Podcasts about Ramsey County

I'm excited to welcome my good friend and former colleague Ryan Johnson to the show. Ryan is the Environmental Manager for the City of Roseville in Minnesota and is my favorite storm water and water resources guru. Ryan joins me in this episode to talk about the underappreciated role of making sure that private stormwater BMP's are properly maintained. I know, exciting! But it is. And it is certainly very important for the overall efficiency of the public stormwater system as well. Enjoy!AI Generated Description:Private stormwater device maintenance is vital to the overall operation of municipal stormwater systems, especially for meeting retention and treatment goals. Ryan Johnson shares his expertise as Roseville's Environmental Manager on managing these often-overlooked infrastructure components.• Ryan's background includes working with Ramsey County on residential BMPs and critical area stabilizations before joining Roseville• Roseville faces unique challenges as a first-ring suburb built in the 50s-60s with limited stormwater planning• Private property BMPs are essential when municipalities can't handle all stormwater management alone• Maintenance of underground chambers requires regular inspection and cleaning of pretreatment structures• Proactive maintenance is far more cost-effective than emergency repairs or city enforcement• Roseville created a comprehensive program with maintenance agreements, plans, and code enforcement• Property owner education is crucial as many don't realize they have stormwater infrastructure• The city can perform abatements when property owners fail to maintain their systems• Success stories include both the property owner who immediately took action and challenging sites requiring enforcement• Future plans include potentially offering inspection services similar to private hydrant programsContact your local municipal stormwater team if you're uncertain about the maintenance requirements for stormwater infrastructure on your property.

Ramsey County Sheriff Bryan Lang is on Afternoons Live with Tyler Axness to set the record straight after The Department of Homeland Security labeled Ramsey County among others in North Dakota “sanctuary communities”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed.  Previously known as manic depression, people with bipolar disorder experience intense mood swings that go far beyond the typical highs and lows of life.  During a mania episode, people feel intense energy. Their thoughts race and they have trouble sleeping. Some people feel like they have superpowers and can do almost anything.  Then they crash into a deep depression.  MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a psychiatrist who treats people with bipolar disorder and also people living with the mental health challenge who have learned to manage their symptoms. They'll talk about the role of medications, sleep, monitoring their emotions and finding support and purpose in community. Guests: Dr. Matej Bajzer is a psychiatrist and assistant professor with the University of Minnesota Medical School who treats adults with bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions. Danny Evans was diagnosed with bipolar disorder more than a decade ago at age 26. He shares his recovery story to help others heal in his work as a peer support specialist, most recently with Ramsey County. And he is a presenter in the “In Our Own Voice” program with the Minnesota chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI. 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.     

Be ready for the annual statewide tornado drill today in Minnesota. There will be two drills Thursday — the first at 1:45 p.m. That's aimed at people in schools, offices, stores and other businesses. The second drill is at 6:45 p.m. and aimed at people who are home, along with second-shift workers.The Minnesota Department of Agriculture says a lack of federal funding is forcing it to cancel plans to spray for invasive moths in parts of Minnesota this year.Minnesota veterans rallied at the state Capitol Wednesday, urging lawmakers to boost property tax relief for disabled veterans.A Ramsey County judge has dismissed a defamation claim from a Minneapolis Police Department leader who sued a conservative news outlet. Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell alleged Alpha News and content creator Liz Collin defamed her in a book and a video. Blackwell argued the video uses “deceptive framing and editing” to lie about her testimony in the trial of former officer Derek Chauvin.

Be ready for the annual statewide tornado drill today in Minnesota. There will be two drills Thursday — the first at 1:45 p.m. That's aimed at people in schools, offices, stores and other businesses. The second drill is at 6:45 p.m. and aimed at people who are home, along with second-shift workers.The Minnesota Department of Agriculture says a lack of federal funding is forcing it to cancel plans to spray for invasive moths in parts of Minnesota this year.Minnesota veterans rallied at the state Capitol Wednesday, urging lawmakers to boost property tax relief for disabled veterans.A Ramsey County judge has dismissed a defamation claim from a Minneapolis Police Department leader who sued a conservative news outlet. Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell alleged Alpha News and content creator Liz Collin defamed her in a book and a video. Blackwell argued the video uses “deceptive framing and editing” to lie about her testimony in the trial of former officer Derek Chauvin.

Be ready for the annual statewide tornado drill today in Minnesota. There will be two drills Thursday — the first at 1:45 p.m. That's aimed at people in schools, offices, stores and other businesses. The second drill is at 6:45 p.m. and aimed at people who are home, along with second-shift workers.The Minnesota Department of Agriculture says a lack of federal funding is forcing it to cancel plans to spray for invasive moths in parts of Minnesota this year.Minnesota veterans rallied at the state Capitol Wednesday, urging lawmakers to boost property tax relief for disabled veterans.A Ramsey County judge has dismissed a defamation claim from a Minneapolis Police Department leader who sued a conservative news outlet. Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell alleged Alpha News and content creator Liz Collin defamed her in a book and a video. Blackwell argued the video uses “deceptive framing and editing” to lie about her testimony in the trial of former officer Derek Chauvin.

The state of Minnesota stands to lose millions in COVID-19 funding after the federal government announced Tuesday it would terminate grants to local and state governments.A new environmental center opened Tuesday in Ramsey County to accept a variety of goods that need to be disposed of or recycled. The nearly 30,000 square foot facility is located in Roseville.And a board that oversees economic development on the Iron Range has selected a new chair and promised aid to idled mine workers.Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org.Trump administration says it will pull back billions in COVID funding from local health departmentsSubscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

Ramsey County Attorney John Choi and Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher stop by the CCO Studios to talk with Vineeta!

