs. MPR News senior economics contributor Chris Farrell met Digre at the MISCO Speakers headquarters in St. Paul.

Have you ever noticed how many lake homes have large rocks lining their shorelines? Those layers of rocks, known as riprap, are often meant to fight erosion and keep soil from crumbling into the lake due to waves or high water. But rock riprap brings a whole raft of other problems with it.Kirsti Marohn has been reporting extensively on the subject and joined Minnesota Now to share what she's learned as a part of a check-in with MPR News reporters in Greater Minnesota.

The smoky summer of 2025 has produced a near record number of air quality alerts for Minnesota. Most of this summer smoke has drifted in from these massive Canadian wildfires where more than 16 million acres of forest has burned in Canada this year.MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner talked with Matthew Taraldsen, a meteorologist with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), about poor air quality and reason behind the state's smoke-filled summers.The following has been lightly edited for clarity. Listen to the full conversation by clicking the player button above or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast. First, some good news. The smoke has drifted away, and there's the possibility of rain in some Canadian wildfire zones. Can that possibly limit our smoke over the next week or two? Yes, it definitely can. The areas that have been on fire have also been extremely dry, and so it likely isn't enough to put out the fires, but it will definitely kind of dampen down the fire activity and limit the amount of smoke that the fires do emit. This has been quite a summer when it comes to air quality alerts. How close is the state to hitting record? We've had 19 alerts this year so far. Our current record is 53, so we're not quite to record, but we're above record pace. We're higher than we were at 2023 at this point in the season. No matter how you cut it, it's a very high-impact wildfire season. Most of our smoke this year is coming from Canada. That was also the case in 2023 when over 45 million acres burned in that country. What can we say about wildfire trends in the U.S. and Canada, and smoke in Minnesota, in the past few decades? The short answers is, it's definitely on the rise. There's been plenty of research out there in the western U.S. that the wildfire trends are growing as our climate warms. In Canada, the data until last year was a little bit more ambiguous. But there's definitely a signal that what we're seeing is likely being influenced with climate change.I think what what we're seeing this year is likely still going to be an outlier. But I do think going forward, we're likely to see at least some smoke impacts every year. We've also been having volatile, organic compounds inside the smoke that have also been serving as a pretty powerful base for ozone formation and seeing higher ozone days in ways we haven't seen before. It's kind of a one-two-punch. We hear a lot about climate change and wildfires versus forest management and fire suppression. How do you extinguish fire in 1.2 billion acres of boreal forest in remote areas with few roads?You don't, is the short answer. In Minnesota, we think of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area as being remote, and it is to an extent. But Canada takes it to a whole new level.Canada has remote areas the size of the state of Texas and when you get a fire that starts there, there is no easy way to put that fire out, unless you air drop in firefighters who will then hand dig fire lines. This year, you have fires that are burning roughly the size of the state of South Carolina — think of how long it would take to hand carve fire lines around an entire U.S. state. On the other side, when those people are out, far away from civilization, if something were to happen more locally, they're no longer on the field and you have to bring them back. So they're letting them burn just because they don't have the manpower to extinguish them all. It's a multifaceted problem, but I think people lose sight of just how incredibly large this area is with no roads, no water lines, nothing out there. Your tools to control those fires are very limited. I know you're in the air quality business and not in politics, but people are complaining about forest management, both the build up of fuels by suppressing fires and the let-it-burn approach. Now people are blaming Canada for not putting out fires. So what is it?The other point is that this is not just impacting the U.S. In Flin Flon, Manitoba, the air quality last month was over 500 for the entire month. So this is impacting people in Canada as much as it's impacting people the United States, and no one's happy with it. What's your overall message to Minnesotans about our summer air quality and climate change going forward? I think the big thing to take away is to be vigilant. We've heard from a lot of people that checking the air quality has really become of part of their daily routine — just like you would check the normal weather forecast.That's probably the most prudent thing. Check the air quality, have a plan to deal with smoke, wear a mask. It will protect you. Be prepared if you are outside in the smoke, and listen to your body.

