Minnesota Now

Minnesota Now’s series called “Thank You, Stranger” explores the small acts of kindness that make a big impact. Kyrra Rankine’s morning started off like any other — then she found out her car had been towed. It was a classic bad day, the kind that any of us could have. But the kindness she encountered in the aftermath only comes along once in a while. Minnesota Now producer Aleesa Kuznetsov spoke...

A southern Minnesota congressional race is too close to call. Democrat Jake Johnson has around 300 votes more than Republican incumbent Brad Finstad. That likely means it’s headed for a recount. We talked to the Secretary of State about how the recount process works. With a new ICE detention facility opening in Minnesota soon, lawyers and immigrant advocates are gathering to discuss detention and...

On Saturday, some 200 middle and high school-aged girls and gender-expansive youth from across Minnesota will come together for the third annual “Girlhood Summit.” It’s a day-long event organized by the Ann Bancroft Foundation. And young people will get the chance to learn about everything from personal finance to managing stress and bringing their ideas to life. We heard more about the summit fro...

Minnesotans know that the state has been through a lot over the past six years. The COVID-19 pandemic, the murder of George Floyd, fraud scandals, the Annunciation Catholic School shooting, the killings of Melissa and Mark Hortman and Operation Metro Surge. It’s kept the state under a microscope — and affected each of us in very different ways. A new report from the mental health advocacy group NA...

The most recent data from the Deportation Data Project shows more than 2,300 non-citizens who were arrested in Minnesota during the federal immigration enforcement operation this winter were deported or left the country. Immigration lawyers and advocates are still working with people who have been deported or are in ICE custody — navigating the complex legal system that comes with it. That’s the f...

The race for the 1st Congressional District in southern Minnesota is likely headed for a recount. Unofficial vote totals show Democrat Jake Johnson with a 323 vote lead over Republican incumbent Brad Finstad. But the 1st District is not the only race that’s likely going to a recount. There are three other races for the state Legislature that are within a margin of less than a tenth of a percent, i...

Large-scale data centers were a hot-button political issue across the country in Tuesday’s election. They played a major role in high profile races in Texas, Ohio and elsewhere. They were also a factor in some local elections across Minnesota where data center proposals have been controversial. MPR News reporter Dan Kraker joined Minnesota Now from Duluth to explain.

Minnesotans delivered big wins to the Democrats in the midterms. DFL House leader Zack Stephenson shared what he'll push for with full control of the Legislature. And MPR News reporter Dana Ferguson gave the latest on the close races that could be headed for a recount. Two political strategists analyzed Democratic wins around the country, as the party prepares to take control of Congress, and cons...

The Twin Cities northeast suburbs of Maplewood elected a new mayor last night in a historic first for the city. Chonburi Lee received 58 percent of the vote, unseating incumbent Mayor Marylee Abrams and making him Maplewood's first Hmong mayor. Lee is currently a member of the city council, where he's served since 2023. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about his win and his plans for off...

Candidates across the U.S. made history Tuesday by becoming firsts. Senator-elect Peggy Flanagan is among them. A citizen of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, Flanagan will go to Congress next year as the first Native woman elected to the U.S. Senate. Melanie Benjamin served about two decades as Chief Executive of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe before completing her final term in 2024. She now consul...

Minnesotans elected hundreds of school board candidates, changed the state constitution and made decisions about funding in dozens of school districts. MPR News education reporter Elizabeth Shockman joined Minnesota Now to share what the election results mean for K-12 schools.

Democrats across the country are declaring victory, with the U.S. House and Senate headed for Democratic control when midterm winners take office in January. Former Minnesota DFL party chair Brian Melendez and Republican analyst Preya Samsundar joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about how Minnesota fits into the national landscape.

Minnesota was part of the national blue wave, with Democrats maintaining their lock on statewide offices and likely expanding their control of the state legislature. Democrats are set to control the Governor's office, the House and Senate, with Amy Klobuchar at the helm. She will be the first female governor in Minnesota history. Klobuchar promised to be a transformative governor in her victory sp...