Ramsey County Attorney John Choi and Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher stop by the CCO Studios to talk with Vineeta!

Leaders in the Minnesota House are holding separate news conferences Thursday to announce a joint deal to reboot a chamber stalled since mid-January.Gov. Tim Walz has scheduled a special election for a Minnesota House vacancy for March 11. It's the seat that will determine whether the House is tied 67 to 67 or if Republicans lock in a majority that allows them to pass bills on their own.This is an MPR News morning update hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister.Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org.Minnesota House DFL, GOP strike agreement to end stalemateWalz sets special election for seat in suburban Ramsey County that will decide House powerRead the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter.Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

If you're living in Hennepin, Washington or Ramsey County, there is a fun new challenge that you and your family can participate in that is eco-friendly to help save the environment.

Join us for this year's NCSEA Policy Forum, happening Jan. 30th –Feb. 1st in Washington, DC! Hosted by Mariellen Keely, this episode features special guests and Policy Forum Co-Chairs, Trish Skophammer and Carla West. Trish, Director of Child Support Services in Ramsey County, MN, brings over 27 years of experience in child support evolution. Carla, Division Director for Human Services in North Carolina, shares insights from her 28-year career spanning multiple states and roles. With the theme "Holistic Changes: Continuing to Build a Program That Serves Families," the forum will explore innovative strategies, impactful policies, and the future of child support services.

Send us a text Earlier this year, in February 2024, the ABA launched its Prosecutorial Independence Task Force.  Two of our guests, Professor Ellen Yaroshefsky (Hofstra Law School), and John Choi (Ramsey County Attorney in Ramsey County, Minnesota), are co-chairs of the Task Force.  John has the distinction of being the first Korean American Chief Prosecutor in the United States.  Our third guest, J. Charles (“Charlie”) Smith III, is the State's Attorney for Frederick County, Maryland, and is the longest serving State's Attorney in Maryland.  Charlie is also a member of the ABA Taskforce on Prosecutorial Independence, as well as the Chair of the Board at the National District Attorneys Association. 

In a ruling critical to Minnesota House control, a Democrat elected in November is barred from taking office after a court order in Ramsey County. Also, if you're a fan of the snow that fell across much of the region this week, make sure to get out and savor it this weekend. Warmer weather is in the forecast for next week.This is the MPR News evening update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music by Gary Meister.

Join us for an eye-opening discussion on cybersecurity in travel with ethical hacker Matthew Wold from Ramsey County. Matthew shares how his passion for cybersecurity took root at Ramsey County, leading to collaborations with co-hosts Eric Brown and Nick Mellem. We kick things off with a lighthearted chat about survival items on a deserted island, setting the stage for a lively and insightful conversation.From RFID shields to OMG cables, we unpack practical tips for protecting your digital and personal safety while traveling. Learn how to navigate risks like compromised USB ports, hidden cameras in hotel rooms, and data privacy challenges across borders. With advice on VPNs, securing SIM cards, managing passwords, and safeguarding luggage, this episode is packed with essential strategies to ensure your travel experiences remain secure and worry-free.

Welcome to our Two Cents with MBA. I'm Lori Bruce, communications director for the Missouri Bankers Association.Every year, MBA publishes a calendar featuring photos of Missouri scenery and landscapes. These photos are submitted by bankers throughout the state. Mark Ramsey, president of County Bank in Brunswick, has had a photo featured in MBA's calendar 16 times since 2009. The 2025 calendar showcases Mark's last photo for MBA's calendar. After a career spanning 45 years in banking, Mark is retiring at the end of the year to pursue his passion — wildlife photography. Listen as Mark shares stories about some of his favorite MBA calendar photos and his thoughts about being a community banker. This episode is our first in a series, Beyond Banking, that features bankers in Missouri and their passions outside of banking.Connect with MBAFacebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram

This season, cities and counties around the state are deciding their budgets and tax increases for the next year. Homeowners are seeing sticker shock - Anoka County approved a 17 percent property tax increase. Minneapolis is considering a seven percent increase and St. Paul has proposed an eight percent increase.On Tuesday evening, the city of Minneapolis will meet to finalize their budget, which will include how much of a property tax increase homeowners will be seeing. Ramsey County and St. Paul will be doing the same Wednesday. Andrew Babula is Director of the real estate program at the University of St. Thomas. He's also a licensed real estate broker in Minnesota and Iowa. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the process.

State economic officials release a key budget forecast on Wednesday. The projection of either a surplus or deficit will provide lawmakers and the governor an idea of how to proceed when crafting a new two-year budget.A Ramsey County judge heard arguments Tuesday in an election challenge that could alter a party tie in the Minnesota House next year. And the Minnesota Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday about whether USA Powerlifting discriminated against a transgender woman when it refused to allow her to take part in women's competition in 2018.This is a MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister.Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org.Minnesota economic forecast will set fiscal tone at newly configured state CapitolTransgender powerlifter asks Minnesota Supreme Court to let her compete in women's eventsRead the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter.Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

