Podcasts about mpr news

Many of us listen to music off of our phones through streaming apps with algorithms built to feed us songs it thinks we would like. It's convenient, but those playlists, now starting to incorporate AI, rarely surprise us.Maybe that's why some college radio stations are making a comeback. They offer something more personal — real human voices and a space where music discovery feels spontaneous and driven by curiosity not calculations. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with two students who are passionate about college radio and help run their college stations. They'll talk about what makes college radio special and what it offers to listeners.

Minnesota has two major parties – the Democratic Farmer Labor Party and the Republican Party. That's fewer than in the recent past, when there were four parties with that status. It's important because it provides some built-in advantages come campaign season. The Forward Independence Party has high hopes of getting into the big leagues and showcased some of its candidates Thursday morning at the Capitol. The party introduced Jay Reeves, an Army veteran who is running for state auditor, along with Kelly Doss, the owner of a coaching business, who is running for Republican Rep. Tom Emmer's 6th District seat in Congress. Mike Newcome, a businessman, is running for governor with the Forward Independence Party. Tom Horner has been on a similar journey to the one Newcome just began. In 2010, Horner broke from the Republican party to run for Minnesota governor with the Forward Independence Party.  Horner won nearly 12 percent of the vote that November, and the results for Republican Tom Emmer and Democrat Mark Dayton were so close that they triggered a recount. Ultimately, Dayton won that election. Tom Horner went on to found a PR firm and he writes about politics in Minnesota and beyond. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to explain this new dynamic of the 2026 race for governor along with MPR news reporter Peter Cox, who spoke with Moini about the Forward Independence Party's origins and goals.

For the last six months, Samuel Moose has been working as the director of tribal government relations with Essentia Health. It's a new role for the health care system that primarily operates in a rural area that includes 19 tribal nations. It's been a busy six months in the world of health care with cuts to Medicaid funding and hospital closures in greater Minnesota. Moose, a member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, checked in with MPR News host Nina Moini about how it's going.

Every week, MPR News host Nina Moini checks in with one of MPR News' regional reporters. On Thursday, Fargo-Moorhead area agriculture reporter Tadeo Ruiz Sandoval chatted with Nina about his latest stories on the ripple effects of the federal government shutdown on the state's farmers, farmers' concerns on the nation's economic outlook and the projected cost of a Thanksgiving turkey this year.

Target says it's facing a challenging outlook for the holiday shopping season. But the Minneapolis-based retailer also outlined more steps today to try to reverse its recent struggles.One of Minnesota's largest health insurers, UCare, is shutting down at the start of next year. Another nonprofit insurer will be taking over its members. Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

“FAFO parenting” is getting attention — the idea that sometimes the best way for kids to learn is by experiencing natural consequences. FAFO doesn't exactly stand for “fool around and find out,” but you get the idea.Supporters say the parenting approach builds resilience and responsibility. Critics worry it can cross into neglect or leave kids without the guidance they need.MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with a parenting researcher about when stepping back helps children grow, when intervention matters and how families can find the balance between independence and safety.Guest:Christopher Mehus is a research associate professor in the Department of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota.

Fall is turning into winter and Minnesota has had its fair share of darker, shorter days. But there's one thing missing — snow! The state has barely seen flakes so far this season. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the late start to snowy season.

A federal operation in St. Paul Tuesday morning led to a confrontation between federal agents and protesters. Federal agents used chemical irritants and projectiles on the crowd. At a press conference Tuesday morning, St. Paul City Council Vice President Hwa Jeong Kim spoke in defense of people who gathered to observe and record the operation. “Concerned and caring residents were shoved, thrown to the ground. One observers' foot was run over. This is not safety. This is not law enforcement. This is state violence,” she said. In a statement to MPR News, an ICE spokesperson said the agency and law enforcement partners conducted court-authorized law enforcement activity and served a search warrant as part of a federal criminal investigation. MPR News asked for additional information about the chemical irritants used by agents, but have not received a response. With growing ICE operations across the country under the Trump administration, advocates have called for community to respond to federal action that appears to involve ICE. It's leading to more clashes, like the one that occurred Tuesday. For more on this issue, MPR News host Nina Moini talked with ACLU of Minnesota Legal Director Teresa Nelson.

MPR News is continuing to follow the federal law enforcement clash with protesters in St. Paul Tuesday morning. Agents were seen using chemical irritants and less-lethal ammunition. We learned more about federal authority to use force in such situations here and around the country.Lawmakers are getting details about proposed 2026 state construction projects to decide which ones will make the cut. MPR News reporter Dana Ferguson tagged along to hear their pitches.It's mid-November. Are you surprised about our state's lack of snow? MPR chief meteorologist joined the show to talk about that and the weather forecast ahead.Plus, it's the end of a more than 230-year era. A Minnesota coin collector gave the penny a solemn goodbye.

