North Star Stories

A northern Minnesota food shelf opens a second location, lawmakers vote to memorialize a southern Minnesota first responder, and a fallen World War Two soldier returns to a hero’s welcome. ----- Producer: Xan Holston Reader scripting: Tracie Wells Collier, Xan Holston  Image: Captain Willibald Bianchi. His body was returned to Minnesota Sunday, 80 years after his death. [credit: Brown County Histo...

Entra en vigor una nueva ley que protege a las familias afroamericanas, y le contamos cómo disfrutar de las atracciones naturales del estado a medida que suben las temperaturas. A new law protecting African American families goes into effect, and we tell you how to enjoy the state’s natural attractions as temperatures rise. ----- Productor/Producer: Victor Palomino Additional voice work:  Pie de f...

Rochester honors the life and legacy of a longtime leader of the black community, Last minute attempts to change Minnesota’s voting laws, and a Minnesota lawmaker says sorry after betting on his own race. ----- Producer: Xan Holston Reader scripting: Tracie Wells Collier, Xan Holston  Image: DFL Senator Matt Klein apologizes for betting $50 on his primary race. [credit: Minnesota Senate Media Serv...

The “Grandparent Happy Hour” becomes law, cars in the Arrowhead hit sinkholes, and Minnesota State Parks are free this Saturday. ----- Producer: Xan Holston Reader scripting: Tracie Wells Collier, Xan Holston  Image: Please do not shoot a moose, or you will lose your hunting license. [credit: MN DNR] ----- For the latest episode drops and updates, follow us on social media.  instagram.com/ampersra...

As the legislative session nears its end, we look at how this historic session is unfolding. And, Black women make up about seven percent of Minnesota's population, but account for forty percent of domestic violence victims. ----- Executive Producer: Victor Palomino Producers: Ngoc Bui and Katharine DeCelle Anchor: Gracie J. Reader scripting: Victor Palomino, Tracie Wells Collier, Xan Holston Fact...

Dairy farmers get support from a divided legislature, Duluth’s Zeitgeist Film Festival shows “Why We Dance,” and today is Earth Day — Albert Lea is taking care of its ash trees. ----- Producer: Xan Holston Reader scripting: Tracie Wells Collier, Xan Holston  Image: The bark of an ash tree [credit: City of Albert Lea] ----- For the latest episode drops and updates, follow us on social media.  insta...

Calls and texts from the sheriff are probably from scammers, a few more laws head to the House floor, and the fight for the Boundary Waters comes back from D.C. ----- Producer: Xan Holston Reader scripting: Tracie Wells Collier, Xan Holston  Image: Proposed mining zones in the BWCA [credit: Courtesy of Save the Boundary Waters] ----- For the latest episode drops and updates, follow us on social me...

Efforts to preserve the African American families, more manufacturing layoffs in the Iron Range, and tornadoes touchdown around Rochester. ----- Producer: Xan Holston Reporter: Chelsea Perkins, KAXE Reader scripting: Tracie Wells Collier, Xan Holston  Image:  A tornado to the NE of the Rochester Airport. [credit: Rob Lichner via the National Weather Service] ----- For the latest episode drops and...

Un día en el Capitolio por las mujeres y niñas negras desaparecidas y asesinadas; un bar de Saint Paul recibe un premio de la paz de un club de fútbol europeo; y legisladores estatales buscan mantener las armas de fuego y los cuchillos fuera de las escuelas. A Day at the Capitol for Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls; a Saint Paul Bar Receives a Peace Prize from a European Soccer Club; and...

A new documentary on the Jacob Wetterling kidnapping, St Louis County gets creative to secure construction cash, and the U.S. Senate overturns a 20-year mining ban near the BWCA. ----- Producer: Xan Holston Reader scripting: Tracie Wells Collier, Xan Holston  Image: Minnesota U.S. Senator Tina Smith spoke for hours Wednesday night in an attempt to stop the vote to repeal a mining ban near the BWCA...

In this week's program, we look at the benefits and drawbacks of data centers and hear from Minnesota's farmers about how global politics are playing out across the state's farmlands.  ----- Executive Producer: Victor Palomino  Producers: Jose Orzoria, frankie felegy  Anchor: Grace Jacobson Reader scripting: Victor Palomino, Tracie Wells Collier Fact checking: Victor Palomino, Tracie Wells Collier...

A St. Paul bar gets a peace prize from a European football club, northern schools consider a four-day week to cut costs, and Minnesota looks to shake its dependence on Gulf State ammonia. ----- Producer: Xan Holston Reader scripting: Tracie Wells Collier, Xan Holston  Image: A flush of invasive — and delicious —golden oyster mushrooms [credit: Xan Holston] ----- For the latest episode drops and up...