Gov. Tim Walz has announced $5 million in new funding for Minnesota food shelves. The $5 million is part of leftover money the state received from the American Rescue Plan, President Joe Biden's COVID-19 stimulus package.Hundreds of social equity applicants hoping for a cannabis business license will have to wait longer to set up shop. A lottery originally scheduled for Tuesday morning was put on hold by a Ramsey County judge.And some Medicare Advantage plans are no longer being accepted by some Minnesota health care providers. Attorney General Keith Ellison is warning Minnesotans on Medicare who use advantage plans to double check their coverage and provider acceptance of those plans before open enrollment ends on Dec. 7.This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Gracie Stockton. Music by Gary Meister.Find more headlines at mprnews.org.Judge halts cannabis license lottery that is precursor to Minnesota marijuana retail launchRead the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter.Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

Because our broadcast signal does occasionally bleed across the river, John is joined by Garrison McMurtrey, a candidate for a seat on the Ramsey County Board that controls an annual budget in excess of $800 million. We talk about the challenge local governments face under a second Trump administration, streets, health care, housing, homelessness, transit, and more. The special election for the district 3 seat in Ramsey County is happening on February 11, 2025. Watch: https://youtube.com/wedgelive Join the conversation: https://twitter.com/wedgelive Support the show: https://patreon.com/wedgelive Wedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee

Elections officials across the state are spot-checking the November election results. And two Ramsey County races are headed for a recount tomorrow.Those stories and more in today's evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

In today's episode, we're diving into the powerful and practical strategies for addressing unconscious bias in a polarized world. We're joined by DEI expert Sara Taylor, who offers a down-to-earth guide on how to recognize and confront our own biases, both as individuals and within organizations.Sara walks us through how to slow down our thought processes, question our assumptions, and become more mindful of the filters we apply in everyday situations. She shares relatable examples and actionable tips to help us ask the critical questions: “Do I know that what I'm thinking is actually true?” and “Why might I be reacting this way?”In this episode, we explore how developing a culturally competent mindset—along with a shared language for discussing bias—can create positive, lasting change. Whether you're looking to create a more inclusive workplace or make a difference in your community, Sara's approach offers a hopeful, non-judgmental framework that empowers everyone to act.Tune in for insights that go beyond individual change to explore how organizations can scale up cultural competence and transform systems. With Sara's guidance, we'll discuss how we can all contribute to building a more just and equitable world.About Sara TaylorSara Taylor is a diversity and inclusion strategist, bestselling author, and renowned speaker, known for her work in cultural competence and organizational inclusion. She founded deepSEE Consulting in 2002 to help organizations enhance their diversity strategies and develop cultural competence across all levels. With extensive experience working with global clients like Walmart, Coca-Cola, and Marriott International, Sara has led impactful diversity initiatives for companies and government agencies alike. She is the author of Thinking at the Speed of Bias and the bestselling Filter Shift, and has contributed articles to Forbes and Diversity Woman magazine. Sara's expertise is grounded in her background as Director of Diversity and Inclusion for Ramsey County, MN, and as a Leadership and Diversity Specialist at the University of Minnesota. She holds a master's degree in Diversity and Organizational Development and splits her time between Minneapolis and the Dominican Republic with her husband, Miguel.FOLLOW THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP PODCAST ON SOCIAL MEDIAFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theexecutiveleadershippodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theexecutiveleadershippodcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-executive-leadership-podcast/4o mini Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thinking at the Speed of Bias: How to Shift Our Unconscious Filters by Sara Taylor Amazon.com Deepseeconsulting.com A practical guide to tackling unconscious bias in a polarized world. Learn to recognize your unconscious bias and create positive change. Respected DEI expert Sara Taylor presents a down-to-earth guide on how to tackle unconscious biases and foster true equity in our rapidly changing world. Through relatable examples and practical strategies, readers learn to deliberately slow down their thought processes and become aware of their filters in various situations. Taylor encourages readers to question their own assumptions by asking, "Do I know that what I'm thinking is actually true?" and "Why might I be reacting this way?" The book demonstrates the importance of a clear set of competencies, skills, and strategies for addressing unconscious bias. By developing a culturally competent mindset and using a shared, holistic language to discuss these issues, readers gain the tools to understand, discuss, and implement change both at home and in the workplace. This approach avoids blame or shame, making it accessible and empowering for everyone. The book's insights extend beyond individuals; it demonstrates how organizations can scale up cultural competence to transform their structures and systems. With a strong sense of hope, readers are empowered to make a difference, creating a more just and equitable world for all. About the author Diversity and inclusion strategist, renowned for her visionary work in culture competence, nationally recognized speaker, and bestselling author Sara Taylor is dedicated to changing the world through the workplace by making organizations across the globe more effective and inclusive and their leaders more culturally competent. She founded deepSEE Consulting in 2002 to provide insightful consulting and strategic diversity training, paired with measurement tools to build individual and organizational cultural competence. In her deepSEE Consulting role as President, Sara has worked with hundreds of national and global companies and their executives, including Chief Diversity Officers, Organizational Development and HR leaders as well as staff at all levels throughout the organization. She helps them to understand the full complexities of today's diverse workforce and to build the competencies necessary to create inclusion and equity. Her clients over the years have included reputable companies such as Walmart, 3M Company, AARP, Cleveland Foundation, Coca-Cola, Marriott International, General Mills, United Way Worldwide, National Credit Union Administration, Ingersol-Rand, Seagate Technologies, Thompson Reuters, Thrivent Financial, among others. Prior to deepSEE Consulting, Sara was the Director of Diversity and Inclusion for Ramsey County, Minnesota, where she established a new department to lead D&I efforts for 5,000 employees. She began her career as a Leadership and Diversity Specialist at the University of Minnesota, where she developed state-wide diversity and leadership programs, created and managed a grant program to fund community-based diversity initiatives, and directed the activities of diversity and leadership educators. Sara's forthcoming book, Thinking at the Speed of Bias: How to Shift Our Unconscious Filters (Berrett-Koehler), helps individuals tackle their unconscious bias and empower organizations to scale cultural competence to transform their structural and systematic landscapes to become more effective and equitable. She previously authored the 2017 bestselling book Filter Shift: How Effective People See the World, which is used by numerous individuals and organizations across the globe to increase success and create greater effectiveness. She has been an active member of the Society of Human Resource Management, Twin Cities Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Practitioners, Human Resource Professionals of Minnesota,

So many people are voting early, Ramsey County is opening additional locations to serve the need. So why are all of you voting early? Jason talks with listeners.

