Minnesota Now

The City of St. Paul announced it will clear a homeless encampment in Pigs Eye Park next month. Mayor Kaohly Her joined MPR News to talk about the camp's conditions, where people living there will go and the state of homelessness in the city. A Minnesota Congresswoman says medical students in states with strict abortion laws are missing out on important training. A doctor weighed in on her propose...

Thrift stores and clothing swaps have grown in popularity in recent years, as shoppers look for deals or sustainable alternatives to the fast-fashion industry. At an event happening Thursday through Saturday at Textile Center in Minneapolis, they can find homemade pieces knit, crocheted, woven, sewn or otherwise made by hand. Textile Center Director of Operations Erin Husted joined Minnesota Now h...

Grab your forks and bibs, because the Minnesota State Fair has just announced new food vendors! The Great Minnesota Get Together is well-known for its tasty and sometimes controversial treats. This year’s list of new foods includes Pickle Pies, Honey Brisket Battered Potatoes, and, from new vendor Saturday Dumpling Company, Ube Cheesecake Wontons. Saturday Dumpling Company owner, Peter Bian, joine...

Medical doctors don’t always train in the states where they end up working. And for OB-GYNs in particular, that can mean navigating conflicting state laws around which procedures are allowed. Democrat U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison is an OB-GYN who represents Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District. She has introduced a bill that would provide funding to help medical residents in states with strict abort...

The city of St. Paul plans to clear a homeless encampment at Pigs Eye Park along the Mississippi River on August 5. Until then, city and county staff will regularly visit the site to try to help the people living there find shelter, according to an announcement the city released Wednesday. The city plans to clear at least two other encampments using what they are calling a “coordinated transition...

This week marks six months since an ICE officer shot and killed Minneapolis resident Renee Good. The shooting shoved the Twin Cities’ response to the ICE surge into the international spotlight. Half a year later, the residents of the Central and Powderhorn neighborhoods in south Minneapolis are still processing the events of the shooting and everything that followed it. A group of artists has invi...

President Donald Trump shared a video on social media of girls wearing hijabs at a St. Paul kindergarten graduation ceremony. We'll hear from an Imam who is speaking out against Islamaphobia and anti-Somali rhetoric coming from the White House. It's summertime and for ER doctors, the livin' is not-so-easy. We'll talk about how to stay safe from the many, often preventable injuries that can happen...

In southern Minnesota, along the Des Moines River, is the small town of Jackson. Soon, the town will come alive with the Rhythm of the River Music Festival. And this year is more than a musical celebration, it’s the festival’s 20th anniversary. Rhythm of the River Music Festival founder and organizer, Kathy Fransen, joined MPR News guest host Catharine Richert to talk about the micro-festival.

The value of commercial spaces, like office buildings, are shrinking in the Twin Cities. That became apparent last week, when the city of Richfield shared that Best Buy’s headquarters building dropped nearly 50 percent in value in its most recent assessment. But how was that office building’s value decided? And how does it affect your tax bill? Josh Hoogland, assessor for Hennepin County, and Laur...

The Fourth of July may be over, but summer is just getting started. And for emergency rooms, this is one of the busiest times of the year. From fireworks injuries to boating accidents to dehydration to bike crashes, the heat brings emergency physicians a predictable wave of injuries that are often preventable. Dr. Jim Miner, chair of emergency medicine at the University of Minnesota, joined MPR Ne...

Somali American and Muslim community members in Minnesota are raising concerns about safety and Islamophobia after President Donald Trump posted a video showing children at a St. Paul kindergarten graduation ceremony. It included several young girls wearing hijabs. And its caption was from an account called “End Wokeness.” It said, “Public school in St. Paul, Minnesota. Every girl is in a hijab… i...

It has been six months since the state rolled out paid family leave. And there are new numbers on how many people are taking advantage of the program. Plus, there are newly unsealed documents in a DOJ investigation into the local response to Operation Metro Surge. More kids are turning to AI companions, and the University of Minnesota is looking into why and what impact that could have on mental h...