Tiny houses for when disasters strike, Carver County pushes back wins against a planned electric line, and AMPERS and its member stations win an armful of Minnesota Broadcast Journalist Association Eric Sevareid Awards.   ----- Producer: Xan Holston Reader scripting: Tracie Wells Collier, Xan Holston  Image: Proposed and final route for electric lines in Carver County [credit: Carver County]   ---...

Federal disaster aid for farmers affected by last year’s heavy rains, visible progress for a five-year-old hero, and Ramsey County squares off against federal immigration agents. Image: Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls Day on the Hill  [credit: Minnesota Office of Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls] ----- Producer: Xan Holston Reader scripting: Tracie Wells Collier, Xan Holston ...

Minnesota lawmakers support dueling plans for property tax relief, Highway 280 is closed until the State Fair, and Red Lake Nation College gets a historic gift. Image: Red Lake Nation College campus in Downtown Minneapolis [credit: Xan Holston] ----- Producer: Xan Holston Reader scripting: Tracie Wells Collier, Xan Holston  ----- For the latest episode drops and updates, follow us on social media....

A verdict for an attack on an ice cream shop is in, legislators look to lock in prescription drug discounts at hospitals statewide, and security cameras at schools that can “see” through bags.   Image: Fimrosa Umar throws a Molotov cocktail at Fletcher’s Ice Cream in October, 2025. [credit: United States Attorney’s Office] ----- Producer: Xan Holston Reader scripting: Tracie Wells Collier, Xan Hol...

Cambios en los requisitos de elegibilidad para SNAP, iniciativas legislativas para celebrar la cultura hmong, legislación sobre las rifas de carne y el Festival de Iron Range. Changes in SNAP eligibility, legislative efforts to celebrate Hmong culture, Meat Raffles legislation, and the Iron Range Festival. Productor/Producer: Victor Palomino Additional voice work: Natalia Toldeo Pie de foto: Se ob...

In this week's program, we take a look at how some companies handle electronic waste. And we look at how nonprofit organizations work to maintain their missions while being fiscally responsible.  ----- Executive Producer: Victor Palomino  Producers: Xan Holston, Jamad Jama  Anchor: Grace Jacobson  Reader scripting: Victor Palomino, Tracey Collier, Xan Holston  Fact checking: Victor Palomino, Trace...

A hunger strike to shut down a Minneapolis trash incinerator, Owatonnan’s petition to stop new police and fire buildings, and there’s no place like … the Iron Range Earth Fest. Image: A diagram of how the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center — or HERC — works. [credit: Hennepin County] ----- Producer: Xan Holston Reader scripting: Tracie Wells Collier, Xan Holston  ----- For the latest episode drops an...

State legislators fight over transgender rights in girls' sports, the Festival of Nations returns under a new name, and trout season is upon us. Image: A view from the 2016 Festival of Nations [credit: Visitstpaul.com] ----- Producer: Xan Holston Reader scripting: Tracie Wells Collier, Xan Holston  ----- For the latest episode drops and updates, follow us on social media.  instagram.com/ampersradi...

A Minnesota tradition might get higher prizes, gas prices are still going up, and the trial starts for a man accused of firebombing an ice cream parlor — twice. Image: A man throws a Molotov cocktail at Fletcher’s Ice Cream in Minneapolis. [credit: U.S Attorney’s Office] ----- Producer: Xan Holston Reader scripting: Tracie Wells Collier, Xan Holston  ----- For the latest episode drops and updates,...

A legislative effort to celebrate Hmong culture, April is sexual assault awareness month, and the federal overhaul of the U.S. Forest Service spells the end for some for Minnesota’s groundbreaking work on climate change. Image: An experimental chamber in the Marcell experimental forest in northern Minnesota [credit: Maija Hecht] Audio credit: Freesound.org ----- Producer: Xan Holston Reader script...

An important food bank shuts down as new SNAP eligibility requirements go into effect, DFL leaders call for an investigation, and Minnesota Christians celebrate Easter. Image: A mural at George Floyd Square that says “You Changed the World, George.” [credit: Xan Holston] ----- Producer: Xan Holston Reader scripting: Tracie Wells Collier, Xan Holston  ----- For the latest episode drops and updates,...

In today’s program, we take a closer look at how human trafficking operates across Minnesota. And, after 10 years of climate research, a major climate experiment in northern Minnesota has reached a turning point. ----- Executive Producer: Victor Palomino Production Assistant: Britt Aamodt Producers: Katharine DeCelle, Maija Hecht Anchor: Chantel SinGs Reader scripting: Tracie Wells Collier, Victor...

A temporary win for a Bemidji school, a new public comment period on Google’s Hermantown data center, and two bounty hunters from Oklahoma face felonies. Produced by Xan Holston Image: A possible plan for Google’s Hermantown data center [credit: City of Hermantown] For the latest episode drops and updates, follow us on social media: www.facebook.com/northstarstoriesmn and www.instagram.com/northst...