Minnesota Now

Some big changes are on the way for kids who use Instagram or Facebook.

They are part of a $17-billion settlement reached last week between the tech giant Meta and 47 states, including Minnesota. The agreement mandates changes to the platforms that limit use to two-hours each day, block the use of the apps at night, and silence notifications during school hours.

To sort out how this will work in the real world for families and kids, MPR News host Kelly Gordon talked with Jodi Dworkin, professor and extension specialist in family social science at the University of Minnesota.

The death toll is rising in Nepal and Tibet after devastating flash floods in the Himalayan region. More than 900 people have died and more than 4,700 are still missing.

In Minnesota, the Nepali diaspora is coming together for relief efforts. Deepak Chaulagai, a board member with the Association of Nepalis in Minnesota, joined MPR News host Kelly Gordon with details.

Minnesota Now live from opening day of the Minnesota State Fair!

The State Fair has historically become a stumping ground for politicians. As we gear up for the midterms, we heard from outgoing U.S. Sen. Tina Smith.

Plus, the fair is built on agriculture. Farmers from across the state bring their livestock. We met two baby animals being shown at this year’s fair.

And crop art has become a main attraction. We learned about the craft and how it’s grown.

We also talked to local musician Sophie Hiroko and heard some of her music.

On Minnesota Now, we play local music every day. And when we broadcast from the State Fair, that music is live.

Sophie Hiroko is from from Duluth and has been making a pretty big name for herself in the Minnesota music scene. She won the 2025 Palomino grant from the Duluth band Trampled by Turtles, she released an EP, she was picked as one of First Avenue's best new bands of 2025, and she recently headlined at the 7th St. Entry.

Now, she shared with MPR News that she has secured studio space to record her first studio album.

Hiroko joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about her music career and play two songs.

Thousands of Minnesota youth are bringing their animals to the State Fair this year along with their families, their 4-H clubs or FFA chapters. It's a big lift to prepare an animal to be judged for a ribbon at the fair, and the Minnesota State Fair foundation has a grant program for first-time fair goers, the BELLE grant. BELLE stands for beginning exhibitor livestock learning experience. The grant helps pay for travel, animal show supplies and feed for the animals. It also helps set up the first-timers with a mentor.

12-year-old Madelyn Donnelly and her mentor Allison Van Nurden, who is in her first year of college - and last year of 4-H. They both brought their lambs to the Minnesota Public Radio stage at the Minnesota State Fair to talk to MPR News host Nina Moini about their experience as mentor and mentee.

For many Minnesotans, there are several State Fair staples. Maybe it's Sweet Martha’s, or the giant slide. Or maybe it's seeing the butter sculptures.

Over the past several years, the crop art exhibit has joined the list of must-see attractions. Marta Shore is the woman behind putting the contest and exhibit together, as the crop art and scarecrow assistant superintendent.

Shore spoke to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini at the MPR stage.

Over the next 12 days, Minnesotans will walk through the state fair gates to encounter animals, art and decadent food. Politicians will have a chance to meet voters face-to-face, which could be especially important in a competitive midterm election year like 2026.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Tina Smith kicked off one of the year’s the most significant statewide races when she announced in 2025 she would not seek reelection. DFL Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and Republican sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya are running for the seat.

Smith now has a few months left in her term, with major budget and farming legislation before Congress. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini on the MPR stage.

Thursday marks one year since two children were killed and several were injured in a mass shooting at Annunciation Church and School in Minneapolis.

When the call first came in of a shooting at Annunciation that morning, many of the Minneapolis police officers who ended up on the scene didn't know if it was real. But as more calls and details poured in, the reality of the situation quickly set in.

Inspector Ryan Kelly got to the church within three-and-a-half minutes of the first 911 call, according to a new report released by the city this week. Dozens of other first responders soon arrived, including officers Valeria Perez Martinez and Liban Ibrahim.

Minnesota Now heard from the three officers in interviews conducted and shared by the Minneapolis Police Department.

Thursday marks one year since the mass shooting at Annunciation Church and School in Minneapolis. Minnesota Now has a special one-hour program to remember the lives lost and hear how student survivors, parents and staff are grieving and healing.

We hear from eighth graders who graduated from Annunciation and are now transitioning to high school.

Plus, we learn how the school is supporting students and staff.

And after the tragedy, parents mobilized to advocate for gun violence prevention. They worked with other parents who have a shared experience, from Sandy Hook.

We have a special musical tribute to Fletcher Merkel, who was killed at 8 years old.

And after Harper Moyski's death, her little sister has found sisterhood with Harper's best friends.

In the months after a deadly mass shooting at Annunciation Church and School last year, a group of Annunciation parents turned to organizing to prevent future violence. They met with state lawmakers and supported a range of policy changes, like a ban on assault-style weapons and more funding for mental health care.

The Annunciation Light Alliance also found allies in Sandy Hook parents who have built a national advocacy network since the mass shooting at their children’s’ elementary school in Connecticut in 2012.

To learn more about the past year of organizing and what’s next, MPR News host Nina Moini talked with Annunciation Light Alliance co-founder Kristen Neville, who has five children at the school, along with Sandy Hook Promise CEO Nicole Hockley, who co-founded that group after losing her son Dylan, a first-grader, in the Sandy Hook tragedy.