Federal agents clashed with protesters during an operation at a St. Paul manufacturer today. Agents from the FBI, DEA and ICE carried out a search warrant at Bro-Tex Incorporated, according to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson. And the entire Minnesota delegation in the U.S. House voted in favor today of forcing the release of investigative files involving sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Trust in government is low. Politicians are trading personal insults on social media. And, Americans see the country as more divided than at any other time since the Civil War. What would it take to bring more dialogue, respect and effectiveness to politics? A first-of-its-kind program from the Citizen's League is starting small and personal, with an “exchange” program for pairs of state Republican and DFL legislators. The goal is to build genuine relationships across the aisle and help legislators gain firsthand insight into a region of Minnesota different from their own. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert reported on one of the first legislator pairs to participate. On Tuesday, she sat down to talk more with them and with the program's founder about what it takes to build bipartisan trust.

You likely know chef Sean Sherman's name. His restaurant Owamni is a staple in the Minneapolis restaurant scene. His commitment to spreading Indigenous foods and knowledge of Indigenous cooking has officially leveled up — not only is Sherman's restaurant expanding to a larger location at the Guthrie Theater, he's out with a new cookbook highlighting Indigenous recipes across North America. It's called “Turtle Island: Foods and Traditions of the Indigenous Peoples of North America.” Sherman joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about his new book and its launch at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis on Nov. 18.

This week, three Minnesota foundations launched "Our Home State," a five-year, $20 million initiative to expand access to affordable housing and address housing instability in the state.It's a collaboration between The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, the F.R. Bigelow Foundation and the Mardag Foundation. St. Paul-based company Ecolab has pledged an additional $3 million to the project.Alfonso Wenker is the senior vice president of community impact at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation. He talked to MPR News host Nina Moini about the project.

The Minneapolis Police Department is facing criticism for how it handled three cases involving people of color who made multiple reports of violence to police. The city auditor is looking into the response in the cases of Davis Moturi and Allison Lussier in 2024. Last month, auditor Robert Timmerman publicly criticized MPD for missing meetings and slowing down the review. In response, assistant chief Katie Blackwell told officers to cooperate in an order reported by the Minnesota Star Tribune. Chief Brian O'Hara has also ordered an internal review of the police response to reports of domestic violence by a woman named Mariah Samuels. She was fatally shot in September and her ex-boyfriend is charged in her killing. The Minnesota Star Tribune reporter Liz Sawyer published an investigation of Samuels' case and has been covering the others, along with her colleagues. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to explain.

A federal law enforcement operation at a St. Paul manufacturer prompted a large response by observers and protesters on Tuesday morning.Federal agents wearing clothing marked “FBI,” “DEA” and “HSI” — Homeland Security Investigations, part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — were seen at Bro-Tex Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of cloth and paper wipes. It was not immediately clear what prompted the operation. MPR News host Nina Moini spoke to reporter Estelle Timar-Wilcox, who was on the scene.

One of Minnesota's largest health insurers is shutting down at the start of next year. Minnesota-based UCare announced the move in a statement issued Monday. According to officials with the nonprofit, its health insurance plans for more than 300,000 members across Minnesota and western Wisconsin will be transferred to Medica, another large nonprofit health insurer based in Minnesota. The shuttering of U-Care brings up questions about insurance options for Minnesota's most vulnerable. Stephen Parente is a professor of finance at Minnesota Carlson and the Minnesota Insurance Industry chair of health finance. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the change.

State Rep. Sandra Feist announced today that she'll leave the Legislature when her term runs out next year.And it's open enrollment season for many people who get health insurance through their employer. A recent survey found the average cost per employee will go up 7 percent.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Elena See. Music by Gary Meister.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed a government funding bill ending a record 43-day shutdown. The legislation came after weeks of political gridlock that ended when a small group of Senate Democrats reached a compromise with Republicans.MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with two political scientists about what the deal to end the shutdown tells us about power, priorities and politics in Washington.Guests:Larry Jacobs is a political scientist and founder and director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota. He is also the author of “Democracy Under Fire: Donald Trump and the Breaking of American History.”Cindy Rugeley is an associate professor of political science and head of the Political Science Program at the University of Minnesota Duluth.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.     

Minnesota-based retail giant Target is encouraging its store employees to smile and interact with customers more. Target shared with MPR News that the employee training program is called “10-4.” At 10 feet within a customer, Target is guiding store employees to smile and make eye contact with customers. And at 4 feet, employees should consider a conversation. The new guidance has caused quite the conversation, with people reflecting “how do I want to be interacted with when going to a store?” Joining Minnesota Now is an expert in consumer behavior and psychology, Aaron Sackett. He's a marketing professor at the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business.

For a few seconds, it looked like the Minnesota Vikings had made a comeback to beat the Chicago Bears yesterday. But right after their last-minute touchdown, the Bears scored a field goal. Chicago won the game 19 to 17.The Vikings now go on to face their division rivals, the Green Bay Packers. While the Vikings will be away at Lambeau Field, high schools football teams will be taking over U.S. Bank Stadium for the state tournament. Sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about these stories and all things Minnesota sports.

