Minnesota Now podcast

54:35

St. Paul's mayor is asking state lawmakers for $397 million dollars to renovate the Xcel Energy Center and other major attractions. We talked to the chair of a senate committee that is considering the proposal Tuesday. Minnesota's largest mental health advocacy group is holding a workshop to help people navigate federal layoffs and funding cuts. We heard from the social worker leading the event. As state regulators figure out how to enforce Minnesota's new ban on forever chemicals, two reporters put some household products to the test. We found out what they learned. We met a woman behind an effort to name March Kurdish Heritage month in Moorhead. Our Minnesota Music Minute was ‘On My Mind’ by Big Salt and our Song of the Day was ‘Somebody Said There'd Be Cookies’ by Pat Egan.…

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Moorhead marks March as Kurdish Heritage Month 9:30

16 hours ago9:30

9:30

In Moorhead, March is now Kurdish Heritage Month. The city’s mayor issued a proclamation in early March making the city the latest to celebrate its Kurdish population. A community group estimates there are 3,500 Kurds in the city, or eight percent of the population. Siham Amedy led the effort to submit the proclamation to the city. She’s a member of the city’s human rights commission and a project manager at Creating Community Consulting. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about why March is such an important month for Kurdish people.…

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Report finds that despite PFAS ban, some Minnesota merchandise still test positive 9:51

16 hours ago9:51

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It’s been nearly three months since Minnesota’s ban on forever chemicals in household products went into effect. The PFAS ban is the widest in the country. Its first stage includes products in 11 categories, from children’s clothes to cookware. On Jan. 2 — day two of the ban — a pair of reporters went shopping for some of those items and then tested them in a lab. A few of the products failed the test. The Minnesota Star Tribune environmental reporter Chloe Johnson and business reporter Brooks Johnson joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about their report. Related reading: Star Tribune tested Minnesota’s new PFAS law. Not everyone passed.…

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Legislator says it's 'bad timing' for $397 million update to Xcel Energy Center 9:23

16 hours ago9:23

9:23

A big ticket request to renovate some of St. Paul's largest attractions will head to the legislature. On Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Melvin Carter and others asked lawmakers to pay $397 million to update the Xcel Energy Center, Roy Wilkins Auditorium and the RiverCentre. It's about half of the estimated cost of the renovations. DFL state senator Sandy Pappas is the chair of the Capital Investment Committee that will hear the request. She also represents the downtown St. Paul area. Senator Pappas joined Minnesota Now to talk about the request for the renovations, if a project like this could help attract people to downtown St. Paul and how much of the project would land on taxpayers.…

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Layoffs and chaos are taking a toll on federal worker's mental health 11:00

16 hours ago11:00

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Since coming into office, President Donald Trump has prioritized drastically reducing the size and scope of the federal government. It’s led to mass layoffs that have impacted Minnesotans and also funding cuts that trickle down to local agencies and nonprofits. It's creating a lot of uncertainty and confusion amongst employees. To help Minnesotans cope with some of the anxiety from that, The National Alliance on Mental Illness Minnesota chapter, or NAMI Minnesota, is holding a workshop on Wednesday . Melissa Conway is a licensed social worker with Minnesota Mental Health Clinics and will be leading the workshop. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the state of federal employee mental health.…

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Minnesota Now: March 24, 2025 55:33

1 day ago55:33

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More details are coming to light about the arrest of former state Senator Justin Eichorn. We'll get the latest from reporter Mark Zdechlik. Plus, we'll talk to the head of the Minnesota BCA about how sting operations work and how agents are trained. A lawsuit has been filed against St. Francis Area schools over a policy that requires library books to be filtered through a rating site supported by conservatives. We'll hear from an attorney on the case. Plus, the head of a national veterans group is in Minnesota to spread awareness about veteran mental health. We'll hear about his efforts to support veterans in the state. And March Madness is in full swing! We'll get the breakdown from our sports guys Wally and Eric. Our Minnesota Music Minute was “For Her” by Lighter Co. and our Song of the Day was “A Little Brie, A Little Weed, A Little Wine” by Joe Pie Weed.…

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March Madness bracket busters, plus Gophers men’s basketball gets new coach 9:41

1 day ago9:41

9:41

Here’s a lesson from March Madness: there’s no such thing as perfection. There has never been a perfect bracket, according to the NCAA. Out of the tens of millions of people who filled out brackets this year on the men’s side, they’ve all been wrong at least once. In the women’s tournament, there were just 141 perfect brackets remaining this morning. Plus, the University of Minnesota men’s basketball team have found a new coach after Ben Johnson was fired earlier this month. Joining Minnesota Now to catch up on all of this and other sports news are our sports contributors, Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson.…

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ACLU of Minnesota, Education Minnesota file suits against St. Francis schools book policy 9:35

