MPR News with Angela Davis

What does it mean to grow up in a family haunted by a tragedy? That’s one of the central themes in a new memoir by Laurie Hertzel, the former book review editor for the Minnesota Star Tribune. In “Ghosts of Fourth Street: My Family, a Death, and the Hills of Duluth,” Hertzel writes about growing up in Duluth in the 1960s, the seventh child in a family of ten children. Her father was a college Engl...

Whether you’re renting, trying to buy your first home, or making a move — many people are finding that affordable housing feels out of reach. Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari recently pointed to four major factors pushing up housing prices : High interest rates, rising construction costs, regulations and zoning rules, and a shortage of housing overall. MPR News guest host Cathar...

The World Health Organization says it is deeply concerned about the scale and speed of the Ebola outbreak in Africa. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with an infectious disease expert about what’s driving the spread of the virus, who is at risk and what it will take to contain it. Guest: Rebecca Wurtz is a professor in the division of Health Policy & Management at the University of...

Last March, President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled “ Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History .” It mandated a shift in how American history is portrayed in federal institutions, with a goal of eliminating “improper, divisive or anti-American ideology.” Instead, according to the executive order, the focus should be on a more “patriotic” narrative. And to ensure that happens,...

High rents. Student loans. A shifting job market. For a growing number of young adults, moving back home isn't a setback — it's a smart financial strategy. But multigenerational living comes with real financial and emotional complexity. MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about what's driving the trend and how to make it work financially for everyone under the roof. Guests: Michelle Sin...

Over the past decade, police in America have shot and killed 1,939 people who were in the middle of a mental health crisis. That’s 20 percent of all police killings in that time. Those deaths helped fuel a movement. Instead of armed police, more than half of the country’s largest cities now send specially trained social workers and EMTs. This new generation of first responders handle 911 calls inv...

Immigration in the United States has reached historic numbers. More than 50 million people born in other countries now call the United States home. Migrating to a new country can bring unique mental health challenges, like coping with the traumas that may have caused a person to leave home, and the pressure of fitting into a new community. Meanwhile, global conflicts, the COVID-19 pandemic, change...

We spend about one-third of our lives sleeping. And not because we’re lazy. Every living creature sleeps, from cats to dolphins, and even fruit flies — it’s an essential need for good health and survival. So, if sleep is a basic health need, why do so many people have trouble doing it? Nearly a third of Americans say they sleep poorly or not enough. Our 24/7 culture makes it tough to get a good ni...

Every day we hear concerning news about the human costs of climate change. Severe storms and wildfires can lead to housing instability. Air pollution and dirty water have been tied to respiratory illnesses and cardiovascular diseases. And a growing area of psychological research reveals that climate change is both harming our mental health and triggering new disorders. This Call to Mind special lo...

Americans are stressed. And what many people are concerned about seems to have escalated and changed. There are the usual personal stressors like money, caretaking, and jobs, but pressing social challenges like political division and the uncertain economy, are shaping life’s challenges for many people. Health experts warn that living with chronic stress doesn’t just make us feel bad in the moment....

A weather forecast can shape your whole day — from what to wear and when to exercise, to whether to make dinner plans for the patio. And when severe weather is on the horizon, those forecasts and warnings can save lives. So how do meteorologists get it right? And why do forecasts sometimes miss the mark? MPR News host Angela Davis sits down with MPR News meteorologist Mandy Thalhuber to talk about...

Nearly one in five Americans rate their mental health and emotional well-being as poor , according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. In Minnesota, many people's mental health has been strained by a series of overlapping stresses — from the COVID-19 pandemic to the murder of George Floyd, the assassination of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, the mass shooting at Annun...

The arts aren’t just something extra — they’re a central part of how people in Minnesota connect with each other and experience their communities. Two out of every three Minnesotans attended a concert, visited a gallery or saw live theater in the past year. That engagement adds up. Arts and culture generate an estimated $1.6 billion in annual economic impact across the state, according to the Crea...

Over the past year, Minnesota has been at the center of several major breaking news events. From the assassination of a top Minnesota lawmaker and the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School last summer, to the fatal shootings by federal officers during “Operation Metro Surge” earlier this year, complex stories have unfolded quickly, often with conflicting information and intense...

What's next for DEI? Since taking office, President Donald Trump has signed a series of executive orders to reverse federal policies around diversity, equity and inclusion. The most recent order signed last month prohibits DEI activities in private companies that contract with the federal government . Some states have also passed anti-DEI legislation and many private companies have pulled back on...

On Aug. 27, 2025, a shooter stood outside of Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis and opened fire through the stained glass windows. Children who had gathered for Mass during the first week of school dove for cover as bullets ricocheted off the pews. Older children shielded younger classmates with their bodies. Two students were killed that day. Many other children and adults wer...

MPR News host Angela Davis talks about how to prevent grooming — a pattern of manipulative behaviors to gain a child’s trust in order to sexually abuse them. Angela’s guests explain why preventing grooming isn’t just about recognizing it. It’s about creating conditions where it can’t happen. Guests: Dr. Mark Hudson is a child abuse pediatrician and medical director of the Midwest Children’s Resour...

MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about something that affects every one of us, but most of us were never formally taught — how to manage money. Guests:   Kumar Balasubrahmanyan is the vice president of Innovation for Junior Achievement North . Sara Dziuk is the president and CEO of Junior Achievement North. Isaac Kreis is a 10th grade student at Washington Technology High School in S...

Last week, the U.S. Senate overturned a 20-year federal mining ban on land near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Supporters say modern mines can protect the environment while producing critical minerals and boosting the regional economy. Opponents argue the environmental risks are too great and the economic benefits aren't what they seem. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks about...

We all know that we should exercise. It's good for our hearts, minds and overall health. And yet, actually doing it — and doing it consistently — can be surprisingly hard. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a behavioral researcher and a fitness expert about why so many people struggle to start and stick with an exercise routine, how to get motivated and what actually helps people build lasting...

The midterm elections are still months away, but voting is already a major focus. President Donald Trump has claimed that non-citizens vote illegally in large numbers, though there’s no evidence of widespread fraud. Still, he has backed the SAVE Act, which would require in-person proof of citizenship to register. It passed the House, stalled in the Senate and some Republican-led states are moving...

It’s been one year since the U.S. raised tariffs on Canada. MPR News host Angela Davis and senior economics contributor Chris Farrell take a look at the impact — on both sides of the border. Angela and Chris will talk again with some of the people they first interviewed last April in Thunder Bay, Ontario and Grand Marais, Minn. Guests: Livio di Matteo is a professor of economics at Lakehead Univer...

Historically Black colleges and universities — known as HBCUs — are schools that were created to educate Black students at a time when most colleges would not admit them. While “HBCU” might not be a household name in Minnesota, students and graduates of these 107 schools represent a thriving culture and network, especially in the southern United States. And, their impact is significant. A recent r...

Addiction doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Stress, fear, instability and isolation can shape how people cope and recover. MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about how some people living with substance use disorders support others in recovery. Guests: Caddy Frink is the director of programs for Minnesota Recovery Connection , a nonprofit that works to increase access to the support, care and...

We think of wildlife as separate from urban life. But there are a lot of wild critters living all around us in the city. Turkeys have made a remarkable comeback in the last few decades after being driven entirely out of Minnesota. Deer, squirrels, rats and racoons are regular visitors to many people’s back yards. And, a relatively new research project is documenting how coyotes and foxes are vying...