The City of St. Paul has a new council member. Molly Coleman will represent Ward 4, which includes all or parts of five neighborhoods in the northwest part of the city. Coleman is filling the vacancy created by former St. Paul City Council president Mitra Jalali's resignation in January. She is the co-founder of an advocacy group, a graduate of Harvard Law School and the latest in her family to secure an elected position. She joins MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about her plans for office.

Wednesday morning, hundreds of business and civic leaders gathered at an event called “Compete 25” to talk about the state of the Minneapolis and St. Paul economy. The group Greater MSP unveiled the MSP Regional Indicators Dashboard, which looks at economic, social and environmental benchmarks and compares it to other metropolitan cities to see how the Twin Cities stacks up. Some of those other cities include Chicago, Boston and Seattle. Greater MSP president and CEO Peter Frosch joins MPR News host Nina Moini to share where the Minneapolis-St. Paul economy stands.

A statewide air quality alert has ended, but the northern part of the state is still being impacted by smoke from Canadian wildfires Wednesday. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner joins Minnesota Now host Nina Moini with the latest on the most recent bout of poor air quality and a preliminary state fair forecast.

The McKnight Foundation has named its Distinguished Artist of 2025, one of the largest and most prestigious awards in the state. The recipient is Carolyn Holbrook, an author and arts advocate who has founded three arts organizations over the years, all designed to create space for writers and amplify the voices of writers of color. MPR News' Emily Bright spoke with Holbrook.

The Minnesota Twins are not for sale after all. The Pohlad family announced Wednesday they will keep their majority ownership of the team. The Pohlads have been searching for months for a buyer after revealing their plans to sell last October. The family has owned the team since 1984. Twins Executive Chair Joe Pohlad spoke for the family in a written statement issued Wednesday morning. He said, “This ownership group is committed to building a winning team and culture for this region, one that Twins fans are proud to cheer for.” Minnesota Now sports contributor Wally Langfellow joins MPR News host Nina Moini to help explain the reversal.

From TikTok trends to Hollywood mergers, the media world is evolving fast. Most Americans — 83 percent of U.S. adults — use streaming services, according to the Pew Research Center.Social media is competing with traditional outlets for our attention and trust.  And mergers are reshaping who creates, distributes and profits from the content we watch, read and listen to.  MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a media analyst and a pop culture critic about how technology, business and culture are transforming the media landscape and what it means.Guests:Eric Deggans is TV critic, media analyst and guest host at National Public Radio. Next month, he begins teaching as the Knight Professor of Journalism and Media Ethics at Washington and Lee University in Virginia. His book on how media outlets use racial issues to draw audiences is “Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation.”Neal Justin is the pop culture critic for the Minnesota Star Tribune. He is also an adjunct instructor at the University of St. Thomas. 

MPR News is following the story of a nursing mother who is in ICE detention, even though a judge approved her bond. We got the latest on Tuesday's hearing in her case.Hennepin County commissioners voted Tuesday on whether to dissolve the board of the county hospital, which is in financial trouble. Times are tough for Target. The company's sales and stocks are down as it looks for a new CEO. We got the details from a Twin Cities Business reporter. Across the country, items that are important to tribal nations get sold at auction. A St. Paul auction house is working with the Association on American Indian Affairs to return those items to tribes.We talked with the author of a personal finance guide for Muslim women.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “by my side” by SoulFlower and our Song of the Day was “Fabric” by Rogue Valley.

Minnesota-based company Target has been in the headlines in 2025. Target's sales have missed expectations, its stock has tumbled, and some customers boycotted the company after it announced it would cease its company DEI efforts. Amid the challenges its facing, the company is getting ready to choose a new CEO.Associate editor of Twin Cities Business Erik Tormoen wrote about the state of the company in a story headlined “Off the Mark: What's Gone Wrong With Target?” It looks at metrics and morale inside the retail giant. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to explain.