Tuesday is Election Day, and while Minnesota has seen record early voting turnout, many voters will cast their ballots Tuesday. The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. We'll visit two polling places in Minnesota, with help from reporters who've been talking to voters outside. All 201 seats in the state capital are up for election. We'll hear how that could influence what happens during the legisl...

Election Day is Minnesota voters’ final chance to cast ballots in the midterms. More than 900,000 Minnesotans voted early by mail or in person, and many others are voting Tuesday. MPR News reporters Cari Spencer and Harshawn Ratanpal were outside polling stations Tuesday morning, at times in the rain, to hear from Election Day voters. They talked to MPR News host Nina Moini about what they saw and...

On Election Day, all 435 seats in the U.S. House are up for grabs, along with 35 Senate seats and dozens of governor's races. Republicans are trying to hold on to their majorities in Congress, while Democrats are hoping to take control of at least one chamber and put a check on President Donald Trump. University of Minnesota political scientist Larry Jacobs joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk...

On the corner of East Lake Street and 27th Avenue South in Minneapolis, democracy protection volunteers have gathered every day for a week before Election Day to provide the public support and information around voting. They’re volunteering for the Immigrant Defense Network. The Lake Street location is one of 19 sites that volunteers gather at across the state – from the Twin Cities metro to Manka...

Nearly 900,000 Minnesotans have already cast their ballot, breaking the state record for a midterm election. Plus, we'll have more with an expert on why some people are turning to AI chatbots to help them research candidates and issues. Leaders of some mosques around the state say they're upping security measures as political rhetoric targeting Somali Minnesotans has ramped up in the lead up to th...

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray says the team won't be haunted by Sunday’s loss in Detroit, which ended their undefeated record this season. The Lions won 19-15. “The confidence in the group is not going to waver,” said Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Gophers had heartbreaking loss in Indiana. Minnesota kicker Luke Drzewiecki hit a 60-yard field goal with 19 s...

Halloween may be over but our next guest says there's always something spooky and mysterious lurking around the corner. Chad Lewis has spent decades researching the weird and unusual across Minnesota. He does public presentations on Minnesota's lesser known paranormal history. Lewis joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about his favorite haunts.

On Tuesday, at dozens of polling locations across the Twin Cities, you may see people in reflective vests labeled "poll chaplains." They're nonpartisan, clergy and lay people, who are trained to bring a calm presence to Election Day. One of those people is Kelly Sherman-Conroy, a pastor at All Nations Indian Church in Minneapolis and founder and director of the Interfaith Movement Chaplains Networ...

For some voters this midterm election, the process of deciding who to vote for has changed. Instead of just searching the internet or talking to friends, some are turning to AI chatbots to research candidates, political issues and fact-check what they've seen online. The Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan think tank, has been testing how AI chatbots respond to election questions and misinfo...

New statewide data shows a decrease in opioid overdose deaths but that comes along with a rise in overall drug deaths. That’s attributed partially to stimulant drugs, like meth and cocaine. We talked to a doctor who treats patients who have overdosed. St. Paul’s largest current homeless encampment sits on a site with toxic chemicals in the soil. We spoke to the reporter behind the story. We also l...

Halloween is this weekend and that means ghosts, goblins … and maybe a few bats. Bats have a spooky reputation but they’re very important to Minnesota’s ecosystems. If you want to learn all about these intriguing animals, the Minnesota Bat Festival is Saturday at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Bloomington. Mammal ecologist Melissa Boman with the Minnesota Biological Survey helped...

In 2007, an MPR documentary called “Wanted: Parents” shared the story of two Minnesota teenagers who were looking for adoptive parents. It also followed an adoption recruiter, Jen Braun, who was trying to help them. Shortly after the documentary, Braun co-founded an adoption agency called Ampersand Families. She worked on a pilot program called the Homecoming Project. It aimed to prove it was poss...