North Star Stories

Updates to a program that helps people escape violence without leaving a trail, a program to help families cover utility bills, and it’s the state fishing opener this weekend. ----- Producer: Xan Holston Reader scripting: Tracie Wells Collier, Xan Holston  Image: The humble walleye [credit: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources].    ----- For the latest episode drops and updates, follow us on...

This week, we examine a controversial classroom practice used to control students with disruptive behavior. And, as the fishing season starts, we'll tell you about some new consumption guidelines to keep you safe. ----- Executive Producer: Victor Palomino Producers: Jose Ozoria and Maija Hecht Anchor: Gracie J. Reporter: Britt Aamodt Reader scripting: Victor Palomino, Tracie Wells Collier, Xan Hol...

The Minneapolis sound comes to The Great Minnesota Get-Together, the fight over a google data center tax deal in Hermantown isn’t over, and renovations at Little Earth — the heart of Minneapolis’ Native American community. ----- Producer: Xan Holston Reader scripting: Tracie Wells Collier, Xan Holston  Image: The Little Earth community during the 2026 MMIR March [credit: Xan Holston].   ----- For...

Replanting hundreds of thousands of trees up north, relief for homeowners if their houses are damaged by tear gas by police, and school safety and gun legislation moves forward in the Minnesota senate. ----- Producer: Xan Holston Reader scripting: Tracie Wells Collier, Xan Holston  Image: Senator Matt Klein holds up a collection of letters written by Annunciation Catholic School families and commu...

World War Two Captain Willibald C. Bianchi is laid to rest, and legislators make sure Tribal governments are notified when wastewater is released upstream. ----- Producer: Xan Holston Reader scripting: Tracie Wells Collier, Xan Holston  Image: A memorial board at Captain Willibald C. Bianchi’s funeral [credit: courtesy of KNUJ Radio].   ----- For the latest episode drops and updates, follow us on...

Los legisladores continúan debatiendo proyectos de ley antes del cierre de la sesión, y los funcionarios estatales nos recuerdan compartir la carretera durante la temporada de siembra. Legislators continue debating bills ahead of the end of the session, and state officials remind us to share the road during planting season . ----- Productor/Producer: Victor Palomino Additional voice work: Rito Aya...

New Ulm lays a fallen WW2 hero to his final rest back home, the senate gets ready to debate gun legislation, and spring kicks off in Minneapolis on Sunday with the May Day Parade. ----- Producer: Xan Holston Reader scripting: Tracie Wells Collier, Xan Holston  Image: Bird puppets at the May Day Parade [credit: Xan Holston] ----- For the latest episode drops and updates, follow us on social media. ...

This week, we look at organizations providing immigrant communities access to autism related services in inclusive and culturally responsive ways. We'll also take a deep dive into where plastic residues show up in our daily lives. ----- Executive Producer: Victor Palomino Producers: Faaya Adem & Britt Aamodt Anchor: Chantel SinGs Reader scripting: Victor Palomino, Tracie Wells Collier, Xan Hol...

Minnesota gets its first Youth Poet Laureate, organizations try to keep up with changes to state financial aid programs, and fire departments statewide look to add more women to their ranks. ----- Producer: Xan Holston Reader scripting: Tracie Wells Collier, Xan Holston  Image: Republican First-term Representative Bidal Duran of Bemidji speaking at a press conference introducing the Minnesota Lati...

A new exhibit contemplates a statue of President Lincoln in Mankato, pharmacists may soon join the first line of defense in the fight against opioid addiction, and federal agents come back to the Twin Cities. ----- Producer: Xan Holston Reader scripting: Tracie Wells Collier, Xan Holston  Image: A marker for the 38 Dakota hanged by order of President Abraham Lincoln in 1862 [credit: Minnesota Hist...

Minnesotans fight back against invasive plants, lawmakers target ATM scams, and the Minnesotans with Disabilities act gets closer to being law. ----- Producer: Xan Holston Reader scripting: Tracie Wells Collier, Xan Holston  Image: Wild parsnip is just one of many invasive non-native plants in Minnesota. [credit: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources] ----- For the latest episode drops and upd...

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 ...