Minnesota Now

Minnesota's water systems were attacked last week -- and we weren't alone. Seven states were targeted in all. That's according to new reporting done by the New York Times over the weekend. The Times also reports that federal officals suspect Iran may be behind the attacks, although the investigation is still ongoing.

Plymouth, just northwest of downtown Minneapolis, was one the cities that dealt with the cyber attack. Public Works Director Michael Thompson says it wasn’t their drinking water systems that went offline, but their sanitary system and two water towers.

Thompson also shared with MPR News that since last week's attack, there have been more attempts to hack into Plymouth’s water systems, “even though there's been attempted intrusions since those have all been blocked, but we continue to monitor.”

Faisal Kaleem is a cybersecurity expert with Metro State University. He joined Minnesota Now to talk about the cyberattack.

The clock is ticking for people living at a large encampment in Pig's Eye Park in St. Paul. The city plans to clear the site on Wednesday. Advocates have been working to connect people living there with shelter and other services ahead of the closure though they say there still aren't enough places for everyone to go.

Outreach workers from the Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities have been at the encampment almost every day since the clearing announcement was made. Community Relations Director Sarah Peterka joined Minnesota Now to talk about how they're planning for what's next.

Several new state laws around domestic violence will take effect Saturday. We talked about rules on warrants, guns, and survivor support with a domestic violence prevention expert.

Plus, a new facility for young people who are homeless will open its doors in North Minneapolis.

Many families who were in hiding during the ICE surge are facing a new hurdle. After losing income during the surge, some can’t afford to renew their permits to work here. We heard more from a reporter who’s been following their stories.

Also, the Como Zoo is helping to keep a special species of toad afloat.

And we heard about a cultural exchange between Minnesota and South Korea — through choral music.

The Minnesota Music Minute was “Dead Oaks” by Now, Now. The Song of the Day was “Los Angeles” by A Piano In Every Home.

In several zoos across the Midwest, there are staff dedicated to feeding and breeding a rare toad. They hope to keep the species alive and support its recovery, despite threats like climate change and a deadly fungus. Next week, the zookeepers will head west to see the toads in the wild.

Minnesota Now producer Alanna Elder reports on the effort to save a species that happens to share her hometown.

On July 31, the music of Korea will be showcased in a special performance by the Oratorio Society of Minnesota and the University of Minnesota School of Music.

But it doesn’t stop there. Members of the choir will then travel to South Korea for a choral cultural exchange in August.

Matthew Mehaffey, professor of music at the U of M and artistic director of the Oratorio Society of Minnesota, spoke to MPR News host Nina Moini about the concert and trip.

When federal immigration enforcement ramped up in Minneapolis earlier this year, many immigrant families went into hiding, afraid to leave home for work, school or even the store.

Months later, some of those families are facing a new challenge: they’re struggling to pay hundreds of dollars in fees to renew their DACA protections and work permits because they lost income during the surge.

Chabeli Carrazana is an economy and childcare reporter for The 19th who recently reported on how these financial pressures are affecting some immigrant parents in Minneapolis. Carrazana shared more about the issue on Minnesota Now.

A number of new state laws will take effect Aug. 1 and several of them relate to domestic violence.

One details the process for giving up guns to law enforcement, when domestic violence offenders are required to do so. Another gives police more time to arrest alleged abusers without a warrant. Lawmakers also approved funding for organizations that serve domestic violence survivors.

Jess Palyan is policy program manager for Violence Free Minnesota, a coalition of such groups. He spoke to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini about the changes.

North Minneapolis is getting a new space for youth experiencing homelessness.

Twin Cities organization Avenues for Youth is celebrating the site’s grand opening Thursday. It includes shelter space, emergency beds and apartments.

It will also be the head offices of Avenue staff like executive director Katherine Meerse, who shared more about the new space on Minnesota Now.

St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her is under investigation over allegations of sexual harassment of city employees. MPR News reporter Estelle Timar-Wilcox shared the latest.

Plus, Elon Musk is suing Minnesota over its AI nudification ban, saying it violates the First Amendment. An expert broke down the case.

After the death of a longtime Twin Cities paramedic, we took a look at the mental health challenges facing EMS providers.

We learned about the troubling trend of resident-on-resident altercations in dementia care facilities turning deadly.

And a break from the heat is finally in the forecast. We talked with Chief Meteorologist Ben Cathey.

Plus, Minnesota's professional women's tackle football team, the Vixen, won their first championship! We heard from the head coach.

EMS workers are mourning the loss of one of their own. Longtime paramedic and inventory technician Chuck Brady died by suicide earlier this month. He worked with Allina Health EMS for 17 years.

Paramedics are one of the many professions that experience unique mental health challenges. EMS providers are 1.39 times more likely to die by suicide than the public according to the CDC.

Joining Minnesota Now to remember Chuck and talk about the mental health challenges EMS providers face is Brett Hopper. He is a paramedic and union president for the International Association of EMTs and Paramedics Local 167.