Minnesota Star Tribune

Essential Minnesota

News EN ↓ 30 episodes

Every Friday some of the best reporters in Minnesota dig into one important local story. Host Melissa Townsend brings her distinct curiosity and humor to these weekly deep-dive conversations with journalists from the Minnesota Star Tribune where they break down the facts, the players and the impact. No spin, pretense or A.I. – just great local stories that matter to Minnesota and beyond. It’s what we do best. Available Fridays at 4:30 A.M. Central.

Author

Minnesota Star Tribune

Episodes

The escalation of Operation Metro Surge and the shooting of Renee Good 29.01.2026 35:55

In three stories that happened over three months, reporters in Minneapolis track the escalation of the ICE and Border Patrol surge from November 2025 to January 2026, when ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot Renee Good.

The Minnesota gun law that’s working 29.01.2026 17:40

Amid the ongoing debate over gun control laws, our investigative reporter digs into the stories of "what could have been" if the state's red flag gun law wasn't in place.

The man leading Annunciation School after a mass shooting 29.01.2026 20:45

At the first all-school assembly after a mass shooting in August 2025, our reporter sees firsthand how Principal Matt DeBoer is creating a space for hundreds of children to move forward with humor, compassion and stuffies.

The religious background of alleged assassin Vance Boelter 29.01.2026 26:24

After a statewide manhunt in June 2025 Vance Boelter was arrested for the murder of state rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the shooting of state rep. John Hoffman and his wife. Could Boelter’s religious beliefs have something to do with it? Two investigative reporters uncover his past to find out.

Introducing Essential Minnesota 29.01.2026 0:48

Host Melissa Townsend introduces this new, smart and funny weekly news show from the Minnesota Star Tribune where local journalist dig deep into the stories that matter to the midwest U.S. and beyond.