Minnesota Now

Minnesota Public Radio

Live, down to earth, unscripted interviews that aim to connect, inform and entertain. Real people share real stories with MPR News host Nina Moini. It’s journalism that doesn’t take itself too seriously and puts people first. read less

Our Editor's Take

Minnesota Now is a podcast for every Minnesotan who wants to stay updated with local news. Listeners receive a brand of journalism that's lighthearted and approachable. Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) is behind the show.

Host Cathy Wurzer is an Emmy-winning MPR News host. In this podcast, she shows her versatility as a host, examining the weather, sports, health care, and more. Apart from Minnesota Now, she also hosts MPR Morning Edition.

In one podcast episode, she brings out the full climate cast with help from local meteorologists. Paul Huttner discusses the climate change status quo with the latest research. It's right here in Minnesota, right now, and the rest of the world too.

On politics, the Minnesota Now podcast examines the latest in the Twin Cities. Is there new legislation from the capitol that would impact Minnesotans' lives? Who better to ask than Gov. Tim Walz himself? Cathy also examines the businesses in downtown St. Paul. How have they been holding up following their post-pandemic re-opening?

Meanwhile, there's also fun and exciting sports news to discover. Minnesota Aurora's Paola Then is going to the Women's Under-20 Continental Championship. Each episode offers something new to the listeners. So to keep perspectives fresh, Minnesota Now also features other contributing guests. There's Emily Bright, Angela Davis, and Chris Farrell, among others from the MPR News family.

This Minnesota Public Radio News podcast is a great way for Minnesotans to stay updated. Cathy's friendly with her guests and professional with the topics discussed. Its live and unscripted format gives a sense of realness and reliability. That's why the audience finds it easy to relate and appreciate. But while it's meant for the locals, first of all, anyone interested in the local state of affairs can enjoy it too. Whether in or out of state, listeners can expect fresh new Minnesota Now episodes daily.

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In a new book, Minnesota author spotlights unsung hero from the HIV/AIDS crisis

In a new book, Minnesota author spotlights unsung hero from the HIV/AIDS crisis

World AIDS Day is coming up on Dec. 1 and leaders in the HIV/AIDS field are taking this time to reflect on the enormous progress the medical community has made to reduce the spread and improve the lives of people living with HIV. That progress was made in no small part from the shift in public narratives around the disease. A Minnesotan is exploring the life of Randy Shilts, a little-little known leader from those early days of the HIV/AIDS crisis. Shilts was a pioneering journalist from San Francisco who worked to change the narratives and reporting around the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1980s. Michael G. Lee is a professor at Saint Mary’s University and the author of a new book about Shilts’ life called “When the Band Played On.” He joins MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it.

Episodes

In a new book, Minnesota author spotlights unsung hero from the HIV/AIDS crisis

In a new book, Minnesota author spotlights unsung hero from the HIV/AIDS crisis

World AIDS Day is coming up on Dec. 1 and leaders in the HIV/AIDS field are taking this time to reflect on the enormous progress the medical community has made to reduce the spread and improve the lives of people living with HIV. That progress was made in no small part from the shift in public narratives around the disease. A Minnesotan is exploring the life of Randy Shilts, a little-little known leader from those early days of the HIV/AIDS crisis. Shilts was a pioneering journalist from San Francisco who worked to change the narratives and reporting around the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1980s. Michael G. Lee is a professor at Saint Mary’s University and the author of a new book about Shilts’ life called “When the Band Played On.” He joins MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it.

Minnesota Now: Nov. 20, 2024

Minnesota Now: Nov. 20, 2024

The Office of Cannabis Management rejected about two thirds of applications from people hoping to start some of the state’s first cannabis businesses. We hear about frustration from hopeful entrepreneurs and why the state deemed so many applications ineligible.Wednesday, Nov. 20 is Trans Day of Remembrance. We talk to a new organization on the North Shore about building resilience.And a wildlife refuge in the state is lucky to be a stop on the migration path of the sandhill crane. We learn about why more cranes are showing up this fall.Plus we learn about the life of a journalist who changed the narrative around the AIDS crisis back in the 1980s.Our Minnesota Music Minute is Shine a Light on Me by Cole Diamond and our Song of the Day is Crawling Home When the Morning Comes by Sweet and Lonely.

On Trans Day of Remembrance, Duluth organization gathers to honor those lost, celebrate resilience

On Trans Day of Remembrance, Duluth organization gathers to honor those lost, celebrate resilience

Every year on Nov. 20, people around the world gather to remember lost loved ones for Trans Day of Remembrance. The day was created to recognize people who were murdered because of their transgender identity. The new organization called Trans Northland is holding events in both Duluth and Superior to remember lost peers and have important conversations about resilience. Trans Northland’s executive director, Sean Hayes, joins MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the day.

Minnesota regulator to hold lottery for first cannabis businesses after rejecting two-thirds of applicants

Minnesota regulator to hold lottery for first cannabis businesses after rejecting two-thirds of applicants

Minnesota cannabis regulators say they plan to hold a lottery sometime in the next two weeks to determine who will get to open up the state’s first legal marijuana businesses. But the Office of Cannabis Management is facing pushback this week after it rejected more than 1,100 applicants it deemed ineligible. That’s around two-thirds of those who applied. MPR News correspondent Matt Sepic has been following this and joins MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it.

