In less than two weeks, students across Minnesota will start their 2024-25 school year. That includes students at Carlton Public Schools. But those students will spend less days in the classroom than most: this year the district is implementing a four-day school week.

Carlton is a district five miles south of Cloquet with about 500 students. They are one of the six school districts in the entire state with a four-day school week, and the only district making that move this school year.

Carlton schools superintendent Donita Stepan and a math teacher in the district, Ina Kennedy joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about why they made the choice to have no school on Fridays.

This story begins with a small ocean fish called a starry goby. And it ends — at least in theory — on the moon.

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke to two professors from the University of Minnesota working with the Smithsonian on a proposal to deep freeze and store animal cells at about -380 degrees Fahrenheit. They argue that craters of the moon are an ideal place to preserve cells in this way because they are that cold – no electricity needed.

The study, which was recently published in the journal Bioscience, used skin cells from starry goby as an example. And it looked at this idea not just from an engineering perspective, but also a governmental one.

The two researchers that joined the show are health law professor Susan Wolf and engineering professor John Bischof to explain why they’re tackling this complicated project.

One of the former Minneapolis police officers convicted in the 2020 killing of George Floyd walked out of a Colorado prison early Tuesday.

Thomas Lane, who received the shortest sentence of the four ex-officers involved in Floyd’s death, is the first to leave custody. Matt Sepic joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer with the details.

The Democratic National Convention is underway. It's an official pep rally for the Democratic ticket of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota's Tim Walz.

The Minnesota delegation is getting some special attention, what with Walz at the top of the ticket and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan also playing a big role during the convention.

The delegation met this morning in the windy city and reporter Mark Zdechlik was there. He spoke with MPR News host Cathy Wurzer.

The Democratic National Convention begins Monday in Chicago, one month after the Republican Party held their own convention in Milwaukee. Since then, there’s a new Democratic ticket. MPR News’ correspondent Mark Zdechlik has the latest from the DNC.

And we find out what two young, liberal voters from our “State of Democra-Z” panel think of the campaign by Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz so far.

Minnesota has lost a legend in politics. We remember St. Paul’s longest-serving mayor, George Latimer, and his indelible mark on the Twin Cities — with someone who knew him well, former Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak.

Plus, we meet a Paralympian from Park Rapids who is going for gold in Paris next week.

If you’re already missing the Olympic action, you’re in luck. The Paralympics start in just 8 days. There are several Minnesotans that will be competing on the world’s biggest sports stage, including Aaron Pike.

The Park Rapids native has quite the resume. This will be Aaron’s seventh Paralympic games. He’s qualified for every summer and winter games since 2012.

This time around he’ll be going for gold in track and marathon. Aaron joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer as he gets ready for Paris.

Democratic politics are orbiting the city of Chicago Monday as the party begins its national convention. Many of Minnesota’s Democratic leaders are there, along with delegates, political heavyweights and protesters from across the nation.

Vice President Kamala Harris has already secured the presidential nomination with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her VP. So, the event is a chance to build momentum and share more details on how they’d run the country.

For the latest in our series State of Democra-Z, we check in with two of our young political panelists to find out what they think of the Democratic ticket.

• Cori Stockard is an incoming senior at the University of Minnesota and president of the College Democrats.




• Maddie Christensen is a recent graduate of Hamline University, where she was also a leader of the College Dems.

George Latimer served as mayor of St. Paul from 1976 until 1990, the longest run of anyone in the city’s history. He oversaw St. Paul’s downtown boom, a growth in development amid a changing city. Latimer died on Sunday at age 89 at his residence in St. Paul. 

Former Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak joined MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer and reflected on George Latimer's legacy.

There are new Medicare price cuts for ten popular drugs. We heard how that could affect thousands of Minnesotans.

This week is the 90th anniversary of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, the longest running Black-owned news outlet in the state. We looked back on their work.

Educators are getting ready for the impending first day of school. Part of that work is fighting rampant absenteeism that resulted from the pandemic. We heard how they’re looking at that serious problem.

Who’s running the state as Gov. Tim Walz jets around the country campaigning? We found out.

And Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is injured just as the preseason begins. We heard about the fallout from that and other sports news.

The Minnesota Music Minute was “On Your Time” by Neapolitan, and our Song of the Day was “Roll and Go” by The Ravensfire Band.

The Vikings preseason has barely begun, and they’ve already had some tough breaks. First, new quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who tore his meniscus and had knee surgery, is out for the season. The Vikings also announced yesterday receiver Jordan Addison hurt his ankle and was taken off the field on a cart.

Wally Langfellow is the founder of Minnesota Score Sports Magazine and co-host of the sports talk show 10,000 Takes. Eric Nelson is the other host of that show and Minnesota Vikings NFL reporter for CBS’ Eye on Football and Sirius XM.

They joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to say what all this portends for the Vikings season.