Minnesota Now

The U.S. senate overturned a ban on mining in the Boundary Waters Thursday. It's a win for mining companies — and a loss for environmentalists who say mining will pollute the region. We heard from a Minnesotan in the mining industry. And a New York Times reporter shared what she learned by talking with dozens of former and current DHS employees. A St. Paul elementary school will soon launch a historic Afrocentric curriculum for its majority Black student body. Plus, we heard from a documentary filmmaker following the Jacob Wetterling murder case — after it was closed — through the perspective of the Wetterling family. And we spoke to a Duluth writer who wrote a book about the best hikes in the country. The Minnesota Music Minute was “St. Paul” by Anchorhead.

A state Democratic lawmaker running for Congress apologized for placing a wager on himself that he'd win his party primary. State Sen. Matt Klein of Mendota Heights said he wagered $50 in an online prediction market last October. The platform Kalshi flagged it as a political insider trading, penalized Klein $540 and banned him from the platform for five years. This situation is one of the many ethical conversations around prediction markets. At the State Capitol there's a bill looking to ban them. Minnesota Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement director Jon Anglin's job is to regulate this market. He spoke to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about the challenges around regulating prediction markets.

Community members and advocates from Native communities across the state and country wrapped up a three-day conference on ending sexual violence Thursday. The “Restoring the Sacred Trails of Our Grandmothers Conference” is hosted annually by the Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition. Nicole Matthews, chief executive officer of the coalition, said this year's event comes at a particularly difficult time with funding cuts and heightened need. It also takes place just as an audit into the police response and investigation of Allison Lussier’s death was released. Lussier was an Indigenous woman who was found dead in her home in 2024. Police reports show Lussier had experienced intimate partner violence. The report is critical of the Minneapolis Police Department in its handling of Lussier’s case as well as the shooting of Davis Moturi, who was shot by a neighbor. Matthews shared more about the gathering and her reaction to the findings of the report with Minnesota Now host Nina Moini.

If you’ve spent much time on a dance floor in Minneapolis over the past couple decades, chances are you’ve heard about the weekly dance night known as Transmission. Through its blend of new wave, indie rock, and alternative classics, it’s built a loyal following across generations. This year marks 25 years of Transmission, which takes place every Wednesday night at the Uptown VFW. They're celebrating with a big party Saturday night at First Avenue. The DJ who started it all is Jake Rudh, who hosts a show on The Current with the same name. He marked the milestone on Minnesota Now.

A 12-day hunger strike over a trash incinerator in downtown Minneapolis is over — but a campaign to close the facility will continue. Activists have pushed for years to close the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center, or HERC. They say the facility next to Target Field is endangering the health of residents of the area, including a predominantly Black neighborhood on the city’s north side. In 2023, the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution to shut down the HERC between 2028 and 2040. Environmental and labor groups are pushing the commissioners to commit to a deadline. Sahan Journal reporter Andrew Hazzard has been covering the HERC for years and he joined Minnesota Now to talk more about the latest developments.

Audits of two high-profile Minneapolis police investigations were released Wednesday morning. They show where the department fell short. We learn about the city auditor’s findings in the death of Allison Lussier and the shooting of Davis Moturi. State lawmakers are looking at the future of seclusion rooms in elementary schools. We'll learn what they are and how they impact children and teachers. Plus, on Earth Day, a state climate official shared where Minnesota stands in its climate goals. The University of Minnesota Morris is taking a unique step to go green. We learned how they are using thermal batteries. And it may be a record-warm Earth Day. We checked in with meteorologist Sven Sundgaard. “Deeper Blues” by Cornbread Harris was the Minnesota Music Minute. “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)” by Marvin Gaye was the Song of the Day.

Wednesday is Earth Day, which started in 1970 as a protest against pollution and habitat loss. Climate change was not a household term at the time, but it's now a number-one priority for people concerned about the wellbeing of the planet. The state of Minnesota is chasing a set of goals to tackle the causes of climate change and cushion its impact on communities. The state is trying to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030, compared to 2005 levels, and reach net-zero emissions by 2050. It is not on track to meet those goals, according to a recent presentation the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency gave to state lawmakers. To learn more about the state’s climate plans and what it will take to get on track, MPR News host Nina Moini talked with Katrina Kessler, commissioner of the MPCA and chair of the Minnesota Climate Change Subcabinet.

One of the state's greenest university campuses is getting even greener. The University of Minnesota Morris reached carbon neutrality when it comes to the electricity that powers its campus, thanks to two wind turbines named Bert and Ernie. Now, it's taking steps to decarbonize the source of heat in its buildings. That's led Morris to a new thermal battery that it began piloting in March. It is believed to be the first campus in the U.S. to use this technology for heating. UMN Morris Sustainability Director Troy Goodnough joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about how it works.

Seclusion rooms have been used in Minnesota for decades, as a last-resort response to student behavioral issues in the classroom. The use of these solitary rooms was banned for some of the youngest learners statewide in 2023, after they were deemed harmful and ineffective. But now, the Minnesota Senate is considering reversing that ban for children in grade three and under until 2036. That’s because, according to some administrators, schools need more time to plan alternatives to seclusion rooms. Minnesota School Psychologists Association President-elect Tascha Just joined MPR News host Nina Moini to share context on seclusion rooms and the conflict surrounding the ban.