A federal judge in St. Paul is set to hear the case of a 25-year-old Salvadoran mother who has been in ICE detention for more than two weeks. Antonia Aguilar Maldonado, who lives in Lake Elmo with her husband and two U.S. citizen children, was detained by Homeland Security agents in July while heading to work. An immigration judge granted her release on a $10,000 bond, but ICE blocked it using a policy aimed at restricting bond for individuals who entered the U.S. without inspection. Her attorneys argue the policy shouldn't apply to her, given her age at entry and full compliance with immigration proceedings.MPR News senior reporter Sarah Thamer has been following the story and joined MPR News host Nina Moini with the latest on the case.Read more: Minnesota mother remains in ICE custody despite judge's release order

Since 2018, the Association on American Indian Affairs, based in Washington, D.C., has tracked potentially sensitive Native items sold at auctions around the world. Many of these items hold spiritual or cultural significance for tribes across the United States.The organization has found an ally in Revere Auctions, a St. Paul-based auction house believed to be the only one in the country with a formal process for repatriating Native American items. The process provides a pathway for returning items of spiritual importance to tribal governments.Shannon O'Loughlin, a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the CEO and attorney for the Association on American Indian Affairs, and Sean Blanchet, co-founder of Revere Auctions, joined MPR News host Nina Moini to discuss this work.

A new book is helping Muslim women take control of their personal finances while adhering to their values. It's called “Prosperity with Purpose: A Muslim Woman's Guide to Abundance and Generosity.” Its author is Nausheena Hussain, a Minnesota nonprofit leader and consultant. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about coming from a philanthropic legacy, economic empowerment among Muslim women and investing.

If you've been on the fence about whether to get an electric vehicle, now might be a good time to buy or lease one. A federal tax credit that lowers the cost of EVs is set to expire at the end of September — much earlier than planned. The change is part of President Donald Trump's major tax and spending bill, which eliminated several incentives for electric vehicles. EVs have come a long way in the last few years. They made up nearly 8 percent of new cars sold last year in Minnesota and more than 100 electric vehicle models are now for sale in the U.S. (A side-by-side comparison of models can be found here.) MPR News host Angela Davis talks with her guests about how public funding changes could affect the shift to electric, if now is a good time to swap the pump for a plug, and how far you can really go on a charge. Guests: Jukka Kukkonen is the founder of Shift2Electric, a Minnesota-based electric vehicle consulting and training company. He's also an instructor at the University of St. Thomas where he teaches courses about the EV market and technologies.  Katelyn Bocklund is the facilitator of Drive Electric Minnesota, a coalition that works to make electric vehicles more mainstream and easier to use in Minnesota. She's also a senior program manager of transportation at the nonprofit policy organization Great Plains Institute.   

The man charged with killing the top Democrat in the Minnesota House and her husband, and wounding a state senator and his wife, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in federal court Thursday. The plea during the brief hearing in federal court in Minneapolis was expected; an attorney for Vance Boelter had said last month that he planned to plead not guilty.An MPR News investigation has found that several Minneapolis police trainers were accused of using excessive force in civil lawsuits the city settled before they received their current assignments.A Minnesota state senator says he'll move to regulate so-called ghost guns next year following a court ruling that altered the landscape on the firearms.This is an MPR News Evening update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music is by Gary Meister.  Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS. 

Youth sports can't happen without coaches and officials. But some are hanging up their whistles — not because of the players, but because of the parents. The sidelines have become a source of frequent criticism, confrontations and stress — driving some coaches and officials to walk away from the game entirely. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with two coaches about how they set expectations for parents, players, and fellow coaches — and what it takes to cool down when behavior off the field gets too heated. Guests:Hisham Sorour is the director of coaching and player development for Mankato United Soccer Club, which has teams for players who are 5 to 18 years old.Russ Turner is the director of The Training Institute at People Incorporated Mental Health Services. He is the head coach for boys' soccer at Cretin Durham-Hall High School, and a boys and girls coach at St. Paul Blackhawks Soccer Club.   A caller recommended the book, “My Mom Thinks She's My Volleyball Coach… But She's Not!” by Julia Cook.

