Minnesota Now

A judge has convicted the owner of a Lakeville painting company with a felony for failing to pay his employees for work they did on an apartment building in Minneapolis. Hennepin County says this is the first felony conviction under Minnesota’s 2019 wage theft law – which is one of the toughest in the country.

Joining Minnesota Now to talk about the conviction, plus the enforcement of wage laws more broadly, is Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty.

Minnesota has made it’s first wage theft criminal conviction. It was after a man underpaid his employees at least 37,000 dollars for their work. We talked to Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty about the office’s effort to protect workers.

Two mothers whose sons were killed by police in Brooklyn Center have been fighting for police reforms. But four years later, the city is reversing course on some of their initial promises.

A Minnesota couple joined the show to talk about their work to make the vanilla bean trade more sustainable.

In our “Thank You, Stranger” series, a group of professional women athletes rally around an 8-year-old girl.

A hub for the Black community in Minneapolis, the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, is celebrating 100 years.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Sculpture Garden” by Semisonic.

A long-standing community hub of Minneapolis’ Black community is celebrating 100 years. The Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, located in north Minneapolis, marked 100 years in October. But on Friday the center is hosting their centennial gala.

Valerie Stevenson is the interim executive director and has worked with the center for more than 20 years. She joined Minnesota Now to talk about the early years of the center and what 100 years means today.

While vanilla bean is one of the most popular flavors in the U.S., the crop is not suited to grow anywhere in North America. That means a lot of worldwide shipping from the place that produces the majority of vanilla in the world: Madagascar.

A Lakeland-based company is working to make the vanilla bean trade more sustainable by using wind-cargo ships for transportation.  

Husband and wife duo Andy and Sara Kubiak founded the Vanilla Bean Project in 2018 in effort to bring more sustainability to the overseas vanilla bean trade. They joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about Vanilla Bean Project.

Friday marks four years since a Brooklyn Center police officer killed Daunte Wright, a young Black man, during a traffic stop. A month after his death, the Brooklyn Center City Council passed a resolution outlining public safety reforms. It was named after Wright and Kobe Dimock-Heisler, who was killed by police in 2019. 

Activists say the city council is now backing away from the promises that were made four years ago. Katie Wright, the mother of Daunte Wright, and Amity Dimock, the mother of Kobe Dimock-Heisler joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about how they have become close as they’ve pushed for changes to policing in the city.

The Brooklyn Center City Council is expected to vote Monday on whether to repeal the Community Violence Prevention and Public Safety Commission. The Minnesota Now team reached out to the mayor as well as the three City Council members who have opposed the commission for comment. Two council members replied, but declined to give a statement.

The city of St. Paul has a new interim city council member. The appointment of Matt Privratsky comes during a critical time for the capital city. MPR host Nina Moini spoke with him ahead of his first city council meeting Wednesday afternoon.

President Donald Trump's latest round of global tariffs have taken effect and experts warn it will significantly raise the price of goods. We talked to Minnesota retailers about what it means for business in the state.

An MPR News investigation digs into problems facing low-income renters in greater Minnesota.

Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner will shared what you need to know weather-wise for the rest of the week.

The Great Gatsby is turning 100! Minnesota's own F. Scott Fitzgerald will be honored in a unique way.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was ‘This Movie Sucks’ by Durry and our Song of the Day was ‘Something's Got A Hold On Me’ by The Cactus Blossoms.

April 10 marks the 100th anniversary of the publication of “The Great Gatsby” by St. Paul’s own F. Scott Fitzgerald. A non-profit in his hometown is celebrating with a complete live reading of the book, starting on Thursday at 1 p.m. and stretching into the evening.

The Friends of the St. Paul Library’s senior director of programs and services, Alayne Hopkins, joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it.

Like most of the country, cities across Minnesota are facing severe housing shortages. It has caused cities to strike an uncomfortable balance between keeping renters safe and keeping them housed. 

MPR News producer Ellie Roth talked to MPR News host Nina Moini about a story she covered looking at cities in greater Minnesota with dangerous buildings, vulnerable residents and no good options.

We’re approaching that time of spring where thunderstorms, hail and even tornadoes are common. During Severe Weather Awareness Week, MPR’s chief meteorologist Paul Huttner joined the show to educate listeners about how to stay safe during severe weather and updated forecasts for the week.

Editor's note: This segment aired prior to President Donald Trump's announcement of a 90-day tariff pause to most countries

More U.S. tariffs against China were implemented overnight and China shot back Wednesday morning with 84 percent tariffs on U.S. goods. That’s in the midst of stocks seriously sliding after President Trump’s implementation of global tariffs last week.

The severe change in economic policy has rocked financial markets globally. But how could these tariffs affect markets in Minnesota? The president of the Minnesota Retailers Association, Bruce Nustad, joined Minnesota Now, along with the association’s board member, Scott Farrell. Farrell is the general manager of Down in the Valley, a record store in Golden Valley.

They talked to MPR News host Nina Moini about their concerns over the new tariffs and how they hope lawmakers can support them in the future.