Minnesota Now

This weekend thousands will be celebrating the Hmong New Year. The celebration marks the harvest season and is a time for Hmong people to honor their ancestors and native crops.

Events are happening all across the state and Hmong line dancing will be part of their programs. For more on this tradition, MPR News host Nina Moini talks with Yer Chang, the vice president of Seev Cev, a local line dancing performance group.  

A new lawsuit is taking aim at Minnesota’s abortion law. The groups suing include a national anti-abortion group and two “crisis pregnancy centers” in Minnesota and North Dakota. We talk to a legal expert about the case and where it goes from here.

The war between Ukraine and Russia has escalated in recent days. Longtime Pioneer Press reporter Brian Bonner now lives in Kyiv and he joins us with a look at what’s happening there.

Plus, two Minnesotans ran seven marathons in seven days on seven continents. We find out how — and why.

And two turkeys from Northfield were pardoned earlier today by President Joe Biden. We meet Peach and Blossom.

And we catch you up on football news in time for Thanksgiving.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Hello Walls” by Boxcar. Our Song of the Day was “Thank You Friends” by Big Star.

Just as important to a Thanksgiving spread as turkey — for many families — is football.

The Minnesota Vikings are not playing until Sunday, but there's still plenty to talk about. The Vikings and the Gophers had nail-biter games over the weekend. High school teams like Elk River are bringing home championships. And in soccer, Minnesota United finished their season last night with a loss in L.A.

Sports guys Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about all of it.

Two Minnesotans recently ran seven marathons in seven days, on seven continents.

The feat is called Great World Race. Ellen Hunter Gans and Sarah Hunter spoke with MPR News host Nina Moini to share with us the experience of this incredible physical – and mental – challenge.

The war in Ukraine has lasted more than 1,000 days — and both sides are shifting tactics.

The U.S. and Europe both bolstered support to Ukraine’s arsenal and Russia made serious threats about nuclear attack. Plus, American-made missiles struck Russian soil for the first time since the war began.

For an update, MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with Brian Bonner, a journalist formerly with the St. Paul Pioneer Press and former editor of the Kyiv Post, Ukraine’s premiere English language newspaper.

A St. Paul “crisis pregnancy center” and a national anti-abortion group are suing Minnesota clinics and lawmakers in what appears to be a wider argument that Minnesota’s laws on abortion are unconstitutional.

University of Minnesota Law School Professor Jill Hasday joined MPR News host Nina Moini to share how it might affect the future of abortion law in Minnesota.

Political control of the Minnesota House comes down to tight races in two counties. Our reporter spent the morning in Shakopee where a recount is happening and she is here with the latest on the close race in District 54A.

Robbinsdale Public Schools made a twenty million dollar mistake in their budget. We hear about the fallout and plans for budget cuts.

And St. Paul Public Schools is changing the way they teach reading — and they made a documentary about it. We talk to the district’s literacy coordinator.

Plus Minnesota United is inching closer to their first cup. They’re in the semi finals this weekend against the LA Galaxy. We'll talk to a former Loons player about their journey to the top.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Chopper” by Dessa.

Minnesota United are making a run in the playoffs, with a quest for the MLS Cup. This Sunday they’ll play the LA Galaxy in the conference semifinals. The playoffs weren’t guaranteed for the Loons and they came in as underdogs. But the team has now proven themselves as worthy contenders.

Joining the program with a playoff preview is Zarek Valentin, a recently retired Minnesota United player.

Public schools across Minnesota are in the process of overhauling their reading curriculum. You may remember in 2023, the state passed the READ Act. It includes requirements that students be taught phonics and requires districts to purchase specific curriculum. At St. Paul Public Schools, the district began putting an emphasis on literacy even before the READ Act. And just last night they premiered a docuseries that followed students over one school year and their literacy journey.

The docuseries is called “All In: The Saint Paul Public Schools Literacy Journey.”

Jenny Davis is the literacy coordinator for the district and joined the program to talk about the docuseries. Emily Hanford was the reporter behind our Sold A Story podcast, which spurred states like Minnesota to put new laws into place regarding literacy and started a nationwide conversation. Hanford also joined the program to talk about her reporting on this topic.

Election officials in Scott County are busy counting ballots this morning in a Shakopee-area state House race. A change in result there — or in another recount next week — could flip political control of the Minnesota House.

MPR News senior politics reporter Dana Ferguson is at the Scott County Government Center in Shakopee and joined us as the recount was underway.