Podcasts about mpr news

A wildfire burning in the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota is growing, leading authorities to close off a part of Superior National Forest land in the Horse River area. The Horse River fire is still relatively small, but it has more than doubled in size in recent days to nearly 25 acres, and it's burning completely uncontained.This is the evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Bright. Music by Gary Meister.

Last week, Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed a multitrillion dollar bill that advances President Donald Trump's agenda for his second term.One issue that will be debated as it moves to the Senate is the bill's significant changes to Medicaid.  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 U.S. In Minnesota, about a quarter of the population is on the state's Medicaid program, which is known as Medical Assistance. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a physician and a health policy researcher about what the proposed changes to Medicaid could mean for Minnesotans.   Guests: Lynn Blewett is a professor of health policy in the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota. She is also the director of the State Health Access Data Assistance Center, a health policy research center with a focus on state policy. Dr. Tyler Winkelman is a primary care physician and researcher who directs the division of general internal medicine at Hennepin Healthcare. He is also the co-director of the Health, Homelessness, and Criminal Justice Lab. 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 month we've seen many special events marking five years since the murder of George Floyd.  He died on Memorial Day after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than 9 minutes during an arrest.  What followed was chaos and many uncomfortable conversations about race. In 2021, MPR launched a podcast called Early Risers to help parents talk to kids about race. It was created in partnership with Little Moments Count, which is a collaborative of organizations working to improve interactions between parents and their children. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with the original host of the Early Risers podcast, Dianne Haulcy, and the current host, Andre Dukes.  She asked them how it's going, and if we have made progress in engaging children in conversations about race. Guests: Dianne Haulcy hosted Early Risers until 2024. She is now the assistant commissioner of early childhood at the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families. Andre Dukes is the current host of Early Risers. He has spent the last decade of his career focused on child development and academic success in north Minneapolis. He is also the vice president of Family and Community Impact at Northside Achievement Zone, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit. 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.      

It was Memorial Day weekend, five years ago, when George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Bystanders recorded the nine-plus minutes that Chauvin calmly kneeled on Floyd's neck, as the Black man pleaded for help and air. That video rocketed from phone to phone, from media to media and sparked worldwide protests against police brutality.But for the Black community in Minneapolis, Floyd's murder was just a chapter in a much longer story.Long before 2020, people had been organizing, creating and demanding change. Certainly, in the immediate aftermath of Floyd's death and Chauvin's 2021 conviction, progress was made. Businesses and institutions promised to invest in racial equity, to develop new community practices, to reckon with systems of harm.But in the neighborhood where Floyd lived and died, has that change taken root? That was the question at the center of a North Star Journey Live event hosted by MPR News host Angela Davis earlier this month. On May 6, a cross section of Black community leaders came together at Pillsbury House Theatre to talk about real change, deep healing and defiant hope. The conversation was candid, often surprising and ultimately inspiring. North Star Journey Live: Five Years After George Floyd Panelists: Angela Harrelson, George Floyd's aunt and registered nurseAnthony Taylor, community development lead for the Cultural Wellness Center and outdoor educator-activistJeanelle Austin, founder of the Racial Agency Initiative and a board member for the George Floyd Global MemorialJerome Richardson, cofounder of the youth-led Minnesota Teen ActivistsSigne Harriday, artistic producing director at Pillsbury House + Theatre and lead local organizer for the Million Artist MovementTabitha Montgomery, executive director of the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood AssociationSpecial guests: Junauda Petrus, creative activist and current poet laureate for MinneapolisElder Atum Azzahir, founder and executive director of the Cultural Wellness CenterSubscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS. 

A new book by a St. Paul author tells the story of Chinese emigrants applying to enter the U.S. 100 years ago. The young adult novel incorporates the poems that people detained at Angel Island off of California carved into the walls, expressing their anger and longing.MPR News host Emily Bright spoke with author Freeman Ng about his book "Bridge Across the Sky."