A review of criminal cases that involved the former Ramsey County medical examiner has entered its third and final phase. The review started three years ago, sifting through 215 cases that Dr. Michael McGee played some part in. And a Minneapolis man was sentenced to over 30 years in prison today for the murder of a transgender woman last November.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Chad Hartman talks with Ramsey County Bob Fletcher about why their staffing levels aren't too bad, why juvenile crime is a problem, what he feels they're doing better than Hennepin County, the issues with Mary Moriarty, and more.

This week we talked to Mark McCabe, he is the Director of Parks and Recreation for Ramsey County - he joined us to talk about some of the renovations coming to Goodrich Golf Course and also how he managed the rainfall of June for the four locations in Ramsey County.

On this date in 1969, as many North Dakotans were sound asleep, a severe storm ripped through Ramsey county. Approximately six miles wide and nine miles long, the storm's path of damage started in the Webster area and moved southeast. Hailstones the size of hens eggs ripped through farms, with damage to buildings, equipment, and crops.

Some people call Juneteenth our nation's second Independence Day.  It marks the date on June 19, 1865, when enslaved Black Americans in Texas finally learned of their freedom, after the Civil War and Emancipation Proclamation.  The day became a federal holiday in 2021, but Americans are still grappling with how to commemorate it.  MPR News guest host Nina Moini talks with Kevin Lindsey, CEO of the Minnesota Humanities Center, about what the nonprofit organization is doing to mark Juneteenth and how better understanding the past can help address injustice today.  Guests:  Kevin Lindsey was hired as CEO of the Minnesota Humanities Center in 2019 after serving almost eight years as commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. He's also worked as an attorney in private practice and in the Ramsey County attorney's office. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.    

Some people call Juneteenth our nation's second Independence Day.  It marks the date on June 19, 1865, when enslaved Black Americans in Texas finally learned of their freedom, after the Civil War and Emancipation Proclamation.  The day became a federal holiday in 2021, but Americans are still grappling with how to commemorate it.  MPR News guest host Nina Moini talks with Kevin Lindsey, CEO of the Minnesota Humanities Center, about what the nonprofit organization is doing to mark Juneteenth and how better understanding the past can help address injustice today.  Guests:  Kevin Lindsey was hired as CEO of the Minnesota Humanities Center in 2019 after serving almost eight years as commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. He's also worked as an attorney in private practice and in the Ramsey County attorney's office. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.    

Growing up in Frogtown In 1941, young Wendy Ham's Gumpa Guy Metzger built a dollhouse—a replica of the family home at 435 Charles Avenue in St. Paul. In 2023, Wendy Ham Rossi donated the “two-story,” six-room dollhouse complete with “indoor plumbing” to Ramsey County Historical Society, a gift for which we are grateful. She also penned a companion memoir about growing up on Charles and, later, at 554 Arundel Street surrounded by the love of her grandparents, parents, and little sister, Joyce. And she graciously recorded a reading, which you can hear online. The retired St. Paul public school teacher weaves memories of the dollhouse and her two childhood homes, her love of books—especially Little Women—and her absolute distaste for household chores into a delightful story that will bring smiles to readers' faces and likely spur memories of your own growing-up adventures from decades' past.

Today we give a Sawkar Salute to a new non profit, STAR House, opening up in May or June in Ramsey County is opening its doors to youth who are in need of shelter for a few days - allowing five beds each weekend.

On Tuesday morning Ramsey County formally adopted its Climate Equity Action Plan, which was finalized earlier this spring. It includes a list of goals meant to help reduce the county's role in creating greenhouse gases and help it adapt to the impacts of climate change. An earlier report found that downtown St. Paul and areas along highways would be especially vulnerable to extreme heat and poor air quality. It also identified factors that could make people more vulnerable to stressors caused by extreme weather and diseases that come from mosquitoes, ticks and fleas. In 2022, the county hired Abigail Phillips to collect input from community members and create the new plan. She joined Minnesota Now to talk about it.

A study found Saint Paul is vulnerable to extreme heat and poor air quality, and Ramsey County is adopting a Climate Equity Action Plan with goals to keep residents safe and healthy. The county's Climate Action Planner joined the show to talk about it.We talked to an expert about why students in special education classes are missing school at alarming rates.There's a rise in multigenerational families living together in Minnesota. Senior economics contributor Chris Farrell joined to talk about why.Tensions are high between the White Earth Nation and Becker County over a plan to give land back to that native nation.We heard from the head coach of the Minnesota Lynx about the two new players drafted to the team.