A new MPR News investigation has found that several Minneapolis police trainers were accused of using excessive force in civil lawsuits the city settled before they received their current assignments.Police officials say the officers are well qualified and say it's not fair to judge the officers' fitness for the job based on lawsuits or complaints.Reporter Cari Spencer broke this story and joined Minnesota Now to talk about the latest.

Summer in Minnesota means an abundance of fresh, local produce. There are endless reasons to take advantage of it - it's healthy, it supports the local economy and it's delicious. MPR News producer Ellen Finn wants to dive in to everything the state's farms have to offer. but she's been struggling with food waste. So she reached out for some support from Jenny Breen, a chef and educator at the University of Minnesota. Our ask: Help me learn to cook with seasonal produce.Our professional: Jenny Breen, a chef and educator at the University of Minnesota.

Chances are, you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with ADHD. About one in 10 kids live with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and among 14-year-old boys, that number jumps to nearly one in five.The commonly prescribed medications can make a big difference in behavior and self-esteem, but they don't always lead to better learning or performance in school.So, what are we getting right — and wrong — about ADHD? MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with a journalist and a pediatrician about how researchers and clinicians are changing how they think about and treat ADHD.  And we want to hear from you, too. Does your child have a diagnosis of ADHD or were you diagnosed when you were young? What is your experience with stimulant medications? What else helps you manage symptoms?

A Minnesota couple with a wildly popular social media following is out with a new book about relationships — specifically, relationships like theirs where one person has a disability and the other person does not.You may know Shane and Hannah Burcaw from their YouTube channel called Squirmy and Grubs, which has 1.85 million subscribers. They wrote the book “Interabled,” about how they and other couples see each other and navigate the world. Hannah and Shane join MPR News producer Ellen Finn to talk about it.

You have probably heard of Jack Link's, the world's largest manufacturer of meat snacks. Its beef jerky and beef sticks are popular gas station snacks, and Jack Link's also sells its products to school districts for school lunches. The company has dual headquarters in Minneapolis and northwestern Wisconsin. What you may not know is that the owners of the company spent millions on Donald Trump's presidential campaign, a move that has given them access to the White House. But now, Jack Link's and the processed meat industry are caught between conflicting ideologies in the Trump administration over the future of food policy. Reporter John McCracken has been looking into Jack Link's lobbying efforts for Investigate Midwest. He joins Minnesota Now guest host Chris Farrell to talk about the story. MPR News also reached out to Jack Link's for comment, but did not receive a response before the broadcast.

The city of North St. Paul is trying to determine whether any private data was compromised after someone in its police department clicked on a nefarious email about a week ago. The city decided to bring in outside cybersecurity experts to look into the incident, as the city of St. Paul investigates its own cybersecurity breach detected last month. Authorities in Minneapolis are asking for the public's help in locating a 12-year-old girl who's been missing since Saturday.The children of the late Minnesota House DFL leader Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, will be joining MPR News sister station The Current Wednesday morning. The segment is about their parents' love of music.This is an MPR News Evening update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music is by Gary Meister.  Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS. 

This fall, a new wave of kindergarteners enters the classroom — most born in the early days of the pandemic. MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about the challenges they may face and how schools and parents can help them thrive.  Guests: Lauren Girard has been a kindergarten teacher for 15 years. She teaches at Overland Elementary School in Rochester, Minn. She is also the parent of a child born during the early months of the pandemic.Lelandra Ross is a lead specialist in early childhood education at Bruce Vento Elementary School in St. Paul, Minn. She works with staff and parents to support early childhood family education, early childhood special education, three-year-old Head Start and pre-kindergarten programming. She has also been a pre-K teacher.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.     