Five years ago, the murder of George Floyd by then-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin turned the corner of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue into an epicenter of worldwide calls to change policing. It was at that intersection where witnesses filmed Floyd's final moments as he cried out repeatedly that he couldn't breathe.Now, as city leaders work to implement court-ordered police reforms, they are also trying to figure out what's next for the site where the murder happened, now known as George Floyd Square. Council member Andrea Jenkins represents that area on the Minneapolis City Council. She joins MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the future of George Floyd Square.

Across the world of sports, Minnesota has been winning lately. The Twins just ended a 13-game winning streak. The Minnesota Frost cruised into the PWHL championships, which begin Tuesday night. The Lynx are also off to a strong start after winning their first two games of the season. And the Timberwolves have made it to the NBA Western Conference Finals. With all this victory in the air, it's hard not to wonder how long it will last. The stakes feel especially high for Timberwolves. If they win their seven-game series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, they will go to the finals for the first time ever. Minnesota Now sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about everything they know about the matchup.Wally Langfellow is the founder of Minnesota Score Sports Magazine and co-host of the sports talk show 10,000 Takes. Eric Nelson is the other host of that show and Minnesota Vikings NFL reporter for CBS' Eye on Football and Sirius XM.

Crews battling wildfires in northeastern Minnesota have had to contend with windy conditions today. East winds of 15 to 20 miles per hour have been accompanied by gusts of up to 40 miles per hour.And meteorologist Sven Sundgaard says that while a system will bring rain to the state today through Wednesday, it's expected to miss the region where fires are burning.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

At midnight Monday, it is all supposed to be over. The state Legislature is supposed to adjourn after passing a new two-year budget. That's not going to happen this year. A special session will be needed to complete the task because lawmakers are still navigating the remaining sticking points and political obstacles. Peter Cox, one of a trio of MPR News reporters tracking the session, joined Minnesota Now with an update.

Flames rising. Police officers retreating. A community trying to protect itself.These scenes may evoke the chaos following George Floyd's murder on May 25, 2020. But they also describe what happened nearly two decades earlier, on Aug. 22, 2002, in north Minneapolis. That summer, community outrage erupted after a white Minneapolis police officer shot and wounded an 11-year-old Black boy.“It came at a time when tensions were already high,” reported MPR News' Brandt Williams in 2002. “An angry, predominantly Black crowd gathered and accused the police of targeting African Americans.”That unrest, like the one in 2020, drew the attention of the U.S. Department of Justice. But for longtime observers like Williams — who began covering the city in 1992 for the Black-owned “Insight News” — the story of police-community tensions in Minneapolis began long before Floyd's name became a rallying cry.Listen to MPR News senior editor Brandt Williams' conversation with Minnesota Now host Nina Moini. The segment was produced by Aleesa Kuznetsov and Megan Burks. It was engineered by Alex Simpson.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with her producers about what happens behind the scenes of her 9 a.m. show.They'll tell you all about how they pitch, research and select topics and guests and screen phone calls. Guests: Maja Beckstrom is a producer for MPR News with Angela Davis. She was a reporter at the St. Paul Pioneer Press for over 20 years before joining the 9 a.m. team almost five years ago. She was also a reporter for a newspaper in Southern California and for MPR stations in Rochester and Collegeville. Cari Dwyer is the senior producer for MPR News with Angela Davis. Before joining the 9 a.m. team, she helped create exhibits for the Science Museum of Minnesota and was a producer and newscaster at Wisconsin Public Radio.Nikhil Kumaran is the associate producer for MPR News with Angela Davis. He has also worked for The Current and was the music director at Radio K, the award-winning student-run radio station of the University of Minnesota. He is also a concert photographer and music videographer.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.    