A use-of-force expert is taking center stage in a high-profile police shooting case. State Patrol officer Ryan Londregan is charged with murder, manslaughter and assault after shooting Ricky Cobb during a traffic stop last summer.On Thursday morning, prosecutors and the defense attorneys argued in the courtroom. Londregan's attorneys say the use-of-force expert told prosecutors that Londregan's actions were justified, but the county attorney's office asked the expert to leave the case and filed charges anyway.It's led to calls from lawmakers to have the state take over the case. Gov. Tim Walz has said he hasn't ruled out re-assigning the case to the attorney general. Susan Gaertner is the special counsel for the law firm Lathrop GPM and a former Ramsey County attorney. She specializes in use-of-force cases and joined Minnesota Now to answer some top-of-mind questions.

We have two great guests over the hour as Chad speaks with Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher about violence towards law enforcement officers and talks spring break and sports with Patrick Reusse.

Days after a sheriff's deputy was shot at during a pursuit, Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher joins Chad to talk about what he sees as a tremendous lack of respect for law enforcement officers and how some politicians are responsible for feeding the distrust that has led to more assaults on officers.

Last month the city of Minneapolis broke up one of the area's largest homeless camps. More than 100 people had been living in tents and other temporary structures at Camp Nenookaasi for months.The encampment is just one of many signs that an increasing number of people in Minnesota are living without stable shelter. People without housing are also riding Metro Transit buses and trains to find safety and warmth. They're sleeping in out-of-the-way corners of the skyways and living in their cars.  The reasons for the rise in unsheltered people are complex, and government and social services are struggling to respond. Last week, a faith-based organization in Ramsey County announced it would start putting up people in area churches to help house some of the families who are overwhelming Hennepin County's emergency shelter program.MPR News host Angela Davis talks about why we're seeing a rise in visible homelessness and possible solutions.Guests:  Monica Nilsson has operated street outreach, shelter and housing programs in the Twin Cities area for 30 years. She serves on the boards of Trellis, a housing developer and property manager of 5000 units throughout Minnesota, Mile in My Shoes, whose mission is collective transformation through running and reducing social isolation and Peace House.Sgt. Beverly Rodriguez oversees the Metro Transit Police Department's Homeless Action Team. She and three outreach officers patrol buses, trains and transit centers and connect people without shelter to emergency shelter, housing vouchers and other resources.  Milton Manning is a U.S. Navy veteran who once experienced homelessness. He currently serves as a justice consultant for the state's Interagency Council on Homelessness and works at Peace House, a community center serving people sleeping outside and low-income adults in Minneapolis.Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.  Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.    

The Falcon Heights City Council meets with the St. Anthony Village City Council Thursday night to explore whether the Ramsey County suburbs should resume their policing relationship. The St. Paul City Council voted unanimously to change the name of a portion of St. Anthony Avenue to Rondo Avenue. And a new inspection report from the Minnesota Fire Marshal shows there were violations at Lutsen Lodge resort, which burned down early Tuesday.This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Phil Picardi. Music by Gary Meister.

The U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether states can exclude former president Donald Trump from their 2024 ballots. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon joined Minnesota Now to talk about what we heard Thursday morning during hours of oral arguments. The City of Falcon Heights is considering a new policing contract with its neighbor, St. Anthony Village. It ended a similar deal in 2016 after the police killing of Philando Castile. We talked with a former Ramsey County sheriff who has been studying the issue. The Lunar New Year begins Saturday. We met the curator behind a new exhibit celebrating the year of the dragon. A Minnesotan with a long, storied life from joined our series, Connect the Dots.The Minnesota Now sports guys Wally and Eric joined the show to talk Super Bowl Sunday, the Timberwolves, Gopher basketball, and more.

The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture visited a nutrition program office in Ramsey County to talk about the urgency for Congress to pass funding by March 1 to ensure nutrition assistance for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and other programs will not have to see cuts. And Minneapolis city workers Thursday cleared a south side homeless encampment, two days after evicting dozens of people from another vacant lot several blocks away.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Since the late 1970s, Right to Farm Laws have been adopted by states across the US to limit nuisance lawsuits against farmers engaged in standard agricultural practices. But who really benefits from Right to Farm Laws? And what can be done to promote real agricultural, rural, and environmental justice? Empty Fields, Empty Promises: A State-By-State Guide to Understanding and Transforming the Right to Farm (UNC Press, 2023) offers valuable history and incisive commentary on these questions. Since their adoption, there has yet to be a comprehensive analysis of what Right to Farm laws do and who they benefit. This book offers the first national analysis and guide to these laws. It reveals that they generally benefit the largest operators, like processing plants, while traditional farmers benefit the least. Disfavored most of all are those seeking to defend their homes and environment against multinational corporations that use right-to-farm laws to strip neighboring owners of their property rights. Through what the book calls the "midburden," right-to-farm laws dispossess the many in favor of the few, paving the path to rural poverty. Empty Fields, Empty Promises summarizes every state's right-to-farm laws to help readers track and navigate their local and regional legal landscape. The book concludes by offering paths forward for a more distributed and democratic agrifood system that achieves agricultural, rural, and environmental justice. The book is available for purchase or for FREE as an Open Access eBook from the University of North Carolina Press. Loka Ashwood is associate professor of sociology at the University of Kentucky. Her work develops action-centered methodologies that help frontline communities overcome environmental injustices and strengthen democracy. She is the author of For-Profit Democracy: Why the Government Is Losing the Trust of Rural America (2018) and co-author of An Invitation to Environmental Sociology (6th Edition, 2020). Aimee Imlay is assistant professor of sociology at Mississippi State University. Lindsay Kuehn is a public defender in Ramsey County, Minnesota, and a staff attorney with the Farmers' Legal Action Group. Allen Franco is an assistant federal public defender for the districts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Danielle Diamond is a visiting fellow at the Brooks McCormick Jr. Animal Law and Policy Program at Harvard Law School. Garrett Broad is Associate Professor of Communication Studies in Rowan University's Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts, where he also serves as Provost's Fellow in the Catalysts for Sustainability Initiative. His research and teaching explore the connections between contemporary social movements, food systems, and digital media technology. He is the author of More Than Just Food: Food Justice and Community Change, as well as a variety of articles on food's relationship to environmental sustainability, economic equity, and the health of humans and nonhuman animals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced charges today against the trooper involved in the shooting death of Ricky Cobb II. Former Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner joins Chad on the charges and explanations of the legal questions at hand.