This weekend, monks and other visitors from all over the world will gather near the small town of Hampton just south of the Twin Cities. It's home to the Watt Munisotaram, which is the largest Cambodian Buddhist temple in the United States. In a new photo essay, Sahan Journal multimedia journalist Dymanh Chhoun shares scenes from the construction of a large, ornate gate at the temple's entrance. The Great Gate is almost complete after years of fundraising and construction. He joined MPR News guest host Chris Farrell in the studio to talk about it.

Tuesday kicks off an annual gathering of farmers from across Minnesota. It's Farmfest, which will take place in Morgan in the southwest part of the state. It will include hundreds of exhibitors, vendors and forums.  Zach Johnson is a sixth-generation farmer in west central Minnesota and is known to his 1 million YouTube followers as the Millennial Farmer. He joined MPR News guest host Chris Farrell to talk about what Farmfest is all about.

A new academic year begins at the end of August. Minnesota college freshmen headed to one Iowa school will be able to pay in-state tuition. The Iowa Board of Regents recently approved a plan to offer that discount to new University of Northern Iowa undergraduates from six neighboring states.   The university is in Cedar Falls, which is about a two-hour drive from Rochester. Its tuition deal for students across the Iowa border is one of many strategies that institutions have used as enrollment has dipped around the country.      Vanessa Miller is a higher education reporter for the Iowa newspaper, The Gazette. She joined MPR News guest host Chris Farrell to talk about her reporting on the tuition deal.

Housing social workers and advocates are facing the fallout of the cancellation of the Department of Human Service's housing stabilization program due to alleged fraud. DHS found 77 providers with credible allegations of wrongdoing and terminated the program.But there are hundreds of other organizations that were using the program in earnest to help Minnesotans find housing. Local organization Avivo helps thousands of Minnesotans find stable housing. John Tribbett is a service area director in Avivo's Ending Homelessness division. MPR News guest host Chris Farrell talked to Tribbett about his reaction when he heard the state was shutting down the program.

Artificial intelligence is changing the way we work — faster than many of us expected. From writing emails to screening job applications, AI tools are showing up in offices, warehouses and other workplaces. But are employers ready? How are they setting expectations and drawing ethical lines around using this powerful technology? MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about the growing role of AI across different industries and how organizations are responding. Guests:James Holmberg is the co-founder of VILAS, an organization focused on helping businesses understand, navigate and explore using artificial intelligence. Eran Kahana is an attorney for Maslon LLP, a business law firm based in Minneapolis. He specializes in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, privacy and intellectual property law. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota Law School.  Chris Farrell is the senior economics contributor for MPR News and Marketplace. 

The Minnesota Department of Human Services wants to terminate a housing stabilization program recently flagged for possible fraud.The department announced Friday it is asking the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services to end the program. Minnesota was the first state to use Medicaid funds to find more stable housing options for residents.This is the afternoon update from MPR News, hosted by Emily Bright. Theme music by Gary Meister.

Twenty-five people were taken to Twin Cities hospitals yesterday evening after a Delta flight hit severe turbulence before making an emergency landing at MSP.Most of Minnesota continues to see unhealthy air quality today, as smoke from Canadian wildfires lingers. Dr. Andrew Stiehm is a pulmonologist with Allina Healt and describes the short-term and long-term side effects of the smoke. This is the evening news update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Bright. Music by Gary Meister.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks about the power of poetry with Junauda Petrus, the poet laureate for the city of Minneapolis. Junauda says poetry is “soul medicine” that can unite us in our shared humanity. Angela also hears from poet and performer, Tish Jones, about what poetry means to her.Guests:Junauda Petrus is the poet laureate for the city of Minneapolis. She is an author, playwright, filmmaker and co-founder of the experimental artist collective, Free Black Dirt. She is the author of the Coretta Scott King Award-winning young adult novel, “The Stars and the Blackness Between Them,” and the children's book, “Can We Please Give the Police Department to the Grandmothers?” Tish Jones is a poet, performer and educator in St. Paul. She's also the founder and executive director of TruArtSpeaks. 