Federal immigration agents detained more than 70 children in Minnesota during the surge over the winter. Nearly half of those children have since left the U.S., according to a new story by Sahan Journal. We'll learn more about what happened to those children and their families. Some Minnesota companies have made money from the war in Iran. We'll talk with a MinnPost reporter who looked into defense contracts with the military. It's the season of senioritis for college seniors who are looking for their next steps. We'll talk with a career counselor about how AI is changing the search for entry level jobs. 10 years ago, the world lost a superstar. We'll hear stories about Prince and a new song from the vault. Our Minnesota Music Minute was “With This Tear” by Prince.

The war in Iran led to a boom in the defense industry in Minnesota. That means many companies have increased income as a result of the war, according to new reporting from MinnPost. MinnPost data journalist Shadi Bushra spoke to MPR News Nina Moini about his reporting.

It is the time of year when college seniors are itching to graduate and looking forward to their first jobs out of school. But they're facing uncertainty in the job market. In fall 2025, a widely watched survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers predicted a bad employment outlook for spring graduates. But on Monday, an updated survey showed a turnaround, with employers expected to boost new-graduate hires. Katie Jolicoeur, director of Career Services at Minnesota State University, Mankato, is helping soon-to-be college grads navigate the job market. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the advice she gives them.

It’s hard to believe, but it’s been 10 years since the death of Minnesota’s most beloved cultural icon, Prince. Just before 10 the morning of April 21st, 2016, he was found unresponsive at his studios in Paisley Park after a fentanyl overdose. He was 57 years old. As the world processed the news, fans assembled outside Paisley Park and First Avenue. The downtown Minneapolis nightclub later became the scene of an all-night dance party to honor the artist. Music journalist Andrea Swensson, formerly of The Current, was both at Paisley Park and First Avenue, helping share his legacy with the world. Andrea went on to write a book about Prince. She also hosted the official Prince podcast. She joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to reflect on Prince’s life and legacy.

A new analysis by Sahan Journal reporters Becky Dernbach and Cynthia Tu gives us the most thorough account yet of what happened to the dozens of children who were detained during the federal immigration operation in Minnesota. Dernbach reported that more than 70 children were detained between Dec. 1 and March 10. MPR News host Nina Moini talked to Dernbach about their findings. Read more at MPRnews.org.

Cleanup continues in southeastern Minnesota after several tornadoes ripped through over the weekend. We checked in with the Olmsted County sheriff about the damage and recovery efforts. And we got a tornado season forecast from our meteorologist. Recent cyberattacks on Spring Lake Park schools and Winona County have local officials wondering how they can better protect their systems. A cybersecurity expert had some insight and tips. We heard from a local organization about how the surge of federal immigration agents in Minnesota affected people facing domestic violence. We got more from Jessie Diggins' retirement celebration and our sports contributors recapped the start of playoffs for the Wild and Timberwolves. Our Minnesota Music Minute was "Still I Rise," composed by Rosephanye Powell and performed by the Twin Cities Women’s Choir. Our Song of the Day was “Sideways” by Good Morning Bedlam.

As federal immigration enforcement ramped up earlier this year, many Minnesotans were living with a heightened sense of fear and uncertainty. Advocates say that fear extended beyond workplaces and schools, shaping how, or whether, survivors of domestic violence sought help. Leaders at Esperanza United, a Minnesota-based organization supporting survivors of gender-based violence in Latino communities, say they saw significant changes in how people navigated safety during “Operation Metro Surge.” Vivian Huelgo, president and CEO of Esperanza United, spoke with MPR News host Nina Moini about what survivors experienced during that time, and the stressors they still face now.

The Timberwolves and the Wild play tonight in each of their second games of their best-of-7 series. The Minnesota Timberwolves lost in their first game against the Denver Nuggets. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild had a strong start against the Dallas Stars. Joining Minnesota Now to talk about the teams playoff runs and other sports news are sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson.

Severe weather season is off to a busy start, with several tornadoes. The National Weather Service has reported 11 tornadoes so far, though some may end up being duplicates. There have also been 68 total severe weather reports so far which includes hail and damaging winds. It’s the most active start to severe weather season since 2022. MPR meteorologist Sven Sundgaard joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about the outlook for severe weather for the rest of the year.

Two recent cyberattacks have highlighted the risk that hackers pose to local governments. Last week, Spring Lake Park School District canceled school for two days after its technology team learned an outside actor had infiltrated its systems. A week before that, Winona County took its systems offline in response to its second cyberattack this year — the first was in January. Both Spring Lake Park schools and Winona County said they were working with law enforcement and cybersecurity consultants to understand what happened. Cyberattacks are becoming more common and more advanced, according to the state’s information technology agency, MNIT. Local governments and contractors reported 269 cybersecurity incidents to the state between December 2024 and November 2025 — that averages to about five incidents a week. Faisal Kaleem is director of cybersecurity and cyber operations programs at Metro State University. He joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about a growing trend of cyberattacks.

Residents of Olmsted County in southeastern Minnesota are continuing cleanup efforts after storms over the weekend produced at least five tornadoes, according to crews with the National Weather Service. Those touched down in Stewartville and Marion Township, which are around 10 miles south of Rochester. Olmsted County Sheriff Kevin Torgerson joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about the extent of the damage and the cleanup efforts underway.