Since the late 1970s, Right to Farm Laws have been adopted by states across the US to limit nuisance lawsuits against farmers engaged in standard agricultural practices. But who really benefits from Right to Farm Laws? And what can be done to promote real agricultural, rural, and environmental justice? Empty Fields, Empty Promises: A State-By-State Guide to Understanding and Transforming the Right to Farm (UNC Press, 2023) offers valuable history and incisive commentary on these questions. Since their adoption, there has yet to be a comprehensive analysis of what Right to Farm laws do and who they benefit. This book offers the first national analysis and guide to these laws. It reveals that they generally benefit the largest operators, like processing plants, while traditional farmers benefit the least. Disfavored most of all are those seeking to defend their homes and environment against multinational corporations that use right-to-farm laws to strip neighboring owners of their property rights. Through what the book calls the "midburden," right-to-farm laws dispossess the many in favor of the few, paving the path to rural poverty. Empty Fields, Empty Promises summarizes every state's right-to-farm laws to help readers track and navigate their local and regional legal landscape. The book concludes by offering paths forward for a more distributed and democratic agrifood system that achieves agricultural, rural, and environmental justice. The book is available for purchase or for FREE as an Open Access eBook from the University of North Carolina Press. Loka Ashwood is associate professor of sociology at the University of Kentucky. Her work develops action-centered methodologies that help frontline communities overcome environmental injustices and strengthen democracy. She is the author of For-Profit Democracy: Why the Government Is Losing the Trust of Rural America (2018) and co-author of An Invitation to Environmental Sociology (6th Edition, 2020). Aimee Imlay is assistant professor of sociology at Mississippi State University. Lindsay Kuehn is a public defender in Ramsey County, Minnesota, and a staff attorney with the Farmers' Legal Action Group. Allen Franco is an assistant federal public defender for the districts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Danielle Diamond is a visiting fellow at the Brooks McCormick Jr. Animal Law and Policy Program at Harvard Law School. Garrett Broad is Associate Professor of Communication Studies in Rowan University's Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts, where he also serves as Provost's Fellow in the Catalysts for Sustainability Initiative. His research and teaching explore the connections between contemporary social movements, food systems, and digital media technology. He is the author of More Than Just Food: Food Justice and Community Change, as well as a variety of articles on food's relationship to environmental sustainability, economic equity, and the health of humans and nonhuman animals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/environmental-studies

Since the late 1970s, Right to Farm Laws have been adopted by states across the US to limit nuisance lawsuits against farmers engaged in standard agricultural practices. But who really benefits from Right to Farm Laws? And what can be done to promote real agricultural, rural, and environmental justice? Empty Fields, Empty Promises: A State-By-State Guide to Understanding and Transforming the Right to Farm (UNC Press, 2023) offers valuable history and incisive commentary on these questions. Since their adoption, there has yet to be a comprehensive analysis of what Right to Farm laws do and who they benefit. This book offers the first national analysis and guide to these laws. It reveals that they generally benefit the largest operators, like processing plants, while traditional farmers benefit the least. Disfavored most of all are those seeking to defend their homes and environment against multinational corporations that use right-to-farm laws to strip neighboring owners of their property rights. Through what the book calls the "midburden," right-to-farm laws dispossess the many in favor of the few, paving the path to rural poverty. Empty Fields, Empty Promises summarizes every state's right-to-farm laws to help readers track and navigate their local and regional legal landscape. The book concludes by offering paths forward for a more distributed and democratic agrifood system that achieves agricultural, rural, and environmental justice. The book is available for purchase or for FREE as an Open Access eBook from the University of North Carolina Press. Loka Ashwood is associate professor of sociology at the University of Kentucky. Her work develops action-centered methodologies that help frontline communities overcome environmental injustices and strengthen democracy. She is the author of For-Profit Democracy: Why the Government Is Losing the Trust of Rural America (2018) and co-author of An Invitation to Environmental Sociology (6th Edition, 2020). Aimee Imlay is assistant professor of sociology at Mississippi State University. Lindsay Kuehn is a public defender in Ramsey County, Minnesota, and a staff attorney with the Farmers' Legal Action Group. Allen Franco is an assistant federal public defender for the districts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Danielle Diamond is a visiting fellow at the Brooks McCormick Jr. Animal Law and Policy Program at Harvard Law School. Garrett Broad is Associate Professor of Communication Studies in Rowan University's Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts, where he also serves as Provost's Fellow in the Catalysts for Sustainability Initiative. His research and teaching explore the connections between contemporary social movements, food systems, and digital media technology. He is the author of More Than Just Food: Food Justice and Community Change, as well as a variety of articles on food's relationship to environmental sustainability, economic equity, and the health of humans and nonhuman animals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/food

