North Star Stories

A state lawmaker calls on those who can legally carry a gun inside the capitol, the Minnesota Supreme Court makes a ruling on the custody case involving Red Lake Nation twins, and lots and lots of snow. Image: Closed roads across Southern Minnesota [credit: MNDot]

A community leader explains why the boycott against Target is still on, the common loon gets its flowers, and an immigrants’ rights organization sues the federal government. Image: A Target store in Minneapolis [credit: Xan Holston]

We look at a bill that would penalize certain protests outside private homes, and we hear how cultural differences can make everyday financial tasks more complicated for immigrant communities. ----- Executive Producer: Victor Palomino  Producers: Jose Ozoria, Faaya Adem  Anchor: Grace Jacobson  Reader scripting: Victor Palomino   Fact checking: Victor Palomino, Tracie Wells Collier Editorial suppo...

A blind woman her service dog help change national rideshare policy, the latest on a brief environmental scare at the Monticello nuclear plant, and spongy moths come to Olmsted County. Image: A plane sprays for spongy moths [credit: Minnesota DNR]

An army soldier from Minnesota is recovering from a deadly attack in Kuwait, Duluth changes rules on public comments at city council meetings, and lawmakers aim to recognize wild rice’s inherent rights. Image: Senator Mary Kunesh introduces a bill to give wild rice inherent right to exist and thrive in Minnesota. [credit: Senate Media Services]

Thief River Falls cleans up its water, legislators look to regulate artificial intelligence for youth, and legislators work on expanding rights and recognition for Hmong and Lao veterans who fought with U.S forces during the Secret War in Laos. Image: Major Gia Tou Lee addresses the Minnesota Senate [credit: Senate Media Services]

A rally and march for International Women’s Day, the prayer camp at Mni Owe Sni comes to an end, and Nicole Amor’s body is returned to the U.S. Image: Jana Williams speaks about her murdered niece, Allison Lussier, on International Women’s Day. [credit: Xan Holston]

It’s High School State Championship hockey time, Minnesota farm evictions rise, and tensions are high at the Mni Owe Sni prayer camp. Image: Mni Owe Sni  [credit: Xan Holston]

In today's program, we'll hear how Muslim communities across the state are celebrating and finding hope this Ramadan. We'll also look at how ongoing federal immigration operations are affecting renters and landlords, and what local and state leaders are doing in response. ----- Executive Producer: Victor Palomino Producers: Jose Ozoria, Jamad Jama Host: Chantel SinGs Reader scripting: Victor Palom...

House Republicans in Washington grill Governor Walz, “Harvey’s Law” aims to add security to childcare, and Minnesota honors Nicole Amor. Image: Minnesota Capitol Building [credit: Ampers]

Google is outed as the company behind the controversial Hermantown data center, state fisheries want to know your angle, a Minnesota woman is one of six soldiers killed in Operation Epic Fury. Image: Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor [credit: U.S. Army Reserve]

White Earth Nation gets federal health accreditation, cursive makes a comeback, and a new effort to investigate and prosecute misconduct by federal agents during Operation Metro Surge. Image: Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty addresses reporters about investigations into unlawful conduct during Operation Metro Surge. [Credit: HCAO]

Schools in Hibbing and Duluth face challenges, the Arrowhead gets a late-season snow boost, and the Minnesota budget forecast looks good — for now. [Image credit: MN.gov]

An arrest after threats against state government leaders, a push to keep dairy farmers afloat, Governor Tim Walz says a federal Medicaid funding freeze targets Minnesota’s most vulnerable — not fraud.

A new prayer camp at Coldwater Spring near Fort Snelling is drawing attention and debate. Then, a personal story looks at the effects of separation over twenty years after a woman lost her mother to deportation. And, we delve into the history of America's immigration and deportation policies and how U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement evolved into the agency we see today.  ----- Executive Prod...

An ICE whistleblower accuses the agency of defective training, some big changes await Bemidji schools, and Minnesota lawmakers move to make students safer from grooming.

Fleet Farm gets punished for straw gun sales, Google expands into southern Minnesota, and an attempt at gun control legislation at the Capitol fails. Image: Blue and green ribbons in support of those shot at Annunciation School. [Credit: Xan Holston]

A labor dispute escalates in Hibbing, the Special Olympics honor Minnesota schools, and Minnesota voters could get the chance to vote on an equal rights amendment. Image: A vintage ERA sticker from the late 1970s [Credit: Xan Holston]

Members of the Dakota diaspora take back land at Fort Snelling, Congressional Reps Omar and Craig question the lack of detainees at the Whipple Building, and the US Men’s Olympic Hockey team copies the US Women’s team — taking gold over Canada. Image: Tipis at the Mni Owe Sni prayer camp at Bdóte [Credit: Xan Holston]

Blizzard cleanup in the Northland, a memorial targeted by arson in Minneapolis, and new limits on masked officers in St. Paul — the stories shaping Minnesota today. Image: World’s Best Snowdrift? Snow piles up near Grand Marais iconic donut shop. [credit: Kalli Hawkins]

This week on North Star Stories , we look at how Operation Metro Surge is impacting the state's education system. Then, a northern Minnesota community responds to federal legislation that would shift focus for the mining industry and change EPA regulation of public lands and waterways. ----- Executive Producer: Victor Palomino  Producers: Xan Holston, Katharine DeCelle, frankie felegy  Host: Chant...

School immigration fears, a standoff over federal evidence, and a judge-ordered release. Plus, Springsteen will hit the streets of Minneapolis again soon. Image: A teacher shares how ICE actions have affected her students to the Senate Education Finance Committee. (Credit: Minnesota Senate Media Services)

Minnesota lawmakers opened the new session by honoring former Speaker Melissa Hortman before turning to a sharply divided political agenda. Meanwhile, a major winter storm is set to bring blizzard conditions along the North Shore. Image: At a memorial for House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, colleagues placed roses on her old desk. (Image credit: Minnesota Senate Media Services) ----- For the la...

New security measures at the Capitol, a federal judge steps in on immigration transfers, and a clash over access to evidence in a fatal shooting case. Also: the state warns about thin ice risks, and cultural celebrations begin across Minnesota. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ For the latest episode drops and updates, follow us on social media.  instagram.com/ampersradio/ instagram.com/northstarstoriesmn...

Hundreds gathered in Minneapolis for the annual Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives march. Meanwhile, debate continues over what happens and happened in Minnesota as Operation Metro Surge winds down.    Audio credit: KAXE  Image: The 2026 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives march moves through the Little Earth community.  Image credit: Xan Holston  ----------- For the latest episode dr...