MPR News host Angela Davis talks about the power of poetry with Junauda Petrus, the poet laureate for the city of Minneapolis. Junauda says poetry is “soul medicine” that can unite us in our shared humanity. Angela also hears from poet and performer, Tish Jones, about what poetry means to her.Guests:Junauda Petrus is the poet laureate for the city of Minneapolis. She is an author, playwright, filmmaker and co-founder of the experimental artist collective, Free Black Dirt. She is the author of the Coretta Scott King Award-winning young adult novel, “The Stars and the Blackness Between Them,” and the children's book, “Can We Please Give the Police Department to the Grandmothers?” Tish Jones is a poet, performer and educator in St. Paul. She's also the founder and executive director of TruArtSpeaks. 

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a Twin Cities rapper and mindfulness instructor who says yoga saved his life.

The Trump administration has singled out Minnesota's largest newspaper for its coverage of immigration enforcement. A press release Tuesday accused the Minnesota Star Tribune of covering for people the White House called “criminal illegal immigrants.” The statement linked to social media posts from federal agencies that criticized Star Tribune immigration stories as well as an opinion column. For its part, the newspaper told MPR News, “we stand by our reporting and don't have any additional comment.” Jane Kirtley, director of the Silha Center for Media Ethics and Law and the University of Minnesota, joins Minnesota Now guest host Chris Farrell to talk about the White House statement and its press freedom implications.

On Minnesota Now, we hear from many different people in Minnesota over the phone and in the studio. But we don't often meet them in the community, where news and life happens. In our Out to Lunch series, MPR News host Nina Moini sits down for a meal with people from Minnesota news and culture.Real estate CEO Kris Lindahl is best known for his billboard advertisements, where he's pictured with a cheeky smile and his arms spread out wide. His numerous billboards across Minnesota have generated countless memes and online conversation, some good and some bad. But even if you've seen his face, there's probably a lot you don't know about Lindahl. In his new memoir “Arms Out,” Lindahl shares about growing up in poverty and not always stable housing, his father's struggles with addiction and navigating high school after his father was murdered.   

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a Twin Cities rapper and mindfulness instructor who says yoga saved his life.

If you're single, you've probably heard it — or said it to yourself: Dating feels impossible right now.The numbers back it up. A Pew Research study found that nearly half of Americans say dating is harder than it was a decade ago.So, what's changed? Why is dating so difficult for so many people?Dating apps have transformed how we can meet, but it's not clear if they are helping or hurting. In the 1990s, nearly 20 percent of couples met in a bar or restaurant. Today that number is down to just 8 percent.MPR News host Angela Davis revisits a conversation she had earlier this year with a dating coach and a therapist to help break down the challenges of modern dating — and provide some advice for what you can do to make it easier.Guests: Deanna Pelley is a public speaker, podcaster and mental health therapist with Emerge Therapy based in Minneapolis.Alex Merritt is a Minneapolis-based dating coach, known as the “Love Engineer.” Alex leads relationship workshops and does one-on-one advising on how to find love.  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. 

From its origins in Black American communities to its influence on artists all over the world, jazz has always been about innovation, expression and connection. Here in Minnesota, one radio station has been keeping that spirit alive for more than 50 years — Jazz88 (KBEM-FM).Launched in 1970 as part of Minneapolis Public Schools, Jazz88 has been a hub for jazz lovers, educators and musicians, introducing generations to a timeless genre while adapting to changing times. MPR News host Angela Davis revisits a conversation she had earlier this year with some of the voices behind Jazz88, as well as a musician who performs around the Twin Cities. They explored the station's impact, its evolution and the artists shaping jazz.  Guests: Sean McPherson is the music director and afternoon host of Jazz88 (KBEM-FM). Previously he was an on-air host for The Current, Minnesota Public Radio's alternative music station.  Emmanuel Hill is the executive producer of MPS Voices, a Jazz88 livestream focused on broadcasting student voices in Minneapolis Public Schools.  Eli Awada is a Twin Cities musician, pianist and keyboardist for the jazz collective Room3.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. 

