Avsnitt
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It's been a long and contentious road for garbage hauling in St. Paul. Mayor Melvin Carter has declared a three-day state of emergency to allow trash to be picked up under the city's new contract. We talk to a group that has been fighting the new plan.
Four cafes in the Twin Cities are closing this month. We find out how they fit into a trend of restaurant workers unionizing.
Plus, auto tariffs expected to start this week could make it pricier not just to buy a new car, but to fix or insure the one you have. We talk to a state official who tracks insurance rates.
We visit a father-son art studio in Fergus Falls and we stop by one of Minnesota's oldest all women-owned bookstore.
The Minnesota Music Minute was “Ultraviolet” by papa mbye and the Song of the Day was “The Tower” by Mother Coyote.
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Forty-five years ago, five women opened a small bookstore in White Bear Lake, called Lake Country Bookellers.
Over the years, the store has seen the ups, downs and enormous changes in the book selling industry. It’s become one of the oldest all women-owned bookstore in the state. One of those owners is Susie Fruncillo joined Minnesota Now to reflect on the store’s legacy.
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President Donald Trump has vowed to put new tariffs on a variety of goods from other countries. Those are set to go into effect this week, including a 25 percent tariff on imported cars and car parts that’s set to begin Thursday.
Industry experts say the higher costs will flow to consumers as higher prices for new goods, auto repairs and insurance.
Julia Dreier, the deputy commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Commerce, joined Minnesota Now to share how the state is preparing for tariff impacts.
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The contentious relationship between Twin Cities restaurants and employee unions is once again making headlines. Minneapolis restaurant business mogul Daniel del Prado’s DDP Restaurant Group announced that the four Café Cerés locations will close this month.
In a statement, DDP Restaurant Group said they are closing the Café Cerés locations to focus on their other restaurants, which include fine dining restaurants Martina, Colita and Porzana.
“While we are proud of what we accomplished in the café space, it is clear that the DDP Restaurant Group’s future lies in what we do best — creating and operating amazing, and highly successful, restaurants by delivering exceptional hospitality, crafting unforgettable dining experiences, and leading chef-driven food and beverage programs,” the statement said in part.
Last August, baristas at Café Cerés voted to unionize under hospitality union UNITE HERE Local 17. Employees were in the first few months of contract negotiations with DDP Restaurant Group when the closure was announced last week.
“Heads of restaurant empires like Daniel del Prado would rather close shop than give a fair share to the workers who make them rich,” a spokesperson for the union said in a statement.
A similar situation happened last year at chef Ann Kim’s Uptown restaurant called Kim’s. Kim’s workers voted to unionize and within two months the restaurant closed, citing “financial losses.”
Adam Platt, the executive editor of the magazine Twin Cities Business, joined Minnesota Now to break down what he thinks is happening in Twin Cities restaurants.
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The city of St. Paul has averted a garbage pick-up crisis, for now. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter declared a three-day state of emergency that allows the city's new garbage hauler to begin service Tuesday, as scheduled.
The dispute between the city and community members centers on whether the garbage hauler, FCC Environmental Services, can use a lot it purchased to maintain and fuel its trucks. Carter’s declaration temporarily suspends zoning regulations to allow trash collection while a zoning dispute is settled.
Meg Duhr is the president of the West 7th/Fort Road Federation, which is the neighborhood where the lot is located. She joined Minnesota Now to talk about the dispute and what she thinks the city needs to do to make improvements to trash collection.
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Protests are happening at the University of Minnesota over the detainment of a graduate student by immigration officials. It’s sparking confusion and concern among international students. We’ll get the latest from MPR News correspondent Matt Sepic.
Some tribal leaders say the Trump administration cuts to federal funding are a violation of federal agreements. We'll hear how two orders affecting education could impact resources for Native American students.
Plus, a group of youth in the Twin Cities are turning to each other to increase student motivation. We’ll hear from one of the co-founders of “Good Trouble.”
And we’ll get the latest on the brawl at the Timberwolves game, the Twins home opener and more with our sports contributors Wally and Eric.
Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Sugar” by FènixDion and our Song of the Day was “That Minnesota Song” by The Double Down Daredevils.
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The Timberwolves got two wins out of the weekend, but not without a fight — literally. A foul turned into a brawl in the second quarter of Sunday night’s game against the Detroit Pistons. Referees ejected multiple players and coaches.
Joining Minnesota Now to talk about what led up to the fight that spilled into the stands, plus other sports news, are our contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson.
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Two recent executive orders issued by President Donald Trump affecting education may have profound effects on educational resources for Native American students from kindergarten through college.
Two reporters covering Indigenous affairs have been following the potential impacts in Minnesota. Melissa Olson is an MPR News reporter on the Native News team and Allison Herrera is a reporter with APM Reports.
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A group of youth in the Twin Cities are turning to each other to build the education system they want. The organization is called Good Trouble and it’s increasing student motivation by pushing schools, districts and policymakers to listen to students.
Last week, the organization held their first State of the Youth event.
Joining Minnesota Now to share more about the event and organization is Jose Perez, one of the co-founders of Good Trouble.
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There has been little new information released about the detainment of an international graduated student by Immigration Customs Enforcement, or ICE.
University leaders say the student was at an off-campus residence when ICE removed them on Thursday. But it’s unclear who this student is and why they may be under investigation.
On Monday afternoon, hundreds of people gathered on campus to protest the incident. MPR News reporter Matt Sepic was on scene at the protest and joined Minnesota Now with the latest.
