MPR News with Angela Davis

When most of us think about 911, we picture flashing lights and first responders arriving on the scene. But that fast emergency response starts somewhere else — with a person answering the phone. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a 911 call taker, a dispatcher, and the director of Minneapolis’s 911 call center about what happens after the phone rings — how they gather critical details, move in...

The Science Museum of Minnesota has wowed generations with its dinosaur fossils, including an 80-foot Diplodocus. And tens of thousands of people have visited its other exhibits explaining everything from outer space to the history of race. But these days, fewer people are visiting. Like other cultural institutions across the country, the St. Paul museum has struggled to lure people back after the...

Snow is still on the ground across parts of Minnesota, but it’s not too early to start thinking about spring allergies. Coming up at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two allergists about what’s coming this season and how to get ahead of it. Guests: Dr. Alice Knoedler is an allergist and immunologist at Midwest Allergy and Asthma , which is part Midwest Ear, Nose and Throa...

Foundations play a big role in supporting nonprofit work in Minnesota. One of the most prominent is the Bush Foundation. Founded in 1953 by 3M executive Archibald Bush and his wife Edyth, the foundation gives grants in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the 23 Native nations sharing that geography. Its funding is helping train Ojibwe language teachers, create a loan pool for Black homebuyer...

This is a time of real uncertainty for agriculture in Minnesota. Crop prices are fluctuating, the cost of fuel and fertilizer remains high, and tariffs and global trade uncertainty are adding another layer of pressure on farmers trying to make a profit. As spring planting season begins, farmers need to make some big decisions — facing a lot of unknowns. For many families, farming is not just tied...

What’s it like to be married for 34 years to someone who wrote a book called “What Happy Couples Do.” That’s the lucky situation in which Brian Bruess finds himself. He is president of the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University and the first president to lead both schools. His wife, Carol Bruess, is nationally known for her research on relationships and communication and is the schools’...

When federal agents surged into Minnesota in January, communities didn’t just face a legal issue. They faced a moral one. Faith leaders showed up. Churches became distribution hubs for food and diapers. Nonprofits organized ride shares and distributed rent money. Clergy mobilized to protest, sing, champion and, in some cases, face arrest. “Our faith compels us,” was the common refrain. “Operation...

Federal job cuts last year hit one group the hardest — Black women. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a journalist who interviewed some of the women who lost their jobs about how they are doing a year later — financially and emotionally. The article was published recently in Hammer and Hope , an online magazine that focuses on Black politics and culture. Guest: Natalie Moore is a senior lectur...

Hennepin Healthcare operates one of Minnesota’s largest and most essential hospitals, HCMC, formerly known as Hennepin County Medical Center. And it’s not in good health. The hospital provides emergency trauma and burn care to patients from across Minnesota and trains more than a third of the region’s future doctors. But that mission comes at a cost. The public hospital serves more low-income and...

It’s a tough moment in the job market right now. Layoffs are happening across industries, and for recent graduates just starting out, getting a foot in the door can feel harder than ever. If you’re not out of work, you likely know someone who is — a friend, a partner or a family member. For a lot of us, work is tied to our sense of purpose, identity and even self-worth. So, a job loss can ripple b...

Repa Mekha saw slim opportunities for himself and his peers growing up as a young Black man in Milwaukee. He ended up in prison, where he started college and embarked on his life’s work of figuring out what it takes to create more paths forward for Black Americans and other groups left out of mainstream economies. He worked with homeless teens in the Twin Cities and got a master’s degree from Harv...

Technology is changing how we work, how businesses operate and how decisions get made — from artificial intelligence to cybersecurity and automation.  And it’s happening quickly.  Some leaders in the state’s tech sector say Minnesota has the opportunity to lead — by bringing companies together, developing talent and thinking carefully about how technologies like AI are built and used.  MPR News gu...

What makes tree sap start running in late winter? And how do you tap a tree without harming it? MPR News host Angela Davis talks about the science behind maple syrup, how climate change is affecting the sap season in Minnesota and what trees may better withstand climate change.  Guests: Laura Irish-Hanson   is an extension educator at the University of Minnesota. Brandon Miller   is an assistant p...

The weight of the world is increasingly showing up in therapy these days — from fears of the war with Iran to worries about the job market to anxiety about immigration enforcement. And, the counselors themselves are also feeling the strain. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two mental health professionals about how therapists are coping with stress and burnout, and how all of us can take care...

The wage gap facing women in Minnesota has barely budged in more than a decade. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two nonprofit leaders about how they think mentorship can help close it. Guests: Ethelind Kaba  is the executive director of the Ann Bancroft Foundation , a nonprofit that works to empower girls to achieve their highest potential and dreams.  Gloria Perez is the president and CEO o...

MPR News host Chris Farrell and meteorologist Sven Sundgaard talk about the powerful March snowstorm that brought blizzard conditions and dangerous travel to central and southern Minnesota over the weekend. Guest: Sven Sundgaard is an MPR News meteorologist. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on:  Apple Podcasts ,  Spotify  or  RSS . Use the audio player above to listen to the ful...

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in the U.S. But when it’s caught early, the survival rate is around 90 percent, according to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about symptoms that shouldn’t be ignored, common misconceptions about family history, and what treatment looks like today.

If you’ve lived in Minnesota for a while, you’ve probably noticed that winters are changing. They’re not quite as cold as they used to be. We get less fluffy snow that stays on the ground. And, sometimes, we even get winter rain. These local changes are closely linked to global warming, as greenhouse gases released by human activities continue to heat the planet. MPR News host Angela Davis talks w...

Over the past few years, the car market has gone through some changes. It’s getting more expensive to buy a vehicle. Prices for new cars are high and so are interest rates, leaving many buyers stretching payments over six or even seven years to keep monthly costs manageable.  Used cars aren’t as affordable as they used to be and insurance and repair costs are rising too.  At the same time, the typ...

Ramsey County is changing how it responds to young people who commit crimes — and early results show their new approach is working. In the past, young offenders were charged much like adults. They were sent to court and often placed on probation or assigned community service. The new approach, sometimes called restorative justice, goes deeper. It pulls in members of the community, considers why th...

Protein is having its moment. Protein powders are marketed to young men who want to bulk up and to women in menopause to prevent losing muscle mass. It’s also being added to everything from cereal to bagels, pasta and pancake mix. And, in January, federal dietary guidelines nearly doubled the amount of protein per day Americans are recommended to consume, with a focus on meats and full-fat dairy p...

One in five Minnesota households can't afford the food they need. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about hunger in Minnesota — who's affected, what keeps people from seeking help, and potential solutions.  Guest: Sarah Moberg  is the chief executive officer at Second Harvest Heartland, which is one of the largest food banks in the country. It provides services in central and southwest Minnesota an...

Increased federal immigration agents in parts of Minnesota has had ripple effects that are affecting child care. Some child care centers are reporting drops in attendance as families keep children home out of fear. And, staff members are strained as they worry about their own safety.   MPR News host Angela Davis is joined by early childhood education reporter Kyra Miles to talk about how the incre...

When the world feels heavy, we look for small escapes. For some, that means tuning out the headlines to binge a new show or watch a must-see film. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with NPR’s TV and media critic and a Twin Cities entertainment writer about what they’re watching — and the hottest shows and movies right now. Guests: Eric Deggans   is the TV critic, media analyst and guest host at  Na...

President Donald Trump took the national stage Tuesday night for his State of the Union address at a pivotal moment for his presidency and for his party. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about what the president said — and didn’t say — with a historian, a political scientist and our listeners. Guests: Yohuru Williams   is a distinguished university chair, professor of history and founding director...