Minnesota Now: Nov. 19 2024

Minnesota Now: Nov. 19 2024

Minnesota's Democratic party chairman Ken Martin has officially thrown his hat in the ring to lead the democratic party nationally. We learned more about his history and challenges the party faces after the 2024 presidential election.Hennepin County is still working to cut down the jail population after a report from the Department of Corrections. Someone personally impacted by a loved one serving time there joined the show to talk about the effects of understaffed and overcrowded jails. A Minnesota woman survived poverty to come to the U.S. from Somalia, raise four children and start a nonprofit. Her new memoir details her journey and lessons learned. Minneapolis Rock band Pretendians is up for a prestigious music award. They joined the show to talk about the American Indian Music Awards.

New book traces life from a Somali orchard to running a nonprofit in Minnesota

New book traces life from a Somali orchard to running a nonprofit in Minnesota

A Minnesota author has put out a new book about her life with pieces from her grandparents’ orchard in Somalia, her teen years in a refugee camp and her adulthood in the U.S. and Minnesota. In “My Dear Loving Sisters: Tea and Stories from an Audacious Life,” Fatoun Ali lays out how she survived poverty and abuse to raise four children and start a nonprofit. Ali created the piece in a workbook format, with strategies and questions for overcoming all kinds of challenges. Her nonprofit, Somali Youth and Family Development Center, turns 15 this year and has a gala on Wednesday to celebrate. Fatoun Ali joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini in the MPR News studio for a conversation about her work and life.

Minnesota’s Pretendians Band nominated for Native American Music Award

Minnesota’s Pretendians Band nominated for Native American Music Award

Nominees are out for the Native American Music Awards, a prestigious award that honors the musical achievements of Native Americans in the U.S. and Canada. Among them are several Minnesota musicians including Minneapolis-based rock band “Pretendians.”Pretendians’ lead singer Thomas Draskovic, who is an enrolled member of Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, joined MPR News host Nina Moini to discuss his music, his band’s divisive name and listen to a few songs.

As Hennepin County rushes to re-board inmates, family members open up about impact

As Hennepin County rushes to re-board inmates, family members open up about impact

As of Tuesday morning, there were 699 people incarcerated in Hennepin County jail — that’s 99 more than the limit set by the state Department of Corrections. The DOC says in a report that understaffing in the jail is putting the safety of inmates at risk. The report also says that in the last two years, seven inmates have died there or after being transferred to the hospital. Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt has said she’s working to move people through agreements with other counties. Her office requested an extension from the DOC and got one — its new deadline is Dec. 7. Rose Lobely has a personal stake in the issue. She has a relative incarcerated in the jail. Lobely and attorney Anna Hall of the Legal Rights Center joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about their experience.

How Ken Martin hopes to shape the future of the Democratic party

How Ken Martin hopes to shape the future of the Democratic party

DFL Party Chair Ken Martin has put himself in the running to lead the Democratic National Committee. Martin led the Minnesota DFL for more than a decade and is known as a hard worker, a successful fundraiser and strong party builder. MPR News correspondent Mark Zdechlik has been covering Martin for years and joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about the big announcement and why Martin thinks he is a good fit to lead the DNC.

From the Minneapolis Fed to early childhood education: Lessons from Art Rolnick’s career

From the Minneapolis Fed to early childhood education: Lessons from Art Rolnick’s career

“Human capital” is an economic catchphrase for the collective knowledge, skills, experience and other attributes people accumulate throughout their lives. Human capital development is key to a nation's prosperity. You’ll immediately grasp the meaning of the term if you spend time talking about ideas, policy and life with Art Rolnick, age 79. He’s a scholar of pre-Civil War banking era; a well-known opponent of public funding for stadiums and the costly tax competition between states and localities to attract business; former long-time head of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis; and, most notably, an enthusiastic advocate for early childhood human capital initiatives. MPR’s senior economics contributor Chris Farrell recently met with Rolnick for our series “Connect the Dots.” We ask community elders to share part of their life story, and lessons they’ve learned along the way about what really matters in life.

New Minnesota clinic for asylum seekers is first of its kind in state

New Minnesota clinic for asylum seekers is first of its kind in state

There is a new medical clinic in town focused on a specific — and pressing — issue: evaluations for asylum seekers to support their cases to remain in Minnesota. That means clinicians will work specifically with people in the metro who are going through the process of proving to the United States government that their home country is no longer safe for them to stay. A medical evaluation could make all the difference in those cases. MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with Dr. Nathan Bertelsen about the clinic, which would be the first of its kind in Minnesota. Dr. Bertelsen worked closely with the Center for Victims of Torture to establish the clinic.