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Spending in a Wisconsin Supreme Court race that could determine the court’s ideological majority has surpassed $90 million.
The two candidates, conservative Judge Brad Schimel and liberal Judge Susan Crawford, will face off on April 1. Both candidates have raised millions of dollars and garnered attention from some prominent names in politics, including Elon Musk, whose Department of Governmental Efficiency has slashed funding for government projects and cut thousands of federal jobs.
Matt Smith, the politics director of WISN 12 News in Milwaukee, Wis., joined Minnesota Now to talk about the race and how it could have impacts in Minnesota and around the country.
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Federal COVID-19 funds to states, including Minnesota, are being cut by the Trump administration. It erases $266 million in grants to the state. We’ll learn what impact that has from the Minnesota Department of Health commissioner.
Voters in Wisconsin will head to the ballot box next week in a state Supreme Court race. A Wisconsin reporter will share why people like Elon Musk are spending money on that election.
Plus we'll learn about a new partnership between three Twin Cities colleges that hopes to reenroll people who didn't finish their degree.
In our Thank You, Stranger we learn about a Minneapolis music fan known as "Front Row Paul."
And a fundraiser is supporting Minnesota Korean adoptees who want to learn about their past.
Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Just Like That” by Harlow and our Song of the Day was “Spandrel” by Jacob Pavek.
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A landmark report in South Korea has concluded the government bears responsibility for facilitating a corrupt foreign adoption program, peaking in the 1970s and 80s. A commission in the country Wednesday released the findings after a nearly three-year investigation.
The adoption program left thousands of Korean adoptees with questions and grief about their origin. More than 20,000 of those adoptees live here in Minnesota. It's the state with the highest number of Korean adoptees in the country.
David “Chilly” Caufman, a Korean adoptee, has been a part of the Twin Cities music scene for 20 years and is helping to organize a music festival called Heart & Seoul Connection. Money raised during the festival will support adoptees to visit their birth country.
Caufman is working with Adoptee Hub, a Minnesota-based organization that supports Korean adoptees, to put the concert on. He joined Adoptee Hub founder and CEO Ami Nafzger to talk about the concert and the recent report on Minnesota Now.
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This week's episode of “Thank You Stranger” honors a Twin Cities music scene legend. He was well known by local musicians and show-goers as “Front Row Paul”, or Paul Engebretson. Paul passed away earlier this week after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.
MPR News producer Ellen Finn talked to local musician and talent buyer Christy Costello about how Paul went from stranger to friend for hundreds of musicians.
A celebration of life for Paul is being planned at Palmer’s Bar in Minneapolis at the end of May.
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A new partnership is helping Minnesotans get their college degrees, if for some reason they couldn’t finish. Minneapolis College, St. Paul College and Metro State University are working with a ReUp Education, a national organization that helps reenroll people in college.
According to data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, the state of Minnesota has more than 600,000 residents who have some college but no credential.
Greg Mellas, dean of Liberal and Fine Arts at St. Paul College, and Katy VanVliet, ReUp Education’s senior vice president of Learner Services, joined Minnesota Now to share more about the program.
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State health leaders say the federal government is canceling $226 million in public health funding in Minnesota.
The cuts are part of an $11.4 billion cut to COVID-19 related grants nationwide. In a statement, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said, “The COVID-19 pandemic is over.” The department also called the grants a waste of taxpayer money.
Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Brooke Cunningham joined Minnesota Now to talk about how the cuts will impact services in Minnesota.
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The state of Minnesota is asking more than 50,000 employees to return to the office for 50 percent of the time beginning in June. The governor wants more in-person collaboration. We hear from a union leader who disputes the move and its timing.
A Minneapolis charter school is facing two lawsuits questioning the school administration's conduct after two teachers were accused of sexual abuse. We get the latest on a leadership change.
Plus, a sloppy spring storm could be on the way. MPR Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner has an update.
And we go out to lunch with basketball legend Lindsay Whalen! She is back with the Lynx as an assistant coach after taking an 18-month break from basketball.
Today’s Minnesota Music Minute is “Late Bloom” by Zippy Laske and the Song of the Day is “Girl from the North Country” performed by Timothee Chalamet and Monica Barbaro.
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It’s time for another edition of Out to Lunch. We’re getting out of the studio and meeting different members of our community over a meal, at a restaurant of their choice.
Today we’ll hear a conversation MPR News host Nina Moini had with Lindsay Whalen. She’s a Minnesota basketball legend with a storied playing career with the Gopher’s and Lynx. Now she’s coaching and gearing up for her first season as an assistant coach with the Lynx. Moini and Whalen met up at The Freehouse in the north loop neighborhood of Minneapolis for lunch.
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Believe it or not, April is around the corner. This week Minnesota has seen pretty typical spring weather. We are feeling milder temperatures but we are also seeing raindrops and even snowflakes across the state. It looks like we may be in for more spring slop with a storm coming this weekend.
MPR chief meteorologist Paul Huttner joins MPR News host Nina Moini with details on the forecast.
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Starting June 1, employees for the state of Minnesota will be required to work in person for at least 50 percent of their scheduled workdays. Gov. Tim Walz announced the change Tuesday.
Remote work spread widely across the workforce when the pandemic began and many state employees have maintained that setup or work in a hybrid format.
Unions representing state workers are criticizing the governor’s decision. For more, MPR News host Nina Moini talks with Megan Dayton, the president of the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, or MAPE, and a senior demographer with the state.
The governor’s office said in a statement that the new policy will lead to faster collaboration among state workers and help boost the economy of downtown St. Paul.
- Visa fler