Since the late 1970s, Right to Farm Laws have been adopted by states across the US to limit nuisance lawsuits against farmers engaged in standard agricultural practices. But who really benefits from Right to Farm Laws? And what can be done to promote real agricultural, rural, and environmental justice? Empty Fields, Empty Promises: A State-By-State Guide to Understanding and Transforming the Right to Farm (UNC Press, 2023) offers valuable history and incisive commentary on these questions. Since their adoption, there has yet to be a comprehensive analysis of what Right to Farm laws do and who they benefit. This book offers the first national analysis and guide to these laws. It reveals that they generally benefit the largest operators, like processing plants, while traditional farmers benefit the least. Disfavored most of all are those seeking to defend their homes and environment against multinational corporations that use right-to-farm laws to strip neighboring owners of their property rights. Through what the book calls the "midburden," right-to-farm laws dispossess the many in favor of the few, paving the path to rural poverty. Empty Fields, Empty Promises summarizes every state's right-to-farm laws to help readers track and navigate their local and regional legal landscape. The book concludes by offering paths forward for a more distributed and democratic agrifood system that achieves agricultural, rural, and environmental justice. The book is available for purchase or for FREE as an Open Access eBook from the University of North Carolina Press. Loka Ashwood is associate professor of sociology at the University of Kentucky. Her work develops action-centered methodologies that help frontline communities overcome environmental injustices and strengthen democracy. She is the author of For-Profit Democracy: Why the Government Is Losing the Trust of Rural America (2018) and co-author of An Invitation to Environmental Sociology (6th Edition, 2020). Aimee Imlay is assistant professor of sociology at Mississippi State University. Lindsay Kuehn is a public defender in Ramsey County, Minnesota, and a staff attorney with the Farmers' Legal Action Group. Allen Franco is an assistant federal public defender for the districts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Danielle Diamond is a visiting fellow at the Brooks McCormick Jr. Animal Law and Policy Program at Harvard Law School. Garrett Broad is Associate Professor of Communication Studies in Rowan University's Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts, where he also serves as Provost's Fellow in the Catalysts for Sustainability Initiative. His research and teaching explore the connections between contemporary social movements, food systems, and digital media technology. He is the author of More Than Just Food: Food Justice and Community Change, as well as a variety of articles on food's relationship to environmental sustainability, economic equity, and the health of humans and nonhuman animals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

Once again, public officials in Minnesota are considering changing the name of a lake which includes a derogatory term used to describe Native Americans.The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Tuesday morning on the proposal to rename Savage Lake in Little Canada. The lake is two bodies of water, split by I-35E as it runs between St. Paul and I-694.The Little Canada Historical Society submitted the petition last year to rename the lake Lake Metis. Metis means “mixed” in French. The proposed new name reflects the area's history. Curt Loschy, head of the society, said back in the 1830s French Canadian fur traders and Native Americans set up their summer camp on the east side of Savage Lake.Initially, it was known as “Lac au Sauvages” which means “wild lake” in French. In the late 1800s, when English became the dominant language, the body of water was known as Savage Lake.“I've never liked the name of savage,” said Rockne Waite, a member of the Little Canada Historical Society. He has been spearheading the effort since he made his first phone call to the public works department in 2010 to find out how the name could be changed. 2020 Minnesota's 'Redskin Lake' could see name change 2022 New map restores Native names to northern Minnesota 2023 With new name in Dakota, St. Paul nonprofit pushes Indigenous renaming forward Waite says he attended city council meetings trying to get the lake changed. “And nobody knew how to change the lake names at the time,” he said. Waite, who is of Choctaw and Chickasaw ancestry and originally from San Bernardino, Calif., has lived in Little Canada since 1974. Waite eventually connected with Pete Boulay, a climatologist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Boulay also works in the geographic names section of the DNR.  The process to change a geographical feature like a lake, creek, island or mountain begins with a petition. It must have signatures from at least 15 registered voters in the county where the name change is to take place. Boulay recommends getting 25 signatures, just in case any are ruled out.From beginning to end, the name change paperwork has to go back and forth a couple of times from county to state and finally to the U.S. Board on Geographical Names. If the U.S. board votes to approve the name change, then the name change process is complete.If that sounds like bureaucracy on steroids, Boulay said there's a good reason for it.He said he wants the name to “stick” and not have to be revisited again. “And I also want to build a good enough case where the U.S. Board on Geographic Names would accept the name,” he said.Only one name has been rejected by the board and that was in 1994, before Boulay began in his position.   Loschy said this is not the first request for a lake name change in Minnesota. “The reality is, this whole name change thing, there's been a lot of name changes to Minnesota lakes that have been insulting to the Native Americans.”  2015 Calhoun not the first lake with a controversial name 2019 DNR taking Bde Maka Ska name fight to MN Supreme Court According to the DNR there have been 121 name changes to geographical features in the state since 1991. Seventy-one of them have been lake changes. Twenty geographical features originally named after a slur used against Native American women have had their names changed. Eight of them were lakes. One lake in Washington County was changed from Halfbreed to Lake Keewahtin.    A high-profile name change in Minneapolis led to a lawsuit against the DNR. The agency approved the name change of Lake Calhoun to Bde Maka Ska in 2018.If Lake Metis is approved, Boulay says it will not only be the first Lake Metis in Minnesota, but it will also be the first in the nation.