MPR News host Angela Davis revisits expert advice from recent Wellness Wednesday shows. High blood pressure is one of the most common health risks in the U.S. and it is becoming more common among young people. It affects about fourteen percent of children and teens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Angela talks with two cardiologists about the dangers of untreated high blood pressure and the medications and lifestyle changes that can protect your heart. Plus, a sleep researcher talks about the link between poor sleep and dementia, and two runners share tips on starting a running habit. Guests: Dr. Jamie Lohr is a pediatric cardiologist for M Health Fairview and an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Minnesota Medical School.Dr. Bhavadharini Ramu is an advanced heart failure cardiologist with M Health Fairview and an associate professor in the Cardiovascular Division at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Dr. Michael Howell is a professor of neurology and a sleep researcher at the University of Minnesota.  For more information about volunteering for one of Dr. Howell's research studies, go to the Pre-screening Survey or call 763-913-8367.  Dr.  Kenneth Poole is an internal medicine physician and founder and captain of the Twin Cities chapter of Black Men Run.Andrea Haus is the community and marketing manager at Mill City Running, a Twin Cities running shop that hosts running events throughout the Twin Cities. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.    Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.     

The Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday it will end the Temporary Protected Status program for Afghan refugees, a move that could lead to the deportation of thousands of migrants from the U.S., including in Minnesota. TPS protects migrants who cannot return to their home country due to unsafe conditions like war or natural disasters. In a statement, DHS said temporary protected status for Afghans will expire on May 20 and the program will be eliminated in July. Nasreen Sajady, executive director of the Afghan Cultural Society in Minneapolis, joins MPR News host Nina Moini to break down what this means for Afghan refugees living in the state.

An organization that tracks domestic violence in Minnesota reported one intimate partner killing every week for the last four weeks, from April 12 to May 7. Murder charges have been filed in two of these deaths and law enforcement believe the other two occurred in murder-suicides. In total, Violence Free Minnesota has tracked seven intimate partner killings so far this year. Behind each one is a human life, with friends, family and communities in mourning. Guadalupe Lopez, executive director of Violence Free Minnesota, joins MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about efforts to prevent the loss of more lives to abuse.If you or someone you know is in a dangerous situation with a partner, help is available through a 24-hour statewide domestic and sexual violence hotline. You can call Minnesota Day One at (866) 223-1111 or text (612) 399-9995.

This weekend is the 30th year of Art-a-Whirl, a free arts festival in northeast Minneapolis. The neighborhood has long been a hub for artists and creatives. Throughout the event it transforms as artists open their studio doors and northeast businesses host local music and food trucks. Organizers say it is the largest open artist studio tour in the country. Anna Becker is executive director of the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association, which organizes Art-a-Whirl. MPR News host Nina Moini talked with her along with Kari Maxwell, a painter and one of this year's 30 featured artists.

You've probably heard his voice guide you through some of Minnesota's biggest news stories — steady, thoughtful and unmistakable.  For 20 years, Tom Crann has been a trusted presence on MPR News, hosting All Things Considered on weekday afternoons and connecting with listeners across the state.  Now he's starting a new chapter, one filled with sonatas, symphonies and a different kind of storytelling. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with Tom Crann about the highlights of his career in journalism and why he's returning to his classical music roots as a host for YourClassical MPR. Guest:Tom Crann is the former host of All Things Considered for MPR News. For nearly 20 years, he has covered Minnesota and national news. He is also known for his weekly “Appetites” segments about Minnesota's vibrant culinary scene.  

Wildfires in northeastern Minnesota exploded in size overnight. Two large wildfires in the region are still uncontained. The biggest is the Camp House fire, which has spread over 12,000 acres. That's about the size of the entire city of Winona. Just 13 miles north of that fire, another fire, dubbed the Jenkins Creek fire, has burnt 6,800 acres. The burnt area is about the size of the city of Golden Valley. Together, the wildfires have burned dozens of homes and cabins and also led to evacuation orders in the region. On Tuesday morning, St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay said some people who did not evacuate are unaccounted for. "Their houses have been lost, so we need to determine where they are,” Ramsay said. “We are hoping that they evacuated, but this is a new phase of this incident, where we are, we are working on determining the location of people, where they're at and if they're safe."Leanne Langeberg works with the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini with the latest.