Almost 15 years ago, University of Minnesota professor Myles Shaver made some keen observations about Minnesota's unusually high number of Fortune 500 companies. His research showed that the state's strong business landscape comes from talent in one field attracting talent from other fields to the region. The business landscape has changed over the years since Shaver published his research in the 2012 book called "Headquarters Economy." So he's working on a brand new batch of research about Minnesota's economy and why big business thrives here. Shaver joined MPR News guest host Chris Farrell to talk about the changing business landscape in Minnesota.

A derecho is possible across central and southern Minnesota late Monday into Monday night, bringing a significant wind threat. Wind gusts over 75 mph are possible, along with heavy rain and embedded tornadoes within the line. MPR Meteorologist Mandy Thalhuber joined MPR News guest host Chris Farrell to explain what a derecho is and other severe weather threats heading our way.

Summer is a busy time for road trips and travel on the North Shore. But data from the Department of Transportation shows that fewer people are crossing from Canada into Minnesota. This June, there were about 16 percent fewer people traveling in by car compared to last June. That's about 26,000 fewer people who came to visit our state. Earlier this year, MPR News host Angela Davis and Minnesota Now guest host Chris Farrell traveled to the Minnesota-Canada border to talk about how the U.S. tariffs on Canada have affected the relationship between the two nations. Minnesota Now is checking in on how that relationship may have slowed summer traffic into the states. John Fredrikson is an owner of the Gunflint Lodge & Outfitters in Grand Marais, and Kirsten Brune is a manager at the restaurant My Sister's Place also in Grand Marais. They spoke to Farrell about the changes they are seeing.

Laurie Putnam is the superintendent of St. Cloud Public Schools, and the first woman to lead the district. Her husband, Aric Putnam, is a DFL state senator, representing District 14, which includes St. Cloud. Together, they're navigating politics, education, family life and the challenges of leading in the public eye. MPR News host Angela Davis continues her Power Pairs series with a conversation about how they support each other and why they picked careers that serve their community. Guests: Laurie Putnam is the superintendent of St. Cloud Public Schools.  Aric Putnam is a DFL state senator representing District 14, which includes St. Cloud and surrounding communities. Check out Angela's previous Power Pair conversations.  Do you know a Power Pair?We'd love to hear your ideas for Power Pairs to interview. Send us your suggestions.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.

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed into law the major domestic policy bill that cuts about $1 trillion dollars from federal Medicaid spending over the next ten years. The changes to Medicaid are estimated to result in nearly 10 million more people going without health insurance by 2034, according to the Congressional Budget Office.  Medicaid is the public insurance program that covers most health care and long-term care for 83 million low-income and disabled people in the United States. Nearly a quarter of Minnesota's residents are on the state's Medicaid program, which is known as Medical Assistance. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about what this means for Minnesotans, including new work requirements and restrictions that will reduce funding for the program.  Guests: John Connolly is deputy commissioner and state Medicaid director for the Minnesota Department of Human Services.   Sue Abderholden is the executive director of NAMI Minnesota, the Minnesota chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

A recent study by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health looks at obstetric care in all 50 states. It found a widespread loss in care for pregnant people that is disproportionately impacting rural communities. The study's lead author, Katy Backes Kozhimannil, joins MPR News host Nina Moini to dig into its findings. Kozhimannil is a Distinguished McKnight University Professor and co-director of the Rural Health Research Center at the University of Minnesota.

Minneapolis will be home to eight new murals after the MPower Northside Arts Festival on Saturday. The festival will scatter local artists to paint murals at grocery stores, churches and other businesses along the West Broadway corridor. Festival organizer Melodee Strong joins MPR News host Nina Moini with details. Editor's note: Participating artist Esther Osayande was unable to join to do technical difficulties.