In wellness visits, primary care doctors have a few minutes with patients to check in about various issues related to their health, including smoking, drinking, medications and exercise.

Some physicians have added gun safety to the list. The move stems from the perspective, shared by the Minnesota Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and other groups, that gun violence is a public health crisis.

Dr. Thomas Kottke has been surveying doctors about their experiences speaking with patients about gun storage. Kottke is HealthPartners’ medical director for wellbeing and a board member of the group Protect Minnesota, which advocates for firearm restrictions and violence prevention programs.

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer talked with him about what he’s heard from physicians and what lessons he’s drawn from tobacco prevention.

There’s some turmoil at the state capitol over something called historical horse racing, also called instant racing, where betters pick a horse in a digital horse race that has been run in the past.

The state’s horse racing tracks, Canterbury Park in Shakopee and Running Aces in Columbus, say historical horse racing is a critical revenue source for them. Lawyers for tribal nations in Minnesota say historical horse racing is too similar to slot machines, which tribes have exclusive rights to host in their casinos.

DFL Representative Zack Stephenson is an author of a bill banning historical horse racing that had another hearing Monday morning.

“I just want to be very clear with folks, there is no universe in which any bill that leaves this committee is going to authorize historical horse racing at the tracks,” he said. “That’s a total nonstarter will not happen will not be part of a sports betting deal. Bright red line in the sand.”

Stephenson is also the author of the larger sports betting bill making headlines right now. The latter will legalize sports betting, but with the tribal nations running the sports books.

The CFO of Running Aces, Tracie Wilson, joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about the state of Minnesota race tracks and the debate in the legislature.

The Biden administration just set the first-ever federal limit on forever chemicals, which leaves 22 cities in Minnesota over the limit. We hear about what’s being done to protect residents’ health.

A new book celebrates the life of Duluth civil rights activist Ethel Ray Nance, in the words of her granddaughter.

As a Minnesota runner prepares for the Boston Marathon on Monday, she is fighting at the state capitol for rights for those who use prosthetic legs.

We hear about an ambitious Shakespeare project ready to take the stage in Minneapolis.

Plus, we get the latest on the Frozen Four and the Timberwolves ownership drama along with other Minnesota sports news.

Frozen Four celebrations begin Thursday afternoon in downtown St. Paul. The NCAA men’s hockey semifinalists are facing off at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at Xcel Energy Center. The University of Minnesota Gophers are not among them, this time.

MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer talked with sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson about what to expect in the championship and other news from the week in Minnesota sports.

The Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis is opening an ambitious project Saturday that has been nearly seven years in the making.

Three of William Shakespeare’s plays open in a marathon day of shows. They tell an epic, interconnected story.

MPR News arts reporter Jacob Aloi has been following the project since the beginning of the year. He joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about why the bard’s stories are still relevant to actors and audiences.

Saturday in Duluth will be Ethel Ray Nance Day, the birthday of a Duluth-born civil rights activist who would have been 125 years old.

Her father established the Duluth branch of the NAACP in 1920 after three Black men were lynched in the city. Ethel carved her own path, becoming the first Black woman to work as a stenographer at the Minnesota Legislature, an executive secretary for W.E.B Du Bois and one of the first Black policewomen in Minnesota.

She has been an unsung hero until now. Her story is now being published by her granddaughter, Karen Nance, the author of “Ethel Ray: Living in the White, Gray and Black.”

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer talked with Karen Nance about her grandmother and the book, out Saturday.

A bill moving through the state legislature would mandate private health insurance to cover orthotic and prosthetic devices, supplies and accessories.

Right now insurance covers the minimum for an amputee to be able to function. But it doesn’t cover prosthetics such as running blades for athletic activities, which can cost thousands of dollars out-of-pocket.

A Minnesotan has made it her life’s work to promote equitable access to equipment and care that make physical activity possible for her and others. Nicole Ver Kuilen testified at the Capitol in support of the bill.

On Monday, she will be running the Boston Marathon thanks to her own running blade. Kulien joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about her advocacy work and the upcoming race.

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer talked with Hastings public works director, Ryan Stempski, about the city’s plans to treat the water and how to pay for it. The city is not part of a multi-billion dollar settlement with chemical manufacturer 3M.

Minnesota teachers who are interested in computer science are meeting online this coming weekend for the MNCodes Educator Summit.

Among the speakers is Andrea Wilson Vazquez, the state Department of Education’s computer science specialist. She was hired last year as part of the legislature’s efforts to build up computer science education in Minnesota.

The effort is much needed, according to a report published last year by the Code.org Advocacy Coalition. Minnesota ranked last in the nation in terms of computer science courses available to high school students. Just 28 percent of state high schools offered computer science courses, compared to about 57 percent nationally.

Andrea Wilson Vazquez joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about the state’s plans to expand those offerings.

Bao Phi is a highly acclaimed poet and author who’s never forgotten his roots. Last week, he won the Kay-Sexton Award for his contributions to the literary arts community in Minnesota.

He worked at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis for over two decades, and his leadership opened doors into the literary scene for over 500 writers and artists, many of whom are Black, Indigenous or people of color (BIPOC).

One of his most successful projects is Equilibrium, a spoken word series that invites nationally recognized BIPOC artists to share the stage with their local counterparts.

Phi joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to share some of the stories and influences that brought him to where he is today.