If you have a teen in your life, you know their communication and self-exploration revolves around screens. Parents and their children have been grappling with that fact for decades, but a new book explores the latest research and firsthand accounts of adolescent development, independence and the digital world. Minneapolis-based author Erin Walsh wrote “It's Their World: Teens, Screens and the Science of Adolescence,” which comes out May 13. Walsh joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the latest research on the teenage brain and tech.

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's board of directors to cease federal funding for NPR and PBS.MPR News host Angela Davis talks with her guests about how defunding NPR and PBS could affect public radio and TV stations around the country. Guests:Maribel Pérez Wadsworth is the president and CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation based in Miami, Florida. She is the first woman and the seventh president to lead the Knight foundation, which supports informed and engaged communities through investments in journalism, the arts and research in media and democracy. She is also the former president of Gannett Media and is a former publisher of USA Today. Katherine Maher is the president and CEO of National Public Radio. Prior to joining NPR, she was the CEO of Web Summit, an international technology conference. Before that, she was CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation, where she was responsible for the free online encyclopedia Wikipedia.  

Our top story on Minnesota Now, a wildfire is burning near Brimson, Minnesota. That's northeast of Duluth. The fire is uncontained and is still rapidly spreading through the area. Officials have named it the Camp House Fire. It prompted the evacuation of homes and cabins yesterday. Here with the details is MPR News reporter Dan Kraker.

Recycled plastics reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 to 80 percent compared to creating new plastics. But the process isn't always waste-free.Eureka Recycling, a 20-year-old mission-driven zero-waste recycler, has upgraded its facility to ensure recycled materials are effectively repurposed.“It's incredible how much less energy it takes,” said Miriam Holsinger, co-President and COO of Eureka Recycling. “We really work hard to keep the material we sort as local as possible — a lot of it stays right here in Minnesota, where it gets turned into new products, and 95 percent of what we sort actually stays in the Midwest.” Holsinger spoke with MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner about how the climate can benefit from recycling materials. To hear the full conversation, click play on the audio player above or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast.

Local Catholics are excited about the election of Pope Leo XIV from Chicago. "We have a pope! An American!" said Joan McLeod and Gailyn Ryan. The University of Minnesota says it has lost more than 70 federal grants totaling more than $22 million in Trump administration budget cuts and that it does not know what's coming next. And the first Republican contender has entered the 2026 Minnesota governor's race.Those stories and more in today's evening newscast from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

For more than 30 years, AmeriCorps has been a powerful driver of national public service.  The federally funded program was launched in 1993 under President Bill Clinton with a simple but powerful idea that people of all ages and backgrounds could serve their communities. Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have joined AmeriCorps to tutor students, support seniors, clean up parks and rivers, assist during disasters and strengthen communities across the country, including here in Minnesota.  That work is now at risk. Because of deep federal budget cuts by the Trump administration, 85 percent of AmeriCorps staff members are currently on administrative leave. Many have been told their jobs will come to an end this June.  For the communities that rely on them — especially rural areas, low-income neighborhoods and schools already stretched thin—the loss could be staggering. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about the work AmeriCorps does in Minnesota and why it matters. Guest:Brooke Rivers is a former AmeriCorps member and executive director of Reading Partners Minnesota, a nonprofit organization that recruits and trains people to teach reading to students in under-resourced schools.  Jesse Chang is a former AmeriCorps member and national service program director with Literacy Minnesota. He used to oversee the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits AmeriCorps VISTA program.   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.     

In a little over three months, federal Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made sweeping changes to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and its priorities.The federal health department oversees agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health.MPR News host Angela Davis talks about how these changes are affecting public health across the country and in Minnesota.Guest:Michael Osterholm is the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. He is an epidemiologist who studies infectious diseases. He is also the author of the New York Times best-seller, “Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs”, and '“Living Terrors: What America Needs to Know to Survive the Coming Bioterrorist Catastrophe.” He has a new book coming out this summer, “The Big One: How We Must Prepare for Future Deadly Pandemics.” 

