The U.S. senate overturned a ban on mining in the Boundary Waters Thursday. It's a win for mining companies — and a loss for environmentalists who say mining will pollute the region. We heard from a Minnesotan in the mining industry.

And a New York Times reporter shared what she learned by talking with dozens of former and current DHS employees.

A St. Paul elementary school will soon launch a historic Afrocentric curriculum for its majority Black student body.

Plus, we heard from a documentary filmmaker following the Jacob Wetterling murder case — after it was closed — through the perspective of the Wetterling family.

And we spoke to a Duluth writer who wrote a book about the best hikes in the country.

The Minnesota Music Minute was “St. Paul” by Anchorhead.

A state Democratic lawmaker running for Congress apologized for placing a wager on himself that he'd win his party primary.

State Sen. Matt Klein of Mendota Heights said he wagered $50 in an online prediction market last October. The platform Kalshi flagged it as a political insider trading, penalized Klein $540 and banned him from the platform for five years.

This situation is one of the many ethical conversations around prediction markets. At the State Capitol there's a bill looking to ban them. Minnesota Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement director Jon Anglin's job is to regulate this market.

He spoke to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about the challenges around regulating prediction markets.

Community members and advocates from Native communities across the state and country wrapped up a three-day conference on ending sexual violence Thursday.

The “Restoring the Sacred Trails of Our Grandmothers Conference” is hosted annually by the Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition.

Nicole Matthews, chief executive officer of the coalition, said this year's event comes at a particularly difficult time with funding cuts and heightened need.

It also takes place just as an audit into the police response and investigation of Allison Lussier’s death was released. Lussier was an Indigenous woman who was found dead in her home in 2024. Police reports show Lussier had experienced intimate partner violence.

The report is critical of the Minneapolis Police Department in its handling of Lussier’s case as well as the shooting of Davis Moturi, who was shot by a neighbor.

Matthews shared more about the gathering and her reaction to the findings of the report with Minnesota Now host Nina Moini.

If you’ve spent much time on a dance floor in Minneapolis over the past couple decades, chances are you’ve heard about the weekly dance night known as Transmission. Through its blend of new wave, indie rock, and alternative classics, it’s built a loyal following across generations.

This year marks 25 years of Transmission, which takes place every Wednesday night at the Uptown VFW. They're celebrating with a big party Saturday night at First Avenue.

The DJ who started it all is Jake Rudh, who hosts a show on The Current with the same name. He marked the milestone on Minnesota Now.

A 12-day hunger strike over a trash incinerator in downtown Minneapolis is over — but a campaign to close the facility will continue.

Activists have pushed for years to close the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center, or HERC. They say the facility next to Target Field is endangering the health of residents of the area, including a predominantly Black neighborhood on the city’s north side.

In 2023, the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution to shut down the HERC between 2028 and 2040. Environmental and labor groups are pushing the commissioners to commit to a deadline.

Sahan Journal reporter Andrew Hazzard has been covering the HERC for years and he joined Minnesota Now to talk more about the latest developments.

Audits of two high-profile Minneapolis police investigations were released Wednesday morning. They show where the department fell short. We learn about the city auditor’s findings in the death of Allison Lussier and the shooting of Davis Moturi.

State lawmakers are looking at the future of seclusion rooms in elementary schools. We'll learn what they are and how they impact children and teachers.

Plus, on Earth Day, a state climate official shared where Minnesota stands in its climate goals.

The University of Minnesota Morris is taking a unique step to go green. We learned how they are using thermal batteries.

And it may be a record-warm Earth Day. We checked in with meteorologist Sven Sundgaard.

“Deeper Blues” by Cornbread Harris was the Minnesota Music Minute. “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)” by Marvin Gaye was the Song of the Day.

Wednesday is Earth Day, which started in 1970 as a protest against pollution and habitat loss. Climate change was not a household term at the time, but it's now a number-one priority for people concerned about the wellbeing of the planet.

The state of Minnesota is chasing a set of goals to tackle the causes of climate change and cushion its impact on communities. The state is trying to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030, compared to 2005 levels, and reach net-zero emissions by 2050. It is not on track to meet those goals, according to a recent presentation the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency gave to state lawmakers.

To learn more about the state’s climate plans and what it will take to get on track, MPR News host Nina Moini talked with Katrina Kessler, commissioner of the MPCA and chair of the Minnesota Climate Change Subcabinet.

One of the state's greenest university campuses is getting even greener.

The University of Minnesota Morris reached carbon neutrality when it comes to the electricity that powers its campus, thanks to two wind turbines named Bert and Ernie. Now, it's taking steps to decarbonize the source of heat in its buildings.

That's led Morris to a new thermal battery that it began piloting in March. It is believed to be the first campus in the U.S. to use this technology for heating.

UMN Morris Sustainability Director Troy Goodnough joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about how it works.

Seclusion rooms have been used in Minnesota for decades, as a last-resort response to student behavioral issues in the classroom. The use of these solitary rooms was banned for some of the youngest learners statewide in 2023, after they were deemed harmful and ineffective. But now, the Minnesota Senate is considering reversing that ban for children in grade three and under until 2036. That’s because, according to some administrators, schools need more time to plan alternatives to seclusion rooms.

Minnesota School Psychologists Association President-elect Tascha Just joined MPR News host Nina Moini to share context on seclusion rooms and the conflict surrounding the ban.

Federal immigration agents detained more than 70 children in Minnesota during the surge over the winter. Nearly half of those children have since left the U.S., according to a new story by Sahan Journal. We'll learn more about what happened to those children and their families.

Some Minnesota companies have made money from the war in Iran. We'll talk with a MinnPost reporter who looked into defense contracts with the military.

It's the season of senioritis for college seniors who are looking for their next steps. We'll talk with a career counselor about how AI is changing the search for entry level jobs.

10 years ago, the world lost a superstar. We'll hear stories about Prince and a new song from the vault.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “With This Tear” by Prince.