Justin Jefferson’s record-breaking season, and other sports news

Justin Jefferson’s record-breaking season, and other sports news

Justin Jefferson has another record to his name. During the Vikings game in Tennessee yesterday he finished racking up the most receiving yards in a player's first five NFL seasons. And there are still seven games to go. He helped the Vikings beat Tennessee, bringing their record to eight wins and two losses. Sports guys Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about what's next for the Vikings — plus the High School Football Championships this weekend.

E. coli outbreak in Minnesota: How to stay safe

E. coli outbreak in Minnesota: How to stay safe

A recent string of E. coli outbreaks in Minnesota has launched multiple recalls for carrots and beef in the state. So far, ten cases of E. coli in Minnesota have been connected to burgers sold at multiple Red Cow Restaurants in the metro and Hen House Eatery in Minneapolis. At least five people became sick from carrots sold in grocery stores across the state. For more about how these outbreaks are happening and how to stay safe, MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with Carlota Medus, epidemiologist with the Foodborne Diseases Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health.

Minnesota Now: Nov. 18, 2024

Minnesota Now: Nov. 18, 2024

Several people are sick with E. coli from store-bought carrots that have been recalled in 18 states, including Minnesota. Other recent cases are linked to burgers from three metro-area restaurants. We talk with an expert in foodborne illness about how to stay healthy.A new clinic is working to help people who are seeking asylum in the U.S. get medical evidence that can help their cases. And we hear the latest in our series, “Connect the Dots,” where Minnesota elders share stories and lessons from their lives. This time, an economist and former competitive ballroom dancer who cares a lot about early childhood education.Plus, in sports news, one Minnesota high school is going to the state championship for the first time in nearly 40 years.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Somethin’ Somethin’” by King Pari and our Song of the Day was “John Saw that Number” by Neko Case.

Minnesota Now: Nov. 14, 2024

Minnesota Now: Nov. 14, 2024

President-elect Donald Trump is quickly nominating members of his cabinet. Minnesota U.S. Sen. Tina Smith talks about her role in confirming those nominees.We learn how a father who lost his son in a bike accident is advocating for safer streets in the Twin Cities metro area.The deadline for Hennepin County jail to reduce their inmate population was Thursday at noon. We have an update on if they complied with that order.And this chilly weather makes many want to cozy up with a good book. Don’t know where to start? We have some tips.Plus community leaders are bringing two historic neighborhoods in St. Paul together for what they’re calling “Frondo.” Yep, that's a mix of Frogtown and Rondo. Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Hello” by Babes in Toyland and our Song of the Day was “Any Colour You Like” by Sugar Lads.

FRONDO bringing together Hmong and Black cultures of Frogtown and Rondo

FRONDO bringing together Hmong and Black cultures of Frogtown and Rondo

An initiative in St. Paul is connecting and celebrating two of its largest minority populations, Hmong and Black. Aptly named “FRONDO,” the initiative is bringing together the Frogtown neighborhood which has a large Hmong population and the historically Black Rondo neighborhood in a way that’s never been done before.May Lee-Yang and Nicole M. Smith are the organizers behind the project. Lee-Yang is a performer and educator and Smith is the founder and CEO of Neuvo Soul productions. They joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about FRONDO.

Help me get out of a reading rut

Help me get out of a reading rut

The library has a lot of tools to get you back into a book whether it's physical, digital or audio. And your local librarian is here to help if you want to get back into the habit or maybe you need an escape from reality.

Sen. Smith: Trump cabinet picks are concerning, but I will give each a fair hearing

Sen. Smith: Trump cabinet picks are concerning, but I will give each a fair hearing

President-elect Donald Trump is quickly building his cabinet, with a flurry of nominations for top positions. Among them is Minnesotan Pete Hegseth, a Fox News commentator who Trump nominated to be Secretary of Defense.Under the typical process of checks and balances, Hegseth and other nominees would need to be confirmed by the Senate – which Republicans will control next year. But Trump has suggested he’d like to sidestep that process.U.S. Democratic Sen. Tina Smith joined the program to talk about her role in the nomination process and what she hopes will come out of it.

Five years after Alex Wolf’s death on a bicycle, his father carries on fight for bike safety

Five years after Alex Wolf’s death on a bicycle, his father carries on fight for bike safety

This month marks five years since Alex Wolf was killed on his bicycle in Minneapolis. He was 30 years old.Wolf had been commuting home from work on Nov. 20, 2019. He was hit by the driver of a semi-truck that turned into his bike lane in downtown Minneapolis.Wolf was an advocate for safer streets during his short lifetime. And now his father, Keith Wolf, has turned his focus toward the same cause in his son’s honor. Keith Wolf joined Minnesota Now to talk about his son’s legacy and how it’s turned into advocacy.

Deadline passes for Hennepin County to reduce jail population, compliance in flux

Deadline passes for Hennepin County to reduce jail population, compliance in flux

The deadline has passed for the Hennepin County Jail to reduce its jail population via an order from the Department of Corrections. A DOC report found the jail failed to meet minimum staffing levels and violated rules on routine wellness checks.Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt has tried to appeal this ruling, but a first attempt was unsuccessful.Whether the county has complied is still in flux. MPR News correspondent Matt Sepic has been following the story and joined the program to share where things stand.