New data from the state department of education shows Minnesota high school seniors are graduating at historically high rates. MPR News education reporter, Elizabeth Shockman, joins MPR News host Nina Moini to break down the numbers.Read the full report here: Minnesota graduation rates reach historic high after pandemic slide

No matter where you are in the state, there is no doubt that on Tuesday you experienced some pretty warm weather for early May. To learn more about how long this stretch of sunny weather will last, MPR News host Nina Moini talks with MPR chief meteorologist Paul Huttner.

The Trump administration has canceled grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. These grants were promised to arts organizations nationwide, including many in Minnesota that are now scrambling to cover the shortfall. Senior arts reporter Alex V. Cipolle has spoken to some local arts leaders about the cuts. She joins MPR News host Nina Moini to share what she has learned.

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 to get to know them better.Tom Crann has been a steady voice and presence as the host of All Things Considered for the last 20 years. Crann announced last month he is leaving MPR News to return to his roots as a classical music host with YourClassical MPR. He joined Moini for lunch to reflect on his career and what's ahead.

A new advisory board in Brooklyn Center will offer recommendations to the city on policing and public safety. City council members approved the Community Safety and Violence Prevention Commission on Monday. Their 4-1 vote came after months of debate over whether to move forward with the commission. It is one of the last surviving proposals from a 2021 resolution that the city council passed in response to the killing of Daunte Wright. The Brooklyn Center officer who shot Wright during a traffic stop said she had meant to use her taser and was later convicted of manslaughter. Brooklyn Center Mayor April Graves was a council member at that time. She joins MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the city's reform efforts and how they have shifted along with the political climate.

New data shows Minnesota high school graduation rates are at a record high. We dig into the data for the class of 2024. And we look at some of the reasons why we may be seeing the increase with MPR News education reporter Elizabeth Shockman. When Daunte Wright was shot and killed by a Brooklyn Center police officer, the city made promises of reform. Four years later, the city council has approved a new community safety commission. Plus, cuts to arts funding from the Trump administration are impacting more than a dozen Minnesota organizations. Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner tells us how long this warm weather will last. And we go Out to Lunch with MPR's own Tom Crann as he gets ready to depart his role hosting All Things Considered.

About 4,500 people are released from Minnesota prisons each year. Many of them have spent years, if not decades, behind bars, separated from friends, family and community.What happens when they finally return? How do they rebuild their lives during this complex and often precarious transition?That was the topic at a collaborative Sahan Community Live and North Star Journey Live event recorded on April 24 at the St. Paul Neighborhood Network. Co-hosted by MPR News senior editor Brandt Williams and Sahan Journal digital producer Alberto Villafan, formerly incarcerated Minnesotans shared first-hand stories of what makes reentry such a difficult process. Community leaders and reentry advocates also shared what helps and what holds back people as they exit incarceration and reintegrate into their community.Guests: Antonio Williams is the founder and executive director of T.O.N.E. U.P., a grassroots organization dedicated to empowering formerly incarcerated individuals.Rea Smith is the Women's Services Project Coordinator of the Behavioral Health Division at the Minnesota Department of Human Services.Erick Washington is the co-founder of the Kingsmen Project.James Becker is the assistant federal defender and federal defender representative in the District of Minnesota Reentry Court program.David Riley is an addictions counselor at RS Eden, a Minneapolis-based organization that offers treatment for drug addictions, housing assistance and reentry support.

The May 6, 1965, tornado outbreak was a rare Oklahoma-style weather event in Minnesota. Four of the six violent twisters were rated F4 on the Fujita Scale with estimated winds at more than 200 mph. The devastating twisters killed 13 people and injured at least 500 more. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner was a pre-schooler at the time, but he remembers the day vividly.

