Minnesota Now

There is a new medical clinic in town focused on a specific — and pressing — issue: evaluations for asylum seekers to support their cases to remain in Minnesota.

That means clinicians will work specifically with people in the metro who are going through the process of proving to the United States government that their home country is no longer safe for them to stay. A medical evaluation could make all the difference in those cases.

MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with Dr. Nathan Bertelsen about the clinic, which would be the first of its kind in Minnesota. Dr. Bertelsen worked closely with the Center for Victims of Torture to establish the clinic.

Justin Jefferson has another record to his name. During the Vikings game in Tennessee yesterday he finished racking up the most receiving yards in a player's first five NFL seasons. And there are still seven games to go.

He helped the Vikings beat Tennessee, bringing their record to eight wins and two losses.

Sports guys Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about what's next for the Vikings — plus the High School Football Championships this weekend.

A recent string of E. coli outbreaks in Minnesota has launched multiple recalls for carrots and beef in the state. So far, ten cases of E. coli in Minnesota have been connected to burgers sold at multiple Red Cow Restaurants in the metro and Hen House Eatery in Minneapolis. At least five people became sick from carrots sold in grocery stores across the state.

For more about how these outbreaks are happening and how to stay safe, MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with Carlota Medus, epidemiologist with the Foodborne Diseases Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health.

Several people are sick with E. coli from store-bought carrots that have been recalled in 18 states, including Minnesota. Other recent cases are linked to burgers from three metro-area restaurants. We talk with an expert in foodborne illness about how to stay healthy.

A new clinic is working to help people who are seeking asylum in the U.S. get medical evidence that can help their cases.

And we hear the latest in our series, “Connect the Dots,” where Minnesota elders share stories and lessons from their lives. This time, an economist and former competitive ballroom dancer who cares a lot about early childhood education.

Plus, in sports news, one Minnesota high school is going to the state championship for the first time in nearly 40 years.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Somethin’ Somethin’” by King Pari and our Song of the Day was “John Saw that Number” by Neko Case.

President-elect Donald Trump is quickly nominating members of his cabinet. Minnesota U.S. Sen. Tina Smith talks about her role in confirming those nominees.

We learn how a father who lost his son in a bike accident is advocating for safer streets in the Twin Cities metro area.

The deadline for Hennepin County jail to reduce their inmate population was Thursday at noon. We have an update on if they complied with that order.

And this chilly weather makes many want to cozy up with a good book. Don’t know where to start? We have some tips.

Plus community leaders are bringing two historic neighborhoods in St. Paul together for what they’re calling “Frondo.” Yep, that's a mix of Frogtown and Rondo.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Hello” by Babes in Toyland and our Song of the Day was “Any Colour You Like” by Sugar Lads.

An initiative in St. Paul is connecting and celebrating two of its largest minority populations, Hmong and Black. Aptly named “FRONDO,” the initiative is bringing together the Frogtown neighborhood which has a large Hmong population and the historically Black Rondo neighborhood in a way that’s never been done before.

May Lee-Yang and Nicole M. Smith are the organizers behind the project. Lee-Yang is a performer and educator and Smith is the founder and CEO of Neuvo Soul productions. They joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about FRONDO.

The library has a lot of tools to get you back into a book whether it's physical, digital or audio. And your local librarian is here to help if you want to get back into the habit or maybe you need an escape from reality.

President-elect Donald Trump is quickly building his cabinet, with a flurry of nominations for top positions. Among them is Minnesotan Pete Hegseth, a Fox News commentator who Trump nominated to be Secretary of Defense.

Under the typical process of checks and balances, Hegseth and other nominees would need to be confirmed by the Senate – which Republicans will control next year. But Trump has suggested he’d like to sidestep that process.

U.S. Democratic Sen. Tina Smith joined the program to talk about her role in the nomination process and what she hopes will come out of it.

This month marks five years since Alex Wolf was killed on his bicycle in Minneapolis. He was 30 years old.

Wolf had been commuting home from work on Nov. 20, 2019. He was hit by the driver of a semi-truck that turned into his bike lane in downtown Minneapolis.

Wolf was an advocate for safer streets during his short lifetime. And now his father, Keith Wolf, has turned his focus toward the same cause in his son’s honor. Keith Wolf joined Minnesota Now to talk about his son’s legacy and how it’s turned into advocacy.

The deadline has passed for the Hennepin County Jail to reduce its jail population via an order from the Department of Corrections. A DOC report found the jail failed to meet minimum staffing levels and violated rules on routine wellness checks.

Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt has tried to appeal this ruling, but a first attempt was unsuccessful.

Whether the county has complied is still in flux. MPR News correspondent Matt Sepic has been following the story and joined the program to share where things stand.