A housing development in north Minneapolis was meant to be a better model for public housing. Heritage Park opened in the early 2000s after a legal settlement over housing segregation. It’s a mix of market-rate and subsidized units. Today, many of its units sit vacant. And residents and city leaders say neglected maintenance has caused roof leaks, mold and other problems. City Council member Pearl...

The United States is hosting the World Cup soccer tournament, but Minnesota is not a host city. So instead, fans are flocking to bars and breweries. And new data from the payment company Square found bars and breweries saw an 8 percent increase in revenue, and that was just during the first round of the tournament. Wes Burdine, owner of the Black Hart of Saint Paul, a LGBTQ+ soccer bar, joined Min...

A growing number of young people are using AI companions and chatbots for emotional support, friendship and even virtual relationships, according to researchers at the University of Minnesota. Despite the growth, most teens aren’t advertising that they’re using it – for many, it is stigmatized. Researchers at the U of M are exploring teen use of AI companions. Xiaoran Sun, an assistant professor i...

The National Weather Service is surveying storm damage in Becker County after a preliminary assessment found that at least an EF-1 tornado, with wind speeds of 110 miles per hour, touched down north of Detroit Lakes. During the storm, two people were injured and homes, trees and power lines were damaged in the area. Carrie Smith, the Becker County Administrator, and Abby Fostveit, photographer for...

Minnesota’s new paid leave program is now six months old. State officials managing the benefit offered some fresh statistics on how many people are using it for family bonding or medical-related time off. They’re also keeping tabs on how that use is lining up with earlier projections. Reporter Kyra Miles joined Minnesota Now with the latest.

Ten years ago, Philando Castile was killed by a police officer in the St. Paul suburb of Falcon Heights. His death led to calls for accountability and change in policing. His mother, Valerie Castile, threw herself into that work. Four Black-led nonprofits in the Twin Cities with a combined 300-plus years of history announced they're coming together to try to have a greater impact. We'll learn more...

Valerie Castile lost her son ten years ago Monday. Philando Castile was killed by a St. Anthony police officer in a traffic stop in Falcon Heights a few days before his 33rd birthday. A jury acquitted the officer, Jeronimo Yanez, of manslaughter the following year. Since losing her son, Valerie Castile has worked to honor his memory by speaking out about his killing and joining calls for accountab...

Team U.S. plays Belgium Monday in Seattle in the round of 16. Forward Folarin Balogun may join his teammates for team U.S after his one-game suspension was lifted after intervention from President Trump. Belgium has challenged this decision. Minnesota Now sports contributors, Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson, spoke more about the World Cup, the Twins and more.

Four Black-led Twin Cities nonprofits have come together to form something they hope will help them continue to service those in need. The Legacy Stabilization Collaborative is a new joint effort between the Aurora St. Anthony Neighborhood Development Corporation, the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, and the Urban League Twin Cities. Together, these nonprofits h...

A school district is still grappling with being in the bullseye during Operation Metro Surge. We'll hear from them. Plus, a year after being federally charged for anti-ICE actions, Isavela Lopez has taken a plea deal. We'll talk to her about how the case impacted her life. A new kind of disaster recovery insurance uses sensors and AI to track wind speeds and flood levels. We'll learn about how cit...

Cities along the Mississippi River are planning to try a budding form of disaster insurance to cover things like flooding. This insurance relies on AI and satellites and sensors. And some are saying it could provide crucial help in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Minneapolis-based journalist Katie Thornton dove into the world of what’s called parametric insurance for the magazine WIRED and...

The Fourth of July will be special at one Minnesota campground this weekend. Veterans Campground in Washington County is marking 100 years of serving veterans, as a place for rest, relaxation and belonging. Ken Larson is a Minnesota National Guard veteran and manager of the campground. He spoked to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini about how the camp has created comradery for thousands of Minnesota ve...

Fourteen Minnesotans facing federal charges for anti-ICE actions were due in court Wednesday afternoon. Supporters protested the charges ahead of the court appearance. MPR News reporter Sarah Thamer shared the latest on the case. Starting Wednesday, $90 million will go to Minnesota counties to fund upgrades to computer systems that help provide social services. Plus, a new hotline is giving people...