Lawmakers at the state capitol have less than two weeks left of the session. In that time, they need to finalize the state budget. In Scott County, which comprises the southwest Twin Cities metro, the board of commissioners shared with residents that that will mean an increase to property taxes.  Dave Beer is the chair of the Scott County Board of Commissioners. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to explain a potential property tax increase and the role the county plays in relation to state and federal funding.

A Minnesota Senate ethics panel has deadlocked along party lines and won't proceed with a complaint against DFL Senate President Bobby Joe Champion today.The Rochester police department says it's completed an investigation into a video posted on social media that featured a woman calling a child a racial slur at a local park.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Credit card debt has been rising at one of the fastest rates in history. The amount Americans owed on credit cards hit an record high of over $1.2 trillion at the end of 2024. And people are not only spending more on plastic, they're also paying down less, carrying high balances and shelling out more in interest and also late fees. A third of Americans now have more credit card debt than emergency savings, according to an annual survey from Bankrate. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about why credit card debt is growing and strategies for tackling it. Guests: Chris Farrell is a senior economics contributor for MPR News and Marketplace. His new 12-part series for Marketplace, “Buy Now, Pay Later,” focuses on the worrisome trend of older Americans carrying debt into retirement. Joanne Lundberg is the financial counseling supervisor at LSS Financial Counseling, a service of Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota. She is based in Duluth. Resources mentioned during the show: The National Foundation for Credit Counseling provides advice on how to avoid and handle credit card debt and manage your credit score. It also provides referrals to nonprofit organizations that can work with people individually on reducing credit card debt. The nonprofit organization LSS Financial Counseling runs a debt management program.

Protesters gathered at the Olmsted County Government Center Monday to demand charges against a woman who directed a racist slur at a child last week. Rochester police said this morning they completed an investigation into a viral video of the incident. They sent their findings to the city attorney's office, which will decide whether to charge the woman. The situation has drawn national attention and outrage.This is the third incident of racial slurs making news in Rochester in about the last year or so. Rochester NAACP president Walé Elegbede joins MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the situation.

George Floyd's murder in 2020 led to calls to end police violence and racism. Five years later, advocates say not enough has changed. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with Medaria Arradondo, the retired Minneapolis police chief, about his book, “Chief Rondo: Securing Justice for the Murder of George Floyd.”Guest: Medaria Arradondo is the former police chief for the city of Minneapolis. He is president and CEO of Optimus Sui Consulting and he serves on the Board of Commissioners for the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority. He is also a member of the executive board of the Fentanyl Free Communities Foundation. And he is co-author of the new book, “Chief Rondo: Securing Justice for the Murder of George Floyd.”

Changes have been made to a new state remote work policy that begins in a little more than a month. And Minneapolis police say three people are dead and two others injured -- one critically -- following a shooting overnight in the city's Phillips neighborhood.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

If you're someone with seasonal allergies, you know that spring can be a mixed bag. Along with the warm temperatures, sunshine and fresh air comes the sneezing, itchy eyes, congestion and fatigue. And if your allergies seem worse than ever this year, you're not imagining things. Experts say allergy season is starting earlier, hitting harder and lasting longer — largely due to climate change. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two allergists about how our bodies are reacting to the spring allergy season and what you can do to manage your symptoms.  Whether you've struggled with allergies and asthma for years or you're just starting to notice them, they'll cover what you need to know. Guests:Dr. Sergio Chiarella is an allergist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Dr. Alice Knoedler is an allergist at Midwest Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists, a group of clinicians based in and around the Twin Cities.  

The Twin Cities missed out on the severe weather that came through the state earlier this week. But the weather ahead has the potential for rain and temperatures in the 80s. MPR News Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner joins MPR News host Nina Moini with the forecast.

President Donald Trump has now been in office for 100 days. He held the first rally of his current tenure last night in Michigan to mark the milestone. MPR News has been fanning out across the state to find out what Minnesotans think of Trump's job performance so far. MPR News editor Annie Baxter spearheaded the effort and joins MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it.