1 day ago9:35

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The ACLU of Minnesota and Education Minnesota have filed separate suits against St. Francis Area Schools over a library book policy. The policy requires books in school libraries be filtered through a book rating site, Book Looks, which is backed by conservatives. The school board approved the policy last fall . The lawsuit from the ACLU of Minnesota was filed on behalf of two parents of students in the district. Education Minnesota filed on behalf of eight students in the district, whose parents are teachers. Both suits argue argues that banning books violates Minnesota constitutional and state law. Catherine Ahlin-Halverson is a staff attorney with the ACLU of Minnesota and she joined Minnesota Now to explain the legal action.…

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American Legion’s national leader visits Minnesota in veteran suicide prevention efforts 10:15

1 day ago10:15

10:15

The head of a national veterans group is on tour in Minnesota this week to talk about preventing suicide. Suicide rates are consistently higher for those who have served in the military, compared to non-veterans according to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. The American Legion's Be the One campaign aims to get veterans and their communities talking more openly about mental health. James LaCoursiere Jr., the group's National Commander, is promoting the initiative all over the country. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the initiative. If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. Call or text 988 to get connected with trained counselors who can help. The 988 suicide and crisis lifeline is available 24/7.…

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BCA: Nearly 1,000 percent increase in child sexual abuse, exploitation tips since 2016 7:44

1 day ago7:44

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The work of undercover agents who pose as criminals or victims to catch people preying on another for personal gain has come into the spotlight following the arrest of former state senator Justin Eichorn. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was not involved in the arrest of Eichorn, but they worked with Bloomington PD and other law enforcement on the operation. The BCA investigates these types of crimes statewide. Their predatory crimes department includes the Minnesota Human Trafficking Investigators Task Force and the Minnesota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Minnesota BCA superintendent Drew Evans joined the program to talk about how the state works to track down predators.…

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Minnesota Now: March 20, 2025 56:01

6 days ago56:01

56:01

The head of Feeding our Future has been found guilty in the largest pandemic fraud scheme in the U.S. We get a recap on the trial full of twists and turns and learn how state lawmakers are working to prevent it from happening again. Friday marks 20 years since a shooting claimed the lives of 10 people on the Red Lake Reservation. We talk to a survivor who is working to memorialize the lives lost. Minnesota's winters are getting warmer. We look at this past winter and how it fits into climate trends. Thursday marks the first day of spring. We get some professional help to do spring cleaning. Plus, it’s the middle of fish fry season. We go inside a church that is home to the Twin Cities largest fish fry. Today’s Minnesota Music Minute was “Backseat” by Chastity Brown and “First Day of My Life” by Bright Eyes was the Song of the Day.…

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Red Lake mass shooting survivor reflects on tragedy 20 years later 7:21

6 days ago7:21

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Friday marks 20 years since the tragic mass shooting on the Red Lake Nation that left 10 people dead and seven injured. On March 21, 2005, a Red Lake High School student killed five of his classmates, a teacher, the school security guard, his grandfather and his grandfather’s partner. The shooter died by a self-inflicted gunshot. At the time, the Red Lake shooting was the largest school shooting in the U.S. since the Columbine massacre. Starr Jourdain was at Red Lake High School on the day of the shooting and now serves as the chair of 3.21.05 Memorial Fund, a memorial group formed by survivors that honors the victims of the shooting. Jourdain joined Minnesota Now to reflect on the 20 years that have passed since the tragedy.…

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Winter is Minnesota’s fastest warming season 10:30

6 days ago10:30

10:30

Thursday marked the first day of spring and the end of a very peculiar winter. According to state climate data, winter is Minnesota’s fastest warming season. Minnesota winters have warmed two to three times faster than summers. Kenny Blumenfeld, a senior climatologist with the State Climatology Office, joined Minnesota Now to talk about the state’s warming winters and the impact climate change has on the environment.…

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Help me declutter and organize 6:47

6 days ago6:47

6:47

We all need a little help to get through life sometimes. From everyday questions to more complex problems, we’re asking the experts to lend us a hand. Throughout the series Professional Help, we’ll hear some direct advice, for us not-so-direct Minnesotans. Thursday marks the first day of spring, which means many Minnesotans may be opening their windows for the first time this year. With the spring season can come the urge to deep clean your home. But maintaining those decluttering and organizing habits throughout the year can be a difficult task. Minnesota Now producer Ellie Roth decided to ask an expert for tips on how to declutter and stay organized this spring. Our ask: Help us declutter and organize our homes this spring Our professional: Melissa Klug, professional organizer and the owner of Home By Eleven Listen to more Professional Help segments here.…

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Reporter covering Feeding Our Future scandal recounts turbulent trial, government impacts 9:45

6 days ago9:45