The federal government shutdown caused weeks of turmoil for recipients of the food assistance benefits known as SNAP. In the background, major changes to the program took effect under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” Congress passed this summer. About 9,000 immigrants in Minnesota are no longer eligible for SNAP, according to the state. And administrators are in the process of implementing work requirements that are expected to impact 29,000 others. Sophia Lenarz-Coy, executive director of The Food Group, joined MPR News host Nina Moini to explain what's changed in Minnesota.

A DFL state lawmaker is running for Congress in an attempt to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach in a district representing a wide swath of western Minnesota.And Minneapolis climate advocates face a Monday deadline to complete the purchase of a site for an urban farm project... and they're short several million dollars.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Property owners across Minnesota could be asked to come up with nearly one billion dollars more for city, county and other local government operations. Minnesota police groups say a judge set bail far too low for a man accused of assaulting an Anoka County sheriff's deputy. Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

This Saturday marks ten years since the fatal shooting of Jamar Clark.  On Nov. 15, 2015, the unarmed 24-year-old was shot during a confrontation with two Minneapolis police officers. He died the next day. In the weeks that followed, hundreds of people protested outside the Minneapolis 4th Precinct in Minneapolis — demanding the names of the officers and the release of any video. Protesters marched to the government center and shut down Interstate 94.  It was a level of activism that Minnesota hadn't seen before, building on the long despair and anger in Black communities following shootings of other unarmed Black men, here and elsewhere. And it set the stage for protests that followed the police killings of Philando Castile in 2016 and of George Floyd in 2020.  MPR News guest host Brandt Williams talks about how protests following Jamar Clark's death took shape and how they changed the public response to police shootings and policing. Guests: Nekima Levy Armstrong is a civil rights lawyer and past president of the Minneapolis NAACP. She was among the leaders who helped organize protests following Jamar Clark's fatal shooting and was an advisor to Black Lives Matter Minneapolis.  Raeisha Williams was an activist and communications director for the Minneapolis NAACP in the months following Jamar Clark's death. She now runs a nonprofit organization called Guns Down Love Up.  Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.

This weekend marks 10 years since the police killing of Jamar Clark. Clark was 24 years old and unarmed when Minneapolis police shot and killed him. The officers said Clark reached for one of their guns during a confrontation outside a party. Some witnesses disputed that Clark reached for the officer's weapon. No officers were charged with a crime. Clark's death spurred protests and activism that has carried through the police killings of other Black men in Minnesota, Philando Castile in 2016 and George Floyd in 2020.MPR News host Nina Moini talked to one of Clark's sisters, Tiffany Burns, to reflect on the 10 years since her brother's death, which changed Minnesota's history and her family forever.

On Thursday morning, a judge denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the city of Minneapolis against a landlord who allowed dozens of people to camp on a parking lot he owns. The city sued Hamoudi Sabri in September to force him to close the encampment. A few days later, the city cleared the encampment after a shooting there killed one person and injured six others. Sabri's lawyers argued the city could not move forward with the lawsuit without including the people who had been living in the encampment in the case. MPR News reporter Cari Spencer was at the courthouse during the hearing and joined MPR News host Nina Moini to explain.

Earlier this month, Minnesota-based Xcel Energy announced it wants to double the amount of lithium battery storage it already planned to install next to its Sherco coal-fired power plant in central Minnesota. The batteries would allow Xcel to store energy produced at its wind, solar, nuclear and natural gas plants across the Upper Midwest.MPR News reporter Kirsti Marohn has been covering how batteries that store electricity on demand are becoming an increasingly important part of the transition to clean energy. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to share more about her reporting as part of a weekly check in with MPR News reporters based in greater Minnesota.

For many Minnesotans, fall means it's time to get the comforting warm flavors of nutmeg, apple, cardamom and maple to fill the air in the kitchen.Minnesota-based chef and cookbook author Amy Thielen joined MPR News host Nina Moini to share what recipes she's thinking about this fall season.

Ten years ago this weekend, Jamar Clark was shot and killed by Minneapolis police. His death was a turning point for the Black Lives Matter movement throughout Minnesota. We reflect on changes in policing in the city and on Clark's life with his sister.We get updated on the conflict between a Minneapolis landowner and the city about an encampment that grew on his property. MPR News reporter Kirsti Marohn joins us to talk about how battery storage plays a role in the state's shift to clean energy.Plus, we take you to a booming new Mexican market in Richfield. For some, when it gets chilly outside, it's time to turn the oven on inside. We talk with chef Amy Thielen about her favorite fall treats.The Minnesota Music Minute was “Sad Firm Handshake” by Dave King Trucking Company and “Flowers” by Dirty-930 was the Song of the Day.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.