Fifty years ago Wednesday, Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese Army and the U.S. war in Southeast Asia came to an end. In the aftermath, more than three million people to fled their homes in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Many eventually came to the United States and Minnesota. Now, a group of writers is using poetry and creative writing to document the stories of Lao refugees and their descendants over the last 50 years. Bryan Thao Worra is leading this effort by the SEALit Center, a literary organization, and the Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota. They received one of 14 grants from the Minnesota History Center to recognize the state's Southeast Asian diasporas. Worra is the Lao Minnesotan poet laureate and chair of the community board of the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans. He joins MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the project — and why poetry and prose are his chosen tools for working with history.

The Walker West Music Academy recently celebrated the opening of its new space on Marshall Avenue in St. Paul. What started as a music program in the lower level of a duplex has grown into a beloved nonprofit music center and a pillar of St. Paul's Rondo community. Walker West provides community music education to more than 300 students a week. They hope to offer education to more students, kids and adults alike, at the new space. MPR News host Nina Moini talks with Executive Director Braxton Haulcy about Walker West's plans.

U.S. Rep. Angie Craig is running for a U.S. Senate seat that will be open in the 2026 election.And President Donald Trump signed a new executive order yesterday to identify and cut funding for sanctuary cities, or places that don't fully comply with federal immigration policy.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Republicans held onto a state Senate seat after a special election. Keri Heintzeman was elected Tuesday to replace Republican lawmaker Justin Eichorn, who resigned a month ago after criminal charges. Heintzeman won the seat with nearly 60 percent of the vote. She will represent the Nisswa area in the Legislature. Senator-elect Heintzeman joins MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about her priorities.

U.S. Rep. Angie Craig announced Tuesday she will skip a run for a fifth term and instead throw her hat into the race for U.S. Senate.Craig is among a few prominent DFL candidates hoping to succeed U.S. Sen. Tina Smith in 2026. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and former state Senate Minority Leader Melisa López Franzen have also joined the race. MPR News senior politics reporter Dana Ferguson joined Minnesota Now to discuss the news and the state of the race.

A bill that would place stricter rules on those with multiple DWIs is moving to floor votes in both the House and Senate.Lawmakers got their first chance today to ask Minnesota's attorney general about a 2021 meeting he had with business owners tied to the Feeding our Future nutrition scandal. Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

President Donald Trump's administration said it will soon resume collections on defaulted student loans for the first time in five years. The office of Federal Student Aid may start taking funds out of borrowers' tax refunds, Social Security benefits and — eventually — paychecks.The Department of Education says borrowers in default should start making monthly payments or enroll in an income-driven repayment plan.MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about how the change could affect millions of borrowers.Guests: Chris Farrell is a senior economics contributor for MPR News and Marketplace. Brittany Tweed is the director of financial aid for Metro State University. Resources shared during the show:Student Loan Advocate at the Minnesota Department of CommerceFederal Student Aid

When the norms and expectations of the workplace aren't working for you, what do you do?  If you're Alex West Steinman, you create your own workplace.  In 2017, West Steinman left a career in advertising and communications and joined three colleagues to found The Coven. Eight years later, The Coven has two coworking sites in the Twin Cities and another five franchise locations in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Along with desk space and professional development, the coworking network provides an inclusive community that lifts up its members. MPR News host Angela Davis talks to Alex West Steinman about her entrepreneurial journey and how to create workplaces that are welcoming.    This conversation was made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment's Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

State lawmakers are advancing budget bills to the House and Senate floor this week. And a search is underway for a man who vanished during his trial in Stillwater on charges of criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping and domestic assault.Those stories and more in today's evening news update. Other headlines:Walz delivers State of State as gaze goes beyond Minnesota | MPR NewsBlue Line trains to airport, Mall of America to be replaced by buses for three weeks | MPR News