Episode #81: Have you ever held back sharing good news because you sensed a friend wasn't truly celebrating with you? Do you have friends who show up in bad times, but are slow to show support in good times? This episode is for you! I share some thoughts on identifying the friends who want to hear your good news, how to develop more friendships like that, and how to be that kind of friend to others. Then, my guest, Chaz Sandifer, and I discussed the reality of outgrowing friendships, knowing which friends you can trust, friends who cheer you on, the dangers of jealousy and competition, and much more. Meet Chaz Sandifer:Chaz is the founder and owner of theNEWmpls, a holistic health and wellness company specializing in fitness, wellness, and nutrition. They offer private fitness classes around the Twin Cities and a variety of special programs with various partners. Chaz is the sole source for diabetes prevention in Ramsey County. She also owns Lakeview Terrace Farmers Market, the only Black woman owned farmer's market in Minnesota. Chaz personally speaks often about owning a health and wellness business as a Black woman. One of her main specialties is discussing generational wealth. Chaz has a weekly podcast with WCCO called Fitness Revolution with Chaz. Chaz has taken on a role as a co-leader for the communications work group at The University of Minnesota in the department for Community Engagement to Advance Research and Community Health, and she's the co-founder of Stories Through the Menu, an exciting chef series in Minneapolis. Find Chaz on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn.Let's connect over all things friendship! Here's my Substack newsletter about friendship & more Dear Nina website with show notes and a guide to pitching yourself as a guest Instagram & TikTok Twitter JOIN the Dear Nina Facebook group Ask an anonymous question

The West Side is a haven for immigrant communities arriving in St. Paul, Minnesota. Historically, it has included people of German, Roma, Polish, Swedish, Irish, Jewish (fleeing Russian pogroms), Latin American, Middle Eastern (among them after 1948, Palestinians), and African heritage. It is a place where different languages, religions, and cultures coexist in the womb of God's earth without colonial integration, though not free from its ire. The latter is felt in the absence of the native Mdewakanton Dakota people, who sojourned locally along the river in a seasonal encampment under a succession of chiefs known as “Little Crow.” After Minnesota became a territory in 1849, colonial merchants were eager to “expand” and “build” bigger “barns.” (Luke 12:16-21) So, by 1851, the nomadic tribes of God were driven out of nearly all of Elohim's earth in Minnesota and eastern Dakota in the Traverse des Sioux and Mendota treaties. The same colonial resentments resurfaced first in the suppression of the German language by the “Minnesota Commission of Public Safety,” and later in the 1930s during the Great Depression, when, in several attempts to address the “Mexican problem,” Ramsey County officials repatriated no less than 15% of the Mexican population, many of whom were U.S. citizens. “This was the West Side Flats, and for about a hundred years, from the 1850s to the 1960s, life bloomed there. A unique neighborhood in Minnesota and the wider U.S., the Flats were dense, low-income, polyglot, striving, unpaved, and unpainted.” In this sense, despite its material (and at times extreme) poverty and because of its mix of languages under constant outside pressure, it is reminiscent of al-Andalus, the fleeting memory of a golden age of tolerance, cultural exchange, and common sense. Despite regular flooding in the old neighborhood, city officials did nothing to address the issue or assist West Side residents. Only after the demolition of the Flats and the deportation (integration into the Melting Pot) of its residents in 1963 did the “community builders” of Ramsey County install flood control mechanisms on the Riverfront. “What they did to the Mexicans down on the old West Side—to make them move like that, and not compensate them, and give them the bare minimum. What they did to destroy a community like that is wrong.” —George AvalozRichard and I discuss Luke 4:38-39. (Episode 501) Today's introduction is an excerpt from Fr. Marc's new book, Dark Sayings: Diary of an American Priest (OCABS Press, 2023). Available on amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and many of your favorite online booksellers. Check the show notes or visit ocabspress.org to learn more.References: www.mnopedia.org/place/west-side-flats-st-paulwww.nps.gov/miss/planyourvisit/kapoindi.htmwww.wsco.org/westsidehistorywww.nchsmn.org/1851-treaty-of-traverse-des-siouxminnpost.com/mnopedia/2016/01/during-world-war-i-minnesota-nativists-waged-all-out-war-german-culture-state/Roethke, Leigh. Latino Minnesota. Minnesota Historical Society, 2009, pp. 40-41. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

During the COVID-19 pandemic, violent crimes committed by people under age 18 increased, including auto theft, assaults and robberies.  But too often, courts and the “juvenile justice” system don't address teenagers' underlying needs and behavior. Many teens are released only to commit crimes again.  What if there was a better way to address the harm that young people cause themselves and others?   An approach called restorative justice is getting more attention as an alternative response. The public safety bill signed by Gov. Tim Walz last spring includes funding and a new state office to promote restorative justice programs across Minnesota.   Ramsey County began quietly using it with some juvenile cases three years ago, following experiments in Minneapolis, where young people who completed a restorative justice process were half as likely to be rearrested by police a year later as young people who went through the traditional court system.  MPR News host Angela Davis talks about how restorative justice works with a researcher and two people who lead restorative justice programs.  Guests:  Kara Beckman researches restorative justice programs in several Minnesota communities as a senior evaluator in the Healthy Youth Development - Prevention Research Center at the University of Minnesota Medical School.  Brenda Burnside reviews juvenile cases for diversion to a restorative justice process as a member of the three-person team convened by (Re)Imagining Justice for Youth at the Ramsey County Attorney's Office. She is CEO of Let's Circle Up and has a background in dispute resolution, special education and restorative community work. Sharon Hendrichs is the restorative justice director in Yellow Medicine County, one of the first Minnesota communities to use restorative practices as an alternative to the traditional court system for young people more than 20 years ago. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.  Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.