Minnesota Now

You can see it and you can smell it. Wildfire smoke is in the air in Minnesota for a third day. An air quality alert is in place for the northern half of the state. We talk to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency about how long we could see smoky skies.

The burglary trial for DFL state Sen. Nicole Mitchell begins today. We have the latest on the case.

Plus, we talk to a Winona Health, a rural Minnesota health administrator, about how Medicaid cuts will impact their operations.

We hear from a state lawmaker and law enforcement on a new initiative to make the area around the state capitol safe.

And a Minnesota Twins player made Target Field history. Our sports contributors Wally and Eric tell us about it.

Minnesota is right in the thick of summer sports, with the Twins and the Lynx both wrapping up the first halves of their seasons.

On his bobblehead night on Saturday, Twins star Byron Buxton completed the first cycle in Target Field history. In the WNBA, Hopkins native Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings faced off against Caitlin Clark and the Fever in Indiana on Sunday.

Minnesota Now sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson joined Minnesota Now with the latest sport news.

After the passage of President Donald Trump’s massive tax cut bill, Minnesota health care providers are assessing the impact that cuts to Medicaid could have on their facilities and patient care.

An analysis by health policy research non-profit KFF found Minnesota stands to lose $23.5 billion in federal Medicaid funding over ten years, an 18 percent decrease.

But rural hospitals in Minnesota, where there is a higher percentage of people enrolled in Medicaid, could see a bigger impact.

Rachelle Schultz, president and CEO of Winona Health, joined Minnesota Now to share more.

The recent shootings of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses have brought to the forefront the issue of safety at the state Capitol.

For two years, a state task force has been working on a plan to improve safety and quality of life in the surrounding neighborhood. The legislature approved $3 million this year to help pay for the plan, which includes public safety and programs for youth.

Lawmakers who represent the area are hosting an event for this initiative Monday afternoon outside the Capitol. Rep. María Isa Pérez-Vega, DFL-St. Paul, and Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher joined Minnesota Now to talk about the effort.

There’s an air quality alert for northern Minnesota until 6 p.m. Monday evening. The entire state of Minnesota is recovering from poor air quality over the weekend after smoke from Canadian wildfires blanketed the region.

Ryan Lueck, a meteorologist with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, joined Minnesota Now to explain what’s happening.

On Minnesota Now this week, we’re airing Call to Mind, the MPR News initiative fostering new conversations about mental health.

Mental illness is the leading cause of hospitalization for America’s military service members.  Anxiety conditions and post-traumatic stress disorders lead the list of diagnoses. This special explores the mental health needs of veterans and people serving in the military

We hear about how combat and non-combat military duty can impact mental health. And we explore the unique resources and support available to service members and veterans.   

Join Call to Mind host Kimberly Adams for “Silent Battles: Mental Health and Military Service,” a one-hour broadcast special.

On Minnesota Now this week, we’re airing Call to Mind, the MPR News initiative fostering new conversations about mental health.

Technology is ever-present in modern life, from remote work to communities on social media, from dating apps to telemedicine. We live with an ever-expanding array of online options and an ever-growing list of new questions about how healthy it is to spend so much time online with our devices. 

This broadcast special explores the influence of technology on our mental health.  

We'll hear from experts about how online communities, AI, influencers, and social media compromise one’s mental health. We also meet people whose wellbeing has been improved by new technologies.  

Join Call to Mind host Kimberly Adams for “Promise and Peril: Technology and mental health,” a one-hour broadcast special. 

On Minnesota Now this week, we’re airing Call to Mind, the MPR News initiative fostering new conversations about mental health.

Studies show that 1 in 4 older adults live with a mental illness such as depression, anxiety and substance use disorders. But many older people don’t get the help they need. And America’s aging population is expected to double by 2050. 

This program explores the unique mental health challenges of older adults and the models in place to care for them. We’ll hear from mental health providers, direct care workers and older Americans living with mental health issues. The program explores therapeutic solutions and improved treatment systems to help older adults and their wellbeing. 

Join Call to Mind host Kimberly Adams for “The Aging Mind,” a one-hour broadcast special.

On Minnesota Now with this week we’re airing Call to Mind, the MPR News initiative fostering new conversations about mental health.

An estimated 29 million Americans will suffer from an eating disorder in their lifetime. These mental illnesses can be profoundly disruptive to a person’s life and psychological wellbeing. And eating disorders can be deadly. Anorexia nervosa has one of the highest mortality rates of any psychiatric condition. Eating disorders strike a wide range of people, but deep-rooted assumptions about who suffers from these diseases often complicate the road to recovery.  

This special looks at eating disorders and the challenges of treatment. We’ll hear firsthand from people who have experienced these illnesses and experts who treat them.  

Join Call to Mind host Kimberly Adams for “Beyond the Mirror: The Challenge of Eating Disorders,” a one-hour broadcast special. 

President Donald Trump's mega tax and spending bill has passed before its Friday deadline. Minnesota's counties may be affected as it would cut funding to the Medicaid and food assistance programs they run. We'll talk to a county commissioner about the impact.

As we gear up for the Fourth of July, a Minnesota fireworks manufacturer will talk us through the difficulties the fireworks industry is facing.

In a new Minnesota Now and Then, we'll listen back to a 1976 MPR News broadcast about how Minnesotans celebrated the country's 200th birthday.

And about 20 trucks are gearing up for the first ever Native American Food Truck festival in St. Paul this weekend. We'll hear about the variety of Indigenous foods they are celebrating.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was 'In the Dark' by Cornbread Harris and our Song of the Day was 'Shapeless' by Dante DeGrazia.